VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Salix exigua | Sandbar Willow 



WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : 
Sandbar willow is an important food source for many wildlife species.
In the Great Basin it has been reported as a favorite food of beaver
[41].  Willows (Salix spp.) in general are a preferred food of moose,
and sandbar willow occurs in riparian and flood plain habitats which
these animals frequent [6,30,34,45].  It also is browsed heavily by elk
[45] but is of only slight improtance as browse for mule deer [57].
Dense stands provide hiding cover for wildlife but at the same time
limit access for livestock [23,24].  Stands in eastern Colorado are used
extensively by waterfowl during winter [35].


PALATABILITY : 
Van Dersal [57], reported that sandbar willow is relished by livestock.
In the West, willows are generally considered to be more palatable to
sheep than to cattle, but cattle may make greater use of willow plants
because they tend to frequent riparian areas [56].  Most willows are
highly palatable to moose, especially in winter, and make up a high
percentage of their diet on western ranges [45].  The palatablity of
sandbar willow to livestock and wildlife species in several western
states has been rated as follows [14,51,53,29]:

                    CA    CO    UT    WY
Cattle             poor  fair  fair  ----
Sheep              fair  fair  fair  ----
Horses             poor  fair  fair  ----
Moose              ----  ----  ----  good
Mule deer          fair  ----  good  ----
White-tailed deer  fair  ----  ----  ---- 


NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 
Sandbar willow's energy value is rated as fair and its protein value as
poor [14].  


COVER VALUE : 
Sandbar willow can form stands or thickets several meters thick, with
densely spaced stems.  These stands provide excellent hiding cover for
numerous wildlife species [23].  In California, the endangered Least
Bell's Vireo frequently nests in willow thickets [21].

The degree to which sandbar willow provides environmental protection
during one or more seasons for wildlife species has been rated as
follows [14,18]:

                      UT    WY    MT
Pronghorn            fair  poor  ----
Elk                  fair  fair  ----
Mule deer            good  good  ----
White-tailed deer    ----  good  ----
Small mammals        fair  good  ----
Small nongame birds  good  good  ----
Upland game birds    good  good  ----
Waterfowl            fair  good  good


VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : 
Sandbar willow's ability to rapidly colonize disturbed sites makes it
very useful for streambank stabilization projects.  Cuttings are
preferred for use in revegetating disturbed riparian areas because they
quickly stabilize disturbed alluvium, which allows other plants to
become established.  Unrooted willow stem cuttings (slips) should be
planted on sites that provide sufficient moisture to start and maintain
growth through the growing season [56].  Since willows are sensitive to
both competition and shading, dense tall grasses will reduce transplant
survival [47] and may need to be removed by cutting or by herbicide
application [34].  Although harder to plant, rooted stock is recommended
because it has higher survival rates [47,58].  Slips should be obtained
from local native stands.  Cuttings should be planted 12 inches (30 cm)
deep, with 8 inches (20 cm) left above ground [47].  Planting deep
allows for more rooting surface to extract soil moisture and higher
amounts of carbohydrates as stored food reserves [47,58].  Sandbar
willow cuttings root along the entire length of the stem, with roots
appearing in about 10 days [23,47].  If serious streambank erosion has
caused a nearly verticle cut bank, reshaping of the slope may be needed
to enhance success of transplants; reshaping is not necessary if,
through protective measures, existing vegetation is able to stabilize
the site [47,58].  Under any method of revegetation, sites should be
fenced to protect them from grazing and trampling.


OTHER USES AND VALUES : 
All willows produce salicin, which chemically is closely related to
acetylsalicylic acid, commonly known as aspirin.  This is probably why
Native Americans used various preparations from willows to treat
toothache, stomach ache, diarrhea, dysentery, and dandruff [41].  Native
Americans also used the stems for basketry and bow making, and the bark
for tea and fabric making [34].


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Stands of sandbar willow should be maintained because they help
stabilize streambanks and protect them from erosion.  Once degredation
occurs, streambanks may erode rapidly [23].

Related categories for Species: Salix exigua | Sandbar Willow