In February 2023, Sonoran Institute presented at the University of Arizona’s Water Resources Research Center’s Seminar Series. The Santa Cruz River has long been the backbone of the region’s natural and cultural heritage.… MORE ›
This is part two of a series – read part one here. Here, the journey continues of water along the Santa Cruz River’s course, taken up by a distant cousin by union to… MORE ›
Last year, in response to former Governor Ducey’s call for action to address Arizona’s water challenges, the Legislature passed bipartisan, multifaceted legislation to tackle a variety of water issues. As enacted, the new… MORE ›
In August 2022, five of the largest water providers in the Colorado River Basin signed onto a Memorandum of Understanding outlining their commitments to water conservation, efficiency, and reuse in response to intensifying… MORE ›
For many of its miles, the Santa Cruz River is a dry sandy bed inhabited by tough desert creatures and vegetation. From headwaters in the Sky Islands of southeastern Arizona to its confluence… MORE ›
“The cultural history of the Santa Cruz is a rich, complex, and fascinating one. For starters, the Santa Cruz is the reason we can call Tucson home. And its waters have supported people… MORE ›
Sonoran Institute works to ensure flowing rivers, healthy landscapes, and thriving communities in the basin. On April 19, American Rivers released its annual endangered rivers report with the Colorado River topping its list.… MORE ›
On Arizona Gives Day and Every Day “Forty-five years ago, I was fortunate to spend two weeks on a four-person raft traveling the Colorado River and hiking the canyons. It was a time… MORE ›
Diverse leadership and gender equity are essential to innovation and success when it comes to tackling climate change and building healthier communities. Today is International Women’s Day, and we are checking in with… MORE ›
Bringing past participants together to celebrate collaboration and progress In January, we hosted a Growing Water Smart reunion with our Colorado and Arizona workshop alumni. Over 100 program participants joined the online event… MORE ›
Growing Water Smart Award with APA Colorado We work with the Colorado Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA Colorado) to recognize exemplary Colorado communities that are integrating water and land use planning… MORE ›
Last month our Santa Cruz River team was invited to do an Ask Me Anything on the Tucson subreddit. The online group is focused on Tucson-specific issues and news and has more than… MORE ›
Baldwin pilots new program that saves water, improves parks, and addresses climate inequities The woman-led team at the Green Stormwater Infrastructure program at City of Tucson – Tucson Water is getting ready to tackle some big sustainability issues.… MORE ›
By all measures, this year’s monsoon is making up for lost time. Historical records from the Santa Cruz River valley are checkered wildly. One year’s entry marks the river as “full of water”… MORE ›
It’s one of your pet peeves, and ours too! As every visitor to the Santa Cruz River knows, trash is a persistent environmental issue. Our community has long brought up trash as something… MORE ›
“Many different research projects are working in tandem to create a better environment for the natural world, but also for the one we carve out for ourselves.” Santa Cruz River Research Days brings together… MORE ›
Virtual event on Thurs. March 25 and Fri. March 26, 2021 Scientists, artists, resource managers and community leaders will join to share Santa Cruz River research and conservation efforts as well as natural… MORE ›
On November 13, Sonoran Institute coordinated the annual fish survey at four locations along the Santa Cruz to determine which species are currently in the river. This multi-partner effort included staff from Arizona… MORE ›
In 2015, we found about a dozen endangered Gila topminnow in the Santa Cruz River near Tubac. If you had told me then, that in 2020 I would help catch hundreds of the… MORE ›
In the arid West, there is much uncertainty around water. Falling water supplies. Growing cities and towns. Competing needs of farmers, cities, and tribes. Having enough water for wildlife. These factors underscore that we live in a world rife with uncertainty—who would have guessed we… MORE ›