Please plan on coming to the Arizona Riparian Council’s Fall meeting, October 7 and 8, 2006. At this year’s very informal meeting we will camp at The Nature Conservancy’s (TNC) 6,600 acre preserve located along the beautiful San Pedro River. On Saturday afternoon, we will hear Dave Harris and Ken Wiley, both from TNC, talk about the proposed land exchange between Resolution Copper Company and the Tonto National Forest, which includes the possible creation of a new 3,000 acre mesquite bosque refuge – known as the 7B Ranch, and the proposed 35,000 + housing development near Mammoth. Diane Laush, Biologist with the Bureau of Reclamation, will give us an overview of their Conservation Easement on Three Links Farm (located on the San Pedro near Benson) and the status of the southwestern willow flycatcher on the lower San Pedro. Ruth Valencia, Senior Environmental Scientist from the Salt River Project, will talk about the Roosevelt Habitat Conservation Plan mitigation properties.
After the speakers we will walk to ponds where Reclamation is rearing Gila topminnow, razorback suckers, and desert pupfish. Flood flows in late July and early August have made some changes in the riparian vegetation along the San Pedro and Aravaipa Creek. We can hike to Aravaipa Creek and see the effects of the flood flows that came through late July. We can also hike along the San Pedro and do some birding or explore the river. Dinner will be a cookout of San Pedro hamburgers, from cattle raised within the San Pedro area. Please indicate on the attached form if you want a vegetarian burger.
On Sunday, Rob Burton, the San Pedro Preserve Manager, will lead a hike to explore the 3,000-acre 7B property – this is located south of the Preserve, across the river from the town of Mammoth. This area is one of the largest mesquite bosque habitats in the world.
A $10/person fee (children under 12 are free) should be sent to Cindy Zisner to reserve a spot for you and your family – kids are definitely invited. A form is attached for you to include with your payment. TNC asks that you leave your dogs and other pets at home. If you really want to bring them, please call Rob Burton at 520-357-6076 so he can tell you what you need to do to ensure the safety of your pets.
Time to Meet: 1:00 pm at the TNC San Pedro Preserve, located northwest of the town of Dudleyville.
What to bring: Camping gear (tent, sleeping bag), folding chair, river shoes (if you wade into the river), water to drink. There is water available for washing. Bring food for breakfast and lunch for Sunday. We anticipate the day-time and night-time temperatures at this time to still be warm. Bring plenty of water to drink.
ARC will provide: Hamburgers, veggie burgers, chips, salsa, veggie platter, cookies, dessert, and drinks for dinner Saturday night. Port-a-potties will be available near the camp site – an old pecan grove. The Preserve has picnic tables that are under a cover along with a barbeque grill.
The San Pedro River’s cottonwood-shaded corridor supports about 350 bird species and provides critical stopover habitat for up to 4 million migrating birds each year. The San Pedro flows north from the Mexican state of Sonora into Arizona to join the Gila River, one of only two major rivers that flows north out of Mexico into the United States. It also is one of the last few large undammed large rivers in the Southwest.
The lower San Pedro River (from I-10 north to the Gila River confluence) contains some of the best riparian habitat remaining in the Sonoran Desert ecoregion. It is a haven for wildlife species especially migratory birds including the federally listed endangered southwestern willow flycatcher. Several tributaries to the San Pedro still provide high quality habitat for native fish.