↑ parent activity group ·
research dossier →

ALTAR VALLEY CONSERVATION ALLIANCE
TUCSON, AZ · EIN 860997296 · Form 990 · FY2022 · NTEE C30 · Environment · Small ($100K-$1M) · altarvalleyconservation.org
revenue
$771K
expenses
$362K
net assets
$2.0M
employees
18
volunteers
12
program ratio
86%
mission · from form 990

CONSERVE AND PROTECT ARIZONA RANGELAND THROUGH PROGRAMS IN CONSERVATION, SCIENCE, COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND EDUCATION.

profile · synthesized from sources

Watershed-based conservation organization founded in 1995 that uses collaborative, science-based methods to conserve working landscapes in the Altar Valley, Arizona. Works with ranchers, agencies, and scientists to promote soil and water conservation, wildfire management, habitat protection, and sustainable agriculture. Focuses on maintaining the ecological and cultural integrity of a 610,000-acre rural watershed near the U.S.-Mexico border.

named programs · 7 · from sources

what they call their work

Altar Valley Fire Management Plan
Collaborative effort to develop and implement prescribed burns and wildfire management strategies across land boundaries
Altar Valley Research Fellowship
Program awarding fellowships to support scientific research relevant to land management in the Altar Valley
Altar Valley Science Advisory Board
Scientific body that guides research priorities and maintains the AVCA Science Agenda and Research Protocol
Arroyo Restoration and Road Maintenance Workshops
Hands-on workshops with experts Bill Zeedyk and Steve Carson to teach restoration techniques for arroyos and roads
Brush Management Workshops
Workshops conducted with the University of Arizona to share knowledge on brush management practices
Elkhorn/Las Delicias Watershed Restoration Demonstration Project
Watershed restoration project serving as an outdoor classroom with 10-year monitoring and community outreach program
Grassland Enhancement Project
2000-acre project involving mesquite treatment and monitoring, funded by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
activities · 7 groups

what they do

  • Wildfire Recovery & Resilience Planning 3 activities
    • Develop and advance the Altar Valley Fire Management Plan
      Created a comprehensive fire management plan supported by biological assessments and environmental reviews, secured regulatory approval (Finding of No Significant Impact), and facilitated prescribed burns and fire monitoring in the valley.
    • Facilitate fire management and prescribed burns
      Coordinates fire meetings, facilitates the implementation of prescribed fires in the Altar Valley, and conducts related research and planning, including developing the Altar Valley Fire Management Plan and securing its Finding of No Significant Impact.
    • Facilitate fire management coordination and prescribed burns
      Coordinates biannual fire management meetings, led the first Altar Valley Fire Meeting in 2012, and implemented prescribed burns on private and public lands through cross-boundary collaboration.
  • Land & Water Conservation Advocacy 2 activities
    • Advocate for conservation funding
      Reached a settlement agreement with Kinder-Morgan over the Sierrita Pipeline, resulting in an endowment to fund conservation work in the Altar Valley.
    • Advocate for conservation funding and legal agreements
      Negotiated a settlement with Kinder-Morgan over the Sierrita Pipeline, resulting in an endowment to support ongoing conservation work in the Altar Valley.
  • Nature-Based Environmental Education Programs 2 activities
    • Host workshops and community engagement events
      Conducts technical workshops on arroyo restoration, road maintenance, and brush management in collaboration with experts and the University of Arizona, and hosts an annual community meeting for stakeholders.
    • Host workshops and community meetings
      Organizes and hosts workshops on topics such as arroyo restoration, road maintenance, and brush management, and convenes an annual community meeting for learning, networking, and sharing activities in the Altar Valley.
  • Interactive Mapping & Digital Resource Tools 2 activities
    • Provide geospatial data and mapping tools for the Altar Valley
      Operates an interactive web map portal with up-to-date GIS data, a real-time Fire Information Map, and tools for generating custom PDFs, developed in collaboration with Quiet Creek Corporation.
    • Provide geospatial information and mapping tools
      Offers up-to-date geospatial information about the Altar Valley through an interactive web map portal, including a real-time Fire Information Map, and enables users to generate custom PDF prints of map data.
  • Watershed Planning & Management 1 activity
    • Develop and implement the Altar Valley Watershed Plan
      A collaboratively developed plan identifying conservation priorities and management goals for the Altar Valley, created through the Altar Valley Watershed Working Group and supported by watershed assessments and resource management studies.
  • Carbon Sequestration through Ecosystem Restoration 1 activity
    • Implement on-the-ground conservation projects
      Carries out priority conservation projects identified in the Altar Valley Watershed Plan, including improving wells for wildlife, implementing riparian projects, conducting erosion control and brush management, and grassland enhancement.
  • Uncategorized 8 activities
    • Administer research and science support programs
      Manages the Altar Valley Research Fellowship to fund scientific research and maintains a Science Advisory Board that meets quarterly to guide the organization’s science initiatives.
    • Administer the Altar Valley Research Fellowship
      Establishes and administers an ongoing research fellowship program to support and fund scientific research in the Altar Valley watershed.
    • Conduct post-fire ecosystem research
      Publishes reports on ecosystem opportunities following prescribed burns and wildfires, including specific studies on the Pima pineapple cactus in relation to the Elkhorn Fire.
    • Conduct watershed planning and resource assessments
      Develops and leads the collaborative Altar Valley Watershed Plan, conducts watershed resource assessments, and identifies management goals and conservation issues for private and public lands.
    • Develop and maintain the Altar Valley Collection
      A curated digital archive of historical and research materials about the Altar Valley, created in partnership with Global Rangelands and the University of Arizona, and regularly updated with new information.
    • Develop and maintain the Altar Valley Collection
      Creates and regularly updates a curated bibliography of historical and research information about the Altar Valley in partnership with Global Rangelands and the University of Arizona, accessible through the Rangelands Network database.
    • Implement on-the-ground conservation and restoration projects
      Conducts field projects including erosion control, brush management, grassland enhancement (e.g., 2,000-acre mesquite treatment), riparian restoration (La Osa Wells), and watershed demonstration projects with long-term monitoring and outreach components.
    • Maintain a Science Advisory Board
      Established a Science Advisory Board in 2010 that meets quarterly to provide guidance to the Board of Directors on the organization's science program.
financials · form 990 · fy2022
revenue
Total revenue$771K
Contributions & grants$756K98%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$19K3%
Other revenue$-5K
expenses
Total expenses$362K
Program expenses86%
Admin / overhead13%
Fundraising1%
Salaries & benefits$305K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$2.00M
Cash$515K
Investments$1.48M
Liabilities$0
Net assets$2.00M
Liquid reserves66.1 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2022 · YoY revenue +136.1%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2022

