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Mar 2010

Current and formerly perennial San Pedro River surface water

Riparian-aquatic
San Pedro River
Abstract

The San Pedro River in the United States has lost more than half of its historical perennial surface water. Most of this reduction appears to be caused by groundwater pumping, though other factors may have had some influence. Flow on many tributaries appears to be closer to historical lengths, but historical data are lacking for many streams, especially in Mexico. The remaining perennial reaches have become increasingly important for migratory birds and other wildlife.

This map is one of four downloadable San Pedro River Watershed Maps.

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(ALL RIGHTS GRANTED TNC) View of Escudilla Mountain. Fall colors heighten the natural beauty of forest and meadow in the White Mountains, one of Arizona’s last wide-open spaces and where TNC works to protect the headwaters of three major Arizona rivers: the Salt, Gila, and Little Colorado and their greenbelts – riparian habitats critical for wildlife and water quality – as well as restore healthy forests within the largest ponderosa pine community in the world, save rare and unique wildlife and plant species, and control non-native, invasive species, such as crayfish, Arizona. © Betsy D. Warner/TNC
Aerial view of the Parks West restoration site overseen by TNC. Taken March 16, 2020.
Conservancy staffers, Dale Turner and Amanda Rebore, helping to map the Sabn Pedro River in Arizona. They use a GPS unit to denote the end of the water flow on the LowerSan Pedro River. They hiked through the Conservancy’s San Pedro Preserve.

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