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Since its inception, LSPWA has taken active steps to protect the unique riparian biohabitat and cultural heritage of the San Pedro River Valley—from building public awareness and participation to recourse to litigation, in concert with our close partners. Learn more about our Advocacy or read below to find out about other recent activities.
Participation with Watershed Leaders in Aravaipa – Klondyke
Participation with Watershed Leaders in Aravaipa – Klondyke
On Dec. 17, 2025, LSPWA members attended a fieldtrip to the eastern side of Aravaipa Canyon, hosted by the Aravaipa Watershed Conservation Alliance. We learned about AWCA’s water conservation efforts – Zuni bowls and one-rock dams – tools that could be used to improve the Lower San Pedro’s watershed health as well.
Beavers Mean Business
Beavers Mean Business
On Dec. 6, 2025, LSPWA board members Leif Abrell and Melissa Crytzer Fry participated in the 5th Annual San Pedro Beaver Survey conducted by partner, Watershed Management Group.
Did you know that the natural dam-building skills of beavers result in the creation of wetlands, which slows water flow, filters pollutants, recharges groundwater and creates fire breaks to naturally restore watersheds?
A series of four surveys took place along various stretches of the Lower San Pedro River, with approximately 32 volunteers covering nine miles. Overall, 50 miles was covered across 18 survey stretches, including on the Upper San Pedro and Lower Babocomari.
Abrell’s group, which surveyed approximately 2.5 miles upstream of the Aravaipa confluence, documented evidence of beaver chews in two separate areas about 1.5 miles apart. While Crytzer Fry’s group – in Dudleyville, at the Salt River Project’s mitigation property – didn’t document any evidence of beavers, they were pleased to see suitable habitat and continuous flow of the San Pedro. Another LSPWA member, Craig Anderson (not part of the survey), recently documented fresh chews just south of the Salt River Project property, illustrating that these “habitat engineers” are gaining ground in their repair of our wetlands and water systems. The above article also highlights a rare, daytime sighting of a beaver on the Lower San Pedro River, outside of San Manuel.
In April 2025, LSPWA joined partner efforts to protest the holding of a University of Arizona summit on Earth Day, the purpose of which was to enable the mining industry to better manage and manipulate public opinion. The coalition faulted the University, in particular, for failing to include the voices of those who stand to be most impacted by mining's depredations, namely, local communities and Tribal nations.
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