who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
SARAH KING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 20 $30K
board members · 12
  • CHARLEY MILLER — DIRECTOR
  • DEE LUSBY — DIRECTOR
  • HEATHER FOX — DIRECTOR
  • MARY KASULAITIS — DIRECTOR
  • MATT BAILEY — DIRECTOR
  • PAT KING — PRESIDENT
  • PAUL BEAR — DIRECTOR
  • PEGGY ROWLEY — VICE PRESIDENT
  • STEPHEN WILLIAMS — DIRECTOR
  • SUE CHILTON — DIRECTOR
  • TOM SHERIDAN — DIRECTOR
  • WALTER LANE — TREASURER
relationships · 118

who they work with

  • Altar Valley School District Partner — Partner organization
  • ArcGIS Partner — Provides the interactive mapping platform used for AVCA's geospatial data dissemination.
  • Arivaca Fire District Partner — Partner organization
  • Arivaca Watershed Education Task Force Partner — Partner organization
  • Arizona Antelope Foundation, Inc. Partner — Partner organization
  • Arizona Association of Conservation Districts Partner — Partner organization
  • Arizona Cattle Growers Association Partner — Partner organization
  • Arizona Department of Agriculture Government — Partner organization
  • Arizona Department of Environmental Quality Funder — Funded a 2000-acre grassland enhancement project involving mesquite treatment.
  • Arizona Department of Environmental Quality Government — Partner organization
  • Arizona Department of Forestry & Fire Management Government — Partner organization
  • Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management Partner — Co-convenor of the Vegetation technical team within the Watershed Working Group.
  • Arizona Farm Bureau Partner — Partner organization
  • Arizona Game and Fish Department Government — Partner organization
  • Arizona Game and Fish Department Partner — Co-convenor of the Wildlife technical team within the Watershed Working Group.
  • Arizona Game and Fish Department Partner — Conducting a study to analyze the efficacy of brush treatments in the Altar Valley as part of the Watershed Plan.
  • Arizona Game and Fish Department, Tucson Habitat Partnership Committee Government — Partner organization
  • Arizona Land and Water Trust Partner — Partner organization
  • Arizona Revegetation & Monitoring Co. Partner — Partner organization
  • Arizona Sportsmen for Wildlife Conservation Partner — Partner organization
  • Arizona State Land Department Government — Partner organization
  • Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Partner — Partner organization
  • BKW Farm Partner — Partner organization
  • Brad Lancaster Partner — Individual partner
  • Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge Government — Partner organization
  • Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge Partner — Collaborated on the first prescribed burn and signed a cooperative agreement to facilitate watershed work.
  • Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge Partner — Collaborates with the Alliance on ecological restoration projects, including prescribed fire and erosion control planning.
  • Bureau of Reclamation Funder — Funded a collaborative, valley-wide planning process to develop the Altar Valley Watershed Plan.
  • Bureau of Reclamation Funder — Provides grant funding through the WaterSmart Program to support the Altar Valley Watershed Plan.
  • Bureau of Reclamation WaterSmart: Cooperative Watershed Management Program Government — Partner organization
+ 88 more