Articles
Did you know that we have a satellite office in the Phoenix Valley? Our staff member up there, Ryan Wood, is working hard to engage our neighbors to the north to "Green the Valley."They collaborate with community members and organizations on co-ops and events - including the monthly Cruise the Canal bicycle tours! If you have family and...
WMG is keeping busy working toward water security for our desert communities! Within the pages of this newsletter, we share our recent watershed moments - from winning a local nonprofit competition on the River Run Network and our new Rainwater Harvesting Grant & Loan Program, to WMG's work in the Phoenix Valley, plus a handy-dandy Landowner's Guide to River Restoration, and more! ...
From #GivingTuesday on Nov. 28 and through the end of the 2017, WMG supporters donated $42,000 to our nonprofit. This imperative support ensures our essential programs like WMG's Green Living Co-ops, River Run Network, and free, educational classes at the Living Lab and Learning Center can serve more people in 2018.With the fiscal donations from our donors and business sponsors, WMG is growing...
We’re celebrating 2017 with our annual tradition of sharing the Top Ten Reasons To Give to WMG! WMG’s Top Ten10. 2017 is the Year of the Nasty Woman. Women are marching in the streets, and our ladies are #IAmANastyWomanBecause they use all the tools at our Women's Build Workshops!9. Ed Sheeran may be in love with the "Shape of You," but at WMG we're in love with the shape of your...
WMG remade the most iconic song of 2017, a Latin sensation that reminded us to enjoy life a bit more slowly, Despacito! Our music video honors all the creeks and rivers we're working to restore, and the joy that comes from the journey. Despacito inspires us to capture the rain, slow it down, and sink it into the ground, so we can restore our rivers, pasito a pasito, bit by bit. Share our video,...
WMG Phoenix is still accepting applicants for our inaugural Valley Docent program starting March 2018. Docents have the opportunity to work with WMG to promote our mission and be water conservation stewards in the broader community.The program includes classroom training, hands-on workshops, and special tours to build skills in the areas of green infrastructure, natives plant species, public...
Our Executive Director Lisa Shipek clinched the top $10,000 prize on Nov. 9, 2017 with her pitch on WMG's River Run Network - a win for Tucson's community, our future water security, and for the flora and fauna that depend on flowing rivers and streams!Learn more and check out the photo gallery.
Less than a year after Watershed Management Group (WMG) launched the River Run Network – a 50 year vision and movement to restore Tucson’s heritage of flowing creeks and rivers – the organization’s Executive Director Lisa Shipek won the ultimate prize (the SVP Tucson Award of $10,000) at the Social Venture Partners Tucson Fast Pitch event on Nov. 9, 2017 at Downtown’s Leo Rich Theatre. Watch the...
Everyone should be able to harvest rainwater at home! Rainwater harvesting installations are affordable and simple through our Grant and Loan program paired with our Co-op programs.Limited-income households can apply for grants and loans to cover the costs of rainwater harvesting installations. WMG is offering a comprehensive program providing a free on-site consultation with our expert...
Watershed Management Group ofrece clases y tours en Español en su oficina central, ubicada en 1137 N. Dodge Blvd, con el fin de expandir su alcance en la comunidad.Esta organización sin fines de lucro ofrece recorridos informativos de su Laboratorio Viviente y Centro de Aprendizaje, que es la crema y nata de sitio demostrativo y sobrepasa por mucho las mejores prácticas de LEED (Liderazgo en...
Sonoran Institute & Watershed Management Group Join Forces to Honor the Santa Cruz River for the All Souls Procession on Sunday, Nov. 5 This year, the All Souls Procession announced a new route on the westside of downtown Tucson along the “Ghost River,” with the procession that honors death establishing a new route to honor the dry wash that was once an above-ground flowing river – the Santa...
Come explore one of Tucson's streamsheds, Arroyo Chico, in the heart of midtown. WMG's River Restoration Biologist, Trevor Hare, will lead a nature walk along the Arroyo Chico section still in it's natural form, near Reid Park. Trevor will share the juicy details of this urban arroyo's flora, fauna, and role in recharging our groundwater. We'll be exploring a 1/4 mile of this creek along dirt...
