VERDE VALLEY Files

Verde River Basin Water Budget

Map of Verde Watershed showing flow volume, water source volume, water use volume, and land use. View Document.

Verde River Basin Water-Resources Primer

Verde River Basin Water-Resources Primer -- Understanding Our Water and Our Verde River Basin

The Verde River Basin Water-Resources Primer grew from a series of PowerPoint presentations given by retired U.S. Geological Survey geologist Ed Wolfe to Watershed Steward classes at the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension of Yavapai County.

The Primer provides well-explained, well-illustrated, documented source material for interested citizens, public decision makers, teachers, and presenters of water-resource information that is directed, in particular, to understanding the workings of the interconnected groundwater and surface-water systems of the Verde River Basin. 

View the document.

Chapter 1: Introduction

  The Richness of the Verde River

  Sources of Verde River Streamflow

  Is Year-Round Flow of the Verde River at Risk?

  Can We Sustain Our Treasured Verde River?

Chapter 2: The Global Water Cycle

Chapter 3: Groundwater

  Groundwater Recharge

  Aquifers and the Water Table

  Groundwater Movement

Chapter 4: A Hydrology Tool Box

  Water-Table Maps

  Characterizing Confined Aquifers, Potentiometric Surfaces, and Artesian Wells

  Applications of Geologic Observations and Wells for Monitoring and Evaluating Groundwater Resources

  Geologic Properties of Aquifer Rocks and Sedimentary Deposits

  Measurement of Hydraulic Heads within Aquifers

  Historic Records of Water-Level Change

  Aquifer Tests

  Groundwater Chemistry

  Streamflow Measurements

  Stream gage Measurements

  Seepage Runs

  Geophysical Tools

  Seismology

  Regional Gravity and Magnetic Surveys

  Precise Gravity Measurements for Storage-Change Analysis

  Numerical Groundwater Models

Chapter 5: Regional Hydrogeologic Framework in the Upper and Middle Verde River Watersheds

  Geologic Setting

  Regional Hydrologic Setting

  Alluvial Basins

  General Relation: Geology and Groundwater in the Upper and Middle Verde River Watersheds

Chapter 6: Occurrence and Flow of Groundwater and Surface Water in the Upper and Middle Verde River Watersheds

  What is a watershed?

  The Upper and Middle Verde River Watersheds and Their Administrative Groundwater Sub-basins

  Prescott Active Management Area

  Verde River Groundwater and Surface-Water Systems

  Groundwater Flow

  Base Flow along the Verde River

  Annual Streamflow, Base Flow, and Runoff along the Verde River

  Seasonality of Base Flow along the Verde River

  Irrigation Diversions

Chapter 7: Pumping and Its Effect on Groundwater and Streamflow In the Upper and Middle Verde River Watersheds

  Streamflow Depletion: A Consequence of Groundwater Pumping

  Streamflow Depletion in Action: Del Rio Springs, Little Chino Wash, Sullivan Lake, and the Uppermost Verde River

  Streamflow Depletion: Looking Ahead in the Verde Valley

  Potential Effects of Groundwater Pumping or Artificial Recharge on Streamflow and Groundwater-Dependent Vegetation in the Verde Valley

  Human Effect on Base Flow in the Verde Valley

  Change in Base Flow—1910 Through 2005

  Forward-Looking Simulations - 2006 Through 2109

Human Effect on Depth to Groundwater in the Verde Valley

  Conclusions and Inferences

Chapter 8. The Verde River Ecosystem – Riparian and Aquatic Habitat

  Native Fish in Arizona

  Verde River Plants and Animals

  Verde River Water Needs

  Riparian Trees and Groundwater

  Wetland Plants and Groundwater

  Native Wildlife

  Fish

  Finding Balance

Chapter 9: Perennial Flow of the Verde River: Is It At Risk?

