we restore the wild lands and waters of Arizona and beyond…

we do it by hand.

Our Wilderness Stewardship program, affectionately dubbed ‘Wild Stew,’ connects people with nature and public lands through on-the-ground projects designed to fulfill our mission to protect, unite, and restore wild lands and waters across Arizona and beyond, for the enrichment and health of all citizens, and to ensure Arizona’s native plants and animals a lasting home in wild nature.

Wild Stew began as a handful of volunteers in 2010 and has grown to an award winning program and Arizona’s only full-time and year-round professional field crew. Volunteers now work in collaboration with our professional crew, complimenting and learning from an expert skill set in order to accomplish real and meaningful stewardship projects.

the wild places we’ve been in 2025.

four seasons with the Wild Stew Field Crew on the Colorado Plateau, along the Mogollon Rim and in the Sky Islands

Trail Maintenance and Restoration

We restore trails in the wilderness and wild lands of Arizona and New Mexico. We currently have projects across the Mogollon Rim, in the Sky Islands and in all six Arizona National Forests. We use ancient and well tested tools like the cross-cut saw and appropriately applied modern tools of the trade including chainsaws.

It’s hard work! And we take pride in what we do. We shape and maintain trails through all sorts of wild weather, from high mountain wind and snow to desert canyon heat. Since we pay well and take care of our crews, if you meet us on the trail you’ll find that spirits are high and we enjoy working together.   We provide ongoing training to keep crew members at the highest level of expertise including cross-cut, chain-saw, rock work, first-aid and leadership training.

The aim of our work is to protect the integrity of the ecosystems we visit. Trails are the lifeline connecting us to wild areas. By improving and restoring trails we shape mobility, keeping forests and watersheds intact, and reducing erosion and sedimentation that are harmful to habitat. Current and ancient human cultures have for millenia used and shaped trails to hunt, gather, and travel. Now they are more important than ever to bring us into the peace of wild things, at the pace of the natural world, where ‘human works do not dominate the landscape.’

feature project: Healing the Highline, 50 miles of trail along the Mogollon Rim

trails
stewarded in 2025

volunteer service in 2025

riparian habitat restored in 2025

Watershed Restoration

Our watershed and riparian restoration projects range from simple removal of invasive plants to multi-year projects that include comprehensive biological monitoring and assessment, stream restoration, springs protection and multi-year native replanting projects.

Projects enhance habitat quality and connectivity for aquatic and terrestrial species, supporting biodiversity and ecosystem resilience. Restored habitat can provide food, shelter and breeding grounds for a variety of plants and animals.

feature project: Arnett Creek, Gila watershed

Youth Programs

youth conservation corps. For six weeks in the Chiricahua Mountains each summer, our youth conservation corps members live, work and play in the wild lands of Arizona. They learn the skills needed to maintain hiking trails, travel and camp outside, and steward our public lands.

restoring the Colorado River at Paria Beach. As part of this multi-year project to restore ecological health to the Colorado River corridor, indigenous youth and youth from Page High School remove invasive tamarisk sprouts, collect and plant native willow poles, help to establish recently planted native trees through watering, and maintain protective caging around native trees. We partner with Hydroflask, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Grand Canyon National Park and the Arizona Water Protection Fund.

restoring ecosystem function to Dry Blue Creek. At this six day field camp for indigenous youth from the Fort Sill Apache Tribe, youth create one-rock-dams and other erosion control structures, plant willow poles for stability and shade along the creek, and work to protect and restore aquatic habitat. Youth learn outdoor camping and travel skills under the wide wild sky of the Gila National Forest.

