arizona.sierraclub.org grand canyon chapter summer 2013 ......aug 15, 2013 · committee’s...

ArizonA’s WAtersheds: the Verde, GiLA, And sALt

Explore, enjoy, and protect the planet

http://arizona.sierraclub.org Grand Canyon Chapter Summer 2013

See Verde continued on pg. 12.

The Verde, Gila, and Salt watersheds. Maps created by Scott Sprague.

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Help save resources and money by signing up for the electronic newsletter! Send an email with your full name and membership ID (8-digit number on your mailing label) to [email protected] or fill out the short form at http://bit.ly/e-echo. You will receive an email when issues are available online.

Interstates

Tributaries

The Verde Watershed is one of the most significant ecological resources in the Southwest. The upper Verde

River travels through approximately 37 miles of this watershed from the river’s head-waters near Paulden to Clarkdale. This por-tion of the river supports some of the best remaining riparian and native fish habitat in Arizona, so the Sierra Club Water Sentinels work hard to protect the upper Verde.

The Water Sentinels have measured water quality every two months since 2007 at seven points along the upper and middle Verde. The “State of the Verde” report ana-lyzes the water quality in detail, but the bottom line is that the Verde water quality is pretty good and easily meets the Clean Water Act standards for body contact, with occasional exceptions for high E. coli in the middle Verde.

Water Sentinels: Upper Verde ThreatenedBy Gary Beverly

On the upper Verde, Water Sentinels have measured flow monthly since 2007. The complete results are detailed in the Sier-ra Club Water Sentinels report “Going With The Flow,” released last month. Both reports can be downloaded from http://arizona. sierraclub.org/conservation/water/index.asp.

The flow results portend trouble for the upper 25 miles of the river. The monthly average flow at the U.S. Geological Survey’s Paulden gage (mile 9.8) has been less than the long-term average for the last five years. At Perkinsville Bridge, 15 miles downstream from the Paulden gage, summer base flow is only nine cubic feet per second (cfs). In only 15 miles, more than half of the base flow disappears due to a combination of factors, including evapotranspiration and infiltra-

Seligman

Sedona

Payson

Prescott

Wickenburg

Phoenix

Florence

Ajo

Safford

Globe

Alpine

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2 Sierra Club Grand Canyon Chapter


Canyon EchoSummer 2013 Vol. 49 No. 3

Canyon Echo © 2013. Canyon Echo (ISSN 0164-7024) is published quarterly for Sierra Club mem-bers by the Sierra Club Grand Canyon Chapter, 202 E. McDowell Rd., Ste. 277, Phoenix, AZ 85004. Phone: 602-253-8633, Fax: 602-258-6533. Printed at Valley Newspapers.

Front page banner designed by Erika Gronek.

Printed on 100% recycled paper with soy ink.

EDITOR: Tiffany Sprague602-253-9140, [email protected]

DEDICATED VOLUNTEERSOutings Editor: Jerry Nelson

602-279-4668, [email protected]

Mailing Organizers: Don Begalke, Jerry Nelson

Publications Committee: Priscilla Benbrook, Jon Findley, Kurt Florman, Chris Gehlker,

Tricia Gerrodette, Renée Guillory, Tyler Kokjohn, Jerry Nelson,

Carole Piszczek-Sheffield, Mike Smith

Publications Chair: Keith Bagwell520-623-0269, [email protected]

Webmaster: John Sheffield [email protected]

SUBSCRIPTIONS: Annual dues to the Sierra Club are $39 (including $1 for Canyon Echo). Subscription rate for non-members is $10. Send check payable to Sierra Club - Canyon Echo, 202 E. McDowell Rd., Ste. 277, Phoenix, AZ 85004.

ADVERTISING: Advertising is sold on a first-come, space-available basis. The editor reserves the right to refuse any advertisements, and inclusion of advertisements does not imply endorsement by the Sierra Club. All interactions between advertisers and consumers are solely the responsi-bilities of those parties.

SUBMISSIONS: Send electronic or hard copies to the editor (include a self-addressed stamped envelope for return of hard copies). Indicate copyright or Creative Commons preference. We are not responsible for lost or damaged items. Writer’s guidelines can be obtained by contacting the editor. All rights to publication of articles in this issue are reserved. The deadline is the first day of the month preceding the issue. Opinions expressed in Canyon Echo are those of the contributors and do not necessarily reflect the official views or policies of the Sierra Club.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes and postage due to Sierra Club Member Services, c/o Canyon Echo, P.O. Box 421041, Palm Coast, FL 32142-6417. Periodi-cals postage paid at Phoenix, AZ.

Arizona Chapter Action DirectoryChapter Director Sandy Bahr 602-253-8633 [email protected] Chapter CoordinatorTiffany Sprague 602-253-9140 [email protected] Canyon Conservation Program CoordinatorAlicyn Gitlin 928-774-6514 [email protected] Conservation Program Coordinator and Coal to Clean EnergyDan Millis 520-620-6401 [email protected] Sentinels Program CoordinatorSteve Pawlowski 602-254-9330 [email protected]

CHAPTER OFFICES & COMMITTEE CHAIRS

Palo Verde: Mike Brady Saguaro: Jim WilkeyPlateau: Dick Hingson Sedona/Verde Valley: Carole Piszczek-SheffieldRincon: Randy Serraglio Yavapai: Gary Beverly

2013 Group Voting Representatives to Chapter Ex-Com (see pp. 12–13 for contact information):

(xc) 2013 Chapter Executive Committee (Ex-Com) members

Chapter AnnouncementsJUL 8, AUG 12, SEP 9 (MON) 7 p.m. Political Committee meetings. Do you love Arizona but feel left out by the political direction the state is taking? Your voice for reason and recognition of the role of conservation can be even louder if you participate in our Political Committee! For more information, contact Elna Otter at 520-212-9736 or [email protected].

JUL 23 and SEP 24 (TUE) 6 p.m. Energy Committee gatherings. Discussions, programs, and field trips encompass various energy activities, including renewable energy and energy efficiency campaigns nationally and locally. Everyone is invited to participate, no matter how much or little you know about energy issues. Specific time and location will be announced online or via email. To be added to our list or to get more information, please contact Jon Findley at 480-756-2916 or [email protected].

AUG 7 (WED) 6 p.m. Publications Committee meeting. Have an idea? Help plan future issues of Canyon Echo! Contact Keith Bagwell at 520-623-0269 or [email protected] or Tiffany Sprague at 602-253-9140 or [email protected]. All meetings conducted via Skype/phone.

AUG 14 (WED) 6:30 p.m. Wildlife Activist Group meeting. Are you interested in learning more about Arizona’s wildlife and in working for species’ protection? Join us to learn more about what’s happening with Arizona’s wildlife, upcoming projects and opportunities, and how you can get involved. For more information, contact Dale Volz at 480-892-5102 or [email protected].

SEP 1 (SUN) Copy deadline for Fall 2013 Canyon Echo. Theme of “Arizona’s Watersheds: The San Pedro and Santa Cruz.” Articles, art, photographs, poetry, and brief epiphanies are welcome. Contact the editor before submitting at 602-253-9140 or [email protected] to discuss word count, photos to include, licensing, issue topics, and to request submission guidelines.

SEP 25 (WED) 1–5 p.m. (stop by anytime) Canyon Echo Mailing Party. Volunteers save the Chapter hundreds of dollars by preparing Canyon Echo for mailing. Thank you! The job is easy to learn, and we all have a great time. Any amount of time that you’re available is appreciated. Contact Jerry Nelson at 602-279-4668 or [email protected] for details.

OCT 5–6 (SAT–SUN) Chapter Conservation (SAT) and Executive Committee (SUN) meetings. Club leaders meet to consider matters related to statewide conservation efforts, share experiences across groups, and coordinate strategy to align our Chapter mission and goals with that of national Sierra Club. The meetings will be located in Flagstaff. For more information, contact Don Steuter at 602-956-5057 or [email protected] or Ken Langton at 520-749-3829 or [email protected].

Tucson

Prescott

Flagstaff

PALO VERDE

YAVAPAI

SEDONA/ VERDE VALLEY

Phoenix

PLATEAU

SAGUARO

RINCON

Chairperson: Ken Langton (xc) 520-749-3829 [email protected]/Political: Elna Otter (xc) 520-212-9736 [email protected]: Carole Piszczek-Sheffield 928-204-1517 [email protected]: David McCaleb (xc) 602-840-7655 [email protected]: Jenny Roberts (xc) 480-488-2256 [email protected]: Don Steuter (xc) 602-956-5057 [email protected]: Jim Vaaler (xc) 602-553-8208 [email protected]: Mike Brady 480-250-4054 [email protected]

Natalie Lucas 928-600-7844 [email protected] (At-Large): Keith Bagwell (xc) 520-623-0269 [email protected]

Bev Full (xc) 480-221-2554 [email protected] Martin (xc) [email protected]

GRAND CANYONCHAPTER
































Summer 2013 Canyon Echo 3


I WANT YOU!I WANT YOU!

YOU Are The SIerrA ClUb

Volunteer leadership positions within the Grand Canyon Chapter are an ideal way to deepen your involvement in the issues important to you. Your club needs com-mitted people who will give their time and energy to further its mission to ex-plore, enjoy, and protect the planet.

Become a candidate to serve on your group or chapter executive committee! No

experience is necessary. If you want to help create a vision, make policy, execute plans to

protect and preserve our environment, and have fun while doing it, please nominate yourself. If you

know of another good person, let us know.If you would like to learn more about what would be involved, please contact

one of the following leaders: Nominations Chair Dale Volz at 480-892-5102 or [email protected], Chapter Chair Ken Langton at 520-749-3829 or [email protected], or your group chair (see pp. 12–13).

