With 2016 right around the corner, I’d like to give you a sneak peek into the bold initiatives we are launching through our 50 Year Program. And you’re invited to make a gift today and be an early investor to fund our most audacious work to restore flow to Tucson’s springs, creeks, and rivers.
We’ve been working behind the scenes like Santa’s elves, but we can’t keep this big news to ourselves any longer. In January, our Restore Sabino Creek campaign expands to include Tanque Verde Creek! The shallow groundwater area that supports Tanque Verde is in critical decline, and action is long overdue. Our expanded campaign will connect the flow: Sabino Creek feeds into the Tanque Verde, which feeds into the Rillito River.
WMG was just granted seed funding from a foundation to launch the campaign expansion, and we’re asking you to join in this investment to grow our resources and make a big impact in 2016. Our plans are quickly shaping up to include:
- Expanding our public outreach campaign through events and social and print media to grow awareness and a shared vision to revive Tanque Verde creek
- Engaging Tanque Verde–area homeowners in our classes, workshops, and opportunities to harvest water and restore habitat
- Building political support for the program with policy makers, water utilities, and partners to set goals and take tangible actions
To get a clear picture of how much water needs to be conserved and harvested to bring back year-round flow, we are putting the finishing touches on a water balance model for Sabino Creek. This model will be widely shared with area residents, policy makers, and land managers—and then we’ll use it to create a similar tool for Tanque Verde Creek.
Thanks to our loyal donors, we’ve reached our initial year-end fundraising goal of $30,000, but we think this work can be grander. Will you help us reach our stretch goal to raise another $15,000 by the end of the year to support the expansion of our 50 Year Program?
Sincerely,
Lisa Shipek
Executive Director
P.S. Get in the holiday spirit and watch our latest YouTube sensation, The 12 Gifts of Harvest! This little holiday jingle is our way of saying thank you for being part of WMG’s work over the last year and helping us spread transformative gifts, hope, and a lighthearted spirit to the people we serve. Share our message of nature’s gifts with all your friends and family.