2025 youth conservation corps highlights, pics and short film

iN SERVICE OF OUR PUBLIC LANDS

get involved

Get outside, have some fun, and learn the skills to protect and restore your favorite wild places. Our goal is to provide communities with the techniques and resources to protect our beloved wild lands and waters. Plant some trees! Learn how to use a cross-cut saw! Be a wilderness solitude monitor! There’s a lot to do and we need your help.

volunteer

Outdoor Equity Fund

We need your help to bring outdoor skills and smiles to kids that haven’t historically been represented in outdoor programs. The goal of the Outdoor Equity Fund is to engage indigenous and under-served youth in wilderness and public lands by increasing access to existing programs and creating new opportunities in partnership with tribal communities. We break down barriers by spending extended time in regions youth call home, and by providing resources partners ask for, like transportation and gear. With the help of the Chiricahua Regional Council and private donors like you, we were successful in meeting our 2024 goals . A huge thank you to our partners, the San Carlos Apache Tribe and the Fort Sill Apache Tribe. You help to make our programs better.

Click below to donate, select or type in your amount, and then be sure to choose Outdoor Equity Fund on the payment page…

donate to the Outdoor Equity Fund

donated so far in 2025

Wild Stew Giving Crew

☞  Want to do something more meaningful for the wild outdoors in 2025? Give back with a contribution that keeps giving all year long! Join our new sustainer giving circle: the Wild Stew Giving Crew. Make it a one-time donation of $120, Give Monthly at just $10/month, or choose your own flavor!

A WILD thank you for your support!

DONATE to join the Wild Stew Giving Crew!

The post this is Wild Stew… appeared first on Wild Arizona.

Water is one of the most powerful forces on the planet. It connects, it divides, and it spreads life where it goes. This is particularly the case with the Colorado River which plays such a powerful role in the Southwest. From March 26th to March 31st, a handful of Wild Arizona folk worked, learned and played in and around the portion of the Colorado River that flows through Marble Canyon. Marble Canyon stretches from Lee’s Ferry to the confluence with the Little Colorado River.

Volunteer and community engagement coordinator Nizhoni Baldwin and conservation associate Samuel Baggenstos kicked the project off by digging over thirty holes with a two person gas-powered auger. These holes were dug in order to plant native trees in places where previously planted trees had died. Over the last two years, Wild Arizona’s Grand Canyon Wildlands Council and the Wild Stew Field Crew, under the direction of Wild Arizona’s senior ecologist Larry Stevens, has been working hard to restore the native vegetation of Paria Beach, which for decades has been dominated by a dense stand of the invasive tree Tamarisk. This spring’s efforts represent the third round of planting since the project started.

On Friday (3/29) a group of students from Page High School arrived to help with the project and learn about the area. These students were lead by Ben Dalton, science teacher at Page High School, and Joel Barnes, a Professor Emeritus of Environmental Studies & Sustainability at Prescott College. Over the past several years, Joel and Ben have been bringing groups of students to help with the project by planting trees, gathering and scattering native seeds, and cutting tree poles for planting. On this particular day, the students, under the careful guidance of Larry Stevens, were planting pole cuttings of Gooding’s willow in the deep holes dug by Nizhoni and Sam. This method of planting draws its inspiration from the dry farming methods used by the Hopi Tribe.

Saturday and Sunday, Wild Arizona staff members took part in the Guide Training Seminar at the Hatch River Expeditions Warehouse in Marble Canyon. This seminar takes place each year to provide Grand Canyon river guides with valuable information that they can apply to better serve their clients. Two people who work in some capacity for Wild Arizona presented on Sunday (3/31). Larry Stevens, who, in addition to being Wild Arizona’s senior ecologist, is also the director of the Springs Stewardship Institute, gave a talk on the unique plants and animals that live in and around the springs that exist within the Grand Canyon. Joel Barnes, the founder of Riparia LLC, presented on Wild Arizona’s restoration work at Paria Breach, focusing, in particular, on the ways that the project has connected young people to the rich cultural and natural history of Marble Canyon. 

In addition to presenting, folks from Wild Arizona tabled at the event, providing information to river guides about a variety of campaigns and projects. In particular, Wild AZ staff members urged people to send letters to Governor Katie Hobbs asking her to shut down the Pinyon Plains Mine nearby the town of Tusayan at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. There is mounting evidence that suggests that this uranium mine may contaminate water sources that local communities depend upon. To learn more and to send Governor Hobbs a letter urging her to shut down the mine, follow this link.