Guidelines for chapter and group executive committee elections: 1) To be listed on the ballot, candidates must submit their names and member-

ship numbers. If you aren’t sure what your membership number is, see your Canyon Echo label or contact the chapter office at 602-253-9140. Be sure to include contact information along with your submission.

2) Submit a candidate statement (recommended but not required), indicating the chapter or group executive committee for which you are running to the Nominations Committee at [email protected] by no later than August 15, 2013. Candidate statements are limited to 200 words and must be submitted by email. You will receive acknowledgement within a few days of submission. (Because much of the executive committee’s business is done by email, candidates must have email capability.)

The official ballot will appear in the Fall 2013 Canyon Echo. So, go ahead, nomi-nate yourself or someone else you think would be a good leader.

Thank you for stepping forward!

2 Chapter Announcements

4 Happy Trails, Rob and Joni!

5 Thank You!

6 Salt River

7 Gila River

8 Youth in Nature

10 Good Jobs Green Jobs

11 In Memory

12 Group Happenings

14 Hikes and Outings

16 Service Outings

Grand Canyon Chapter – What’s Going On?

Showcase Your Photos at the Smithsonian Institute! Enter the Nationwide Wilderness Photography Contest

Next year is the 50th anniversary of passage of the Wilderness Act. A coalition of partners, including Sierra Club, is planning celebrations across the country.

A major event next year will be a display of wilderness photos at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. A photography contest is being held to determine what images will be displayed. It would be wonderful if photos from some of Arizona’s 90 wilderness areas are in that display, and who better to submit them than photographers from Arizona!

Photos from amateurs, students, and professionals are encouraged. There are four categories: scenic landscape, wildlife, people in wilderness, and most inspirational moment. The last date to submit entries is September 3, 2013.

Learn details of the contest at http://www.naturesbestphotography.com/wilderness.php. Submissions can be made online or by mail.

Oppose the South Mountain Freeway!Submit comments by July 24

The South Mountain Freeway is a proposed 22–24 mile, eight-lane freeway that would extend the southern portion of Loop 202 to connect with Interstate 10 west of Phoenix. The project would cut through a portion of South Mountain Park, the largest city park in the U.S.; destroy habitat and cut off wildlife movement corridors; worsen regional air quality and exacerbate related health issues; disrupt sacred places; encour-age long commutes; and much more. It would also continue the Arizona Department of Transportation’s (ADOT) short-term vision rather than focus on long-term trans-portation solutions.

ADOT is seeking public comments on the proposed freeway. Please participate in a meeting and/or submit written comments. Comments are due by July 24.

You can learn more about the freeway and upcoming meetings and submit com-ments online at http://bit.ly/SouthMountainAction. For additional information,

please contact Sandy Bahr at 602-253-8633 or [email protected].

Sign at South Mountain Park. Photo courtesy of Erica Muchuca




http://www.naturesbestphotography.com/wilderness.php

http://bit.ly/SouthMountainAction






Meet Birgit Loewenstein

Cast of Characters

We could solve some serious energy problems if we could just tap into some of the energy Birgit ex-udes. The petite Sedona resident is a powerhouse of focused dynamism. Growing up in Bavaria, Birgit hiked trails in the Alps, learning early on the power of solitude in nature and de-veloping a commitment to preserving the environment.

“Hiking in the mountains was my entertainment. I backpacked from hut to hut without worry,” rem-inisced Birgit. “My stress relief – re-gardless of its origin – is always found in Nature.”

Birgit’s latest trek was a ten-day hike into Grand Canyon via the South Kaibab Trail to Phan-tom Ranch, then cross country to the Nankoweap Trail, ending at the North Rim, covering 60 miles and a total 16,000-foot elevation change.

“When I came to the United States, I encountered a different world. I remember taking the ferry to Martha’s Vineyard and seeing dozens of plastic yogurt cups bobbing in the water. I was so disgusted that I started making my own yogurt, which I still do today.”

Having lived in areas where water is abundant has given Birgit an appreciation for the very different American Southwest climate. “It is a mistake to think that environmental pro-grams are one size fits all. We live in a desert. We simply do not have the natural resources to support massive development.”

Birgit became involved in environmental issues while living on Cape Cod, helping with a citizen’s movement to preserve open space by creating a Land Bank. When she moved to Sedona, she sought to do something similar with Bella Terra, a proposed development along Oak Creek that would have included building a wastewater treatment system with leach fields that could drain into the creek. People who lived in the area feared contamination of the water table and the creek. Birgit joined the Red Rock Rural Community Association (RRRCA) to fight the development.

When Red Rock State Park was threatened with closure in 2010, Benefactors of Red Rock State Park agreed to Birgit’s proposal to keep it operating. “I was most concerned about the park’s Environmental Education programs, particularly its school program, the only one of its kind in Northern Arizona. It is important to reach youth, to introduce them to the natural world. Sierra Club’s Save the Parks program inspired us. I was naïve – I thought if I got a busload of people to talk to our legislators and extol the value of the parks, we could change their minds about sweeping funds from the parks. That didn’t work – but we proved that citizens love their parks and are willing to work hard for them.” Because of the Benefac-tors’ and volunteers’ tireless work, Red Rock State Park has remained open, offering its full environmental education program.

Her current project? Helping Keep Sedona Beautiful get a National Scenic Area designa-tion for the spectacular landscape around Sedona. Her next hike? “Probably into a canyon – I love the interface where desert and water meet!”

Birgit Loewenstein. Photo courtesy of Birgit Loewenstein.

Happy Trails to Our Good Friends Rob Smith and Joni Bosh

Longtime Sierra Club Southwest Staff and Senior Organizing Manager Rob Smith and former national board director and treasurer and volunteer at the local and chapter level Joni Bosh are heading to the Northwest to start a new adventure and to continue their careers to protect the planet. Rob has taken a position with National Parks Conservation Association in Seattle.

We are grateful to both of them for their decades of work to protect Grand Canyon and the Grand Canyon State. Joni helped form the original Arizona Wilderness Coalition, which saw millions of acres of wilderness protected in Arizona. She also represented Sierra Club as a volunteer lobbyist and led the successful effort to defeat a bad regulatory takings measure via a citizen referendum. Joni stepped up twice to serve on the national board of directors, all the while staying active at the local level. Rob worked tirelessly on public lands issues throughout the Southwest and, more recently, supervised organizing work around the Beyond Coal Campaign. He helped Arizona get strong wilderness bills, protective measures for Grand Canyon, and five Bureau of Land Management national monuments. Rob has been a leader on following the advice of Theodore Roosevelt relative to Grand Canyon:

“In the Grand Canyon, Arizona has a natural wonder which is in kind absolutely un-paralleled throughout the rest of the world. I want to ask you to keep this great wonder of nature as it now is.”

Before his departure on June 3rd, Rob received the Sierra Club’s Larry Mehlhaff Award for Excellence along with two of his national colleagues. Joni had previously received the na-tional Sierra Club’s Special Achievement Award for her work to defeat the takings measure.

We recognize the advocacy and leadership of both Rob and Joni and appreciate their years of being great friends, mentors, and strong advocates for protecting wild places throughout the state and the Southwest. We will miss them here but wish them well and look forward to hearing about the great work they do in the Northwest.

–written by Sandy Bahr, Chapter Director

Joni Bosh and Rob Smith at their going-away party. Photo by Sandy Bahr.




Thank you to Edwards Mother Earth Foundation for its generous support of our energy efficiency efforts in Arizona.

Thank You to Our Donors!

The Grand Canyon Chapter is also thankful for the generous support from those who chose to remain anonymous.

The Morning Stars Sing Together ($500+)Donald BegalkeKenneth P. LangtonJeffrey Schlegel

Make the Mountains Glad ($100–499)Keith BagwellSusanna BeattyConstance M BeaupreT & R BerringerGary & Molly BeverlyBrian BlanchardLoring CannonEric CoonsGerald D. CoxMr. & Mrs. Rudy DankwortBarbara & Don DeMuthLynn DeMuthRoy & Frances EmrickJohn & Pam EvansSharon FairchildMr. & Mrs. Dwight FinkelTim Flood, MDJoe FlynnJohn M. FranklinCraig FriesnerCatharine GarmanyWilliam R. GillEd GogekPaul GolabJoseph R. HellerJoy & Dave Herr-CardilloTim HoganDavid & Barbara KellySarah KingMichael L. KottkeB. R. & W. R. LoewensteinRobert MawkYolanda Mc AuliffeDavid McCalebBlair McLaughlinCary W. MeisterJanet E. MooreJanice E. MyersSateesh J. NabarJames NafzigerJerry NelsonTim OBrienCarole Piszczek-SheffieldLinda & J. Michael PowersJoan PriceMichael QuinlanRobert ReismanSally Rings

Jenny RobertsKathy RoedigerJim RutherfordCarol SalvatiNancy SantoriBeverly SassKaren L. SchroederAlice & Karl StambaughDon SteuterF. Stoller & W. GrabeWilliam ThorntonJ. Tillotson & E. R. HolmesTom TimmerPatricia & Richard VivianWalt WictorRobert WistMr. & Mrs. Raymond WittcoffTom & Sally Woods

Keep Close to Nature’s Heart ($50–99)Linda AllenStuart & Cindy AltRobert AndroffDr. & Mrs. Robert D. BerenLT Col D. R. BergJeff & Keesha BestBettina BickelDoug BlandThomas BrennanMrs Beryl CatersonDavid CathellDavid & Lisa CherneyCathy CohnM. A. CookDennis & Sevren CoonMark CoryellDevin CruiseTam DeWittJohn DotyLinda Gale DrewGordon FergusonEkkehard & Anneliese FischerVicky & Mark FosterKathy & Roger GarrettPaul R. Gordon & Eve ShapiroH. GroemerMr. & Mrs. Thomas HagerNadine HarrisMichael HarrisonBarbara H. HoladayRaena HonanGary & Yvonne HuckleberryMargaret HuntingtonDavid JessupBrenda Jobe

