Success Stories

The Verde River is the longest free flowing river in Arizona. Lush with life, the Verde River basin contains over 1,000 major springs. It is a critical flyway for migrating birds and, along with the Salt River, provides nesting and breeding habitat for bald eagles. 

Communities from Prescott to metro Phoenix rely on it for drinking water, and it is home to one of the rarest forests in North America—the Fremont/cottonwood/Goodding gallery forest. Protecting this forest is critical as there are only 20 left worldwide. 

The Verde is also partially protected with a federal Wild and Scenic River designation. 

Yet the Verde River also faces significant threats.  As hotter temperatures fuel an expanding wildfire season, the Verde faces the additional challenges of extreme weather. 

For over eight years, Forever Our Rivers has provided funds to local nonprofit Friends of the Verde River.  A central effort is underway to minimize fire danger and habitat loss by destroying invasive, fire-prone plants. 

While the Friends annually treat at least seven different types of invasives, species like salt cedar and giant reed are particularly damaging.  They disrupt the delicate balance of river ecosystems impacting native plants and fish, degrade water quality and increase the risk of very hot, out-of-control wildfires. 

Salt cedar consumes large quantities of water, much more than native species. It alters the natural flow of the river by trapping sediment and decreases water quality by introducing salinity into the soil. 

Giant Reed’s stem and leaves contain a variety of toxic chemicals creating landscapes that are no longer suitable as food or nesting habitat for wildlife. Giant Reed doesn’t provide nearly the shade that native cottonwoods do, resulting in warmer water temperatures that are not good for fish. 

Without thriving native species like cottonwoods and willows, rivers lose their ability to support wildlife, from butterflies and eagles to trout and river otter. Water quality and quantity decline, affecting entire communities who depend on this water source.  These invasive species are so adaptable to new areas, they are even capable of causing extinctions.

Fortunately, the Friends have made significant advances, restoring thousands of acres of native wildlife habitat annually. And they are not backing down. By collaborating with private landowners and public land managers they increase their impact, and since 2010, they have removed invasive from over 10,400 acres.  That’s great news for this beautiful river.

Saving an American Jewel