The post wild stew field crew: Revisiting Paria Beach appeared first on Wild Arizona.

As 2023 comes to a close, it’s time for us at Wild Arizona to take a moment to reflect on the incredible journey we’ve had throughout this remarkable year. The historic triumphs and transformative challenges that filled 2023 orbited one constant—the unwavering and enthusiastic support we’ve received from our volunteers, followers, and donors. We first want to pause and express our deepest gratitude to all those who have contributed, in a myriad of ways, to support our initiatives and campaigns. In 2023, we’ve come together as a vibrant community to help move forward enduring protections; riparian restoration; and wilderness and trail stewardship projects, for Arizona’s gorgeous wild landscapes, natural waters, wildlife, and Native ancestral homelands.

This last week of December also marks the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act, reminding us that the dynamic vitality of intact webs of life in natural habitats is increasingly threatened. In a time of accelerating loss and public division, the ESA stands as a beacon of hope and shared responsibility for life on Earth our one living planet. Enacted to safeguard our nation’s most vulnerable flora and fauna, this crucial legislation points to preservation of biodiversity and cultural heritage as not merely an option but imperative for a sustainable future, and as our most effective and just means to stabilize climate. The Endangered Species Act compels us to act with foresight and compassion for the natural world, recognizing that the health of our environment is inseparable from our own well-being, and that by this pathway we are securing a legacy of beauty and diversity for all generations.

Acknowledging the impact:

Our success is not just measured by the projects we undertake but by the collective impact we have achieved together. A big thank you goes out to the generous contributions and unwavering efforts of our supporters and crews. We have been able to make significant strides in preserving the natural beauty of Arizona. Whether it’s the restoration of ecosystems, the protections of endangered species, or the creation of spaces that foster a sense of community through the outdoors, every action taken this year has left a lasting imprint on the landscapes we hold dear.

A Special Thanks to Our Followers:

To our followers, who engage with our content, spread awareness, and amplify our message-your dedication is the heartbeat of Wild Arizona. Your enthusiasm and commitment inspire us to continue our mission with renewed vigor. We appreciate every like, share, and comment that helps us reach a wilder audience and create a stronger community united by the love for Arizona’s wild places.

Celebrating our donors:

To our generous donors, your financial support has been the fuel propelling our initiatives forward. Your belief in our vision and commitment to preserving the natural wonders of Arizona have allowed us to embark on ambitious projects that make a real difference. Whether through one-time contributions or ongoing support, your investment in the future of our landscapes is truly invaluable.

As we are about to step into a new year, our commitment to the conservation of Arizona’s wild and native landscapes remains steadfast. With your continued support, we aim to undertake even more ambitious projects, engage in meaningful community initiatives, and be at the forefront of the continued progress for a sustainable and thriving Arizona.

We are beyond grateful for each and every one of you who have been a part of the Wild Arizona family in 2023. Your love, dedication and support are the forces behind our successes. Let’s continue to work hand in hand, ensuring that the beauty and biodiversity of Arizona’s wild spaces endure for generations to come. Lastly, please join in and support us in 2024, another year full of urgent opportunities to save the humpback chub and beaches downriver along the Colorado River in Glen Canyon and Grand Canyon, keep Colorado River flows high enough through the Grand Canyon to sustain the Colorado River Ecosystem, seek landscape-scale protections for the amazing Sky Islands, and call for Wild and Scenic River designation to preserve the treasured upper Verde River. Thank you again for an incredible year, and cheers to a future filled with even greater achievements in conservation and community!

Check out some of our Wild Stew project locations and accomplishments in this End of Year Presentation.

The post celebrating a year of historic conservation wins and a wilder future! appeared first on Wild Arizona.

