activities · 58
what they do
direct service · 21
- Colorado River Delta Program Wetland & Estuarine Habitat RestorationOperates a Colorado River Delta program focused on reclamation and renewal.
- Colorado River Delta Restoration Wetland & Estuarine Habitat RestorationOperates a program focused on the reclamation and renewal of the Colorado River Delta, including restoring wetlands, enhancing estuarine habitats, and creating new habitats for birds and recreation areas. This involves constructing treatment wetlands, designing and implementing experimental freshwater deliveries, and increasing tidal connectivity to the river.
- Colorado River Delta Restoration Wetland & Estuarine Habitat RestorationRestores wetlands and enhances estuarine habitats in the Colorado River Delta, including the construction of treatment wetlands and experimental freshwater deliveries, to protect species and support local ecosystems and economies.
- Community Park Development Habitat Restoration & Invasive Species ManagementTransforms illegal dump sites into community parks with amenities like benches and open spaces, and creates new habitats and recreation areas with walking trails and visitor centers.
- Community Park Transformation Urban Greening and Public Plaza DevelopmentTransformed an illegal dump site into a community park with benches and open space for children in the Colonia Fronteriza neighborhood of Mexicali.
- Community Trash Cleanups Community Litter and Waste CleanupsOrganizes community trash cleanups.
- Earth Day Celebration Public Environmental Events & OutreachHosts an Earth Day celebration featuring informative presentations from community partners.
- Estuarine Habitat Enhancement Wetland & Estuarine Habitat RestorationEnhances estuarine habitat to protect species and jobs dependent on the ecosystem.
- Flow Monitoring River and Stream MonitoringMonitors flows along a 20-mile stretch of the Chuck Huckelberry Loop path along the Santa Cruz River.
- Freshwater Delivery Experiment Wetland & Estuarine Habitat RestorationDesigned and implemented an experimental delivery of freshwater to the estuary in August 2015, with a second delivery planned for late 2016.
- Habitat Creation and Species Protection Habitat Restoration & Invasive Species ManagementTransforms degraded sites into community parks and provides breeding grounds for endangered species like the Yuma Clapper Rail and Virginia Rail, contributing to biodiversity and community well-being.
- International Drain Cleanup Community Litter and Waste CleanupsCleaned a one-mile stretch of the International Drain along the U.S.-Mexico border multiple times, removing trash in collaboration with community members and government agencies.
- Las Arenitas Treatment Wetland Wetland & Estuarine Habitat RestorationBegan construction of the Las Arenitas treatment wetland in 2009, which is now 70% complete.
- New Habitat CreationCreated new habitat for birds and a recreation area with walking trails and a visitor center near Mexicali.
- Resilient Communities Workshop Community Resilience Workshops & ResourcesConducted a Resilient Communities Workshop in April 2015 for Missoula, Montana, and Jemez Springs, New Mexico.
- Santa Cruz River Program RFPs Water Policy Advocacy & PlanningAwarded two RFPs through its Santa Cruz River Program in 2025.
- Santa Cruz River Research Days Symposium Regional Conservation & Community Symposium CoordinationOrganizes the annual Santa Cruz River Research Days symposium.
- Santa Cruz River Research Event Regional Conservation & Community Symposium CoordinationOrganizes a hybrid in-person and virtual event to share research and conservation efforts related to the Santa Cruz River.
- Second Resilient Communities Workshop Community Resilience Workshops & ResourcesConducted a second Resilient Communities Workshop in January 2016 for Hurricane, Utah, and Silver Valley, Idaho.
- Tide Connection Increase Wetland & Estuarine Habitat RestorationDoubled the number of days each year that tides connect with the river, increasing it from 18 to 37 days.
- Wetlands Restoration Wetland & Estuarine Habitat RestorationRestores wetlands in the Colorado River Delta's estuary.
advocacy · 9
- Advocacy for Conservation Policy Water Policy Advocacy & PlanningEngages in advocacy efforts to influence conservation policy, including conducting outreach to stakeholders and policymakers, providing research and analysis to inform land designations, and weighing in on legislative negotiations regarding groundwater regulations. This also involves securing agreements for water allocation for environmental flows.
- Advocacy for Conservation and Water Policy Conservation Advocacy & Land ProtectionEngages in advocacy efforts to support conservation initiatives, inform policy decisions, and secure agreements for water resources, particularly in the California desert and Arizona, and for the White Tank Mountains Conservancy.
- California Desert Outreach Mining Impact & Regulatory AnalysisConducted outreach to stakeholders in the California desert region and Washington, DC, to present findings from its 2015 report on the economic impacts of the California Desert Conservation and Recreation Act.
- Conservation Outreach Overflights Land Stewardship Education & Field EngagementOrganized overflights of the White Tank Mountains for stakeholders and media to support conservation outreach.
