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Verde River Stories
Friends of the Verde River is thrilled to honor Dawn Charles with the Heron Award as Volunteer of the Year! Dawn’s dedication and energy are unmatched—she recorded 79 volunteer hours in 2024 (we know she did a lot more), the highest of any volunteer, while coordinating efforts for the Verde Valley Birding and Nature Festival. […]
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 […]
Friends of the Verde River is proud to honor Anne Buzzard, Jennifer Diffley, and Marie Yamada-Low with the Boots on the Bank Heron Award for their individual contributions to our mission. Each of these remarkable women has brought unique skills, talents, and expertise to help keep the Verde River healthy for future generations. About Anne […]
Friends of the Verde River is proud to honor Laura McBride as the 2025 Heron Award recipient for Nonprofit Partner, recognizing her lasting impact through the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust and her commitment to protecting vital waterways in Arizona. Through the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust, Laura helped support mission-driven organizations working to restore […]
Friends of the Verde River is proud to recognize Salt River Project (SRP) as the recipient of the 2025 Heron Award for Business Partner. This award honors SRP’s ongoing commitment to the Verde River watershed through its increased support of our River Friendly Living program and stewardship efforts. River Friendly Living inspires a culture of […]
Friends of the Verde River is proud to recognize Alexis Petznick, on behalf of D.A. Ranch, as this year’s Private Landowner Award recipient in the Heron Awards. D.A. Ranch has been a steadfast partner in conservation, demonstrating a deep commitment to restoration work, our River Friendly Living program, and long-term stewardship of the Verde River […]
At Friends of the Verde River, we know that stories have the power to inspire curiosity, spark a love of nature, and help readers of all ages understand why the Verde River matters. Our children’s books, On the Verde River and Otter Spotter, were created with that purpose in mind. Thanks to the support, encouragement, […]
Friends of the Verde River is proud to honor George Christianson with the Government Partner Award, part of our annual Heron Awards. George has worked extensively with us over the years, advising on our Watershed Report Card, helping organize MLK Day of Service, and leading educational hikes along the riparian area. During these hikes, participants […]
Friends of the Verde River proudly presents Janie Agyagos with our President’s Award, recognizing her remarkable contributions to wildlife, habitat conservation, and community education. Over her 35-year career with the U.S. Forest Service, Janie has dedicated herself to protecting species, restoring habitats, and engaging volunteers and the public in conservation work. One example of her […]
Friends of the Verde River is proud to recognize Alisa Sever, Leader of the Northern Arizona Airbnb Host Community, as this year’s Community Business Partner Award recipient. Alisa played a key role in facilitating a $30,000 Airbnb Community Fund grant, a contribution that will have a lasting impact on the Verde River and the communities […]