For Immediate Release, April 17, 2023
Contact: Kelly Burke, (928) 606-7870, kelly@wildarizona.org
Ben Reeder, (801) 860-1070, benreeder33@gmail.com
Jim Strogen, (480) 242-2569 jimstrog@gmail.com

(photos courtesy GCRG Adopt-A-Beach Program)

Recreation and Conservation Stakeholders applaud Reclamation Decision to Release First Springtime High Flow since 2008, to Benefit the Colorado River Ecosystem in Grand Canyon

FLAGSTAFF, Arizona— Wild Arizona’s Grand Canyon Wildlands Council, Grand Canyon River Guides, and Trout Unlimited proclaimed full support today, of the Bureau of Reclamation’s determination to proceed with a Spring High Flow Experiment in late April. This will be the first springtime high flow release from Glen Canyon Dam since 2008 to restore sandbars and shoreline habitats along the Colorado River in Grand Canyon.

For the past 60 years, Glen Canyon Dam has captured and held Colorado River sand in Lake Powell upstream from Grand Canyon. Fine sediments for sandbars and shoreline habitats in upper Grand Canyon are now primarily carried into the Colorado mainstem by the Paria River, below Lees Ferry where boats launch for river trips downstream and fishing trips upstream in Glen Canyon.

Occasional high flow events (HFEs) are needed to keep these iconic beaches and river habitats from dwindling away. In keeping with the 1992 Grand Canyon Protection Act and to rectify these erosion losses, the Secretary of the Interior directs the Bureau of Reclamation to release occasional planned flood flows when sufficient Paria River sediments accumulate in the mainstream channel.

However, as Wayne Pullan, the Secretary of the Interior’s Adaptive Management Program Designee stated in the decision memo authorizing this month’s HFE that, under the 2016 dam management plan, ‘HFEs were predicted to be conducted frequently (~3 out of every 4 years) and it has been four years since the most recent HFE was triggered and implemented (fall 2018), and no spring HFEs have yet to be triggered.’

“Under periods of generally higher dam releases, Paria River sand is quickly flushed downstream, necessitating November HFEs to move sand provided during the summer, up higher onto the beaches,” said Dr. Larry Stevens, senior ecologist for Wild Arizona’s Grand Canyon Wildlands Council, “but with ongoing drought and low release conditions conserving the sand, we have this opportunity to conduct an HFE in springtime, the natural time for such flows and when they are likely to be most appropriate for native fish and wildlife species. In addition, springtime HFEs should provide improved sandbars for summertime river running.”

Kelly Burke, the Council’s director, stated: “this is an important experiment, one that will inform future Colorado River and dam management by providing insight into seasonally-appropriate high flow design, habitat restoration, and aquatic foodbase and native fish spawning responses.”

Due to the wet 2022-2023 winter, this planned HFE will be a preemptive effort to rebuild beaches and thus conserve sand supplies during anticipated erosive high flows through this upcoming summer.
The camping beaches and sandbars in Grand Canyon that are used by over 25,000 river runners each year have not been rebuilt since the last High Flow Experiment (HFE) in fall of 2018.

“The last two summers we have witnessed the unraveling of sandbars in Grand Canyon as an effect of violent monsoon patterns,” observed Ben Reeder, professional river guide and GCDAMP Technical Workgroup representative for GCRG. “The result has been the worst beach conditions downriver in 20 years. Not only does this detract from the quality of a river trip, it also signifies a declining ecosystem. This action shows that adaptive management is possible – even under the pressures of drought management, water, and power obligations. The balance found here is encouraging!”

According to Lynn Hamilton, GCRG’s Executive Director, “the decision to implement a naturally timed spring HFE represents a huge step forward in our learning as well as our ability to protect and improve downstream resources in keeping with the mandates of the Grand Canyon Protection Act of 1992.”

Despite the expected reprieve brought by substantial snowfalls this year and the resultant filling of upstream reservoirs, dire conditions still face the Colorado River below Lake Powell. The lake was recently at 22% capacity and the dam was close to being unable to generate power. The water coming into the river from the lake had warmed to the point of threatening the rainbow trout fishery below the dam that depends on cold water. 

