The Santa Cruz River, located in Arizona and the Mexican state of Sonora, faces common challenges affecting other bodies of water in dry regions.

Rivers are drying up due to burgeoning human populations, which are stretching a finite number of natural resources, such as water and arable land.

However, organizations, such as the Sonoran Institute and the Santa Cruz Valley Heritage Alliance, are conducting research and working on cooperative programs to try to preserve this river and other environments, as well as engaging the community by focusing on the ecological and cultural values of the river.

The Sonoran Institute is also releasing a new new bilingual report about the state of the Santa Cruz.

Representatives from both organizations recently visited AZ Illustrated Nature to speak about their work.