Gary Beverly, CWAG Executive Committee member and Chair of the Sierra Club Yavapai Group, has worked for 20 years to protect the Verde River, a jewel in the Southwest. Little known and underappreciated, the upper Verde contains some of Arizona's best-surviving riparian habitats that support many species protected by the Endangered Species Act. Yet, groundwater pumping and climate change threaten the river's existence.

In this presentation, Gary described the many current efforts by national, state, and local conservation groups to protect the upper Verde, with a focus on the current status of the Upper Verde Wild and Scenic River campaign.

You can see the earlier presentation mentioned in this video by Michael Patrick about the Del Rio Springs Ranch: Proposed State Park at Verde River Headwaters here.

About our speaker:  Gary Beverly earned a PhD degree in Physical Chemistry from the University of California. Since moving to Prescott in 1974, he taught physical science and alternative energy at Yavapai College, then worked as a farmer, contractor, and businessman. Since retiring, he is an environmental activist focused on protecting the Verde River. He joined CWAG in 2010.