- Groundwater Regulations Advocacy Water Policy Advocacy & PlanningWeighed in on negotiations in the Arizona State Legislature regarding groundwater regulations in 2024.
- National Monuments DesignationProvided research and analysis that informed the designation of 1.8 million acres of national monuments in the California desert in February 2016.
- Treated Wastewater Agreement Water Offset & Incentive ProgramsSecured an agreement to dedicate 30% of treated wastewater, ensuring 8,000 acre-feet of water flows into the Hardy River annually for 20 years, with potential to increase to 12,000 acre-feet.
- Water Challenges Advocacy Water Policy Advocacy & PlanningSent a letter to the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority in 2023 regarding Arizona's water challenges and legislation.
- White Tank Mountains Advocacy Conservation Advocacy & Land ProtectionProvided leadership for the advocacy and public policy committee of the White Tank Mountains Conservancy.
research · 16
- Annual Fish Survey Sustainable Fisheries Management & RestorationConducted its 16th annual fish survey in late 2023 to identify fish species in the water.
- Bird Species Increase ObservationObserved an increase in bird species from 8 to 160 and total bird count from under 100 to 18,000 in the Las Arenitas area between 2009 and 2015.
- Economic Impact Report Mining Impact & Regulatory AnalysisPublished a report assessing the economic impact of the California Desert Conservation and Recreation Act of 2015 on mining and the regional economy.
- Economic Impact Research Mining Impact & Regulatory AnalysisPublishes reports assessing the economic impact of conservation legislation, such as the California Desert Conservation and Recreation Act of 2015, on regional economies and specific industries like mining.
- Economic Impact Research Mining Impact & Regulatory AnalysisPublishes reports assessing the economic impact of conservation legislation on regional economies and specific industries.
- Estuary Condition Assessment Wetland & Estuarine Habitat RestorationEstablished baseline biological and physical conditions in the estuary and collects and analyzes data from flow delivery and connectivity work.
- Hydrologic Modeling and Water Introduction Planning River and Stream MonitoringUtilizes scientific research and hydrologic modeling to identify methods for introducing water to dry sections of the Santa Cruz River.
- Living River Report Publication River and Stream MonitoringPublished the first "Living River" report, a baseline study assessing conditions in a 20-mile stretch of the Santa Cruz River from Rio Rico to Amado, Arizona, between October 2007 and September 2008.
- Living River Reports Compilation River and Stream MonitoringCompiles "Living River" reports on the Lower Santa Cruz River, a 23-mile stretch northwest of Tucson, since 2013.
- Research Support for Fundraising Conservation Advocacy & Land ProtectionProvided research and data to support the White Tank Mountains Conservancy’s fundraising and leadership engagement.
- Resilient Communities Starter Kit Community Resilience Workshops & ResourcesDeveloped the Resilient Communities Starter Kit, a guide for communities to address climate change impacts, with input from a 17-member advisory panel.
- Santa Cruz River Condition Reports River and Stream MonitoringSynthesized data collected by multiple partners to create reports detailing the Santa Cruz River's condition and needs.
- Santa Cruz River Habitat Validation Wetland & Estuarine Habitat RestorationValidated that cleaner wastewater has revived the Santa Cruz River's natural habitat, contributing to the return of the Gila topminnow.
- Santa Cruz River Research and Monitoring River and Stream MonitoringConducts research, monitoring, and data synthesis to assess the health and conditions of the Santa Cruz River, including fish surveys and "Living River" reports, and convenes a science advisory committee to guide these assessments.
- Santa Cruz River Research and Monitoring River and Stream MonitoringConducts ongoing research and monitoring of the Santa Cruz River, including assessing its conditions, validating habitat revival due to cleaner wastewater, identifying fish species through annual surveys, and synthesizing data from multiple partners to create detailed reports. This also involves establishing baseline biological and physical conditions and collecting data from flow delivery work.
- White Tank Mountains Conservation Support Local Habitat Protection InitiativesProvides research and data to support the White Tank Mountains Conservancy's fundraising and leadership engagement, and observes increases in bird species in restored areas.
capacity building · 12
- Art Workshop for Children Youth-Engaged Public Mural ProjectsConducted an art workshop at a school where children painted their visions for the changing drain.
- Community Engagement and Education for Environmental Conservation Community Litter and Waste CleanupsOrganizes community events and workshops to promote environmental awareness and conservation, such as Earth Day celebrations, environmental fairs at schools, art workshops for children, and community trash cleanups. This also includes educating families on recycling and waste reduction, and organizing neighborhood watch patrols against illegal dumping.
- Community Engagement and Environmental Education Community Litter and Waste CleanupsOrganizes community events such as Earth Day celebrations, trash cleanups, and environmental fairs, and educates families on recycling and waste reduction, often in collaboration with government agencies and schools.
