An Update From Our CEO
Sustaining the Legacy of Conservation Nearly 6 years ago, I had the extraordinary opportunity to accept the position of CEO of the Sonoran Institute. I had been very familiar with the Sonoran Institute… MORE ›
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Celebrating the Santa Cruz River: What Makes Tucson Extraordinary
“This is what happens when a stretch of river comes back to life. There are many benefits. We should aspire to more wet stretches.” -Lauri Kaye, Tucson artist Nature has inspired human creativity… MORE ›
Statement From Our CEO and Board Chair
Sonoran Institute stands in solidarity with the Black community. The killing of Black Americans is wrong. Systemic racism must be dismantled. Black Lives Matter. We condemn the continued racial incidents targeting Black Americans… MORE ›
Declaración de nuestras directora ejecutiva y presidenta del consejo
El Sonoran Institute manifiesta su solidaridad con la comunidad negra. El asesinato de afroamericanos está mal. El racismo sistémico debe desmantelarse. Las vidas negras importan. Condenamos los constantes incidentes raciales de los… MORE ›
Delta Fieldwork Under COVID-19
March, April, and now May of 2020 have brought many changes with the COVID-19 pandemic. We’re staying resilient throughout the Colorado River basin. Let’s learn how our staff in the Colorado River Delta are adapting to continue to care for Laguna… MORE ›
With Careful Planning, the Gila Topminnow Could Move Downtown
The diminutive Gila topminnow is a big indicator of change. This endangered fish, no bigger than your thumb, is native to the region but disappeared from the Santa Cruz River near Tucson decades… MORE ›
Her Career Improved Conservation Outcomes in the West
Stephanie Sklar, Sonoran Institute CEO announces retirement Stephanie Sklar, Chief Executive Officer at Sonoran Institute, has announced her retirement as of August 1, 2020 concluding her 35-year career devoted to natural resource, wildlife… MORE ›
An Update From Our CEO
I will be retiring on August 1, 2020. To me, there would never be a perfect moment to retire, because our rivers, water supplies, lands and communities living in the North American West continue to require action.
How Water Crosses Borders: Collaboration for a Binational Solution for Nogales Wash
Born a block from the border, Guillermo Valencia dedicates his time and career to benefit Ambos Nogales, the twin cities on either side of the U.S.- Mexico border. As a child, he remembers riding on… MORE ›
A Bridge Without Its River
It would be an easy site to miss, compared to nearby attractions like the de Anza Trail and the Santa Cruz River, but this cement ruin means something more to Diana. It was once a pedestrian bridge that spanned the wide Santa Cruz River, and Diana used to walk across this bridge to visit her grandmother on the other side. The bridge has been partially removed and is now almost completely forgotten; the river is no longer wide enough to need it.
Honoring our Roots… Reaching to the Future… We’re Turning 30!
From our start in 1990 Sonoran Institute has changed the way the North American West thinks about conservation. By connecting communities to the landscapes and natural resources that sustain them, Stephanie Sklar, CEO,… MORE ›
Water Enough to Drink on the Ranch
“We need to be aware of the connection between our lives and our river. These lands, the river—they are my family’s roots. And, well, family is all we have” —Tony Sedgwick, rancher and… MORE ›
It Just has to be the Place that you Love
Connie Williams has traveled the world, but it’s the Sonoran Desert that calls to her: “I’ve been to places that are more beautiful, places that have a richer life. But I think when… MORE ›
Sonoran Institute takes on the Sublime: A field trip to the Tucson Museum of Art
Four of us from the Tucson office visited a recent exhibition at Tucson Museum of Art: The Western Sublime: Majestic Landscapes of the American West. Here are some takeaways from Elise Christmon, Luke… MORE ›
Team Wins Honorable Recognition for Conservation
This winter we received the national Honorable Recognition on Conservation of Nature 2019 from the federal government of Mexico.
Waste to Water: Modern Alchemy
Wastewater has been transformed into crystal clear, life-supporting water. John Light is the area operations manager at the Nogales International Wastewater Treatment Plant, and today he’s also the tour guide of this federal facility.
An Update From Our CEO
The breathtaking and diverse landscapes of Colorado inspire me. Aspen leaves ablaze with color in the autumn, the iconic snow-capped Rockies in winter, picturesque cities and towns full of friendly faces—there’s something for everyone here.
The Difference Between a ‘Ghost River’ and a Living River
Elise Christmon leans in as if to tell a secret. “If you want to see something cool and unexpected, come see the Santa Cruz River. You think you have an idea of what… MORE ›
Coming to Understand Water in the Desert
“You feel like it’s a place that people have had deep meaningful connections to for a long time.” —Roger Dorr, chief of resource management and park archaeologist at Tumacácori National Historic Park Roger… MORE ›
When You and the River Meet
Numbers and dots on a map do not say everything about the river’s value. The community’s experiences and stories are equally important. —Amanda Smith, Program Coordinator Over the course of several months, I… MORE ›