May 9th, 2022
Right now, we have a chance to help bring beavers back to Ciénega Creek! The Bureau of Land Management in Arizona is deciding whether to move forward with a proposal to re-establish beavers in Las Ciénegas National Conservation Area near Vail. As beaver believers, WMG strongly supports this plan – beavers were long-term inhabitants of our desert rivers until the rise of fur trapping in the 1800’s, and they play a key role in slowing down flows, improving water quality and storage, and recharging desert aquifers.
At our Beavers & Brews event in April 2022, WMG supporters started mailing postcards to the Bureau of Land Management and Arizona Game & Fish Department that advocate for the re-establishment of beavers. The Bureau of Land Management is in charge of Arizona public lands like Las Ciénegas National Conservation Area, while the Game & Fish Department has authority over all wildlife in Arizona, including beavers. Our community has now written over 150 personalized advocacy postcards to these decisionmakers!
We Need Your Help to Bring Beavers back to the Santa Cruz Watershed!
To bring the beavers back, decisionmakers need to hear from you. Make your voice heard by contacting the Bureau of Land Management in Arizona and Arizona Game & Fish Department using the contact information below and encouraging them to release the Beaver Ecological Assessment for the Las Ciénegas National Conservation Area. The Beaver Ecological Assessment is a document that assesses the impacts of re-establishing beavers in Ciénega Creek on the riparian habitat, aquatic species, and ecosystems, and this document must be released before beavers can be re-established.
Bureau of Land Management
Mailing Address:
One North Central Ave., Suite 800
Phoenix, AZ 85004-4427
Email: blm_az_asoweb@blm.gov
Phone: 602-417-9200
Arizona Game & Fish Department
Mailing Address:
Commissioner Clay Hernandez
Arizona Game and Fish Commission
5000 W. Carefree Highway
Phoenix, AZ 85086-5000
Commissioner Clay Hernandez Online Public Comment Link
Sample Message: "Thank you for everything you do to protect our public lands in Arizona. As a resident who is passionate about restoring our desert rivers, I urge you to do everything in your power to re-establish beavers in Ciénega Creek within the Las Ciénegas National Conservation Area. Southern Arizona is experiencing increased drought, wildfire, and groundwater loss, and re-establishing beavers is a clear, nature-based solution to these challenges. It is critical that the Beaver Ecological Assessment is moved forward so that beavers can reclaim their role in reducing the impacts of flooding and drought, recharging groundwater, and supporting riparian habitat and biodiversity in the Santa Cruz Watershed."
To make the biggest impact, we encourage you to personalize your messages and share why this issue matters to you!