J. Kay Johnson & W. TowlerRuth G. KatzEva KilbourneMarianne KlugheitTyler KokjohnSusan KunzDianne LangmadeAngela LefevreJoanne LewisJonathan LloydMr. & Mrs. Ivo LucchittaFelicia & Warren MayGary McCormickHarry MitchellScott MittelsteadtJohn NorrisS. Painter & K. WetzelEllen ReedAnne ReevesGina RichmanBarrie RyanBetty SadowskyD. SammataroRobert SchefflerCharles SchulzChris SmithDonald SmokerEthel A. StaleyMichael TamarackStephen & Susan ThompsonJack & Joy TuberLois TyaackAnita ValdezKathy VegaHenry WareDuane WeiszDonna Willett

Hitched to Everything Else in the Universe ($1–49)Steve ArthurKatharine BarringtonJean BickelJohn & Linda BlackwellRosella R BonhamRodney BoorseDonna & Robert GilbyJoan S. BriggsCarolynn BryanJan BuckwalterRobert D. Cable, Jr.Maria CadaxaDavid CardinaliJohn ChatfieldDavid & Roberta ChorltonLee ChutkowJean ClarkRonald CohenDwight W. ConnelyTom CuevasDennis R. DavisAugusta DavisNorman & Shirley DavisMargaret Day & John HertzMr. & Mrs. Clifford K. Demayo

Jeanne DevineW. David & Virginia DotsonAlicia DoughertySheryl EatonLorraine EwbankTed FaroneGeorge FerencTeresa FinleyJames FishgoldSarah FoxDeborah & Steve FranksBarry & Madeline FriedmanRobert FrostErika GarciaSara GibsonNanette GloverThomas E. GoffMark Hayduke GrenardRita GuidiRenée GuilloryDita HagenRobert R. HallJoan & G. J. HamburgerViktoria HawkWayne HaysMr. & Mrs. Steve HertzfeldAlfred HoegerDavid HoernerBetty & Earle HoytJane KentnerJules KetchamMichael KnappRivko KnoxAlexander KouvelLynn L. KrauseJohn LacostDavid & Lisa LanningJohn LippertKaren LloydMalcolm MacEwenJudith MaedaStig MagnusDaniel G. Martin

Sandra MaxwellSharon McDonough-MeansNate McMullenMatt McWenieJanos MolnarSue MoodyD. W. Mount & J. D. HallCarroll MunzMarita NickersonJoan NorenLee OlerWalter OlmstedSimone OssipovJohn D. Palmer, MDRobert & Jeanne PetersonHannah Phipps-YonasPeter RaganAlejandro RangelFritzi RedgraveJohn ReevesMcDonald RobinsonGena RowdenJim ScheefGail SchuesslerFred ShaftNancy SieferTom & Jane SkinnerJanet & Thomas SlivaRita SmallingDebbie StinsonCarol TepperPatricia TheisenGerald UfnalDeborah VathSara J. VittalAlynne WellsJudy Kathryn WhitehouseHal & Cathy WilliamsKarl WilsonMelvin WrightFrank ZimmerGabriel P. Zinsli

Thank you to Julie Kwatra for donating in honor of Cheryl Cook to celebrate the new “environmentalist” Pope Francis.

Thank you to those who donated to our Water Sentinels program:Robert AlleySandy BahrGary BeverlyDan CampbellDoris & Richard CellariusBarbara Kojis & Norman QuinnBarbara RatomskaMichelle Walters




Livestock Grazing Threatens Upper Salt RiverBy Jim Vaaler

Rio Salado: A Riparian Oasis in the Heart of Downtown PhoenixBy Steve Pawlowski

See Salt River continued on pg. 10.

The Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area is an urban watershed renewal project that runs through the heart of the Phoenix metropolitan area. This five-mile section of the Salt River channel extends from 28th Street on the east to 19th Avenue on the west, just a few miles south of downtown Phoe-nix. It encompasses 595 acres of restored riparian habitat in a state that has lost more than 90% of its riparian habitats.

For nearly a century, the Salt River chan-nel in Phoenix was a dry bed resulting from upstream dams and surface water diversions that began in the early 1900s. In 1993, the City of Phoenix initiated a study to design a restoration project to transform the blighted, dry river bed that was lined with waste tire dumps, construction debris, and sand-and-gravel operations into a beautiful linear park of ponds, riparian and wetland habitats, ter-races, and miles of hiking, biking, and eques-trian trails. Construction of the Rio Salado began in Spring 2000 and was completed in November 2005. Approximately 1,185 tons of waste tires and 138,572 cubic yards of de-bris were removed, and more than 76,000 native plants were planted.

The Rio Salado is a bird-watcher’s para-dise. More than 200 species of birds have

been identified in the res-toration area, which also provides habitat for small mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. There are 88 acres of mesquite bosque habitat, 14 acres of cot-tonwood/willow habitat, 193 acres of lower So-noran habitat with palo verde and mesquite trees, 39 acres of wetland marsh, 57 acres of saltbush, and 31 acres of aquatic habitat. These habitat features pro-vide exceptional opportu-nities for birding, wildlife viewing, nature photogra-phy, recreation, and envi-ronmental education.

The essential element for any ripar-ian habitat in a desert is water. The source of water for the Rio Salado is a system of five wells that pump groundwater from the aquifer under the Salt River channel into the restoration area. Approximately 3.5 million gallons of groundwater are pumped each day into water features and are distributed through the irrigation system to sustain the

wetland and riparian plants. Also, there are 22 storm drains that channel storm water into the channel when it rains in the val-

ley (unfortunately, it channels trash and litter into the river bed, too).

That’s one of the reasons why the Rio Salado restoration area is a work-in-progress and can always use a helping hand. The Arizona Water Sentinels have worked with the City of Phoenix Parks and Recre-ation Department to maintain and enhance the Rio Salado through our “Weed & Clean” program. Once a month, Si-erra Club volunteers gather to remove buffelgrass and to pick up trash and litter. Sometimes, we do revegetation projects, planting native plants at the gateway trailheads leading into

the restoration area.

Get Involved!If you want to discover the beautiful Rio Salado while doing some “hands-on” conser-vation work, join the Water Sentinels at our next Rio Salado Weed & Clean! Contact Steve Pawlowski at 602-254-9330 or [email protected].

Steve is the Water Sentinels Program Coordinator.

A volunteer helps plant native species in the Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area. Photo by Mark Coryell.

The Salt River above State Route 288 is wild and beautiful. It has one existing wilderness area, the Salt River Canyon Wilderness, and one Inventoried Roadless Area (IRA), the Picacho IRA. This whole Forest Service section of the river is eligible for Wild and Scenic river status.

A major threat to this part of the river comes in the form of a grazing proposal entitled “Salt River Allotment Analy-sis Draft Environmental Im-pact Statement.” If adopted, this proposal would set a bad precedent for managing large sections of wild and sensitive

lands as it encompasses no less than six grazing allot-ments covering more than 275,000 acres of public land. The affected grazing allotments are the Chrys-otile, Haystack Butte, Se-dow, Dagger, Hicks-Pikes Peak, and Poison Springs.

The river corridor has been closed to graz-ing for almost 10 years, and the result has been a significant improvement in the quality of the habi-tat, including re-growth of riparian vegetation, cow-pie-free beaches, and an improvement in water

quality. The new proposal will allow cattle grazing and access all along and in the river. The proposal calls for a huge increase in the number of cattle along with a huge increase in the number of grazing structures to sup-port them.

This grazing proposal has no basis in sound science or in having a healthy river or riparian areas. Its premise is the repeat-edly disproved idea that cattle can be used as a tool to improve ecological conditions on our public land. The proposal itself seems to have been drafted primarily by the live-stock industry, so perhaps it is no surprise it views grazing so favorably. That being said, it is the job of the Forest Service to look at the best available science and to analyze the

The Upper Salt River. Photo by Jim Vaaler.





Dam(n) It: Excising the Gila RiverBy Priscilla Benbrook

Why Should We Care about the Motorola Superfund Site?By Mackenzie Kong-Sivert and Kiera Messing

The Gila and its tributaries – the San Simon, San Pedro, and Santa Cruz to the south and the San Francisco, Salt, Agua Fria, and Hassayampa to the north – once formed the most important river system in the Southwest. Beginning at an altitude of 5,551 feet near the confluence of New Mexico’s East and West Fork rivers, the Gila ends in the Colorado River near Yuma, 619 miles to the west.

The early Hohokam grew cotton along the Gila in 200–300 A.D. Their canals and wells were thought to sustain some 60,000 people, the center of which was Snaketown, near present-day Phoenix. In the 1500s, conquistadors arrived and christened the river the “Gila,” a word reportedly derived from a Spanish contraction of Hah-quah-sa-eel, a Yuma word meaning “running water which is salty.”

The modern Gila reads like an account of an oncologist racing to excise cancer – the cancer being unexploited water. The Home-stead Act of 1862 granted 160 acres to any-one willing to farm the area for five years. All the settlers had to do was add water. By

1880 diversion dams built by Mormon set-tlers at Florence sent nearly the entire river off course. Soon the Gila was lined with small farms producing a variety of crops, ranging from tomatoes to melons. (Indeed, Phoenix originally held the stupefying mon-iker of “Pumpkinville.”)

