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A Conservation Success in the Sonoran Desert

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A Conservation Success in the Sonoran Desert East Verde River CONTINUED FROM COVER DAVE JENSEN DAVE Rim, which tops out at nearly 8,000 feet. More Mexican spotted owl and Chiricahua leopard than five million people visit the Tonto each frog, along with numerous species of reptiles, year. amphibians and birds. One of the primary access points into this spectacular area is the Doll Baby Trailhead, which can only be reached through Doll Baby In arid Arizona, these two Ranch. Had WRC not purchased the ranch, this streams, along with a handful access would almost certainly have been closed for good. Instead, it is now in public hands and of other crucial rivers like SUMMER 2019 NEWS FROM WESTERN RIVERS CONSERVANCY ISSUE 43 permanently open to all. the Salt and Gila, shoulder If there’s someone (or something) to thank for this outcome, it’s the East Verde River. This the region’s fragile desert is what moved WRC to buy the ranch in the first biodiversity. A Conservation Success in This Issue: place. In doing so, we conserved a mile-long East Verde River, AZ stretch of this critical desert stream. The Verde WRC successfully conserves a system is home to at least 10 native warm-water Conservation of Doll Baby Ranch is a victory the Sonoran Desert SUCCESS! fish species, many of which are endangered. for fish and wildlife and for the many people mile of the East Verde, plus crucial Both the Verde and East Verde are lifelines for who visit this rugged and beautiful corner of access to the Mazatzal Wilderness WRC Expands the diverse wildlife of the Sonoran Desert, in- the Desert Southwest to hike, hunt, ride horses, Park on John Day cluding Rocky Mountain elk, mule deer, whitetail explore trails and dip their toes in a wild and Fall River, CA deer, bobcat, coyote, mountain lion, black bear, scenic river. g A new effort to conserve a reach Western Rivers Conservancy just added of one of North America’s most 117 acres to Oregon’s Cottonwood Can- important spring-fed rivers yon State Park. In March we transferred the former Kirkpatrick Homestead to the Rio Grande, CO Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, Funding brings the creation of a significantly improving the state park’s new city park closer to completion ability to manage a remote boater access in the San Luis Valley site roughly 10 miles downstream of the park’s main entrance. Set in eastern Oregon’s sagebrush Kahler and Nason Creeks, WA country, Cottonwood Canyon is one of WRC launches another project in Oregon’s largest and wildest state parks. the Wenatchee River basin The heart of the park is the dramatic John Day River and its stunning basalt canyon. John Day River, OR Over 16 miles of the river are now protect- Improving management and ed within the park and open to the public. adding lands to Oregon’s The John Day is home to a critical wild SORENSENDAN Cottonwood Canyon State Park steelhead run and Oregon’s largest herd of bighorn sheep, along with elk, pronghorn This spring, Western Rivers Conservancy successfully protected Doll Baby Ranch, including a mile of the East Verde River and a crucial recreational access point into Arizona’s vast Mazatzal Wilderness. and a variety of gamebirds and songbirds. The river is also home to a crucial run of Chinook salmon. Throughout the year, hik- East Verde River ers, anglers, hunters, boaters and birders Arizona revel in the remote setting of the park, which lies adjacent to vast BLM Wilderness t’s official! Western Rivers Conservancy has per- is the least-disturbed arm of the Verde River. In arid Study Areas that make the park so wild. manently protected a mile of the East Verde River Arizona, these two streams, along with a handful of WRC created Cottonwood Canyon and a recreational gateway to some of Arizona’s other crucial rivers like the Salt and Gila, shoulder the State Park in partnership with OPRD in I most beloved wild trails, streams and outdoor region’s fragile desert biodiversity. 