Alva Review-Courier -

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — An invasive plant from central Asia and southern Russia is sucking wetlands in northern New Mexico dry and officials in the area want to see the tree gone.

Officials from the Santa Fe Botanical Garden recently removed 6.5 acres (.02 square kilometers) of Russian olive trees from the Leonora Curtin Wetland Preserve as part of a long-term preservation effort, the Santa Fe New Mexican reported .

"Our biggest intent with tackling the Russian olive is to keep the ciénega (wetlands) wet," said Botanical Garden Director of Horticulture Scott Canning.

"When they leap out in the s...