- Environmental Fair Collaboration Community Litter and Waste CleanupsCollaborated with government agencies to host an environmental fair at an elementary school, featuring exhibits on recycling, water resource protection, disease prevention through cleanliness, and native plants.
- Household Recycling Education Recycling & Waste Education ProgramsEducates families on how to recycle and reduce household solid waste.
- Resilient Communities Program Community Resilience Workshops & ResourcesConducts workshops and develops resources, such as the Resilient Communities Starter Kit, to help communities address climate change impacts and build resilience. This program has been implemented in various locations including Missoula, Montana, Jemez Springs, New Mexico, Hurricane, Utah, and Silver Valley, Idaho.
- Resilient Communities Workshops and Toolkits Community Resilience Workshops & ResourcesConducts workshops and develops resources like the Resilient Communities Starter Kit to help communities address climate change impacts and build resilience.
- Santa Cruz River Program Management Regional Conservation & Community Symposium CoordinationManages the Santa Cruz River Program, which includes organizing an annual symposium for sharing ideas and experiences among groups working on the river, convening a science advisory committee, and awarding RFPs for related projects.
- Santa Cruz River Research Days Symposium Regional Conservation & Community Symposium CoordinationOrganizes and coordinates an annual symposium for groups working on the Santa Cruz River to share research, ideas, and experiences.
- Science Advisory Committee River and Stream MonitoringConvened a science advisory committee of experts in ecology, wildlife, and hydrology to guide "Living River" health assessments.
- University and Public Presentations Research Dissemination WebinarsPresents research and findings at academic and public forums, such as the University of Arizona’s Water Resources Research Center’s Seminar Series, to share knowledge and engage with broader audiences.
- Water Resources Seminar Presentation Research Dissemination WebinarsPresented at the University of Arizona’s Water Resources Research Center’s Seminar Series in February 2023.
strategies · 13
how they think
Theories of action extracted from this org's own source material. Click any to see the full field of orgs running the same approach.
- Adaptive Water Resource Restoration adaptive_restorationThe organization designs and implements programs to protect and restore water resources, particularly focusing on river flow restoration and addressing freshwater scarcity. This involves an adaptive restoration strategy that begins with research and small-scale demonstration projects, learning from them to develop larger plans, and utilizing methods like constructed wetlands and removing sandbar portions to improve water quality and connectivity.
- Adaptive Water Resource Restoration adaptive_restorationThe organization designs and implements programs to protect and restore water resources, particularly focusing on river flow restoration and addressing freshwater scarcity. This involves an adaptive restoration strategy that starts with research and small-scale demonstration projects, learns from them, and then scales up, including using constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment and transforming urban drains into green corridors.
- Adaptive Water Resource Restoration adaptive_restorationThe organization designs and implements programs to protect and restore water resources, particularly focusing on river flow restoration and addressing freshwater scarcity. This involves an adaptive restoration strategy that starts with research and small-scale demonstration projects, learns from them, and then scales up, including using constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment.
- Collaborative Conservation and Consensus Building collaborative_conservationThe organization employs a collaborative and moderate approach to environmental advocacy, respecting diverse interests and property rights in the Western U.S. They use science-based research to inform policy debates and build consensus among stakeholders, balancing development and environmental protection.
- Collaborative Conservation and Consensus Building collaborative_conservationThe organization employs a collaborative and moderate approach to environmental advocacy, respecting property rights and balancing development with environmental protection in Western regions. This involves using science-based research to inform public policy debates and build consensus among diverse stakeholders, including local communities, government officials, and technical staff, to achieve successful and sustainable outcomes.
- Collaborative Conservation and Consensus Building collaborative_conservationThe organization employs a collaborative and moderate approach to environmental advocacy, respecting property rights and balancing development with environmental protection in Western regions. They use independent, science-based research to inform public policy debates and build consensus among diverse stakeholders, including local communities, government officials, and technical staff, to achieve successful and sustainable outcomes.
- Community Capacity Building and Engagement for Climate Resilience community_capacity_buildingThe organization builds community capacity by providing tools and training to increase climate resiliency. They facilitate workshops to help community leadership teams identify climate impacts and develop actionable plans, while also engaging communities to promote ownership and accountability for long-term environmental stewardship and connecting people with natural resources.
- Community Capacity Building and Engagement for Climate Resilience community_capacity_buildingThe organization builds community capacity and fosters engagement by providing tools, training, and workshop facilitation to help communities identify climate impacts and develop actionable plans for resilience. This approach aims to shift community mindset, promote ownership, and connect people with natural resources, ensuring long-term stewardship and successful project outcomes.
- Community Capacity Building for Climate Resilience community_capacity_buildingThe organization builds community capacity by providing tools, training, and workshop facilitation to help local leadership teams identify climate impacts and develop actionable plans for climate resilience. This approach aims to foster local ownership and accountability for long-term environmental stewardship.