It is said that nature provides mecha-nisms against the vanity of human wishes. In February of 1904, the Gila flooded and dis-charged into the swollen Colorado, carrying with it an uprooted oak tree. The tree com-promised a control gate above Yuma, caus-ing water to surge into the long-dead Alamo River. Revitalized, the Alamo found its way to the Salton Sink and recreated the Salton Sea. Settlers were unfazed by the Gila’s com-plaints. Demand for water increased with the introduction of water-intensive Egyptian cotton for use in World War I. Water was diverted into canals, leaving the Gila all but dead west of Gila Bend.

Developers continued excising. Coolidge Dam – the first major barrier on the Gila – was completed in 1928. (The dam was opposed by San Carlos Apache,

but a “compromise” was made. Today tribal burial grounds and Geronimo’s camp can be “visited” at the bottom of the reservoir.) Coolidge Dam was a primary factor in slow-ing the flow of the Gila near Phoenix. In 1983, heavy rains required water releases from Coolidge. Operators discovered that the gates had been rusted shut for more than 10 years. It was named the most dangerous dam in the U.S. and continues deteriorating.

Threats to the Gila and its 40 threat-ened or endangered species, including the Gila topminnow, Chiricahua leopard frog, southwestern willow flycatcher, Mexican gray wolf, and Arizona cliffrose continue. Diversions to supply water for the 5,000,000 people in its basin remain primary threats (e.g,, a typical golf course uses between 500,000 and 1,000,000 gallons per day…teed off yet?).

Edward Abbey noted that “growth for its own sake is the ideology of the cancer cell.” Cut it out!

Priscilla is a freelance science writer with degrees in Conservation Biology and English from ASU.

Twenty years ago, Motorola’s 52nd Street semiconductor plant contaminated Phoenix’s groundwater supply with toxic chemicals as far north as Palm Lane, as far south as Buckeye Road, and as far west as 7th Avenue. That was 20 years ago. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) put it on its National Priorities List and ensured an effort to remove as much of the chemical waste as possible from the groundwater. Even though this process is slow and the groundwater will likely not be used until about 25 years from now. Why, then, should we worry about the effects of something that happened so long ago? We should care because the contamination of groundwater is only the beginning.

The toxic chemicals in this water can and have seeped into the soil that many residents of the area use to grow gardens, many of which contain plants that the residents eat. Additionally, by a process called vapor

intrusion, contaminants in the groundwater rise up through the soil and into the air, which can be especially dangerous if the vapors rise through the floors of enclosed spaces such as homes, which trap the toxic vapors inside.

The EPA conducted a study in 2006 with staggering results showing us that we cannot ignore this problem. First, concentrations in Phoenix of several toxic chemicals were found to be higher than concentrations in 75% of urban areas in the U.S. In addition, the air was found to contain elevated concentrations of various chemicals at levels well over the cancer benchmark. Although there is some level of uncertainty in everything in science, it seems very likely that the primary source of these contaminants is the Superfund Site.

Another chemical on the site is trichloroethylene (TCE). Upon exposure, TCE is carried through the bloodstream and

accumulates in fat and other tissues. TCE has been linked to reduced fertility, immune-related problems, brain damage, and various forms of cancer. None of this information is news; this has been happening for decades, but many residents of the site neither know nor care much about this site. The information is available for those who search for it, but few actually do.

About 100 miles from the Motorola site is another Superfund site, the Tucson International Airport area. In 1985, three years after the area was declared a Superfund site, Tucsonans for a Clean Environment filed a personal injury lawsuit with over 1,600 plaintiffs and went on to win the largest settlement in a case involving groundwater contamination in the entire history of the U.S.

This is not to say, of course, that there has been no community involvement on the Motorola Superfund Site. There have

been people who are active in trying to do something about this site, and they have been very dedicated, but there are not enough of them. We ought to take a page from Tucson’s book: having safe water, safe land, and safe air is an important and valid concern.

Mackenzie and Kiera are students at Bioscience High School (a science magnet in downtown Phoenix) and collaborators for awareness of water contamination.

Learn More!

For up-to-date information about community meetings and community involvement efforts for the 52nd Street Plant, see http://bit.ly/motorola52.


http://bit.ly/motorola52




Congratulations to Our Photo Contest Winner!

Scott Mittelsteadt

Hulsey Lake at Escudilla Mountain, Alpine, AZ. Photo by Scott Mittelsteadt.

Eight 5th graders from Safford Middle School were awarded Jr. Ranger certificates and badges following a jam-packed morn-ing at Sabino Canyon on Saturday, April 6, 2013.

Brought to the canyon by their Sierra Club Inner City Outings (ICO) leader, Cheryl Walling (their 5th grade teacher at Safford), they were greeted by Sabino Can-yon Volunteer Naturalists Sharon Arkin,

Junior Ranger Program Inducts ICOersBy Sharon Arkin

who is also an ICO leader, and Dick Do-brin, a 20-year veteran volunteer naturalist who is in charge of the Forest Service’s Jr. Ranger program at Sabino Canyon.

In exchange for a guided nature walk and geology lesson highlighted by panning for garnets in Sabino Creek the Jr. Rangers scoured the trails and walkways for trash, which they took turns picking up with a long-handled trash grabber (kind of like gi-

ant chopsticks, one of them quipped!) and placing in a biodegradeable bag.

Safford principal Tari Tenace, an en-thusiastic ICO supporter, wheeling her little daughter in a stroller, accompanied the group to the panning site, walking with Dick on the road, while the junior rangers took the Lake Trail with Sharon and Cheryl.

The neophyte rangers were fortunate to see two deer; a round-tailed ground squirrel on its hind legs, peering at them from a perch on a low-hanging branch; and many lizards. They became adept at spotting clumps of

pincushion cactus, blew on and smelled cre-osote leaves, and admired and photographed the pink flowers on several hedgehog cactus plants in bloom. By the end of their trip, they could explain why magnetite and gar-nets stayed in their pans while other mineral particles floated away, could name five kinds of cactus plants, understood why ocotillo plants shed their leaves, and saw for them-selves how nurse trees function to shield young saguaros from extremes of heat and cold, something they had learned at school.Michael Rodriguez shows off his Jr. Ranger materials with Cheryl Walling and Dick Dobrin.

Photo by Sharon Arkin. Sharon is an ICO leader.




Youth enjoy a backpacking adventure in Aravaipa Canyon. Photo by Kyle Kacerek.

Five 8th graders from a Title I school had great stories to tell their parents on Eas-ter Sunday, after returning from their first multi-day backpacking trip in Aravaipa Canyon. The three-day, two-night trip was led by Inner City Outings (ICO) leaders Kyle Kacerek, Aaron Fisher, and Cheryl Walling. The experience was designed to be educational and enlightening, as none of the Safford K-8 Magnet School students had been backpacking before, and most had little outdoor experience in general.

The leaders coordinated a “mock-back-pack” hike in the Tucson Mountains two weeks before the actual trip, during which they sized backpacks for the students, loaded them up with gear, and hiked the David Yetman trail. The stu-dents learned many skills and information critical to backpack-ing, including appropriate gear and cloth-ing, Leave No Trace principles, and how to set up a tent. By the end of this mock hike, the students had a much better idea of what to expect on their upcoming adventure.

The group departed for the west en-trance of Aravaipa Canyon early on March 28. The 11-mile canyon contains one of the only perennial streams in Southern Arizona, forming a lush, wildlife-filled riparian zone. There is little elevation gain on the hike, making it a wonderful first-timers back-packing location. The eight backpackers hiked several hours into the stunning can-yon, frequently crossing the mid-calf-deep stream. About four miles into the canyon,

they set up camp on a sandy bench nestled up against the southern canyon wall – the site they would call home for the next two nights. The following day included side canyon exploration and a lot of swimming, which was perfect in the 75° sunny weather.

ICO Gives 8th Graders First Backpacking Trip in Aravaipa CanyonBy Kyle Kacerek

The students were particularly fond of exploring Hells Half Acre Canyon. Ascend-ing this serene side canyon involved navi-gating massive sparkling pieces of dark red porphyry rock and clear cascading pools.

The young teens had a blast submerging themselves and splashing around in a large

natural granite-lined pool. Following the afternoon dip, some of the group took a peaceful nap in the concave bed-like reces-sions atop the water-worn boulders that coated the canyon floor. Before returning to camp for dinner, the group collected sticks that were trapped by a fissure in the canyon drainage, likely as a consequence of a prior flood. This was the perfect context for the students to apply their new knowledge of the “four Ds of responsibly collecting firewood”

(dead, down, distant, and diameter).

Other activities and learning expe-

riences on the trip included backpacking-stove use, backcountry cooking, hanging food at night, backcountry hygiene, creek water retrieval and purification, proper disposal of human waste, other Leave No Trace teachable moments, orienteering, self reflection journaling, campfire building and responsible use, creek games, and a desert survival group activity around the campfire.

On March 30, the group packed up

and hiked out of the strange green canyon in the desert to return home to reunite with their families in Tucson in time for Easter.

Kyle is an ICO leader.

“We should have stayed the whole week!”

“If there’s one word to describe this place...it’s pretty hard to pick one word.”

“I’ve finally climbed something I’ve never climbed before.”

Other quotes heard:

Student A: “We’re close to camp.”Student B: “Yep, there’s Karl.” (They named the cave near their camp “Karl.”)

Student: “I wish we could stay ’til Sunday.”Leader: “It’s Easter Sunday....”Student: “Easter came early!”

“My parents never let me eat chocolate this early in the morning.”

“I like it out here, but that pool was just cold.”

“I could live down here.”

Note: The quotes on this page were said by the students during the Aravaipa trip.

Don is the Chapter Conservation Chair.

