Phoenix, Arizona - A unique partnership of cities, agencies, nonprofit groups and other organizations has developed an interactive online story map that takes viewers on a journey through history and explores the challenges the lower Gila River is facing and what collaborative landscape-scale restoration efforts are being done.
Users can scroll through detailed information that’s presented in a visually appealing and easy-to-understand format, while learning about the area’s history as it relates to how invasive vegetation has changed the function of the river.
This story describes the numerous challenges on the river, including invasive vegetation, fire and flooding, and the impending arrival of a beetle that could increase fire risk and habitat loss for threatened and endangered species. The site also provides in-depth information about efforts to address these challenges, taking the viewer on a journey with photos, maps, and key information on how the river plays an important role not only in our history, but also today and for future generations.
This story explains the collaborative restoration efforts on a portion of the lower Gila River that flows through the cities of Phoenix, Avondale, Goodyear and Buckeye. The Gila River is considered the second-longest river in Arizona. Restoration efforts are necessary to ensure a more functional river system that provides critical habitat for wildlife species, supports biological diversity, and provides for recreational opportunities in the Sonoran Desert.
A collaborative planning team came together to address the issues and determine how to move forward in order to protect and restore the river. Creating solutions to these challenges will help to restore multiple ecosystem services: establish high-quality habitats for fish and wildlife species, improve water quality, increase water flows, provide recreational opportunities, and reduce flooding and wildfire risk.
“This online tool is an important part of the initiative because it pulls the public into the story, while providing detailed information in a clear and visual manner and putting into a geographic context the various challenges and efforts going on to heal the river,” said Kelly Wolff, Habitat Evaluation and Lands Program Manager with the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
“This stretch of the Gila River might be the best opportunity in our region for restoration of one of North America’s most endangered ecosystems: the cottonwood-willow gallery forest,” said Ian Dowdy of the Sonoran Institute. “Though once thriving along rivers and streams in the Southwest, dams and groundwater pumping have virtually eliminated it from the landscape. With abundant water, this portion of river could become a world-class destination for cultural appreciation, ecotourism, recreation, and birding along its banks.”
“For two decades, officials have been working tirelessly to raise awareness of the need for removal of the invasive vegetation and replacement with the natural conditions that existed a hundred years ago along this river system. With the coming of the tamarisk leaf beetle, restoration is even more important than before,” said Mayor Jackie Meck of Buckeye.
The story map was developed in partnership with the various entities in the Lower Gila River Collaborative. These partners contributed data, photos and video, making the resource possible. The Arizona Game and Fish Department currently hosts the application.
For more information, to view the story map and to get involved, visit http://bit.ly/LGRCStoryMap.