Conservation

Mission

By working to maintain clean and beautiful parks, we are promoting sustainable communities, providing valuable outdoor spaces for native plants and animals, and supporting the well-being of those living within the community.

Objectives

Current and Planned Projects

Desert Defenders

Desert Defenders aims to raise public awareness about invasive species, such as buffelgrass, within the City of Phoenix Parks and Preserves. Our goal is to work with the Central Arizona Conservation Alliance (CAZCA) on their ongoing Invasive Species Project to gather data that helps the stakeholders in Central Arizona make informed decisions on invasive species management. We will also emphasize the role of community engagement and education in monitoring and managing invasive plant species within the Phoenix Metropolitan Area.

Adopt a Park: North Mountain Preserve, Phoenix (Ongoing)

AZSA is assisting the City of Phoenix in a large-scale project to clean up the park along 7th Street by the North Mountain Visitor Center and continue maintenance on the Penny Howe Trail. This includes removing invasive species, cleaning up trash, removing low-hanging branches and overgrown vegetation, planting pollinators, and beautifying the park entrance to attract more visitors. It is the most trafficked park in the Phoenix metropolitan area.

Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area (Ongoing)

AZSA is working with the City of Phoenix on a long-term project to clean up the Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area, a 5-mile stretch of land alongside the Salt River once used as a dump site. Our work to restore these areas includes removing invasive species, cleaning up trash, planting trees and pollinators, and beautifying the many trails and habitats that community members and wildlife frequent.

Arizona Youth Conservation Workforce Development Program  (AZYCWD)

The AZYCWD program addresses regional ecosystem and watershed issues by engaging students from low-income communities along the Rio Reimagined Corridor in conservation internships to implement restoration projects. This program will give students a socio-culturally relevant curriculum about the Rio Reimagined Corridor, hands-on conservation work experience, and mentorship from nearby land agencies. Simultaneously, this program contributes to riparian restoration efforts in the area in direct coordination with land agencies. By providing education, field experience, mentorships, and career opportunities, AZSA seeks to develop the next generation of Arizona conservationists from the local community.

The project partnership between AZSA, ASU University City Exchange, Corazón Latino, participating land agencies such as Arizona Game and Fish Department and Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department, Audubon Southwest, Buckeye Union High School District, and Rio Reimagined will build capacity for expanding community stewardship through cross-sector support of this unique project for developing the next generation of conservation leaders in Arizona.

Past Projects

Penny Howe Trail Restoration Project (Past Project)

The Penny H. Howe Barrier Free Trail is in the North Mountain District of the Phoenix Mountain Preserve and is an easy, family-friendly, paved, handicapped-accessible hike.  In partnership with North Mountain, AZSA helped to

• Shore up the walkways using current technologies in drainage-friendly, naturally sustainable materials
• Replace irrigation systems
• Remove existing invasive fauna
• Install new native fauna
• Install new interpretive/informational signage
• Install new accessible benches and shade structure

Penny Howe Pollinator Garden (March 2020)

In partnership with State Farm, Ameresco, North Mountain Brewing Co, Carvana, Hunter Industries, and Ewing Irrigation, we planted over 125 pollinators at the Penny Howe Trail in North Mountain, Phoenix. This was part of a longer-term project at the Penny Howe Trail, the only ADA-accessible trail at North Mountain.

Indian Bend Wash Park, Tempe

Restoration of two riparian areas. Critical pieces of the greenway.

The goal was to rid the park of trash, invasive plant species, and overgrown brush and build new walking/bike paths throughout the area. The Indian Bend Wash is a critical bird habitat. AZSA volunteers have assisted the City of Tempe in restoring this park to its full potential through invasive species removal, trash pick up, cutting out overgrown vegetation, and filling in holes left behind from the old, nonfunctional irrigation system.

Conservation news