The U.S. House Natural Resources Committee on May 15 narrowly approved Resolution Copper Mining’s (RCM) lat-est bill to trade away 2,400 acres of Tonto National Forest land in and around Oak Flat Campground adjacent to Apache Leap near the town of Superior. The 7,000-foot-deep ore deposit is reportedly the largest in the lower 48 states, and extracting it in the manner proposed by RCM would result in a subsidence zone comparable to the size of meteor crater north of Flagstaff.

Introduced by Reps. Paul Gosar and Ann Kirkpatrick, the derisively nicknamed Arizona Sandbag and Land Indigestion Act (HR 687) is the 12th such attempt at a con-gressionally approved mining project. It al-lows exchange without first undergoing Na-tional Environmental Policy Act analysis to determine what effects the project will have on such things as nearby Gaan (Devil’s) Can-yon, regional groundwater, and air quality in nearby Class I wilderness areas. Notably, an amendment introduced by Rep. Gosar re-moved language that ostensibly would have helped Superior purchase the town cemetery and airport from the Forest Service as the

Oak Flat Land Exchange UpdateBy Don Steuter

lands they are located on have always been in federal ownership. The amendment was retribution for the Town Council’s recent rejection of its working agreement with the mine owners. Without question, HR 687 is the worst bill yet introduced by RCM and needs to be relegated to the junk heap along with the previous bills.

Meanwhile, opposition to the mine continues to grow. Residents of Queen Val-ley voted to oppose the mine over concerns about lowering groundwater tables and the proposed waste rock dump on 14 square miles of State Trust Land at their front door near Florence Junction. All local and many national Native American tribes now oppose the mine, as do more than two dozen envi-ronmental and outdoor organizations.

For more information on the destruc-tive impacts of this mine and how to contact your representative in Washington, visit the Arizona Mining Reform Coalition website at http://www.azminingreform.org and our chapter website. The Grand Canyon Chap-ter is a founding member of the Coalition.


http://www.azminingreform.org




Salt River continued from pg. 6.

Jim is Chapter Outings Chair.

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Sky Island Encounters

Once there was a turkey struttingdown the path, and oncea golden snakestretching long to soak up warmth;once a deer

stopped suddenly in timewhen we were in that moment;and once a bearpassed along the far edgeof a streamon his way to the saddle where ferns

make lace of the light.Once a lizardturned to amethyst before usand once the ground

swelled with toads that bubbledthrough the dust.A fox once

leapt out of the moonand sat on the road.We saw them all. They did not stay,but turned for whereverthey needed to go,

as the ocelot didwho lived hereonce.

–David Chorlton

Ron is an emeritus Arizona State University professor and solar energy advocate.

The 2013 Good Jobs Green Jobs Conference (GJGJ) was held in Wash-ington, D.C., from April 16–18. I am very grateful to the Grand Canyon Chapter for the nomination to attend and to National Sierra Club for a scholarship to cover my fees.

The conference, held annually since 2008, is spon-sored by the Blue Green Al-liance (BGA), a partnership between the Sierra Club and the United Steelwork-ers of America (USW) that hopes to build a robust green economy that “preserves our economic and environmen-tal security.” Although these two outcomes have often been regarded as inherently contradictory, the Sierra Club and the USW have rec-ognized that they can work together through this strategic partnership.

Approximately 2,500 people attended this convivial and lively conference. The first two days featured a variety of interac-tive workshop sessions; I concentrated on those related to solar energy and discovered the following key points: Solar power ef-forts have yielded concrete progress with

The 2013 Good Jobs Green Jobs Conference: A Brief ReviewBy Ronald Roedel

approximately seven gigawatts of generation capacity installed by the end of 2012 and an anticipated doubling by the end of 2013. Silicon modules may now be manufactured at a cost of $0.65 per watt, and system as-sembly/installation expenses are anticipated to decline following the trend already ob-served in Germany. Coupled with increasing shipping costs, this situation may promote the development of regional manufactur-ing centers. Despite the impressive results, the solar power industry remains fragile and dependent on net metering allowances and tax credits. Because the federal government seems unlikely to enhance or to maintain in-

centives, ensuring action at the state level is now a priority. Renewable energy standards in 39 states have boosted alternative energy production; however, moves to weaken or eliminate the rules are active. The Ameri-can Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) has drafted “energy freedom” legislation expressly designed to undo these standards, meaning alternative power advocates have to become even more vigilant.

On the third day, attendees headed to Capitol Hill to practice their citizen-lobbyist skills. Teamed with a local advocate with lobbying experience, we visited the offices of several Arizona congressmen to promote legislation advancing the BGA agenda. Staff with Reps. Pastor and Barber – both strong supporters of the Green Jobs effort – were pleased to meet with us and pledged to re-lay our thoughts. In contrast, Senator Flake’s staffer, who wondered why the Senator has been “pegged as anti-solar,” bluntly stated that the Senator opposes extending the So-lar Investment Tax Credit because the fed-eral government “should not pick winners or losers” in the marketplace.

Going to the GJGJ and Advocacy Day was an exceptional experience. The concept of building novel and purposeful coalitions, like the BGA, to advance important ideas or new technologies is absolutely brilliant. It gives us all hope that we can make a differ-ence, that we can accomplish difficult tasks against long odds. And, of course, we were reminded that ideas and technologies are carried out in the real world, the political world, with optimistic advocates and deeply entrenched opponents in persistent conflict. So the work goes on.

Ron Roedel in Washington, D.C. Photo courtesy of Ron Roedel.

alternatives and thoroughly examine the im-pacts to the land, river, and area’s plants and animals. Unfortunately, the Forest Service instead presented a document that promotes livestock grazing to the detriment of native species.

A major wildlife concern is the impact the cattle will have on the critical habitat for the endangered southwestern willow fly-catcher. Critical habitat for this species ex-tends from river mile 8.1 (SR 288 bridge) upstream to river mile 24.2 (Cherry Creek). In addition to the need to ensure this habi-tat is protected, the Forest Service must for-

mally consult with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act to determine impacts to the fly-catcher.

One of the main reasons cattle should not be allowed to graze this area is the well-documented damage they do to the riparian vegetation and to the wildlife it supports, not to mention the degradation of water quality. A key question is this: Do we want the “de-sired future condition” of our public lands devoted to intensive cattle grazing to the exclusion of all other public land uses and native wildlife? Is cattle grazing the highest and best use of public land? We think not.



http://www.blueriverretreat.com





In MemoryJoe Feller

On April 8th, Arizona and the West lost a great champion for protec-tion of our public lands, but Joe Feller was much more than that. On May 4th, several hundred people, including many Sierra Club members, attended a memorial service for Professor Feller at the Arizona State University Law School. It was apparent from the large number of people who attended – and the touching and informative stories from the speakers, including his three brothers – that Joe accomplished a lot of important things in his life and helped numerous people. He was a be-loved brother, distinguished professor, accomplished teacher, running and ski-ing buddy, and a friend to many.

Joe’s accomplishments were out-standing, but his work on public lands range reform was exceptional. Before Joe took it up as a cause in the late 1980s, public lands ranchers in Arizona routinely ignored environmental laws. Most of the riparian areas on our public lands were being damaged by cattle grazing and the uplands were overgrazed as well. The Forest Service and Bureau of Land Manage-ment (BLM) land managers charged with preventing this destruction were scared of doing anything the ranchers didn’t like. In those days, ranchers controlled the Arizona Legislature, as well as many other political bodies

Joe began a personal campaign to require public land managers to follow the law when they made decisions regarding livestock grazing. Others across the West began working on it, too, and public lands range reform became a national issue in the early 1990s. It culminated in the changes Interior Secretary Babbitt pushed through for BLM lands during the Clinton administration. Joe wasn’t solely responsible for the success of federal range reform, but it’s difficult to believe it would have happened without him.

In addition to his work on public lands grazing, Joe helped Sierra Club, National Wild-life Federation, Arizona Wildlife Federation, and The Wilderness Society defend Peeples Canyon in the Arrastra Mountain Wilderness when it was threatened by a rancher’s bull-dozer. Arizona Highways magazine had described Peeples Canyon as “one of the wonders of public land in Arizona.” Joe agreed and successfully kept the bulldozers at bay.

One of the other things about Joe was that he was willing to admit when he was wrong. Granted, he was not often wrong, but when Sierra Club decided to challenge a regulatory takings law passed by the legislature and signed by Governor Symington, Joe strongly ques-tioned this move. When we successfully stopped it and the voters overwhelmingly rejected the law, Joe sent a nice note saying he was wrong and thanking us.

Joe Feller was a champion for conservation. Most recently, he helped defend flows in the San Pedro River. He never tried to tell people what to do, but he was always willing to take the time to answer questions and give advice, including free legal advice. He will be missed.

–written by Jeff Burgess and Sandy Bahr

Paul JonesPaul Jones embarked on his

next grand adventure on May 30, 2013. The chapter and the Plateau Group are deeply saddened by the loss of our friend, a great advocate for livable communities and Ari-zona’s environment.

Paul worked for the Navajo Nation’s Community Develop-ment Department in Window Rock as a Community Planner during the 1980s. He then helped Northern Arizona University (NAU) develop its Master Plan be-fore spending more than a decade with the City of Flagstaff as an Urban Design Planner. After “re-tirement,” he taught at Coconino

Community College and was a faculty member in NAU’s Humanities Department. He volunteered with Sierra Club’s Grand Canyon Protection Campaign for the last few years and served briefly as the Plateau Group Chair.