These higher release temperatures also provide suitable habitat and rearing conditions for warmwater and cool water predators that will endanger the native fish downstream. The lower lake levels put these warm and cool water fish in Lake Powell perilously close to the penstocks where their release through the dam into the river below further endangers the trout fishery and the protected native fish downstream. 
   
“We have long sought the inclusion of more spring HFEs in the LTEMP process for recharging sediment to the river,” said Jim Strogen, Adaptive Management Workgroup representative for Trout Unlimited. “The timing of spring high flows is much more in keeping with the natural occurrence of flows historically in the Colorado River, and we believe will provide greater biological benefits than fall HFEs. We value the replenishment of the beaches that have been in need of recharging due to the impact of flash floods  and the lack of HFEs for quite some time. While the predicted water conditions, due to favorable snowmelt, will help us this year, we must continue to find ways to conserve water and be prepared to implement strategies to protect the river and its inhabitants when these harsher conditions return.” 

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Wild Arizona’s Grand Canyon Wildlands Council is dedicated to protecting and restoring the native species and natural ecosystems—the intricate web of life—along the Colorado River through Glen and Grand Canyons.

The post springtime high flow to benefit the Colorado River Ecosystem in Grand Canyon appeared first on Wild Arizona.

Welcome, Arizona enthusiast, to another round of adventures with Wild Arizona’s field crew. For this installment, the Wild Stew returned to Paria Beach along the Colorado River to continue a ecological restoration project that began a year ago. 

Paria Beach is a 1,200 foot long strip of soft sand along the Colorado River where Grand Canyon National Park and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area meet, 10 miles south of Arizona’s northern border with Utah. The beach, the largest naturally forming of its kind in the state, is made primarily by sediment deposits brought in from the muddy Paria River, which joins the Colorado River from the northwest just a few thousand feet upstream. These kinds of beaches and sandbars are valuable habitat for the Grand Canyon ecosystem, and they are normally formed when the river floods. In order to simulate this process in the controlled environment that is the modern dammed Colorado River, it is important for the Glen Canyon Dam to periodically release high flows into the Grand Canyon to deliver sediment that maintains critical beach habitat.

Back in April 2022, the Wild AZ field crew spent a hitch at Paria Beach working to transition the flora from one dominated by invasive Tamarisk trees to a more beneficial habitat of cottonwood and willow. You can read about that hitch here. With 25 of the original 148 plants surviving, it was time to go back and continue our restoration efforts. Ecological restoration is often a long process that requires continued monitoring and support to ensure a successful transition to a healthy ecosystem. So, with the help of Wild Arizona’s senior ecologist Larry Stevens, the Wild Stew Field Crew returned to Paria beach with new plants, new methods, and new faces.

The hitch began with determining which plants had not survived and removing them to drill new holes for new plants. It was amazing seeing how the area had been brought back to life after the prescribed burn and clear cutting efforts last year. The cottonwood and willow plantings that did survive had grown significantly, and a thick canopy of Coyote Willow and other native plants had sprouted from their roots. The new tool of choice this year was a hand auger, which was much easier to transport than a skid steer, allowed us to navigate around other plants, and functioned as a great thigh workout taking it out of the ground. Meanwhile Larry, Lauren, and Nizhoni got a boat ride up the canyon to look for Fremont Cottonwood (Populus Fremontii) and Goodings Willow (Salix gooddingii) cuttings. The next day Larry and I headed to Page to collect 80 saplings of the same two species which had been grown from stem cuttings in the greenhouse at Page High School.

Several things were done differently this time around. We planted in March instead of April so that the cuttings weren’t yet leafing out. We dug deeper holes so the plants could reach further into wetter sand. We dusted the stem cutting ends with more rooting compound to encourage root growth. We soaked the stem cuttings in water for several days to ensure full saturation of the stems. We installed more plants in a wider area. All of these methods had been adjusted since last year in an effort to ensure a higher survival rate of our plantings.

