The Star Hill JAWZ attachment can be mounted on a large compact tracked loader to pull clumps of tamarisk. Use of the JAWZ attachment is limited by the size of the tamarisk, the number of stems in the tamarisk clump, and the soil conditions. One growing season after a study comparing pulling tamarisk clumps to cutting them, the plot where tamarisk was cut had 85 percent more tamarisk sprouts than the plot where tamarisk was pulled. Only 56.6 percent as much herbicide (including diesel carrier) was needed to control tamarisk sprouts in the plot where tamarisk was pulled compared to the plot where tamarisk was cut. The pulling and chemical treatments cost 13.4 percent more than the cutting and chemical treatments. Although another year must pass to check for additional sprouting, the Cimarron National Grassland is very encouraged by the study's initial results. The Cimarron National Grassland plans to continue using the JAWZ attachment for tamarisk removal when the site conditions (tree size, tree density, and soil moisture) are suitable.

As the project progressed, Starhill Solutions, Inc., realized the benefits of mounting the JAWZ attachment on a larger machine that could apply more force. Starhill Solutions, Inc., has developed the Super JAWZ for an articulated rubber-tired front-end loader (figures 17a and 17b).

Figure 17a—Star Hill Super JAWZ on a Caterpillar 924 removing
a tree (Photo courtesy of Starhill Solutions, Inc.).

Figure 17b—Star Hill Super JAWZ with adapter for Caterpillar 924
(Photo courtesy of Starhill Solutions, Inc.).

The Super JAWZ could pull large clumps of tamarisk from drier soils, but doing so would risk snapping the tamarisk off at the ground line. If that happens, additional sprouting is likely. Rubber-tired machines will not be able to maneuver in sandy river bottom soils as well as machines mounted on tracks.

The Cimarron National Grassland is interested in using a full-sized excavator to remove tamarisk. Boss Reclamation, LLC, based in Texas, has a proprietary excavator digging head (figures 18a and 18b) that has removed larger tamarisk and other invasive tree species. The Cimarron National Grassland would like companies with this type of equipment to bid on the Cimarron River vegetation treatment project, during which tamarisk would be removed on 196 acres.

Figure 18a—Boss Reclamation equipment at work
(Photo courtesy of Boss Reclamation, LLC).

Figure 18b—Boss Reclamation equipment at work
(Photo courtesy of Boss Reclamation, LLC).

Although larger equipment (such as a 140-horsepower excavator with 28-foot boom reach) will cost more to move in and move out than a compact tracked loader, larger equipment will have a higher production rate and will be able to remove larger tamarisk. Large excavators can use their arm to reach over river banks, another advantage. Because Boss Reclamation's digging head scoops under the root ball, it should leave far less root material behind than when tamarisk is pulled.