Tumacacori NHP River Cleanup a Ton of Success!

Tumacácori NHP River Cleanup a Ton of Success                                by Jason Welborn, TUMA Biotech

For ten sweltering days during the month of September, Southwest Conservation Corps (SCC) Crew #130 worked to remove more than one ton of garbage from the Santa Cruz River in southern Arizona.  Why so much trash in the river?  During the summer and winter monsoons, intense rainstorms carry debris and garbage into the park, creating dams and redirecting water across the floodplain within Tumacácori NHP.  These fast-moving flows also deposit large woody debris on fences and must be removed before the next big storm to prevent a collapse of the fence and the arrival of trespass cattle into the park.  The hard-working SCC crew, made up of six members and two co-leaders, was able to remove over one ton of trash from the stream channel and riparian areas during their stint in the park.  They also successfully removed debris from the boundary fence and accomplished trail maintenance assignments in the park, all the while dealing safely with daily temperatures above 100 degrees.

Why is the river cleanup important?  The Santa Cruz River has its headwaters in the San Rafael basin in southern Arizona and flows south into Mexico; it then makes a northerly U-turn and returns to the United States via a wastewater treatment plant located at the international border.  The river has sustained human populations for over 3500 years and with its current effluent-generated flow it continues to replenish groundwater aquifers and support a riparian area comprised of cottonwood-willow forests.  This is the most rare forest type in North America, and the one-mile stretch of this stream and associated forest contained within the park supports native fish populations and provides habitat for numerous mammals, reptiles, amphibians and over 200 bird species.   Wildlife viewing opportunities attract naturalists from all over the world, including thousands of birders in the hopes of catching a glimpse of species such as the endangered southwestern willow flycatcher, colorful elegant trogon or reclusive yellow-billed cuckoo.  These visitors come to the region during certain periods of the year in order to take advantage of its climate and unique habitat structure… not the people – the birds!

The riparian area is a sensitive resource, and garbage removal is an ongoing activity at TUMA as it is an important part of managing a healthy riparian ecosystem in an arid land.  This marks the fourth year that TUMA has partnered with SCC to complete conservation projects and we look forward to next year.  Thanks to SCC Crew #130 for all of your hard work!