Releases from Pima County support two long-flowing sections of the river in north Tucson and Marana, and Tucson Water’s Santa Cruz River Heritage Project has created a new ribbon of green in downtown Tucson. And thankfully, both county and the city have promised to keep water in the river long into the future as part of the Conservation Effluent Pool program.
Researchers from the University of Arizona, the Sonoran Institute, and other organizations have been monitoring the return of fish and wildlife in recent years, and the news is good. Numerous fish, toad, and turtle species, and nearly 200 species of aquatic invertebrates, have returned to the river. By visiting the Santa Cruz and using community science apps, such as iNaturalist, you can contribute our growing knowledge of the river’s biodiversity.