Paul’s vision shaped the Flagstaff that we know. He was the Staff Liaison for Beau-tification and Public Arts, where he helped choose several public sculptures. He planned streetscaping that beautified highly trafficked areas. And, most notably to those of us who consider bikes and boots to be “commuter vehicles,” he designed key parts of the Flagstaff Urban Trail System (FUTS) and the pedestrian tunnels that enable safe highway crossings. His trails were mentioned in Outside Magazine’s lists of “Best Towns” (2011) and “The Best Cities for Runners” (2013); FUTS trails helped Flagstaff earn the Bronze level with Walk Friendly Communities and the title of “Bicycle-Friendly Community” by the League of American Bicyclists (2006).

Paul wanted to instill in young people a love for the natural world. Based on comments from Cynthia Pardo, a former Plateau Group Executive Committee member who was lucky enough to have taken a class with Paul, he accomplished this. “I learned how to honestly ap-preciate humans and nature and all the dysfunction within the two; that it’s the deeper ways that life brings people and place together, and the two cannot be separated; and that I love the Southwest. My connection to people and the environment is much of why I got involved with the Sierra Club and can be traced back to how he helped me to love it and articulate it. He helped me to know who I am.”

Over the last few years, Paul volunteered with the Grand Canyon Campaign and then with the Plateau Group. He wanted so badly to protect the places he loved. Paul was always willing to assist – one of those perpetually busy people who always showed up to help out. He had a calm demeanor and a brilliant mind.

Paul, you will be an inspiration to all of us, and your mark on our lives is truly indelible. We will continue to stand up for what we love and to make our communities the best they can be – and we will take the time to listen and to teach. Thanks for the great conversations. See you on some far off ridge next to a quiet trail.

–written by Alicyn Gitlin

For the full memorial, including sentiments from additional co-workers/volunteers, please visit http://canyonecho.wikispaces.com/Paul+Jones+Memorial.

Joe Feller. © Arizona Board of Regents.Paul Jones. Photo courtesy of Nick Jones.

The 2013 Good Jobs Green Jobs Conference: A Brief Review


http://canyonecho.wikispaces.com/Paul+Jones+Memorial



Happenings Around the StateSix groups make up the Grand Canyon Chapter. All the events and meetings listed below are open to members interested in learning more about the Sierra Club. You can find out more at our website: http://arizona.sierraclub.org/meetings_events.asp. Schedules are subject to change. (x) Group Ex-Com members

Rincon Group (Tucson)http://arizona.sierraclub.org/rincon

Chair: Randy Serraglio (x) 520-396-1143 [email protected]: Keith Bagwell (x) 520-623-0269 [email protected]: Ken Bierman 520-882-2708 [email protected]: Roy Emrick (x) 520-326-7883 [email protected]: Russell Lowes (x) 520-321-3670 [email protected]: Mitch Stevens 520-647-3823 [email protected] City Outings: Judy Rubin 520-891-3310 [email protected]: Lee Oler 520-791-9246 [email protected]: Natalie Lucas (x) 928-600-7844 [email protected] (At-Large): Michelle Crow (x) 520-743-9958 [email protected]

Carl Kanun (x) 520-297-1128 [email protected]

Palo Verde Group (Phoenix)http://arizona.sierraclub.org/paloverde

Chair/Membership: Michael Brady (x) 480-250-4054 [email protected]: Fareed Abou-Haidar (x) 480-345-1779 [email protected]: Jerry Nelson (x) 602-279-4668 [email protected]: Blair McLaughlin (x) 602-618-8591 [email protected]: Don Steuter (x) 602-956-5057 [email protected]: Jim Vaaler (x) 602-553-8208 [email protected] City Outings: Lisa Vaaler 602-468-4158 [email protected] Student Coalition: Natalie Melkonoff (x) [email protected]: Ute Brady (x) 480-250-9716 [email protected] (At-Large): David McCaleb (x) 602-840-7655 [email protected]

JUL 16 and SEP 17 (TUE) 6:30 p.m. Free monthly programs. Located in the Quality Inn Garden Room, 202 E. McDowell Rd., Phoenix (just east of the Phoenix Art Museum). Monthly programs are open to the public. Visit http://PaloVerdeGroup.org or call 480-990-9165 for more information.

SEP 3 (TUE) 6:30 p.m. Conservation Committee meetings. Contact Don Steuter. SEP 10 (TUE) 6:30 p.m. Executive Committee meetings. Contact Mike Brady. Meetings are held in the 2nd floor conference room in the SE corner of the Quality Inn, 202 E. McDowell Rd., Phoenix.

Saguaro Group (North Maricopa County)http://arizona.sierraclub.org/saguaro

Chair: Bev Full (x) 480-221-2554 [email protected]: Bob Moore (x) 480-543-7409 [email protected]: Urb Weidner (x) 602-595-3301 [email protected]: Sandy Draus 602-552-2317 [email protected]: Peter Weinelt (x) 623-388-2209 [email protected]: Lynne Cockrum-Murphy (x) 602-569-6078 [email protected]/Webmaster: Jim Wilkey (x) 480-649-2836 [email protected]: Doug Murphy (x) 602-569-6078 [email protected]

For information about the following, contact Bev Full.

JUL 13 (SAT) 6 a.m. Clean-up project at Needle Rock Campground in Tonto National Forest. Meet to carpool to work a few hours.

AUG 4 (SUN) Climb Black Mountain breakfast fundraiser (2 mi., 1000’ EC). Enjoy delicious pancake/waffle breakfast with mimosas at nearby Black Mountain view home for a donation of $15 per person.

AUG 29 (THU) 6 p.m. Executive Committee potluck dinner. Come to Bev’s to plan for October–December.

SEP 26 (THU) 7–9 p.m. General meeting. Joan Holtz from the National Sierra Club Trade, Human Rights, and Environment Committee will present a program on People and the Environment Over Corporate Profit: How U.S. Trade Policy Impacts All Our Campaigns to Save the Environment and Threatens our Democracy. Located at Phoenix Fire Station, 21650 N. Tatum, Cave Creek.

AUG 22 and SEP 26 (THU) Conservation Committee (6 p.m.) and Executive Committee (7:15 p.m.) meetings. The meetings are open to the public. Sierra Club members, in particular, are urged to attend at to participate. Hope you see you there! Located in the first floor conference room of the Historic YWCA, 738 N. Fifth Ave., Tucson.

Programs are located at SEIU, 1600 N. Tucson Blvd., Tucson (facing Lee St.). Free and open to the public.

For more information, contact Keith Bagwell.

SEP 12 (THU) 7 p.m. The 2013 Arizona Legislature: More Blows to the Environment. The Arizona Legislature is no friend of our environment and, each year, finds ways to help business and industry trash our wild places and urban centers. Gains for our endorsed candidates in the 2012 election weren’t enough to head off another assault on the environment in 2013. The outlook for 2014 is dim, but, in an election year, the wrecking crew might be a tad more circumspect. Sandy Bahr, Grand Canyon Chapter Director and Arizona’s premier environmental lobbyist, discusses the few highs and many lows of the 2013 session and advises us on how we can make progress in 2014.

tion into the riverbed – a natural behavior in streams. To better understand the loss in base flow, the Water Sentinels volunteers recently measured flow at a dozen locations along the river.

Due to regional drought, the summer base flow at Perkinsville is declining about one cfs per year. If that continues for another decade, we could have a dry river in summer at Perkinsville.

More significantly, if groundwater min-ing in the Big Chino Subbasin diminishes Verde Springs by nine cfs, we get a dry river at Perkinsville. Verde Springs (mile 2) is the only source of base flow for the upper 25 miles of the river – to Perkinsville Bridge – and more than 80% of the base flow is groundwater from the Big Chino. Arizona

water law authorizes the removal of more than 18,000 acre-feet per year (afy) from the Big Chino; the current flow from Verde Springs is less than 15,000 afy. That is a legal death sentence for the upper river. Unmiti-gated groundwater mining in the Big Chino will eventually turn the first 25 miles of the Verde into a dry wash – the only question is when, not if. Groundwater models proj-ect that Prescott’s planned Big Chino Water Ranch could dry the river in roughly half a century.

The future of the upper Verde as a living river is seriously threatened unless we begin now to preserve environmental water flows. This problem can be solved if water users work together to devise a political solution. Voters need to send that message at election time. Gary is the Yavapai Group Chair and

an advocate for the Verde River.

Verde continued from pg. 1.

http://arizona.sierraclub.org/meetings_events.asp


http://arizona.sierraclub.org/rincon












http://arizona.sierraclub.org/paloverde











http://PaloVerdeGroup.org

http://arizona.sierraclub.org/saguaro











Sedona/Verde Valley Grouphttp://arizona.sierraclub.org/sedona

Chair: Brian Myers (x) 928-204-1703 [email protected]: Bob Donahue (x) 928-639-1885 [email protected]: Carole Binswanger 928-282-1346 [email protected]: Margaret Anderson 928-203-4355 [email protected]: Carol Grieshaber 928-592-9222 [email protected] Co-Chair: Angela Lefevre 928-204-5827 [email protected] Co-Chair: Birgit Loewenstein 928-282-0777 [email protected] (At Large): Anne Crosman (x) 928-284-9252 [email protected]

Carole Piszczek-Sheffield (x) 928-204-1517 [email protected] Myers (x) 928-204-1703 [email protected]

For information about activities in the Sedona/Verde Valley area, contact Brian Myers.

Plateau Group (Flagstaff)http://arizona.sierraclub.org/plateau

Chair/Conservation: Steve McKellar (x) 928-526-4864 [email protected]/Political: Tom Martin (x) [email protected]: Sharon Galbreath 928-774-1571 [email protected] Liaison: Sarah Johnson (x) 831-998-2585 [email protected]: Sarah King 928-266-0475 [email protected]: Rick Resnick [email protected] (At Large): Sienna Chapman 928-863-0074 [email protected]

Dick Hingson (x) 928-699-8366 [email protected]

For information about activities in the Flagstaff area, contact Steve McKellar.

