Southern Arizona Wetlands Ready for the American Beaver
Wetlands have become rare in the Sonoran Desert, due to the extirpation of beavers in the 1800s, overpumping of groundwater, and poor land management practices. Fortunately, some wetlands still exist in Southern Arizona and are prime habitat for beaver reintroduction, like Mattie Canyon, a perennial tributary to Ciénega Creek. This photo of Mattie Canyon was captured by photographer Julius Schlosburg on a visit with WMG staff in April, with the goal to capture and share photos of the location where beavers will be reintroduced in 2025. The visit required navigating many unmarked dirt roads and going off-trail to drop into the rugged and remote canyon with a stunning wetland cradled by cottonwood trees.