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Friends of the Verde River is proud to honor Kristine Crandall with a 2025 Heron Award in the River Champion category for her support of our Water Quality Monitoring program and commitment to protecting the Verde River.
Clean water is essential to the health of the Verde River ecosystem and the communities, plants, and wildlife that depend on it. Yet the 2020 Verde Watershed Report Card revealed significant gaps in our understanding of water quality throughout the watershed. Without consistent and reliable data, identifying problem areas and taking meaningful action becomes nearly impossible. That’s why we have been beefing up our water quality program!
Through our Water Quality Monitoring efforts—powered by dedicated community scientists known as Verde Water Watchers—Friends of the Verde River works alongside the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality to test, track, and better understand pollution levels across the river and its tributaries. Kristine’s support has helped strengthen this vital work, ensuring that we move closer to a clearer, healthier future for the Verde.
About Kristine Crandall
Rivers provide an important throughline for Kristine — she grew up alongside the Roaring Fork River in west central Colorado, and spent her graduate studies at the University of Arizona researching the economic value of waterways in the arid Southwest, including Arizona’s Hassayampa and San Pedro rivers. Kristine’s decision to move from southwest Utah to the Sedona area three years ago was greatly influenced by a desire to live near the remarkable Verde River. The presence of a dedicated friends organization working hard to protect it was an added bonus! In addition to working in environmental conservation, Kristine has been a college writing instructor and a naturalist guide.
We are grateful for Kristine’s dedication to protecting water resources and for the role she plays in advancing water quality awareness and action in the Verde River watershed.
The Heron Awards
Each Heron Award is a beautiful, glass-blown work of art crafted by local artists at The Melting Point. These one-of-a-kind pieces symbolize our deep appreciation for those who help Friends of the Verde River protect and restore one of the Southwest’s last free-flowing rivers. They embody creativity, dedication, and the river’s enduring resilience.
We also take great pride in recognizing our partners and supporters during our annual gala, Fiesta de la Garza, where the community comes together to celebrate the people who make our work possible.