2013, and we have long sought to add this recreation areas. Recognizing the need to protect these rare adjacent property to improve management In March, WRC successfully transferred the 149- freshwater lifelines, Congress established the Tonto at the downstream end. Now that we have, acre Doll Baby Ranch to the adjacent Tonto National National Forest in 1905. Today, it remains one of the stage is set for OPRD to enhance a Forest, forever securing a key access point to more the country’s largest national forests, home to the DAN SORENSENDAN crucial boating access site that anglers, than 250 square miles of public lands, including a vast Mazatzal Wilderness, the Verde Wild and Scenic River hunters and paddlers rely on for trips down A key access point into the 252,500-acre Mazatzal Wilderness is through Doll Baby Ranch, which WRC forever expanse of the eastern Mazatzal Wilderness. Corridor and the Arizona National Scenic Trail. The protected when it transferred the property to the Tonto National Forest this spring. the Wild and Scenic John Day River. g The ranch, which we bought in 2017, traces a mile setting is as stunning as it is varied, from saguaro cac- of the East Verde River. A haven for fish and wildlife tus forests along the low-elevation banks of the Verde PORTLAND SAN FRANCISCO DENVER OLYMPIA on the edge of the Sonoran Desert, the East Verde River, to the pine-studded heights of the Mogollon (503) 241-0151 (415) 767-2001 (303) 645-4953 (360) 528-2012 www.westernrivers.org CONTINUED ON BACK LEE RENTZLEE Colorado New Effort on California’s Renowned Fall River One Step Closer to Fall River a New Community California Park on the Rio pring-fed streams are the rarest of rivers. Born from underground Grande Ssprings rather than runoff, they flow steadily year-round, with crystal-clear In Colorado’s San Luis Valley, we are forging water that stays consistently cold. Classic ahead with an exciting project to create a “spring creeks” have gradual descents, riverfront park in the city of Alamosa that and they meander slowly through the will unite community, conservation and well- landscape with postcard-perfect laziness. ness on the banks of the Rio Grande. This They’re rich in nutrients, insects and bird winter, the project received a critical fund- life and provide some of the most fertile ATKINSON VAL ing boost from Great Outdoors Colorado RENTZLEE trout habitat in the West. On California’s fabled Fall River, two anglers fish a stretch of premier trout water in front of the property that Western (GOCO), which ranked it as its number-one On Northern California’s storied Fall Rivers Conservancy is working to protect. Open Space Project in 2018. Near Washington’s Lake Wenatchee, WRC is protecting key stretches of Nason Creek (above) and all of Kahler Creek, River, one of the largest spring creeks in two streams that feed the Wenatchee River and provide crucial habitat for salmon, steelhead and bull trout. The Rio Grande runs through Alamo- the country, Western Rivers Conservancy wintering ducks and geese stage here the Sacramento system with a million sa, but the river can be difficult to access. has kicked off an effort to preserve some during the spring migration, drawing bird acre-feet of reliably cold flows each year. Several years ago, the city set its sights on Expanding a Stronghold for of the best fish and bird habitat in the enthusiasts from far and wide. Venerated by anglers, the river supports improving residents’ health and wellness by state. We also hope to create some of the If we’re successful, conserving Island California’s largest Blue Ribbon, spring making the river easier to get to and enjoy. only public access to the Fall River, which Ranch will protect four miles of the Fall creek trout fishery and was one of the WRC is now making that vision a reality. We Imperiled Fish in Washington is as well-known for its exclusivity as it is River and three miles of the Tule and original 16 streams designated as Wild bought two properties from local landown- for its blue-ribbon trout fishery. Little Tule Rivers. The project would Trout Waters by the California Department WRC has set out to conserve the ers who share this goal, and ultimately will Kahler and Nason Creeks set the stage for much-needed habitat of Fish and Wildlife. transfer the lands to the city. 1,158-acre Island Ranch, which is nestled restoration, including rejuvenating the WRC is currently working with the The result will be Alamosa Riparian Washington between the Fall River and its two largest ranch’s wetlands, improving levees local community and the Fall River Park, a beautiful tract of public open space tributaries, the Tule and Little Tule rivers. to protect water quality and further Resource Conservation District to explore along more than a mile of the Rio Grande, n north-central Washington, Western mountain goat and pine marten. The property adjoins Ahjumawi Lava enhancing the property’s waterfowl ways we might conserve this outstanding where tall cottonwoods will shade trails for Rivers Conservancy is launching its third By protecting Kahler Creek, WRC will Springs State Park and the protected habitat. While the area is best known for property and, if at all possible, create pedestrians, cyclists, birders, runners and conservation effort on Nason Creek, notch another victory for the Wenatchee McArthur Swamp, and it sits at the heart its exceptional bird diversity and rainbow new public access to the Fall River.
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