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Throughout Arizona the release of effluent is maintaining flows of many river reaches. Along the Lower Santa Cruz River in Pima County, two major regional facilities release effluent into the river. These two facilities are undergoing significant upgrades. The release of higher-quality water is a key ingredient in supporting wetland health along the river, but how can we gauge conditions of this valuable ecosystem and community amenity? Pima County and Sonoran Institute have partnered to develop an annual report series to track and communicate wetland conditions.
The Living River annual reports chart the status of the Lower Santa Cruz River by presenting data on 16 indicators of wetland health with easy to follow text and engaging graphics. The first report on the 2013 water year, prior to the completion of upgrades, will be published in October 2014. A committee of technical experts were provided with a detailed summary of what was known about the river in the Historical Conditions of the Effluent-Dependent Lower Santa Cruz River report (March, 2013). Using this knowledge, the committee selected appropriate indicators for the lower Santa Cruz River. How these indicators were selected is documented in the Selection of Indicators of River Health for Effluent-Dependent Streams in the Arid West: The Living River Project on the Lower Santa Cruz River, Pima County, Arizona (March, 2014).
Claire Zugmeyer has provided leadership for the Santa Cruz River Initiative for 7 years. She leads the ecological research on the Santa Cruz River as part of the Living River project. She has a Master of Science in Wildlife Biology from the University of Arizona and a Bachelor of Science in Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution from the University of California, Los Angeles.