Scientists refute cedar "water hog" myth
August 13, 2008

New research by a Texas A&M scientist shows that Live oaks use more water than Ashe junipers and that juniper-forested sites use about the same amount of water as grasslands. Dr. Jim Heilman, professor of environmental physics, believes that bulldozing the trees to save water is a case of "policy getting ahead of science". His findings were reported by Blair Fannin of Texas AgriLife Extension Service.

In studies conducted at the Freeman Ranch near San Marcos, Heilman and his colleagues made measurements of 3 different landscapes: a grassland, a grassland with juniper and mesquite trees, and a dense forest of juniper and oak. He found that "juniper roots are actually shallower than oak roots, and the internal plumbing of juniper greatly restricts the amount of water that can be taken up".

In addition, Heilman noted that junipers sequester massive amounts of carbon. "If we remove brush, we might have a marginal savings of water, but we're losing a heck of a lot of carbon", he said. "If we get into carbon trading markets, that carbon could be very valuable."

Programs to pay cattle ranchers for removing Ashe juniper have been popular because they were believed to increase water availability. These government subsidies enable ranchers to expand land available for grazing.