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| Hiking | 3.10 Miles |
170 AEG |
| | Hiking | 3.10 Miles | 1 Hour 34 Mns | | 1.98 mph |
| 170 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | I was out again on The Nature Conservancy (TNC) annual San Pedro River valley annual water survey. 300+ miles, including trubutaries, are covered by 170-something "citizen-scientists", in Mexico and the USA. The goal is survey the whole river from its source to the Gila River in Winkelman, though some private property owners do not give permission, causing some segments to be skipped. Read more here: http://azconservation.org/projects/wate ... ry_mapping .
I did the same segment this year, that I did last year ( http://hikearizona.com/trip=76330 ), which includes parts I have walked on non-survey weekends, so it was interesting to see the contrast this year. It was definitely much different.
My segment runs from 32.860158 / -110.601177 ( http://hikearizona.com/map.php?QX=2797 ) to the second, downstream, larger invasive species barrier (not a dam) at 32.844268 / -110.629522 ( http://hikearizona.com/map.php?QX=2798 ).
Water was definitely down this year. Normally the whole stretch is under 3-6 inches of water, regardless of time of year. This year, the first mile was flowing, but much lower. The next half mile was bone dry ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wKJ0TMs-1Y ).  Then the final 1.5 miles started out with a trickle, and eventually reached near normal levels between the two barriers. (Me and my survey partner figured downstream water was being fed by springs from the bluffs south of Aravaipa.) Bends in the creek where I would normally expect to find 12-inch pools were bone dry.
The creek finally died for good at the second, larger, fish barrier. It dribbled over into moist ground and that was it. Last year it had gradually dissipated over the next half mile, into wetlands, where I saw a half dozen blue herons. My survey partner picked up a turtle from the middle of the big barrier, dropping him in the pool on top.  |
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| http://prestonm.com : Everyone's enjoyment of the outdoors is different and should be equally honored. |
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