SCOTTSBLUFF— Officials heading a year-long project to get rid of what was believed to be about 200 water-guzzling Russian olive trees in western Nebraska say they instead have killed about 2,000 of the trees.

The tree eradication project took place in the Scotts Bluff National Monument.

Along with the Russian olives, more than 200 tamarisk trees were removed by a 10-person crew from three national parks.

The trees were crowding out native plants, resource management specialist Robert Manasek said.

But more of a concern was that the trees were drinking up as much as 100 gallons of water a day as they grew near streams, irrigation canals and wetland areas in the drought-stricken area, Manasek said.

The team used chain saws and a herbicide to kill the trees.