- Economic Valuation and Policy Influence for Conservation economic_valuation_of_conservationThe organization develops economic analysis tools to demonstrate the financial benefits of protecting public lands and natural resources, thereby supporting regional economic development. This strategy aims to influence policy and shift the mindset of water agencies and governments towards investing in environmental projects and wetland restoration.
- Economic and Policy Influence for Conservation Investment economic_valuation_of_conservationThe organization develops economic analysis tools to demonstrate the regional economic benefits of protecting public lands, aiming to influence policy and shift the mindset of water agencies and governments towards investing in environmental projects and wetland restoration. They also simplify complex river information into engaging reports for diverse audiences to support these efforts.
- Holistic Environmental Education and Community Connection environmental_educationThe organization integrates environmental education, especially for children, into its projects and uses hybrid public events to promote learning about river research and conservation. They adopt a holistic approach to river assessment, considering both ecological factors and human interaction, to frame the river as a community resource and asset, fostering a deeper connection between people and natural resources.
- Integrated Environmental Education and Engagement community_engaged_conservation_educationThe organization engages communities and diverse audiences through hybrid public events, environmental education (especially for children), and simplified reporting to promote learning about river research and conservation. This strategy aims to connect people with natural resources, shift mindsets, and influence policy towards environmental investments by framing rivers as community assets.
named programs · 7
what they call their work
Annual Fish Survey
An annual survey conducted with staff, partners, and friends to identify fish species in the Santa Cruz River.
Living River Academy
An educational program for teachers that uses the Living River reports as guides.
Living River Health Assessments
Annual assessments tracking indicators like water quality, native fish, and wildlife in the Santa Cruz River to understand its health and inform stewardship efforts. These assessments are conducted for both the Upper and Lower Santa Cruz River.
Living River of Words
An educational program for K-12 students that uses the Living River reports as guides to teach about the river.
North Drain Collector Recovery
Efforts to advance the recovery of the North Drain Collector in Mexicali, Mexico.
Santa Cruz River Program
A program focused on the Santa Cruz River, including managing RFPs and advancing recovery efforts.
Santa Cruz River Research Days
An annual gathering for groups working on the Santa Cruz River to share ideas and experiences related to conservation of natural and cultural resources.
relationships · 21
who they work with
- Autonomous University of Baja California Partner — Partner in restoring the Colorado River Delta's estuary.
- Center for Research and Development Partner — Partner in restoring the Colorado River Delta's estuary.
- Colorado Delta Program Partner — The Mexicali Fluye campaign is part of the Colorado Delta Program.
- Comision Estatal de Servicios Publicos de Mexicali (CESPM) Partner — Partnered with to create a wetland next to the treatment plant and reached an agreement regarding wastewater dedication.
- DMB Partner — Collaborated with DMB, the developer of Verrado, in launching the White Tank Mountains Conservancy
- Friends of the Santa Cruz River (FOSCR) Partner — Collaborated on understanding data and identifying important indicators for the Santa Cruz River's survival.
- Lincoln Institute of Land Policy Partner — Western Lands and Communities (WLC) is a joint program of the Sonoran Institute and the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy.
- Maricopa County Parks Department Partner — Partner agency managing White Tank Regional Park, part of the conserved area the institute supports
- Mexican National Commission for Natural Protected Areas Partner — Partner in restoring the Colorado River Delta's estuary.
- National Parks Conservation Association Partner — Collaborated with the Sonoran Institute on the California Desert Conservation and Recreation Act debate, with its director citing the Institute's research as valuable to the policy discussion.
- Pima County Flood Control District Partner — Partnered to educate the public, stakeholders, and decision makers about Pima County's investment in wastewater treatment plant upgrades.
- Pima County, Arizona Partner — Collaborates on compiling "Living River" reports for the Lower Santa Cruz River since 2013.
- Pronatura Noroeste Partner — Partner in restoring the Colorado River Delta's estuary.
- Pronatura Noroeste Partner — Partner in the Delta and monitors the bird population at Las Arenitas.
- The Nature Conservancy Partner — Partner in restoring the Colorado River Delta's estuary.
- Tumacácori National Historical Park Partner — The park's mile of river is one of the sites of the Gila topminnows’ comeback, which the Sonoran Institute helped validate.
- University of Arizona Partner — Partner in restoring the Colorado River Delta's estuary.
- University of Arizona’s Water Resources Research Center Partner — Presented at their Seminar Series in February 2023.
- Water Infrastructure Finance Authority Government — Sent a letter to the authority regarding Arizona's water challenges.
- Whiskey Del Bac Partner — Host venue for Earth Day celebration featuring collaboration with community partners.
- White Tank Mountains Conservancy Partner — Charter member and leader of the advocacy and public policy committee