STREAMS OF LIFE

Under towering Ponderosa pine trees and red rock sandstione, Oak Creek plunges down the Colorado Plateau from the north. Here, it meets the Verde River in a remarkable habitat known as the Cottonwood/Willow Riparian Zone. Riparian areas have been called streams of life, providing food, water, breeding grounds, wintering habitat, and migration corridors for wildlife. As much as 60% of the resident wildlife in Arizona depends on these riparian areas. Studies by biologists have shown breeding bird populations in undisturbed riparian habitat, particularly the cottonwood/willow association, to be among the highest reported in North America. Along the Verde River and tributary riparian communities, there were found to be in excess of 1,000 pairs of breeding birds per 100 acres. In addition, these areas provide precious habitat for numerous endangered, threatened, and candidate species include Southern bald eagles, southwestern willow flycatchers, common black hawk, longfin dace and the red bat. Fortunately, (as seen here), the vegetation along the Verde riparian community is still in a relatively natural state. The magnificent stands of cottonwood, sycamore, and willow riparian gallery forest, located in the heart of the Verde Valley, are considered globally endangered communities, which means they are found in fewer than 20 places in the world. Only FIVE extensive stands of this rare forest type remain in Arizona, one is the riparian forest along the Verde Valley. November 11, 2008