  Potential Future Groundwater Demand in the Upper and Middle Verde Watersheds

  Potential New Water Demand in the Little Chino Sub-basin

  Potential New Water Demand in the Big Chino Sub-Basin

Potential New Water Demand in the Verde Valley Sub-basin

  Summary of Potential Water Demands In the Upper and Middle Verde River Watersheds

The Role of Pumping From Wells in Meeting Water Demand in the Upper and Middle Verde River Watersheds

  Eventual Effect of Capture from Past, Current, and Potential New Water Demands on Verde River Base Flow

  Groundwater Model Results—Extended effects of Past, Current and Future Groundwater Pumping

  Future Water Demand in the Verde River Basin and Its Relation to the Stream Gage Records

  What Might the Future Hold?

The Primer is in the public domain; please feel free to learn from it and draw on it in whatever way may be useful.

Verde River Economic Development Study - Summary

To identify ways of increasing the public's engagement in the health of the river, the VREDS study explores the connection between sustainable economic development in the study area and a healthy Verde River. It also suggests ways to strengthen that connection and therefore increase the value of a perennial river to the Verde Valley's residents. A third goal of this report is to examine whether an organization whose mission is to educate the public about water, the river and river-based economies might increase the likelihood of conserving the Verde River as a healthy perennial stream in the Verde Valley. Finally, VREDS was tasked to determine where additional investment in the Verde River could be applied most effectively and efficiently. View Document.

Verde River Economic Development Study – Full Report

The objectives of the VREDS research are to identify existing scientific data and social research, ecosystem services and management practices and current conditions that inform us about and identify the nexus between a healthy river and sustainable economic development strategies and practices. This investigation focused on:
Determining the feasibility of establishing the economic value of the Verde River in the study area;
Determining whether an investment of additional resources in the Verde Valley might positively impact sustainable economic development and, thereby, lead to and sustain a healthy Verde River;
Determining the most efficient and effective methods to educate the public and its policy makers about the value of the river and its relationship to sustainable economic development of the Verde Valley; and
 Assessing the practicality of creating and supporting an organization whose mission would be to implement recommendations of this and other WFF-funded studies. View Document.

Verde River Fish Richness

Nature Conservancy map showing the number of native fishes on Arizona rivers. View document.

Verde River Watershed Conservation Plan

The Verde River watershed covers 4.2 million acres in central Arizona and includes about 500 miles of perennial streams. The Nature Conservancy has conducted a year-long planning exercise to identify the most effective actions for maintaining or restoring this watershed's native aquatic and riparian biodiversity. During a structured planning process, 64 individuals from 21 organizations contributed data, analyses, and ideas about the priority conservation needs and opportunities. We identified nonnative fish, crayfish, and frog species as the most critical sources of stress basin-wide, followed by groundwater pumping and climate change. Other threats were also ranked highly for particular natural communities in some parts of the watershed, including surface water diversions and large impoundments. Key strategies identified include the need for integrated management of groundwater and surface water, developing more efficient surface water management that meets both human needs and those of the natural systems, and watershed-scale planning to integrate native fish conservation with the demand for recreational fisheries. These results will guide the Conservancy's work for many years to come, and may be useful for other organizations that share similar goals. View Document.

Verde River Watershed Study, 2004

Comprehensive review of the Verde Watershed by ADWR: physiography, demographics, water uses, water demand. Released April 2004. 497 pages. View Document.

Verde Valley Public Opinion Survey Results

Presentation of results from a March 2012 survey of Verde Valley residents on attitudes about the river and water resources. View Document.

Verde Watershed Focus Area Plan

The primary purpose of the Verde River Watershed Focus Area Strategic Plan (Verde River Watershed Plan) is to coordinate and cooperate with other agencies, organizations, and stakeholders to identify, implement, and facilitate policies, programs, projects, and management practices that support productive and diverse populations of native species. Ensuring continual and sufficient base flows in the Verde River and its tributaries that will maintain healthy watershed and aquatic conditions is a vital part of this effort. This plan is not intended to replace other ongoing efforts and plans that involve the Verde River or its watershed, but to augment those efforts and to serve as a guide for the FWS Arizona Ecological Services Office (AESO) to work with our partners to focus on activities that promote the long-term goals of this watershed plan. Authored by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. View Document.

Verde Watershed Issues

SRP presentation from September 2008 covering water rights issues in the Verde Valley. View Document.