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Where
is it located?
The 100-mile long (only
14-miles are perennial) river begins its journey from Prescott, Arizona and
extends south until it reaches the confluence of the Gila River. The
Hassayampa River flows only underground, and then flows above ground
throughout the year at the Hassayampa Preserve in Wickenburg, Arizona. This
is such a spectacular place that the Nature Conservancy made it into a
preserve back in 1996. These conservation efforts have extended into the
watershed, which is of crucial importance for water management to ensure
the life of the River.
What is it's Importance?
Riparian areas (cottonwood-willow) are one of the most rare and
threatened forests in North America. And what is most amazing is that the
dry desert of Arizona supports beautiful lush riparian areas. The
Hassayampa is so very unique because of its reliance on groundwater, which
happens to be a renewable resource, if managed properly, and unfortunately
is a top necessity for all those who call this portion of Arizona home.
According to The Nature
Conservancy, approximately 90% of riparian areas are gone or
have been damaged in the last 100 years, largely from lack of water
resources. The ones who feel this the most are Arizona’s wildlife of which
close to 80% need these riparian area for their survival.
What to do at the Preserve?
This River is a birder’s paradise. In fact, bird banding is a
frequent event at the Preserve. This is done to get some real data on
migratory vs. indigenous species that rely on this riparian area. Hiking
and photography are a must do at the preserve’s 333 acres. Take a moment
just to see a touch of the wildlife that call the Preserve Home.
http://www.southwestbirders.com/p033002.htm
Photograph by Southwest
birders and the Nature Conservancy
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What is "Rio Salado" ?
It means Salt River to the Native Americans who happen to own a significant
portion of this riverbed and its corridor in Arizona. The Rio Saldo is both
an ephemeral (temporary) and a perennial (flows year round) waterway. The
River begins its flow from Roosevelt Lake in Gila County, eastern Arizona
and extends southwest until it first reaches the confluence of the Verde
River, then the confluence Agua Fria River, and finally the confluence of
the Hassayampa River in western Arizona.
 What
makes this river system so amazing is its extreme changes from lush
beautiful canyons to flat dry riverbed. In the higher elevations, the Salt
River Canyon is sought after by many travelers and visitors for its
breathtaking views. In the lower elevations, the Salt River is a dry desert
wash with little to no vegetation. The River has yet a third unique feature
known as the Tempe Town Lake that sits between a thriving wetland area and
a dry riverbed in the City of Tempe, Arizona
Photos courtesy of The City of Phoenix
The portion of the ephemeral area of the Rio Saldo that extends through
three major cities (Mesa, Tempe, and Phoenix) is under restoration efforts
by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The focus of the project is to bring
back the river’s natural riparian ecosystem, which will bring habitat to
many species such as fish, fowl, and both indigenous and migratory avian
species. Currently, a couple of wetland ecosystems thrive throughout the
ephemeral areas (yes, you read that correctly). One of which occurs just
below a major highway interstate stack (the 101 and 202 interchange).
Everything from fish to fowl to herons, egrets, and cranes consider this
portion of the Rio Salado their home and/or hang out. It’s wonderful to see
that wildlife can adapt to urbanization and live among the freeway noise
and the activities of adjacent sand and gravel operations and waste water
treatment plants. This brings great hope to the River restoration attempt.
How do you restore a river?
As we know we can’t create water and the Rio Salado is largely
ephemeral. So, one may ask how a restoration project can take place?
Interestingly enough, the Rio Salado restoration efforts will be supported
almost 100% by effluent (run off) from the upper watershed that consists of
wastewater treatment plants and agricultural activities. As such, this
runoff will begin in the wetland areas, which can then be naturally
transferred into a usable water source by other vegetation and wildlife
species in other areas of the River as either surface water, but more
realistically ground water because of evaporation and percolation (soil
texture) issues.
Photos courtesy of The City of Phoenix
So, as you can see the Rio Salado is a very unique waterway with an
extremely diverse range of ecosystems. It’s a river system that extends
through major cities and under major highways all the while containing
wetland, riparian, lake, and desert scrub ecosystems.
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