• Habitat Restoration

    Our crews and volunteers work to remove invasive species like Tamarisk, Giant Reed, Tree of heaven, and Russian olive.

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  • Habitat Restoration

    Our crews and volunteers work to remove invasive species like Tamarisk, Giant Reed, Tree of heaven, and Russian olive.

    Learn More
  • Become an Otter Spotter

    Keep an eye out for otters along the Verde River—your sightings help support vital watershed research!

    Learn More
  • Become a Water Quality Volunteer

    Help protect the Verde River by collecting water samples to identify and solve water issues. Sign up now and make a real impact on your own schedule!

    Sign up

Support clean water and wildlife!

Give to Protect the Verde River

Help protect and restore the Verde River for future generations. Friends of the Verde River focuses on four vital areas: Water, Land, People, and Climate—all working together to keep the river healthy and flowing.

Your gift helps support our mission, such as:

  1. Sustaining Flows – Protect water throughout the 192 miles of the Verde River and nearly 400 miles of tributaries, including programs like the Verde River Exchange.
  2. Restoring Habitats – Ensure wildlife have healthy homes by planting native vegetation, reducing erosion, and monitoring water quality.
  3. Promoting Community Stewardship – Inspire people to care for the river through education, volunteer opportunities, and community events.
  4. Tracking River Health – Produce the Verde Watershed Report Card to guide conservation and monitor progress.

Every donation makes a real difference. Give today and join us in protecting the Verde River!

Just released

The 2025 Verde River Watershed Report Card Update is Here!

The inaugural Verde River Watershed Report Card was published in 2020 to provide a transparent assessment of watershed health and is updated every five years. Friends of the Verde River has now released the 2025 Verde River Watershed Report Card, incorporating updated data and refined indicators to evaluate conditions across the watershed. The report reflects extensive discussions around methodology and the use of current data to ensure a clear, science-based snapshot of watershed health. Funding for the 2025 Report Card was provided by Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust, The Nature Conservancy, SRP, the Town of Camp Verde, the City of Cottonwood, the City of Sedona, the Town of Clarkdale, and the Town of Jerome.

Just Released

Our Annual Impact Report is Here

Each year, we take time to look back and share the progress we’ve made together over the last year. With the help of donors, volunteers, community scientists, and local partners, we’ve worked hard to protect and restore the Verde River. From removing invasive plants and restoring upland habitats to monitoring water quality and supporting wildlife corridors, our shared efforts help keep the river healthy and flowing.

We’re proud of what we’ve achieved together and grateful for the many partners who make this work possible, including the Yavapai-Apache Nation and our dedicated coalition of nonprofits and agencies. While challenges remain, we’re inspired by the next generation of river stewards who are learning to care for this special place. Thank you to everyone who continues to stand with us—your support makes a lasting difference for the Verde River.

A Day of Service

Join Us On January 19th!

Honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by joining us for a day of service! On Monday, January 19, volunteers across the Verde River watershed will come together to care for our lands and waters.

You’ll be able to choose from several in-person volunteer projects—like trail cleanups, riverbank restoration, planting native trees, or picking up litter at local parks. Prefer a more flexible option? You can host your own community cleanup wherever you are and share your impact with us.

Together, we can celebrate Dr. King’s vision of community, give back to nature, and make a lasting difference.

Books That Give Back

Shop Our Online Store

Explore our collection of books celebrating the Verde River and its wildlife. Two of these titles were created by Friends of the Verde River! Every purchase supports our mission to protect and restore a clean, healthy, and flowing river for generations to come.

Featured Books:

  • On the Verde River – A fun, engaging day on the river for young readers.
  • Otter Spotter – Learn about playful river otters and the clean water they need to thrive.
  • The River of Kings by Steve Ayers – A concise but detailed history of one of the last free-flowing desert streams in the American Southwest, Arizona’s Verde River.

Shop now and make a difference!

