This research examines the effects of surface irrigation water quality and water table position on the ability of selected plant species to produce biomass and crude protein, and to remove the base cations sodium (Na 1 ), calcium (Ca 2), and magnesium (Mg 2) from shallow groundwater. It was hypothesized that selected plant species could effectively produce biomass and crude protein, and potentially remove salts from shallow groundwater. Columns were arranged in the greenhouse as a two water quality x three water table positions x three plant species randomized complete block experiment. Water qualities were simulated coalbed methane product water (treatment) and simulated Powder River water (control). Three water table positions were maintained at 114, 76, and 38 centimeters from the column soil surface. Wytana saltbush (A triplex -wytana), Big saltbrush (Atriplex lentiformis) and Maritime barley (Hordeum marinium) were selected for their livestock forage and salt tolerant (halophytic) characteristics. Colums irrigated with simulated coalbed methane water had higher electrical conductivity (EC) and sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) than those irrigated with simulated Powder River water. Mean EC and SAR increased linearly with time at all water table positions in both the control and treatment. EC and SAR increased the fastest in columns maintained at the 38 cm or shallowest water table position. Column EC and SAR did not increase at the same rate over time due to differences m soil surface evaporation, plant water use, and the preferential removal of calcium (Ca 2 ) from shallow groundwater. Hordeum marinium produced more biomass, but did not contain the quality of crude proem found in the Atriplex species. Atriplex lentiformis produced the highest quality forage. Plant species responded to water table position more than water quality. Both Triplex species produced the most biomass at the 38 cm water table position, while Hordeum marinium produced the most biomass at the 76 cm water table position. Atriplex lentiformis removed more sodium(Na 1 ), calcium (Ca 2), and magnesium (Mg 2) than Hordeum marinium and Atriplex wytana at all water table positions m both the simulated Powder River and coalbed methane water treatments.