Yavapai Group (Prescott)http://arizona.sierraclub.org/yavapai

Chair/Outings: Gary Beverly (x) 928-636-2638 [email protected]/Conservation: Tom Slaback (x) 928-778-4233 [email protected]/Political: Joe Zarnoch (x) 928-636-5501 [email protected]/Treasurer: Constance Eichenlaub (x) 928-776-2402 [email protected] Large: Bart Brush (x) 928-710-7691 [email protected]

For information about activities in the Prescott area, contact Gary Beverly.

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Grand Canyon Chapter’s Book CornerMR. AMERICA DRIVES HIS CAR. By Michael Gregory, Post-Soviet De-pression Press, 2013.

Reviewed by Keith Bagwell

Longtime Grand Canyon Chapter member and one-time environmental hell-raiser Michael Gregory of Cochise County has had a new edition of his poetry published this year, Mr. America Drives His Car.

The thin volume is not focused entirely on the environment as Gregory, who lives off the grid near McNeal, 20 miles northeast of Bisbee, has a wide range. But there is plenty of meat in his work that reflects his environmental background. Gregory’s environmentalism is very political, and those trends mix vigorously in the entries in roughly the middle third of the book.

Take this ending to “Clearing the Air,” for example: the ozone hole expands, the air drips acid,

the oil and chlorine lobbies continue to win overthe number of politicians and bureau- and technocrats

they need to keep the hot air balloon afloat.Gregory, a few decades ago, was very active with Sierra Club, working with its national

Conservation Governance Committee while trying to establish a Sierra Club Group based in the Bisbee area. He worked with Dick Kamp on the Border Ecology Project and, in 1990, started his own Arizona Toxics Information group, from which he retired in 2010 to focus on his poetry and his garden.

His long experience in Arizona environmental issues is reflected in poems, several of which date from the 1980s and 1990s, such as “Two More Maryvale Kids,” which begins with this:

Two more Maryvale kids dead of leukemia In Tucson they’re trying to suck the TCE down

to acceptable levels. In Kingman it’s poison gas plants.In the San Pedro, nitrates at Apache Power

and at Bisbee Junction. In Goodyear, chromium.He really nails the toxics issue with his entry “Waste:”

harder still to prosecute when lawsare written by the poisoners

to make toxic chemicals innocent until proved guilty as if they were people,

putting the burden of proof on the victimsin the name of free enterprise

Much of the book is less environmental or political, but it all is well written and interesting commentary on life as Gregory sees it and feels it. For readers familiar with Bisbee and Cochise County, there are references to the places and features of his home turf, where he has resided since 1971.

Gregory, like many poets, is not upbeat. His is clearly a dim view of how humans have made a mess of things. But with his excellent way with words, they are well worth reading. This is how he closes a long poem, “Vacation:”

Myself, I said, I just came down here to lieon the beach, soak up a few rays and watchthe birds and turtles before they’re all gone.

This is Gregory’s third volume of poetry. His first two, The Valley Floor and Hunger Weather 1959–1975, were self-published. A new Post-Soviet Depression Press in Bisbee published Mr. America Drives His Car. Outside of Bisbee, it is available in Tucson at the Bookstop, 214 N. Fourth Ave., or online at http://postsovietdepression.com.

Keith is the Rincon Group’s Conservation Chair.

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Explore and Enjoy ArizonaFor up-to-date information about outings, visit http://arizona.sierraclub.org/outings.asp.

Explore, Enjoy, Learn, and ContributePlease note that any funds in excess of trip expenses will be used to support chapter projects. Carpooling is available for all trips. For reservations and information about the following outings, please contact Bev Full at 480-221-2554 or [email protected].

JUL 14–16 (SUN–TUE) Canoe/Kayak the Black Canyon of the Colorado River. We’ll paddle 11 miles of the river and camp and swim at Boulder Beach on Lake Mead. Cost: $295 includes canoe rentals, shuttles, fees, and meals in camp and on the river.

AUG 17–12 (SUN–FRI) Raft the Green River through Flaming Gorge and Browns Park. Carpool to Arches National Park to camp and hike. Stay in cabins at Flaming Gorge Dam. Raft through 8 named (but easy) rapids and camp two nights along the river. Cost: $335 includes raft rentals, shuttles, cabins, camp fees, and meals.

SEP 15–17 (SUN–TUE) Explore Rainbow Bridge National Monument. Carpool to Lake Powell National Recreation Area to camp and swim. Take the ferry to explore Rainbow Bridge National Monument along the shore. Cost: $175 includes ferry, camp fees, and

meals in camp.

JUL 27 (SAT) “A” Red Ridge Trail (13.8 mi., 3200’ EC). Join us for a cool summer outing atop Mt. Lemmon. The Red Ridge Trail makes a steep descent down the north side of the Santa Catalina Moun-tains and wanders through a landscape of burned trees, an impressive reminder of the fire that burned through this area 10 years ago. The forest has made an impressive recovery and, in many of the burned areas, there is beautiful new growth, including wildflowers, and in-credible views. From the Red Ridge Trail, we will be utilizing a network of trails in-cluding the East Fork, Canada del Oro, and Mt. Lemmon trails to constitute an awesome loop. We will be discussing the role of fire in the Coronado National Forest of southeastern Arizona. Con-tact Mitch Stevens at 520-991-1199 or [email protected]. Tucson

JUL 28 (SUN) “C+” Knoll’s Hole (8 mi. RT, 1500’ EC). Visit the scenic Sierra An-cha Wilderness Area north of Globe. We will hike up through the “switch backs,” then take a secondary trail up to the 7400’ level before descending through an aspen grove. At our lunch break, we will discuss various conservation issues that affect this wilderness area: ura-nium mining, roads, and forest fires. We will pass Knoll’s Hole Spring on the way back, which is a reliable water source. Ex-cellent views of Reynolds Creek Canyon. Hopefully Reynolds Creek Falls will have a good flow of water. Contact Jim Vaaler at 602-553-8208 or [email protected]. Phoenix

AUG 17 (SAT) “C” Wilderness of Rocks (8 mi. RT, 900’ EC). This hike will start out in the cool at the top of Mt. Lemmon. We will explore the natural sculpture garden of rock formations known as the “Wilder-ness of Rocks.” We will also visit Lemmon Pools at the head of Lemmon Canyon. Contact Donald Smith at 520-591-9938 or [email protected]. Tucson

AUG 24 (SAT) Palisades Canyon (13.6 mi. RT, 3300’ EC). A technical canyon in the mid-dle of the Santa Catalinas. For this technical trip you will need to bring appropriate gear, which will include harness, helmet, rappel-ling device, and several locking carabiners.

The group leaders will provide 200’ of rope, rappel rings, 80’ of webbing, and pull cord. The crux entails 7 spectacular rappels, fea-turing impressive waterfalls and stunning scenery. Participants need to be experienced at technical canyoneering and have had at least two canyons under their belt as well as completed a strenuous hike within the last 6 months. Contact Mitch Stevens at [email protected] or Donald Smith at 520-591-9938 or [email protected]. Tucson

SEP 15 (SUN) “C” Aspen Loop Trail (4 mi., 650’ EC). We will start early and drive to Mar-shall Gulch high in the Santa Catalina Moun-

tains. During a snack break, we will discuss the effects of the Bullock and Aspen Fires (2002 and 2003) and the role of natural fire in southern Arizona’s Sky Islands. Limit 18. Contact Meg Weesner at 520-290-1723 or [email protected]. Tucson

SEP 21–22 (SAT–SUN) “B” Wet Beaver Creek Water Hike (11 mi. RT, little EC). Join us for a hike and swim through Wet Beaver Creek, 3.5 hours north of Tucson. We will hike on the Bell Trail for 3.5 miles before boulder hopping, splashing, and floating through the creek for 2 miles upstream. Expect consid-erable scrambling, wading, swimming, and bushwhacking. The red sandstone walls will

close in and create several beautiful pools that we will swim and float through. Strong, agile hikers with a sense for adventure will love this outing. We will drive up Saturday afternoon and car camp that evening. Sun-day will be a long day, dawn to dusk. Join-ing us will be Gary Hendrickson of Phoenix who has led several Wet Beaver Creek hikes and is familiar with the area. Contact Mitch Stevens at 520-991-1199 [email protected]. Tucson

SEP 28 (SAT) “B+” Doyle Peak (10 mi. RT, 2800’ EC). We will start from the Freidlein Prairie Trailhead at 8600’ and walk to the summit of Doyle Peak at 11460’. We should be able to see areas that were burned by the Schultz Fire from a couple of summers ago. The final scramble to the summit of Doyle is through an area that contains many bristlecone pines. There is a register on the summit. Contact Jim Vaaler at 602-553-8208 or [email protected]. Phoenix

SEP 28 (SAT) “A” Mount Wrightson (13.6 mi. RT, 3750’ EC). This peak is located in the Santa Ritas and is the highest point in the area surrounding Tucson. We will do a loop hike where we ascend Florida Saddle, walk the ridge trail to Mt. Wrightson, and descend the Gardner Canyon Trail. You will be reward-ed with expansive views of the surrounding area. Plan on a full day of hiking. Contact Donald Smith at 520-591-9938 or [email protected]. Tucson

OCT 5 (SAT) “B+” Mt. Ord (15 mi. RT). The dirt road up Mt. Ord in the Mazatzal Moun-tains ascends nearly 4000’ to a group of towers at the forested 7128’ summit. On

this climb, we’ll follow this road as it passes through several vegetation zones. In the pro-cess, we’ll enjoy many fine vistas. Drive 55 mi. from Scottsdale. Call Ken McGinty at 602-265-2854. Phoenix

OCT 12 (SAT) “B+” Fortuna Peak (10 mi., 1300’ EC). This peakbag will take us up to the 5260’ high summit of Fortuna Peak in the mountains north of Superior. Although much of the hike will be on dirt roads, the off-trail route will involve steep and slippery slopes and thick, spiny, and brushy vegeta-tion. Views from the top will be excellent. Drive 70 mi. from Tempe. Call Ken McGinty at 602-265-2854. Phoenix

Paddlers on the Green River through Canyonlands. Photo by Dianne Leis.