Between our new donors, loyal donors, business sponsors, board members and staff, we are proud to announce that we exceeded our $70,000 fundraising goal over the last month for a total of $70,168!We are honored and humbled by the outpouring of support for our community-building, educational, and landscape-transforming programs that reach across a wide spectrum of residents, businesses, and...
WMG is proud to both serve and represent our community on watershed issues that are deeply pressing to our community and of upmost concern to our society. Water equity is a critical issue of the 21st century, painfully apparent through current events such as the drinking water crisis in Flint, Michigan, the mega droughts and water shortages in the Colorado River watershed, and Standing Rock’s...
Join us for your favorite topic, or attend the full series to build a comprehensive site plan. Each presentation includes a mini-project to create an action plan for your home. Weekly, from Sept. 26-Oct. 24, WMG invites you to learn how to Hydrate Your Yard, Hydrate Your Plants, Hydrate Your Food, Hydrate Your Soils, and Hydrate with Greywater! Learn more about the classes and...
In this class, you will learn the fundamentals of planning and installing irrigation systems compatible with rain gardens, rain tanks, and water systems. We will also cover water budgeting and irrigation scheduling. This class is suited for all levels of irrigation knowledge!Interested? Early registration deadline is July 27. The class is on Aug. 10, from 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Learn more and...
"My husband and I bought a home in May and we were thrilled the house was already outfitted with gutters and a 1,300-gallon rainwater harvesting tank. When we moved in, the tank sat full of water, while the desert-adapted vegetation in the backyard was receiving daily irrigation from the municipal supply. There were no apparent vegetable garden or fruit trees in the yard. This left me...
Journalist Christopher Conover and videographer Sandra Westdahl from Arizona Public Media visited WMG's headquarters to talk water conservation with Cultural Ecologist Joaquin Murrieta-Saldivar. The interviews were part of a larger segment titled "The Ebb and Flow of Water Predictions in Arizona" which aired on Arizona Week July 7 & 9, but you can watch it online!
Did you know that there are 22 bodies of water designated as Outstanding Arizona Waters (OAWs)? Currently, Hudbay Rosemont Mine is soliciting ADEQ to review the protected OAW status of those 22 streams. At the Tuesday, July 11 Pima County Board of Supervisors' meeting, three of the five board members passed a resolution that affirms Pima County's goals for...
This manual provides information for neighborhood residents, municipal professionals, grassroots advocates and others who seek to implement green infrastructure (GI) strategies in their communities. You can download or buy the manual.
(Read the full annual report. Link opens a PDF.)Dear Readers, WMG is poised to lead, innovate, and grow in 2017, standing tall on the foundation of all we achieved together last year. Our foundation is strong, thanks to your investment as donors, volunteers, docents, clients, and students. The current political climate is sending out tremors of hate, fear, and division, but our organization...
This video about the Middle Tanque Verde expresses Tucsonans’ attachment to our heritage of flowing rivers and our passion for restoring the flow. Watch to learn more about the benefits of slowing, spreading and sinking storm water, and how restoring flow in this creek will increase the area's wildlife diversity.The Goal for this Streamshed: To restore creek flow during the summer...
Watershed Management Group and our event sponsor Meow Media hosted Tucson’s first ever morning dance party on Tuesday, April 8. The “We are One Watershed Dance Rally” kicked off at 7 a.m. with YogaOasis warming up our muscles, and then we moved to the beats spun by DJ Herm until 9:30 a.m. The fun took place downtown on the roof of Playground Bar & Lounge. What was the purpose? To...
For WMG's 2nd Annual Flow and Feast on May 6, we gathered at the Isabella Lee Natural preserve to enjoy the beautiful Tanque Verde wash, build community, and re-energize our efforts to restore the flow to Tucson-area creeks and rivers. Highlights included an informative walk and talk with River Restoration Biologist Trevor Hare, a sunset toast, live music by The Coots, and a delicious catered...