Irrigation and exotic invasive flora (particularly Tamarix spp. or Saltcedar) have contributed to the constricting of the middle Rio Grande floodplain, resulting in the loss of riparian habitat. The 23, 162 ha Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) was established by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 1939. Water was artificially applied to areas that were once naturally flooded by the Rio Grande in order to restore riparian habitat. The irrigation system was not well maintained until sufficient funding and manpower was available in 1987. Since then, restoration efforts have been underway at the refuge. The restoration efforts began with labor-intensive Saltcedar control, then revegetation, and monitoring. Sites suitable for restoration are determined by available manpower, equipment, and funding. Heavy machinery is used to remove the aerial and underground portions of the plant. Herbicide is delivered by aerial and backpack spraying then controlled burns are used to remove the sprayed stands. Managed inundation and dry-down periods are used to reduce Saltcedar seedling establishment. Applying a combination of control techniques can range in cost from $750-$1,030/ha. The site characteristics such as soil texture, salinity, and depth to water table are used to prescribe the revegetation strategies. Revegetation after removal involves labor-intensive planting and costs can range from $560-$900/ha. Past revegetation attempts look somewhat artificial despite the high cost. Improvement of techniques through research and trial and error are continuing. Restoration of the Bosque del Apache NWR has been a relative success. The success is due to the well-planned restoration of the upstream areas of the refuge prior to the lower stream areas. This prevents the reestablishment of Saltcedar in areas that have already been restored. Success is also due to resource availability. Most of the 23,162 ha have been successfully revegetated or they are presently being restored.