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Explore and Enjoy ArizonaFor up-to-date information about outings, visit http://arizona.sierraclub.org/outings.asp.

Outings Leaders Happy Hour/Dinner

Tuesday, July 9 5:30 p.m.

Chili’s Grill 2057 E. Camelback Rd., Phoenix

Meet and visit with Sierra Club Outings Leaders to share experiences, ideas, and materials. If you are not a leader yet but are thinking of becoming one, you are especially welcome. Chapter Outings Chair Jim Vaaler and Outings Vice-Chair Bev Full will be there to greet you.

For more information, contact Bev Full at 480-221-2554 or [email protected].

Things were not going particularly well, certainly not as planned. We missed the high route, supposedly leading us above the Colo-rado atop the Tapeats Sand-stone. We were a mile west of Deer Creek, crawling up a steep, rotten, crumbly slope under a broiling sun. For every two steps up, we slid a foot back. Sweat was pouring out of me, and de-hydration was a concern. I heard a crashing sound then suddenly one of my hiking mates yelled, “Rock!” Appar-ently, a sizable boulder was dislodged from above and careened down the rock face, resembling a missile, missing me by just a few feet. If I had been standing a little to the left, I may have been crushed or swept off the cliff.

This was the fourth day of a nine-day backpacking journey from Monument Point to Sowats Point. This classic trek encompassed Thunder River, Tapeats Canyon, Deer Creek Narrows and Falls, the Colorado River, and the Kanab Creek Wilderness – a loop of 55 miles. The Deer Creek to Fishtail Canyon stretch was supposedly the easier of the two-day slog along the river. The next day’s walk was from Fishtail to Kanab and, in the estimation of many, the most difficult of the trip.

But the scenery was sublime. The crystal clear acid-green Colorado wound sinuously a few hundred feet below, cutting through 1.7-billion-year-old Vishnu Schist and Zo-roaster Granite, representing about a third of our planet’s history. Above the Tapeats on both sides of the river rose rock layers of

Deer Creek to Kanab Creek – An Epic Grand Canyon Trek

By Mitch Stevens

the ages: Bright Angel Shale, Mauv, Redwall Limestone, Supai, Hermit Shale, Coconino Sandstone, Toroweap, and, finally, the Kaib-ab formation capping both rims. This prom-inent limestone layer represents the youngest rocks of Grand Canyon, about 220 million years old. It was formed when a huge inland sea covered much of western North America as the super continent Pangaea began to break apart.

We safely climbed to the top of the Ta-peats and located our route, no worse for the wear. The following day’s hike, despite the dire warnings, proved to be fairly straight-forward, a boulder-hopping, sand-slogging, and bushwhacking romp along the river.

A day later, we entered a narrow cathe-dral-like canyon off Kanab Creek known as Whispering Falls. The soaring pink canyon walls were adorned with redbud trees, mon-key-flowers, and ferns. The sound of drip-ping water was our background accompani-ment. It was as if we had arrived at an inner sanctum of some sacred place of worship. After time well spent climbing and wading through pools, we arrived at the aptly named Whispering Falls. It’s a spring-fed, moss-covered waterfall spilling 125 feet into an emerald pool, perfect for a refreshing swim.

Scenes and experiences such as this make it all priceless, worthwhile, and why we con-tinue returning to the canyon country, time and time again.

Mitch is the Rincon Group’s Outings Chair.

The Patio. Photo by Mitch Stevens. The Sierra Club is a nationwide organization with active local outings for members and non-members. Please join us as we make friends and explore life-enriching interests. Simply find an outing by date and contact the leader for directions, reservations, time, and additional information. RESTRICTIONS: NO FIREARMS, RADIOS, OR PETS (unless noted otherwise). Outings are by reservation. Call early (group limit 20). Each hike is rated for degree of difficulty and risk by the leader.

“A” >16 miles or > 3,000 ft. elevation change (EC)“B” 8–16 miles and 1,500–3,000 ft. EC“C” 3–8 miles, 500–1,500 ft. EC RT Round Trip“D” <3 miles and 500 ft. EC OW One Way

The trip leader has absolute authority to question trip participants as to their equipment, conditioning, and experience before and during the trip. All participants on Sierra Club outings are required to sign a standard liability waiver. If you would like to read the liability waiver before you choose to participate in an outing, please go to http://www.sierraclub.org/outings/chapter/forms or contact the National Out-ings Dept. at 415-977-5528 for a printed version. Sierra Club liability covers leaders only. Each person is responsible for his/her own first aid equipment. If you are injured, notify the leader immediately. If you leave the trip, with our without the leader’s permission, you are considered to be on your own until you rejoin the group. Hikers are encouraged to carpool and share the driver’s fuel expense. Donations are ac-cepted from all participants at $1 (member) and $3 (nonmember). Money is collected by the leader and deposited with the group treasurer. For more information, contact Jim Vaaler at 602-553-8208. Hikes and outings are also listed online and in the Sierra Singles newsletters. CST 2087766-40. Registration as a seller of travel does not constitute approval by the State of California.

Hiking Guidelines

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Sierra Service Opportunities

Venturing the VerdeBy Dan Millis

Dan’s first foray into environmentalism was when he asked his family to help him “Save the Verde” for his birthday. He now workes for the Grand Canyon Chapter out of Tucson.

Water Sentinels Monitoring Verde River: Saturday, July 13, August 10, September 21

San Pedro River: Thursday, July 25, August 22, September 12 Contact: Steve Pawlowski

602-254-9330, [email protected] your hands dirty and your feet wet with the Arizona Water Sentinels! This is a great opportunity to help protect our important rivers. Sentinels collect water samples and also make field observations and measure the dissolved oxygen, pH, and total dissolved solids concentrations. These data help us track impacts to the rivers and advocate for actions to protect them. What could be better than spending a day in gorgeous scenery while working to make a difference?

Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Sunday, July 21 and September 15

Contact: Steve Pawlowski 602-254-9330, [email protected]

Help us restore habitat! Join us for an invasive weed pull and clean-up at the Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area, just south of downtown Phoenix. Once a dump site, the area is now a lush riparian corridor that supports a variety of wildlife and recreation opportunities. We need help removing trash and buffelgrass, a non-native, invasive species that alters habitat and increases fire risk. Snacks, drinks, gloves, and tools provided.

If you live in Arizona, it’s likely you have driven the 90 miles from Camp Verde to Phoenix. Most people take Interstate 17, but there’s also a scenic route. It’s 26 miles lon-ger, and, to enjoy it, you need a boat.

My first interactions with the Verde River watershed took place during childhood picnics at Montezuma’s Well. I was fascinated by the tiny but ancient irrigation ditches that flow from the prehis-toric spring, and I remember playing with fish or snails or perhaps stones that we found in the water, naming them Icky, Sticky, and Clyde.

In high school, family friends brought me along on canoe floats down the Verde. Later on, emboldened by experience, we were quickly humbled again by Wet Beaver Creek at flood stage. We were lucky to get

out of there as repeated rock collisions had knocked holes in the bottoms of our rented sit-on-top kayaks.

The Verde’s flow is usually too low for decent boating, and, even during spring runoff, its whitewater can be a little ho-hum. But the Verde is wild. More than 100 of its

miles flow free before hitting any substantial dam or reservoir. It’s remote. The mountainous Mazat-zal Wilderness – Arizona’s version of the Gila – looms along its east bank for miles. Penned nearly a quarter century ago, the only full-length guidebook, Jim Slingluff’s Verde River Recreation Guide, is both a clunker and a classic.

For these and other reasons, the Verde is a forgotten river with none of the panache of its world-class, canyon-carving sister to the north. But the idea that one can get in a boat in Camp Verde and arrive a few days later in the out-skirts of Phoenix drove me to do

just that.I packed a waterproof backpack and

jammed supplies into an enormous old-school orange plastic kayak with “HYDRA”

emblazoned across the deck (Slingluff would be proud). Given to me by a buddy no lon-ger in need of a yard ornament, the HYDRA has proven light enough to carry, quick enough to win the Verde canoe race, and so sturdy that it still floats today.

For five warm days five Aprils ago, the HYDRA and I paddled, bumped, and dragged down 116 miles of low water. Not boring, but not exactly fun, it felt more like a hermitage retreat than a river trip. I hefted boat and equipment around two ugly dams, got stuck repeatedly in the reeds and rocks, saw countless blue herons and bald eagles, ate poorly, and got sick to my stomach. Eventually, the Verde, the HYDRA, and I made it to the Salt River and, not long af-ter that, Granite Reef diversion dam, where both rivers die, their butchered remains wal-lowing in shiny swimming pools.

See a photo slideshow of my trip at http://tinyurl.com/VerdeDan.

Help protect our rivers! Service projects are a great way to get involved, have fun, and make a difference! TOP and RIGHT: Volunteers moni-tor the Verde River. BOTTOM: A volunteer re-moves a patch of non-native, invasive buffel-grass at the Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area. Photos by Mark Coryell.

Paddling the Verde River. Photo by Dan Millis.




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