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Verde River Stories
by Hudson Keffer October 15, 2020 As a recent transplant to the Verde Valley, I quickly came to realize that Arizona is not entirely the dry and desolate place that it is assumed to be. Sure, the majority of this valley is filled with drought tolerant plants like Creosote bush, Mesquite, and Prickly Pear cactus […]
by Maya Rappaport Last weekend, October 17-18, 2020, was Global Birding Weekend as well as an eBird Big Day. Friends staff, field crews, and other members of our community birded up a storm! Here’s a list of species seen around the Verde River Watershed last weekend – with 55 unique species in total! Did you […]
Join Friends this weekend for Global Birding Weekend and an eBird Big Day!
An 84-acre parcel, the Rio Verde Ranch, is being added to the Prescott National Forest! This parcel contains a .6-mile stretch of our Verde River. We’re very excited that this parcel and river frontage will be protected by the Prescott NF and the Trust for Public Land. Read more at USA Today.
by Melanie Miles In light of COVID, we decided to take our Verde River Runoff VIRTUAL this year. We offered our supporters all over the country a chance to explore their favorite water bodies while paddling in honor of Friends. This was a unique opportunity for us to connect with paddlers and nature lovers from […]
by Maya Rappaport Happy September! I love this month. The air smells crisper, and birds in migration begin to pass through our yards and favorite outdoor places. This month, I want to highlight a migratory species, the Lazuli Bunting. The Lazuli Bunting is named for the male’s gorgeous lazuli blue coloring. He shines brilliantly in […]
“When two conservation groups prepared a “report card” assessing the health of the Verde River watershed, they gave it a C-plus. The groups will now receive $1.2 million to help boost that score, supporting their efforts to restore and protect the river.” Read more on AZ Central.
All about WINE! Do you LOVE wine? So do we! Friends of the Verde River works closely with vineyards and winemakers across Arizona in order to support a healthy Verde River. These partnerships help keep water in the river while supporting our community’s economy. By purchasing one of these exclusive Friends-partnered wines, you support a flowing […]
Registrants for this year’s VIRTUAL Verde River Runoff have some exciting things to say! “As a hydrogeologist, my career reflects my lifelong passion for traveling by, recreating on, and soaking in the beauty of pristine riparian areas like the Verde River. Fundraising for Friends of the Verde River is a privilege to be able to […]
Great Blue Heron – Ardea herodias As Friends’ resident bird nerd, I’m thrilled to begin this new series: Bird of the Month! Here in the Verde Valley, we are blessed with beautiful habitats, a rich diversity of species, and an abundance of life. My hope is to celebrate some of the species that make the […]
