Conserve2Enhance: Harnessing the Power of Neighbors to Fix Flooding Problems

“For me, one of the coolest parts about the project is that we’re creating something beautiful.” —Allie Silber, teacher at Tucson’s Sky Islands High School Water is the Southwest’s most precious resource, but… MORE ›

6×6: Creative & Scientific Minds Come Together to Protect the Southwest

  Grace:  It is a rarity to find pretty much anything that combines the arts and sciences, so when we heard about the 6×6 exhibit, we had to check it out for ourselves.… MORE ›

Creating Flowing, Living Rivers with Aquifer Recharge Projects

Last week, Arizona’s legislature and Governor Ducey approved the state’s participation in a Drought Contingency Plan that enacts voluntary cutbacks in Colorado River water delivered through the Central Arizona Project canal. Prolonged drought… MORE ›

Luke Cole

Director, Santa Cruz River program

An Update From Our CEO

I want to thank each and every one of you for the critical role you play in making our work possible. This past year demonstrated that with perseverance and dedication we will thrive.… MORE ›

Message from the CEO and Board Chair

Collaboration Leads to Benefits We Share Throughout the West Dear Friends, Thanks to you, this has been another year of exciting accomplishments. At the Sonoran Institute, we understand that people arrive at conservation… MORE ›

A Living River: Supplementary Data for 2013 to 2017

This supplementary Living River report summarizes data from the past five water years.

Living River Celebration and Report Release

8:00-10:00 am Come celebrate your living Santa Cruz River! Sonoran Institute and Pima County are excited to share our latest Living River annual report on October 14th. We’ll be gathering at the outfall… MORE ›

An Update From Our CEO

I recently returned from Denver, where the temperatures were soaring far above average. My flight from Tucson gave me a bird’s-eye view of the fires impacting the communities surrounding Durango—further evidence of climate… MORE ›

Sonoran Institute Announces New Board of Directors Officers

Sonoran Institute, a non-profit organization that works at the intersection of commerce, community and conservation in the North American West, has announced its new Board of Directors leadership slate. Newly elected officers to… MORE ›

Topminnow Returns: An artist, our ecologist and a sustainability expert collaborate

In December 2017, I was fortunate to attend the kick-off workshop of the 2017 Catalyst Initiative teams. Organized by the Center for Performance and Civic Practice (CPCP), this program funds pairs of artists… MORE ›

Gila Topminnow Artwork Comes to Loop Path and Downtown Tucson

Connect the Public with Flowing Santa Cruz River Last November, the endangered Gila topminnow, a native Sonoran Desert fish, was discovered in the Santa Cruz River in Tucson. Now a team of artists,… MORE ›

Sign Up for our Newsletter

Our e-mail list is a great way to learn about projects that matter to you: Colorado River restoration, climate change adaptation and resilience, open spaces, the health of the Santa Cruz River, community-led… MORE ›

Gila Topminnow Riverside Picnic Dinner

6-9pm All ages welcome Celebrate the return of the Gila Topminnow and the flowing Santa Cruz River that created its healthy habitat. Toast to the Topminnow and view new artwork on the Loop… MORE ›

Gila Topminnow Returns Bike Ride

8-10Am All ages welcome   Does a fish need a bicycle? Well, no. But we’re celebrating the return of the Gila Topminnow to Tucson’s Santa Cruz River—and the new artwork honoring it—with a… MORE ›

Gila Topminnow Cocktails & Bike Decorating Party

5-8pm All ages welcome Bar food and drinks available for purchase   Celebrate the return of the fish (thanks to YOUR wastewater) to the Santa Cruz River with a commemorative cocktail, created especially… MORE ›

An Update From Our CEO

We’re Dedicated to Helping Communities Live Their Values Change happens in communities by bringing people together, identifying shared values and finding common ground, which is what the Sonoran Institute does best. You and… MORE ›

Living River Project Receives Award

2018 National Environmental Achievement Award The Pima County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to recognize the Pima County Living River Project Steering Committee and its partners, Sonoran Institute and the United States Environmental… MORE ›

Rain Garden to Address Flooding with Desert Plants on Tucson’s South Side

Sonoran Institute and Watershed Management Group to host a public celebration at new demonstration site TUCSON, Arizona (Jan. 30, 2018) – The newly built rain garden demonstration site at New Hope/Nueva Esperanza United… MORE ›

An Update From Our CEO

It is the season of gratitude for the year’s achievements and the setting of intentions for the year to come. Here at the Sonoran Institute we are looking back on a year of… MORE ›