The 21st annual San Pedro River mapping project was a success

More than 100 volunteers turned out for the 21st annual wet/dry mapping project on the San Pedro River last month. This event, which is supported by The Nature Conservancy (TNC), involves teams of volunteers wading through the shallow water to record wet and dry sections of the river during the driest time of the year. The data is critical to the CCRN for planning projects and evaluating benefits.

Volunteers collect data on the San Pedro River during the mapping event in June.

Recording of data is simple with handheld GPS units, and the wet and dry points are then mapped using GIS software. Now with 20 years of data, trends have emerged, including the improving trend near Palominas.

Sections of the San Pedro have seen improving trends.

“The fact that over 100 people help map hundreds of miles of the river and its tributaries, when it’s the hottest, driest time to be out there year after year, attests to how much people along the river care about it,” Holly Richter, TNC hydrologist and CCRN member, said. “It’s really heartening to see what can be done when many different communities come together toward a common purpose.”

Read more about the annual San Pedro River mapping event on the Herald/Review webpage. See the results of past wet/dry mapping at the Center for Science and Public Policy here.

Mission

The mission of the Cochise Conservation & Recharge Network (CCRN) is to implement a regional network of land and water management projects that result in a healthy watershed, flowing San Pedro River, conservation of water resources, and a vibrant local economy.

Member Organizations

The CCRN was formed in 2015. The members are Cochise County, the City of Sierra Vista, The Nature Conservancy, Hereford Natural Resources Conservation District, the City of Bisbee, Fort Huachuca, and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.