Santa Cruz River
The Santa Cruz River has provided life-sustaining water for more than 12,000 years. Climate aridification and a century of overuse has negatively impacted the river, however we can continue to restore its vitality.
POSTPONED: Santa Cruz River Trash Cleanup
8am-11AM Santa Cruz RiVer at El camino del cerro TUCSON, AZ To our wonderful Santa Cruz River cleanup volunteers, We will be rescheduling our April 19, 2020 cleanup event to prevent the spread… 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 ›
Caring for the Santa Cruz River: Making Improvements for Nature and Community
Newly Released Living River Report for Water Year 2018 Highlights Aquatic Invertebrate Diversity Increase and Improved Water Quality The health of the Santa Cruz River continues to improve significantly. The return of aquatic… MORE ›
Dragonfly Day on the Santa Cruz River
9 AM–2 PM Crossroads at Silverbell Park 7548 N Silverbell Rd. • Tucson, AZ 85743 (Ramada #2 near baseball diamonds) Celebrate the colorful dragonflies living along the Santa Cruz River! Event schedule: 9am… MORE ›
Setting the Course for New Research on the Santa Cruz River
One of the most interesting parts of this year’s Santa Cruz River Research Days was a special panel and discussion session to determine priorities for future research. The speakers, researchers and community leaders… MORE ›
Collaboration Drives Results for Colorado River Delta Restoration
On Friday, the International Boundary Water Commission (IBWC) formally released an important report detailing the results and lessons learned from water deliveries to the Colorado River in Mexico as part of a binational… MORE ›
Ten Years of Research to Improve the Health of the Santa Cruz River
Celebrating increased collaboration Yes, the Santa Cruz River has changed since people first entered the region over 12,000 years ago, but the river is certainly not lost. The Santa Cruz is a Living… MORE ›
Celebrating a Healthy Santa Cruz River
Newly Released Living River Report Highlights Return of the Gila Topminnow The health of the Santa Cruz River continues to improve significantly. The return of aquatic wildlife to the river is proof that… MORE ›
Santa Cruz River
Join us Sonoran Institute is leading the continued restoration of the Santa Cruz River, our jewel in the desert, and we want everybody in our region to join us. Whether you live in the San Rafael Valley,… 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 ›
Endangered Fish Returns to Santa Cruz River Near Tucson
Recycled Wastewater Critical for Ecosystem Health TUCSON, Arizona (Dec. 13, 2017) – After an absence of more than 70 years, the endangered Gila topminnow has reappeared in the Santa Cruz River in northwest… MORE ›
You May (Not) Attempt to Ford the River: Monsoon Edition
We’ve all seen it on the evening news: cars trapped in the middle of a flowing stream created by heavy rainfall that transformed a once safe route into a hazard, a torrent of… MORE ›
Santa Cruz River: Paradise Lost, Paradise Reborn, Will it be Lost Again?
The federally endangered Gila topminnow had not been seen in its native habitat, the Santa Cruz River, for more than a decade. Then, in December 2015 they came back.
Earthworks on the Colorado River
“You know how they say, ‘You can’t love what you don’t know?’ Well, this is why we need to reach out to people who don’t know what the deal with the river is.… MORE ›
What Can a River Teach us?
The sun is just rising through their school bus windows, but these fourth graders aren’t going to school. Instead, they are doing something some of them have never done before; they’re taking a… MORE ›
Endangered Fish Thriving in Santa Cruz River
Recycled Wastewater Vital for Ecosystem Recovery The endangered Gila topminnow, which returned to the Santa Cruz River after a 10 year absence, now appears to be thriving. The native Arizona species, listed under… MORE ›
Lower Santa Cruz River Study Results
Newly Released Living River Report Tracks Changing River Conditions TUCSON, Ariz. (July 12, 2016) – Pima County and the Sonoran Institute have finalized the third EPA-funded report in a series entitled A Living… MORE ›
8th Annual Santa Cruz River Research Days
What We Do in the Santa Cruz The Santa Cruz River Initiative is focused on restoration of watershed health with an aim to improve local water supplies. Our overall goals are to: secure… MORE ›
Endangered Fish Rediscovered in Santa Cruz River
Return Demonstrates Role of Recycled Wastewater in Ecosystem Recovery “We have seen such an improvement in water quality from a 2009 upgrade to the international wastewater treatment plant that we knew Gila topminnow… MORE ›