After holes had been dug and plants collected, it was time to start planting. We had ample time to be extra careful in making sure to give every specimen the care it deserved. Time was also spent checking each hole to see if any critters had fallen in. One hole had a Western Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys megalotis) which we removed and returned to its habitat nearby. Each new tree was given upwards of ten gallons of water throughout the planting process, something that can safely be done to such species as these that have the ability to turn off their water pumps when they have enough water. After all the planting had been completed, Montana Horchler from the Springs Stewardship Institute was already there to begin the monitoring process to see how the trees fair. We are all very excited to hear how the process unfolds.

In between our work, the crew thoroughly enjoyed a return to the area and frontcountry hitch life. Tables? Seltzers? Bicycles? Coolers? Fresh vegetables? Big sleeping pads? Running potable water? Extra blankets? Flushing toilets? Camp chairs? Yes to all! We were thrilled to have this level of luxury after five months straight in the backcountry. During lunch breaks we dipped in the frigid Colorado River and after work time was spent hiking, biking, running, sharing baked goods (thank you to whoever put an apple strudel in our cooler), going out to eat in the town of Cliff Dwellers (thank you, Larry!) and partaking in our traditional crunchwrap supreme dinner on Bean Friday.

It was also a bittersweet time, as we said goodbye to assistant field crew leader Lauren Renteria and crew member Mary Clark-Keubler. Lauren is off to do plant and soil surveys with the Bureau of Land Management and American Conservation Experience, while Mary will be going to school for computer programming. It was a great pleasure to have them both on the crew, and we wish them nothing but the best.

The post wild stew field crew: Continuing the Restoration of Paria Beach appeared first on Wild Arizona.

Howdy, readers!

Olivia here, reporting to you live. Well, if there’s one word to describe this past hitch on the Palisades Trail, it’s “grassy.” In addition to all of the grassiness though, the expansive views this trail offered of Tucson’s cityscape to the south and the beautiful Cathedral Rock formation to the west were definitely highlights of the work week. The simultaneous contrast between a sprawling cityscape on the horizon and Sabino Creek’s lush riparian corridor nestled deep into the canyon below also serves as an important reminder of Wilderness conservation’s neat victory in urban wildland areas. 

For the Palisades Trail, the Wild Stew Field Crew’s main objective for its restoration was removing overgrown grasses caused by the 2020 Bighorn Fire. Interestingly, and according to a USDA report on rangeland grass recovery, “When a fire sweeps through, it takes the dead plant material from the surface, but grass grows back quickly because most of the plant is below ground and escapes long-term damage.” Well, that explains a lot… because on some parts of this trail, the grass was as tall as me! Work mainly consisted of plucking and popping grasses, yuccas, and sotols out of the tread, as well putting in a whopping total of 33 drains and 15 check steps! So it’s safe to say that as of this past week, the already-stunning lower 1.3 miles of the Palisades Trail got a bit of a beauty touch-up that hikers will surely appreciate. 

Along with work, there is always play on this crew. Our camp was situated just along Sabino Creek, which brought plenty of opportunity to take a quick post-work dip in the refreshingly cold pools nearby. This idyllic camp location also brought many visitors through, like the father and son who spent Saturday night with us on their weekend backpacking trip. There’s not much that beats exchanging our backgrounds, stories, and purposes of being out in the backcountry over a nice campfire, and of course nighttime chocolate was exchanged with our new friends! I should also point out that the crew advanced in their musical abilities on this hitch, thanks to Sam who packed in his recorders and sheet music for daily serenades. 

During one of our work days, some very special visitors with a very special mission hiked very far up the trail to host a series of interviews with us! Host Stan Bindell and videographer Craig Johnson of the “Preserving Arizona Wilderness” YouTube channel documented our work being done in the Pusch Ridge Wilderness and had some fun questions for each of the crew members pertaining to our shared love for wild places. Make sure to stay tuned for this new video! 

