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Wings over Wastewater by outdoor_lover Overview: More Birding Opportunities abound in this little known Riparian Area along the Salt and Gila Rivers. This multi-functional facility located within the Greater Phoenix area, hosts a variety of Birds year round and provides a Scenic, Park like setting, with views of the Sierra Estrellas and South Mountain. Warning: Entry is by Permit Only. History: In 2000, the Army Corps of Engineers, in cooperation with the Maricopa County Flood Control District and the City of Phoenix, embarked on the Tres Rios Ecosystem Restoration and Flood Control Project. The Project encompasses 7 miles and approximately 1500 Acres along the Salt and Gila River Systems. Using Highly Treated Effluent Water from the City of Phoenix's 91st Avenue Wastewater Treatment Plant, the Project involves a Flood Control Levee, Emergent Wetlands, and an Effluent Pump Station, as well as Riparian and Open Water Features, including large Ponds and Waterways. The Project is home to several types of Research, including Water Quality, Vegetation Sustainability, Mosquito Control, Non-lethal Beaver Control and Management, and Wildlife Diversity. Hike: The Hike/Birding Route follows a Main Road into the Wetlands and then the Road splits for a while. Take the Left Road first and then you eventually have to meet up with the Main road again at a large Waterway just below the Dam. Walk up to the Dam and cross going West as far as you want to go, enjoying the Pond Areas to your right. The Road will eventually take you all the way to Avondale Boulevard, following the Salt River and it's eventual merge with the Gila River. You can make this Trip as short or as long as you want, and even do a Shuttle if you're so inclined, leaving a Vehicle at the other end, where Avondale Boulevard turns and becomes Indian Springs Road at the Phoenix International Raceway. For more information on this Wetland, visit www.tresrios.net Water Sources: No Drinking Water Sources Camping: Not permitted. Check out the Triplogs. Leave No Trace and +Add a Triplog after your birding observation to support this local community.
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WARNING! Hiking and outdoor related sports can be dangerous. Be responsible and prepare for the trip. Study the area you are entering and plan accordingly. Dress for the current and unexpected weather changes. Take plenty of water. Never go alone. Make an itinerary with your plan(s), route(s), destination(s) and expected return time. Give your itinerary to trusted family and/or friends.
Most recent Triplog Reviews
Tres Rios Wetlands
I should probably doing something more productive today than typing a triplog, like cleaning the home, grocery shopping, or updating my facebook status. But I reviewed my photos and wanted to document how my year was going. I don't know how long I walked today, but I did see a lot of birds. I wasn't expecting to see snakes here, but I ended up seeing 3, including one by my car at the end of the trip. I also didn't know that checkered gartersnakes were at Tres Rios.
I saw a lot of redwings. I might go back to photograph them later this month. I saw a few yellow-heads, lots of herons and egrets, and a few ducks. I wanted to go to Sweetwater Preserve today, but I didn't feel like driving too far. I might go tomorrow.
Here's my 2016 so far with the snake counts. I thought I saw around 40, but it's over 50. Not bad. I definitely need more sidewinder pics though. Chicks dig sidewinders. It's true.
Snakes:
- Gophersnakes: 12
- Sidewinders: 11
- Dbacks: 13
- Coachwhips:7
- Night Snakes: 5
- Spotted Leafnosed: 2
- Lyresnakes: 1
- Checkered garters: 2
- Patchnosed: 1
I saw a lot of redwings. I might go back to photograph them later this month. I saw a few yellow-heads, lots of herons and egrets, and a few ducks. I wanted to go to Sweetwater Preserve today, but I didn't feel like driving too far. I might go tomorrow.
Here's my 2016 so far with the snake counts. I thought I saw around 40, but it's over 50. Not bad. I definitely need more sidewinder pics though. Chicks dig sidewinders. It's true.
Snakes:
- Gophersnakes: 12
- Sidewinders: 11
- Dbacks: 13
- Coachwhips:7
- Night Snakes: 5
- Spotted Leafnosed: 2
- Lyresnakes: 1
- Checkered garters: 2
- Patchnosed: 1
2016-04-10 gummo
Tres Rios Wetlands
More Birding/Photography Trips II
February was a busy Month.... 
Got a couple of good Tidbits of News though and I got to see both come to Fruition this Month...I'll Post the Details with my March Trips...But as a Hint for one of them, a couple of Fellow HAZer's ended up getting their Backsides Published... 
February Trips:
Desert Botanical Gardens X 2
Kiwanis Park
Papago Park X 4
Eldorado Park
Fountain Hills Park (I dumped my Mom and Sister at my Niece's Baby Shower and went Birding instead...
)
Salt River
Tres Rios (Walked all the Way to the End of the Road at 91st and Back. I could see PIR only about 1 Mile away)
Got a couple of good Tidbits of News though and I got to see both come to Fruition this Month...I'll Post the Details with my March Trips...But as a Hint for one of them, a couple of Fellow HAZer's ended up getting their Backsides Published...