Get Involved

Become an Otter Spotter

Otter Spotter helps protect the Verde River and the animals that live there—especially river otters! We use river otter charm and the good news of their recovery in our waterways to show that we humans have the ability to solve environmental problems. When river otters thrive, we know our waters are in good shape.

Events

Bruce Babbitt talks at the State of the Verde Watershed Conference

State of the Verde Watershed Conference 2026

Friends of the Verde River is hosting the 2026 State of the Verde Watershed Conference along with field trips related to the Verde Watershed, September 15-17, 2026, at Cliff Castle Casino Hotel in Camp Verde, Arizona.

Verde Valley Birding and Nature Festival 2026

See you back at Dead Horse Ranch State Park for the Verde Valley Birding and Nature Festival, April 23-26, 2026! Enjoy expert guides, explore diverse habitats, and embrace the beauty of spring in the Verde Valley.
woman holding hawk

Family Nature Day 2026

Join us for Family Nature Day on Saturday, April 25, 2026, from 10 AM to 3 PM at Dead Horse Ranch State Park for a fun-filled day of nature walks, hands-on activities, live animal exhibits, and more – free admission for the whole family!
Friends of the Verde River - MLK Day of Service

MLK Day of Service 2026

MLK Day of Service, January 19, 2026 volunteers work on projects in the Verde Valley including invasive species removal, gully restoration and trash clean-ups.

Recent Posts

Join Our Team and Help Protect the Verde River

Friends of the Verde River works every day to keep the Verde…
Cinnamon duck

Dawn Charles Honored with the Heron Award as Volunteer of the Year

Friends of the Verde River is thrilled to honor Dawn Charles…

About Us

Keeping the Verde Flowing!

The Verde River is one of Arizona’s few remaining flowing rivers. The river and its tributaries, such as Granite Creek, Sycamore Creek, Oak Creek, and Fossil Creek, provide lush corridors of life as they wind their way through beautiful, iconic, and arid landscapes. The Verde River system is an environmental and cultural treasure for local communities, the state of Arizona, and beyond.

Friends of the Verde River (Friends) envisions a healthy, flowing Verde River and tributaries that support our natural environment, vibrant communities, and quality of life for future generations.

Our Approach

We focus our work on restoring habitat, sustaining river flows, and building supportive communities. We proactively engage in a combination of “boots-on-the-ground” projects and policy solutions guided by sound conservation principles and which meet human and environmental needs in an outcomes-oriented manner. Below are some of our initiatives:

Events and Information

What’s New

Upcoming Events

Bruce Babbitt talks at the State of the Verde Watershed Conference

State of the Verde Watershed Conference 2026

Friends of the Verde River is hosting the 2026 State of the Verde Watershed Conference along with field trips related to the Verde Watershed, September 15-17, 2026, at Cliff Castle Casino Hotel in Camp Verde, Arizona.

Verde Valley Birding and Nature Festival 2026

See you back at Dead Horse Ranch State Park for the Verde Valley Birding and Nature Festival, April 23-26, 2026! Enjoy expert guides, explore diverse habitats, and embrace the beauty of spring in the Verde Valley.
woman holding hawk

Family Nature Day 2026

Join us for Family Nature Day on Saturday, April 25, 2026, from 10 AM to 3 PM at Dead Horse Ranch State Park for a fun-filled day of nature walks, hands-on activities, live animal exhibits, and more – free admission for the whole family!

Event Sponsorship

Become an Event Sponsor

Our Event Sponsors are important partners who enjoy special recognition and other perks.

For more information, contact:
Susan Van Norman, Director of Stewardship
contactus@verderiver.org

In the Know

Stay Informed on all things Verde River

Friends respects the privacy of individual donors and, except where disclosure is required by law, will not sell or otherwise make available the names and contact information of donors without providing them an opportunity at least once a year to opt out of the use of their names.

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Sign up for more Listening to the Verde content

Friends respects the privacy of individual donors and, except where disclosure is required by law, will not sell or otherwise make available the names and contact information of donors without providing them an opportunity at least once a year to opt out of the use of their names.

Make an Impact

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