Riparian ecosystems can be heavily influenced by inputs of allochthonous litter. Changes in the quality or quantity of litter inputs can alter organic matter and nutrients in aquatic habitats. Throughout the western United States, Russian Olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) has invaded riparian habitats. Concurrent declines of native riparian trees such as Cottonwood (Populus deltoides) have replaced high-quality resource litter with a low-quality recalcitrant litter that has the potential to alter aquatic food webs. The invasion of Russian olive has the potential to facilitate subsequent aquatic invasions including common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus). However, few studies have considered the ability of Russian olive to facilitate the invasion by crayfish. Our study we compare the growth of an invasive Rusty crayfish (Faxonius virilis) in experimental stream mesocosms with native and invasive litter inputs. In addition, we evaluate the ability of crayfish to facilitate breakdown of recalcitrant litter compared to native litter. Our experimental design consisted of twenty-four tanks in which we simulated isolated pool-riffle ecosystems under low-flow conditions. We used a fully factorial design comprising of three litter types Cottonwood, Russian olive and control and crayfish presence/absence. Our study lasted 90 days in which we monitored water chemistry, decomposition rates, as well as the biotic responses of algae, invertebrates, zooplankton, and crayfish growth. We hypothesized that crayfish will experience less growth when provided with olive litter, crayfish will release more nutrients from the olive litter in the water column, and we will see no changes in invertebrates in the larval phase. Preliminary results indicate there is no assimilation of olive that contributes to stomatic growth of the crayfish. We see that there is no difference in nutrient concentrations in the system.