Rio Reimagined Landscape Scale Collaboration: Lower Gila River Collaborative, Flood Control District of Maricopa County: Pilot Projects, and Arizona Game and Fish: Arlington Wildlife Area
Melissa McCann1, Kelly Wolff1
1Lower Gila River Collaborative
Healing of 85 miles of the Salt and Gila Rivers takes tremendous collaboration. Efforts to protect, enhance and restore these rivers presents a variety of challenges including, but not limited to: managing invasive vegetation, urban development, fire and flooding, drought and limited water availability, and the impending arrival of a beetle that could increase fire risk and habitat loss for threatened and endangered species. The focus of these efforts includes reaches that flow through the 6 cities and 3 tribal land areas and includes a variety of habitat and diversity in each. Efforts such as these are necessary to ensure a more functional river system that provides for: critical habitat for wildlife species, a diversity of recreational opportunities, the local economy and community benefits and supports biological diversity in the Sonoran Desert. We will take a look at the overview and the three identified focus areas in more detail as we journey through a variety of interests, projects, and communities. The focus will highlight the west valley efforts. You will see how multiple efforts come together with a shared vision and collaboration.