Western Dispatch July 2010

Poking and Prying with a Purpose
The Vital Role of Research in Community-Based Resource Conservation

Friends,

The role that research plays in driving sound resource conservation policy cannot be underestimated. Crunching numbers and digging through mounds of data may not be the most glamorous part of our work, but it is clearly vital to achieving long-lasting conservation outcomes.

The Sonoran Institute's second "annual" Living River report, which charts the health of the Upper Santa Cruz River in southern Arizona, is an excellent example of how applied research can help to determine if the river is healthy and functioning. This recently released publication also serves as a "report card" to inform and inspire state policy-makers and community leaders in their efforts to nurture the river back to health.

"Research is formalized curiosity. It is poking and prying with a purpose." - Zora Neale Hurston

Tracking Changes in River Health

In the Southwest, though rivers represent less than two percent of the landscape, they support the highest abundance of plants and animals. Rivers also offer important benefits to surrounding communities, such as slowing flood flows, filtering drinking water, providing natural sanctuaries for spiritual fulfillment, and contributing to local economies.

To begin understanding river health, we must first identify essential components of river health and determine how they are changing. Over the past decade, many groups have been monitoring a 20-mile stretch of the Santa Cruz River between Rio Rico and Amado, Arizona, locally referred to as the Upper Santa Cruz. Last year, the Institute's Living River report summarized monitoring efforts during the 2008 water year. Results indicated that poor water quality degraded the health of the river. However, significant improvements in water quality were expected following the 2009 upgrade of the Nogales International Wastewater Treatment Plant in Rio Rico, Arizona.

Signs of Improvement...and Concerns

This year's Living River report indicates that the overall river health showed signs of improvement, and the riparian ecosystem remained relatively stable since the 2008 water year. The current report examined river conditions from October 1, 2008 to September 30, 2009.

We found good news for the river: an increased presence of fish; lower concentrations of nutrients; and higher levels of dissolved oxygen that is key to supporting life in the river. As we had anticipated, much of this progress occurred after the upgrade to the Nogales International Wastewater Treatment Plant was completed in March 2009.

Our report also underscored ongoing water quality issues on the Upper Santa Cruz. E. coli bacteria levels are a continuing source of concern for humans wading in the river, and concentrations of metals continue to be an issue for fish and other aquatic wildlife. Research to identify the sources of these contaminants is already underway.

The Role of Research in Charting the Health of Rivers

The goal of the Living River assessment series is to establish a baseline understanding of river health and then deepen a dialogue about conservation and management actions on the Upper Santa Cruz River. The Institute's Emily Brott, who leads our project work on the Santa Cruz, explains our role well: "Expanding the role of science and enhancing our communities' understanding of the ecological, hydrological, and human connections within the riparian system will enable the Sonoran Institute and partners to achieve our common goal of stewarding and enhancing the Santa Cruz River."

I invite you to join our efforts to preserve and protect this ecologically, economically, and culturally significant river by reading the latest installment of The Living River: Charting the Health of the Upper Santa River, which can be found on our website at www.sonoraninstitute.org. You will find ways to contribute to research, monitoring, and conservation efforts along the Upper Santa Cruz River. You can also support our conservation efforts with a donation. Donate today through our website.

Sincerely,