February Trips:
Desert Botanical Gardens X 2
Kiwanis Park
Papago Park X 4
Eldorado Park
Fountain Hills Park (I dumped my Mom and Sister at my Niece's Baby Shower and went Birding instead...
)
Salt River
Tres Rios (Walked all the Way to the End of the Road at 91st and Back. I could see PIR only about 1 Mile away)
2015-02-06 outdoor_lover
Tres Rios Wetlands
More Birding/Photography Trips
For the Month of January...Lots of Trips, some with Friends.
4 Trips to Papago
1 Trip to Gilbert Riparian Preserve
1 Trip to Tres Rios
Got a few Miles in at two of the Locations, but when it's about Birding, it's always really slow... A couple of the Papago Trips were just at the last Minute for Potential Sunsets... 
The Town of Gilbert is really screwing with the Riparian this Year, the Ponds are terrible with very little Water in the ones that you can really view...Lots of Water in the ones you can't and where you can, the Birds are 1/4 Mile away... 
Very Slow Birding all around the usual Places this Year except at Tres Rios...It seems to be the Best this Year, followed by the Salt River....
4 Trips to Papago
1 Trip to Gilbert Riparian Preserve
1 Trip to Tres Rios
Got a few Miles in at two of the Locations, but when it's about Birding, it's always really slow...
A couple of the Papago Trips were just at the last Minute for Potential Sunsets... The Town of Gilbert is really screwing with the Riparian this Year, the Ponds are terrible with very little Water in the ones that you can really view...Lots of Water in the ones you can't and where you can, the Birds are 1/4 Mile away... Very Slow Birding all around the usual Places this Year except at Tres Rios...It seems to be the Best this Year, followed by the Salt River....2015-01-06 outdoor_lover
Tres Rios Wetlands
Birding/Photography Trips II
Compilation of Trips from the end of September through October...
3 Trips to Papago Park
1 Trip to Gilbert
1 Trip to Tres Rios
Should be about the last of the Dragonflies as it's starting to get too Cold...Winter Birds are starting to arrive and there will be even more soon...
3 Trips to Papago Park
1 Trip to Gilbert
1 Trip to Tres Rios
Should be about the last of the Dragonflies as it's starting to get too Cold...Winter Birds are starting to arrive and there will be even more soon...
2014-09-28 outdoor_lover
Tres Rios Wetlands
Change of Pace today...Decided to meet some other Birders in an area I just found out about 2 weeks ago. Got my Permit in the Mail a couple of days ago and met about 6 other people at the Parking Lot/Entrance at 5:00 A.M. this morning...
These guys are pros I'll tell ya... Mega Lenses on Mega Tripods and me with my little Point and Shoot... But since they knew what they were doing, I got some great shots on some Birds I would have never seen or known about otherwise...
This is a nice little area!!! Who knew??? Lying in between South Mountain and the Sierra Estrella Ranges, it's a little Oasis out in the middle of nowhere!!!
And the Birds!!! I can't wait until this is actually "in season", as this is the "slow" season for the area...Wow!!!
Spent a couple of hours here and then a couple of the guys had a line on some Burrowing Owls, so a few of us took off and followed them over there...Ok, seriously, had no idea there were so many Burrowing Owls out there, wow!!!! We saw at least 7 in less than 30 minutes in different areas...What a Treat!!!
They are such cute little Raptors, I just love them...
Finished up about 9:30 with plenty of pictures...
I posted 30 simply to not only show you the Birds, but also the area, since I've submitted a Description for this...And the Owls just stole the Photo Show at the end!!!
It was a good, relaxing, fun day!!!
These guys are pros I'll tell ya... Mega Lenses on Mega Tripods and me with my little Point and Shoot...
But since they knew what they were doing, I got some great shots on some Birds I would have never seen or known about otherwise...
This is a nice little area!!! Who knew??? Lying in between South Mountain and the Sierra Estrella Ranges, it's a little Oasis out in the middle of nowhere!!!
And the Birds!!! I can't wait until this is actually "in season", as this is the "slow" season for the area...Wow!!!
Spent a couple of hours here and then a couple of the guys had a line on some Burrowing Owls, so a few of us took off and followed them over there...Ok, seriously, had no idea there were so many Burrowing Owls out there, wow!!!! We saw at least 7 in less than 30 minutes in different areas...What a Treat!!!
They are such cute little Raptors, I just love them...
Finished up about 9:30 with plenty of pictures...
I posted 30 simply to not only show you the Birds, but also the area, since I've submitted a Description for this...And the Owls just stole the Photo Show at the end!!!
It was a good, relaxing, fun day!!!
2013-06-08 outdoor_lover
