• Habitat Restoration

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

    Learn More
  • 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

Registration is Open

Celebrate Birds & Nature

Join us April 23–27, 2026 for the Verde Valley Birding & Nature Festival, held at Dead Horse Ranch State Park and throughout the Verde Watershed. Explore the Verde Valley’s diverse habitats during peak spring migration. Known as “the friendliest birding festival,” this four-day event features workshops, guided outings, and expert presentations for birders and nature lovers. The 2026 theme is Important Bird Areas, and the Yellow-breasted Chat is the featured bird.

Registration is open! Sign up soon, as many of the most popular trips sell out quickly.

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.

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

“Otter Spotter” Book Launch & Reading with Phoebe Fox

Celebrate the launch of "Otter Spotter" on Friday, February 20 at 1:30 PM with a live children’s book reading by author Phoebe Fox and learn how families can help protect river otters through Friends of the Verde River’s Otter Spotter program.

Volunteer Orientation for the 2026 Verde Valley Birding & Nature Festival

Interested in volunteering for the 2026 Verde Valley Birding and Nature Festival? Join us for a casual, informative volunteer orientation—complete with pizza and drinks!
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.

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

“Otter Spotter” Book Launch & Reading with Phoebe Fox

Celebrate the launch of "Otter Spotter" on Friday, February 20 at 1:30 PM with a live children’s book reading by author Phoebe Fox and learn how families can help protect river otters through Friends of the Verde River’s Otter Spotter program.

Volunteer Orientation for the 2026 Verde Valley Birding & Nature Festival

Interested in volunteering for the 2026 Verde Valley Birding and Nature Festival? Join us for a casual, informative volunteer orientation—complete with pizza and drinks!
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.

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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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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