Working Toward an Important Bird Area (IBA) Designation Along the Verde River in Central Arizona This article originally appeared on Audubon Arizona. It is being reprinted with permission. The Verde River is one of our last remaining perennial and free-flowing rivers. With a healthy riparian corridor along its length, it is well-known for its importance to a great diversity of …
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In 1986, the Town of Gilbert began storing treated wastewater in a pond at Cooper and Elliot roads. It did not surprise town officials that the pond attracted birds, but they were surprised by how many people the birds attracted. Unprepared for birdwatchers, the town fenced the pond. The lesson wasn’t lost on Gilbert officials. If a place to watch …
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The Tres Rios Wetlands is a constructed wetland system located in southwest Phoenix that enhances the plant and wildlife that depend on the Salt and Gila Rivers. The water that supports the wetlands is reclaimed wastewater that has been treated to drinking water quality. The Wetlands consist of 480 acres located along a 7-mile-long section. Why have a wetland in …
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Video: Involving Young People in Colorado River Conservation This blog originally appeared on the Arizona Highways Web site on May 17, 2016. It is being reprinted with permission. An advocacy group hopes its new video, filmed on the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon, will help highlight the importance of getting young people involved in river ecology and conservation. What …
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Knoll Lake, named for the small island in the middle of the lake, is located in the Blue Ridge Ranger District of the Coconino National Forest. This scenic lake is 108 miles east of Flagstaff and is an outdoor lover’s paradise. There are trails for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. There is also a campground; open late April to …
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H. Dunn shared this photo of one of Arizona’s hidden treasures! It has been said that when you arrive at Patagonia Lake, you won’t believe you’re in Arizona. Located in Patagonia Lake State Park, the lake was created by the damming of Sonoita Creek, and is habitat for bass, crappie, bluegill, and catfish. It is also stocked with rainbow trout …
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The story of water in the Salt River Valley began more than a thousand years ago, with a group of people we call the Hohokam. The Hohokam lived in the Valley from approximately A.D. 450 to 1450, and constructed a complex network of canals and laterals to support their agriculture. When the first American settlers arrived more than 400 years …
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Lake Powell began filling in 1963 after the completion of Glen Canyon Dam on the Colorado River by the federal Bureau of Reclamation. The 710-foot-high hydroelectric dam creates the second-largest man-made lake, or reservoir, in the U.S. The lake stretches 186 miles along the Colorado River from Page, Arizona to Hite, Utah. Located within the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, the …
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Tonto Creek flows along the northern edge of Tonto National Forest, just beneath the Mogollon Rim in central Arizona. It feeds Theodore Roosevelt Lake, and makes up one of many tributaries that flow into the Salt River. As the creek continues to flow south, forming narrow channels through rocky canyons, it meets the Hellsgate Wilderness. The foreboding wilderness name depicts …
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The Black River is located within the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, which runs along the Mogollon Rim and the White Mountains in east-central Arizona. It flows southwest through the White Mountains and forms the border between the Fort Apache Indian Reservation to the north, and the San Carlos Indian Reservation to the south. Upper reaches of the river, closer to the …
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The Mogollon Rim (pronounced “muggy-own”) is an extensive rocky cliff that runs 200 miles diagonally across Arizona. The powerful forces of erosion and faulting over thousands of years shape and mold this sheer cliff that represents the Southern portion of the Colorado Plateau. The high elevation provides a fantastic opportunity for breath-taking views over hundreds of miles to the east, …
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Chelsey F. shared this photo overlooking a popular swimming hole on Fossil Creek. Fossil Creek is a popular destination for both tourists and locals due to its lush surroundings, which span over 12,000 acres of wilderness, supporting over 30 types of trees and over 100 species of birds. Fossil Creek is located within the Verde River Watershed, with headwaters of the …
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