Efforts to protect the Verde River have been underway for decades. Some members of our team have been pursuing Wild and Scenic River designation for almost twenty years. We invite you to take a trip back in time and read some of the highlights of this long and winding road towards designation.
UPCOMING EVENTS: Stay tuned…
The Upper Verde River: A Wild and Scenic River. June, 2024. Listen to the Arizona Wildlife Federation Podcast.
Broad Support for Protecting the Upper Verde. May, 2024. Read it in 5enses Magazine.
Wild Rivers Film Tour returns to Prescott: Q&A with Joe Trudeau. March 28, 2024. Read it in the Daily Courier or open a PDF.
Upper Verde River’s origin at Del Rio Springs protected as Arizona’s newest State Park. March, 2024. Read it at AZ Big Media or in the Chino Valley Review.
Courier Editor Wiederaenders: “Big Changes afoot for Verde River.” March 7, 2024. Read it in the Daily Courier, or open a PDF.
Governor Katie Hobbs’ letter of support for Upper Verde Wild and Scenic River designation. January 3, 2024. Read it in the Daily Courier, or open a PDF.
2023
Forest Service concludes Upper Verde suitable for Wild and Scenic designation. December 12, 2023. Read it online, or open a PDF.
Numerous outlets cover the Prescott National Forest Wild and Scenic River Suitability Determination: My Radio Place, Signals AZ, Prescott eNews, KNAU Arizona Public Radio, The Prescott Times, American Towns, KYCA News Talk Radio, KJZZ Fronteras Desk.
Gary Beverly, Citizens Water Advocacy Group, works to protect the Upper Verde Wild and Scenic River. December 5, 2023. Read it in the Daily Courier, or open a PDF.
Why river advocates say Arizona’s Upper Verde should earn ‘Wild and Scenic’ protections. November 27, 2023. Read it on AZ Central, or open a PDF.
Ecoflight supports the Upper Verde Wild and Scenic River Effort. October 17, 2023. Read it at Ecoflight.org.
NAU’s River Expert Denielle Perry on Conserving Lands and Waters. August 12, 2023. Read it at the AZ Daily Sun, or open a PDF.
Yavapai County Supervisors endorse the Upper Verde Wild and Scenic River. May 4, 2023. Read it in the Daily Courier, or open a PDF.
Arizona Highways features the Upper Verde Wild and Scenic River campaign. April, 2023. Read it online, or open a PDF.
Yavapai-Apache Nation Chair and Wild Arizona present on the Upper Verde at the Cottonwood Library. April 3, 2023. Read it at Journal AZ, or open a PDF.
Poll: 69% of respondents say “Yes” to Upper Verde Wild and Scenic designation. March, 2023. See the results from the Verde Valley Independent.
City of Cottonwood Supports Verde River as Wild and Scenic. March 21, 2023. Read it at Journal AZ, or open a PDF.
American Rivers, Yavapai-Apache Nation, and local constituents meet Members of Congress in D.C. March 16, 2023. Read about it and watch a video here.
Editorial: With great ‘Wild & Scenic’ designation comes great responsibility. March 8, 2023. Read it in the Verde Valley Independent, or open a PDF.
Wilderness Society Consultant Joe Trudeau and the Wild Rivers Film Tour at Prescott’s Elks Theatre. March 2, 2023. Read it in 5enses Magazine, or open a PDF.
Camp Verde Supports ‘Wild’ Listing for Verde River. February 1, 2023. Read it at Journal AZ, or open a PDF.
Prescott City Council endorses Wild and Scenic River designation for the Upper Verde River. January 5, 2023. Read it in the Daily Courier, or open a PDF.
Gary Beverly on why the Upper Verde needs Wild and Scenic designation. January 4, 2023. Read it in the Daily Courier, or open a PDF.
2022
Cleaning up the WSR-eligible Upper Verde River. May 4, 2022. Read it in the Verde Valley Independent, or open a PDF.
2021
Groundwater pumping threatens the Upper Verde River. September 6, 2021. Read it at AZ Central.
2020
Trust for Public Land and US Forest Service protect 84 acres along Upper Verde River. October, 2020. Read about it at Sedona Red Rock News.
2019
Old Town Center for the Arts shows Viva la Verde film. September 29, 2019. Read about it Kudos AZ.
2018
Friends of the Verde River present Wild & Scenic Film Festival. October 18, 2018. Read it at the Verde Valley Independent, or open a PDF.
2012
Wild & Scenic Film Festival to highlight the Upper Verde River. September 17, 2012. Read it in the Daily Courier, or open a PDF.
2011
Prescott Unitarian Church to host Upper Verde Wild and Scenic River program. May 26, 2011. Read it in the Daily Courier, or open a PDF.
American Rivers and Sierra Club library exhibit calls for Upper Verde Wild and Scenic designation. February 9, 2011. Read it in the Daily Courier, or open a PDF.
2010
Williamson Valley Community Organization to consider Upper Verde Wild and Scenic River. August 18, 2010. Read it in the Daily Courier, or open a PDF.
Upper Verde Wild and Scenic River idea resurfaces. April, 2010. Read it at the Verde Valley Independent, or open a PDF.
Jewel of the Southwest: the Proposed Upper Verde Wild & Scenic River. Read the January-March 2010 newsletter of the Verde Watershed Association here.
2008
Camp Verde Mayor, Yavapai-Apache Nation, American Rivers, and Arizona Wildlife Federation take Upper Verde Wild and Scenic message to Washington, DC. June, 2008. Read it in the Camp Verde Bugle.
Yavapai-Apache Nation and Camp Verde Mayor Tony Gioia lobby DC to protect the Upper Verde. June 25, 2008. Read it in the Camp Verde Bugle.
Wild and Scenic “Eligible” Upper Verde being damaged by off-road vehicles. June 5, 2008. Read it in the Daily Courier, or open a PDF.
Marine Veteran and ultra-marathon athlete Thomas Arnold to run 100 miles for the Upper Verde River. March 28, 2008. Read it in the Daily Courier, or open a PDF.
2007
Wildlife managers begin native fish restoration in Upper Verde “Eligible” Wild and Scenic River. April 3, 2007. Read it in the Daily Courier, or open a PDF.
2006
American Rivers: Verde is one of America’s most endangered rivers. Read the 2006 report here or see American Rivers’ 2006 Action Alert.
2002
Volunteers clean up Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Burnt Ranch on the Upper Verde. April 23, 2002. Read it in the Daily Courier, or open a PDF.