The River: Flowing through Central Arizona, the Verde River provides crucial irrigation and drinking water to Phoenix and many other communities. The Verde contains the only section of river in the state to carry the national Wild and Scenic river designation and supports an outstanding display of riparian wildlife such as the bald eagle, roundtail chub, southwestern willow flycatcher, javelina and Arizona toad. The Verde has long been a popular destination for recreational opportunities such as boating, hiking, fishing and bird watching, which have generated stable economic benefits for local communities.

Robin Silver photo

The Verde originates from an underground aquifer known as the Big Chino, which provides over 80 percent of the upper river's water. Although recognized by scientists, the hydrological connection between surface waters like the Verde and aquifers like the Big Chino is ignored by Arizona law.

Why It's Endangered: Rapid development, combined with the lack of comprehensive water use planning, threatens Arizona's rivers and groundwater supplies. The City of Prescott and Town of Prescott Valley plan to build a pipeline to divert water from the aquifer that supports the Verde River, paving the way for more sprawl. The new pipeline – called the Big Chino Water Ranch Project – threatens to deprive Middle Verde communities and Phoenix of sufficient drinking and irrigation water and could severely harm the Verde River and the wildlife that it supports.

A reduction in river volume would reduce the availability of clean water downstream, diminish recreational prospects, and threaten the health of many native wildlife species.

What You Can Do: Act today to protect the Verde River and Arizona's nearby communities. Tell the City of Prescott, Town of Prescott Valley, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to complete a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that not only addresses the impacts to species on the lands the pipeline will cross, but also the effects and consequences of lowered river levels. Mitigation plans must be implemented to resolve pipeline impacts on communities, habitat, and fish and wildlife. In addition, tell them that the feasibility of a "No Action" alternative should be strongly considered. Please send your comments today to help save the Verde River and its residents.

For more information on the Verde River and the proposed pipeline, see the American Rivers website at: http://www.americanrivers.org

or contact:

Chad Smith, American Rivers, www.AmericanRivers.org, csmith@americanrivers.org

Sandy Bahr, Grand Canyon Chapter of the Sierra Club, www.arizona.sierraclub.org, sandy.bahr@sierraclub.org

Michelle Harrington, Center for Biological Diversity, www.biologicaldiversity.org, mharrington@biologicaldiversity.org