Verde River
The Verde River is a valuable resource in Arizona. In a state where perpetual flowing water is rare, the riparian haven of the Verde River stands out against the dry uplands through which it meanders. The river begins below the damn at Sullivan Lake, southwest of Flagstaff. It twist and turns southeastward 195 miles through private, state, tribal, and federal lands to the confluence with the Salt River. The river and vegetation provide habitat for many wildlife and fish species. Many aquatic, terrestrial, arboreal and aerial animal species depend upon the river and its streams (“Verde River Watershed Conservation Plan,” 2009). Included within the Verde River’s flora and fauna are plants and animal listed as threatened or endangered by Arizona or the federal government.
Watershed Conservation Plan
The Verde River Watershed Conservation Plan is an effort by The Nature Conservancy to implement the most effective actions for maintaining or restoring the native plants and animals of this watershed. While this preservation is vital to wildlife and recreation in Arizona, it is also necessary to the vigor of the river’s water flow, which serves many communities downstream. The constant need for water is placing pressure on the watershed. The looming development of the aquifer which feeds the Verde River could potentially reduce the flow of water not only to the downstream communities, but to the plant and animals that rely on it. During the yearlong planning process, the Nature Conservancy identified the need for an integrated management of groundwater and surface water by developing an effective surface water management structure that would benefit long-term needs of humans and those of the natural system. Their main focus is on the riparian and aquatic systems, due to their biological importance to the area.
Conservation Values in the Verde
The Verde River is one of the largest streams in Arizona and the ancestral home of the Yavapai-Apache Nation and the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation. Located near its terminus are Two Bureau of Reclamation storage reservoirs, where water is stored before being released into the Salt River for use by downstream municipal, agricultural, and industrial entities. It also provides 40% of the surface water delivered to the Phoenix area through the Salt River Project. The river is central to the way of life for the residents of Clarkdale, Cottonwood, and Camp Verde. Numerous streams of the Verde also support the vibrant communities of Prescott, Sedona, McGuireville, and Cornville. The Verde River is the home to the desert nesting bald eagle, the remaining populations of southwestern willow flycatcher and yellow- billed cuckoo, rare species of reptiles and amphibians, and at least thirteen native fish including seven that are now considered threatened or endangered. It is also home to the bobcat, grey fox, coyote, jackrabbit, mountain lion, beaver, and river otter, a species that has been lost from most of Arizona. According to The Nature Conservancy 2009,
“The Verde River and its tributaries contain some of the most extensive acreage of Fremont cottonwood-Goodding willow and mixed broadleaf riparian forest remaining in Arizona. Riparian forests are critically important for wildlife, and Fremont cottonwood-Goodding willow forest is globally rare. A 1993/1994 aerial survey by the Arizona Game and Fish Department found that the Verde and major tributaries contained 599 acres of cottonwood-willow, 2,688 acres of mixed broadleaf, 1,044 acres of mesquite, and 423 acres of emergent wetland” (p.4)
Conservation Success
In 2008, the Conservancy and other partners came to the agreement of building a conservation easement which will forever protect the 470 acres surrounding the headwaters of the Verde. The Conservancy has also partnered with other landowners and conservancy associates to protect sensitive areas of the river from development so that they can maintain a part of the functioning landscape. They are currently working with the Verde River ditch managers to have automated ditch systems installed in order to efficiently deliver water to landowners while conserving water for the river. They are now able to control upstream water use to create water flushes that are crucial to spawning fish and cottonwood trees ("About the Verde River in Arizona / The Nature Conservancy,” 2014). The irrigation techniques and agreements have yielded a positive return of the Verde agriculture, fish, and wildlife. The Verde River Watershed Conservation Plan has provided a strong framework for conserving the native plants and animals but, most importantly, it has raised awareness among the citizens and community leaders.

References
About the Verde River in Arizona / The Nature Conservancy. (2014). Retrieved from http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/arizona/placeswep rotect/verde-river.xml Nature Conservancy. 2009. Verde River Watershed Conservation Plan. A report by The Nature Conservancy, Tucson, AZ. 50 pages.