On the flip side of this extremely fun work week, we sadly say goodbye to our crew member John as he switches his career path to developed recreation, working in some beautiful places such as the Gila Cliff Dwellings in New Mexico and throughout the Santa Catalinas following that. As for the us on the Wild Stew Field Crew, this is our last hitch in the Catalinas for now, but the past month and a half of working in this special range with some awesome partners in the Forest Service has been nothing short of amazing. 

Catch us further north over the next few months as we tackle invasive plants in Fossil Creek, replant native trees at Paria Beach along the Colorado River in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, and begin restoration work on the Highline Trail!

The post wild stew field crew: Palisades Trail in the Santa Catalinas appeared first on Wild Arizona.

By Lauren Renteria, Wild Stew Field Crew Member

This week, the Wild Stew Field Crew traveled to the edge of Arizona to work at Paria Beach in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Grand Canyon National Park. There, we took on one of our biggest projects yet: clearing 5 acres of brush and logs from a prescribed burn area and planting more than 100 small trees along the beach. That meant we needed all hands on deck. This hitch we welcomed two new crew members to the team, Nizhoni Baldwin and Sam Baggenstos, and welcomed back Wild Arizona’s Lead Biologist Taylour Stephens and Conservation Associate Jordan Zweig to the field.

The first two days proved to be dirty and exhausting work. The team split into pairs, one swamper and one sawyer, and tore our way through the leftovers of hundreds of burned tamarisk—which are invasive to the area—scattered throughout the ash-laden beach. Once our cutting mission was complete, we brought in the heavy machinery. This week, we were joined by Wild Arizona’s Deputy and Stewardship Director Brian Stultz, who moved thousands of pounds of cut vegetation with a skid steer on the work site. He placed the smaller branches and brush into a nearby gully to help control erosion in the area and laid the larger logs out which we cut up for local communities to use as firewood.

Paria Beach is unlike any other worksite we’ve been to so far. It is a special place that highlights Arizona’s impressive geology and biological diversity in just a few acres. It’s also a community space where families, anglers, nature lovers and boaters can come together and enjoy some of what the Grand Canyon State has to offer. The beach is just downstream of where the Paria River and Colorado River converge and create the first riffle boaters encounter on their journey down the Colorado following their launch from Lee’s Ferry. 

But, perhaps most importantly, it’s also home to thousands of years of indigenous history. That’s why, throughout the project, we were accompanied by two archeologists with the National Park Service, who advised us on where to drive the skid steer and how we could make sure to protect nearby archeological sites and artifacts.    

With that in mind, we started phase two of our mission: We used the skid steer and an auger to dig dozens of holes in preparation to plant native Goodding’s willow and cottonwood trees to restore the area. Larry Stevens, Wild Arizona’s senior ecologist, joined us in the field to help find and cut branches for planting from mature trees nearby, as well as providing potted trees that had been grown nearby. Though some of the plants will not survive, those that do will provide a richer habitat for local bird species, shade for beach visitors and improve overall health of the area, Stevens said. 

With some holes dug and branches cut, we were ready to start planting. Students from a high school in Page, Arizona joined the crew Friday, April 1, and got their hands dirty clearing trash from the beach, cutting branches to plant and fence wire to protect the growing trees from hungry river beavers.

By Tuesday, we had planted and fenced in 148 trees along the beach and renaturalized our worksite to allow the wind and weather to obscure any remaining tracks from the skid steer.

It will take years to see the long-term effects of the project but birds have already started to show interest in the newly planted trees. It’s just a matter of time for the beach to heal from the burn and invasive species that once lived there. 

Next hitch, the crew returns to the Mt. Wrightson Wilderness to pick up where we left off on the Old Baldy Trail, and will be hosting a volunteer event on Saturday, April 16. After, we’ll celebrate the Highline Trail Restoration Initiative on Saturday, April 23 to install new kiosks and benches at the Pine Trailhead. This event is open to the public and we hope to see everyone there!

The post wild stew field crew update: Restoring native plants to Paria Beach appeared first on Wild Arizona.

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