EcoHealth Report Cards
  • About
  • The Process
  • Contact
  • Report Cards
    • Chesapeake Bay
    • Clinton River
    • Detroit River
    • Guanabara Bay
    • Huron River
    • Lake Erie
    • Long Island Sound
    • Maryland Coastal Bays
    • Orinoco River
    • Rio Grande
    • River Raisin
    • Rouge River
    • Southeast Michigan
    • Sudbury, Assabet, & Concord Rivers
    • Verde River
    • Willamette River

Verde River

  • Home
  • Health
  • Indicators
    • Overall Health Index
    • Base Flow
    • Surfacewater BMPs
    • Groundwater BMPs
    • Water Quality Index
    • Water Quality Certainty
    • Turbidity
    • Macroinvertebrates
    • Upland Condition Index
    • Riparian Birds
    • Fish
    • Recreation Planning
    • Visitor Satisfaction
    • Recreation Access
    • Civic Engagement
    • Digital Engagement
    • Healthcare
    • Education
    • Unemployment
    • Affordable Housing
  • Regions
    • Overall
    • Big and Little Chino
    • Upper Verde
    • Upper Verde Valley
    • Oak Creek
    • Lower Verde Valley
    • Wild and Scenic
    • Lower Verde
  • Issues
  • Publications
  • Take Action
  • About
  1. Home
  2. Report Cards
  3. Verde River
  4. Issues

Issues

The Verde River watershed provides water to more than three million Arizona residents from Prescott to Sedona to Phoenix. The watershed supports 94 species of mammals, most of which use the river at some point in their lifecycle, and some of which, such as otters and beavers, spend their entire lives in the river.

It is important to clearly identify the risks so that we can address them and focus on implementing solutions. The threats may seem simple - increases in water demand and on-going drought - but solving them is complicated. We need good data to inform long term plans for water quality and quantity, affordable housing, available jobs, sustainable recreation, and investment in restoration actions.

Increases and changes in water use without water certainty

Most drinking water in the Verde Watershed comes from groundwater sources. Groundwater is the water found below the surface in the cracks and spaces in soil, sand, and rock. It is stored in, and moves slowly through, geologic formations called aquifers. Rules governing groundwater in Arizona differ based on whether the land is inside or outside of an Active Management Area (AMA). There are two AMAs in the Verde watershed: the Prescott AMA and the Phoenix AMA. Outside of AMAs, there is little regulation of groundwater. To learn more about AMAs and how they are managed visit: https://new.azwater.gov/ama.

Another important source of water in the Verde Watershed is surface water, which flows within a stream or river channel. In Arizona, water that is immediately adjacent to and under the river channel and will flow into the river can be regulated as surface water. Surface water in the Verde Valley is used to irrigate farms, gardens, and lawns where the landowners have historic rights to use water.

Adjudication is the judicial proceeding to determine the aspects of water rights in Arizona as they relate to each other. The Verde River is part of the Gila River System and Source Adjudication initiated in the 1970s. As this adjudication process awaits completion, it remains unclear who has a right to how much water and where it can be used. As a result, we have uncertainty among surface water users, resulting in even more uncertainty for nature.

Changes in land use

Changes in land use happen in many ways. On private lands, what was once used for ranching or farming may become housing. We need available and affordable housing in our communities and so the way in which land is developed matters. Traditionally, development outside of a municipality allows for a two-acre lot with a septic system and a private well. This creates dispersed water use and potential for water quality impacts related to septic tanks. Higher density development may increase the number of impervious surfaces – decreasing the amount of natural recharge that occurs. High density development allows for the protection of open space, shared water and sewer services, and other community amenities.

However, integrated land and water planning can address these challenges. Changes in land use are an opportunity for a conversation about how to ensure quality of life for current and future residents while maintaining and enhancing the environment.

Land management

On public lands, the long-term impacts of drought, climate change, roads, other access and grazing practices have altered the landscape. The result can be increased erosion and run off, leaving gullies that range from small to large. Implementing projects requires funding and regulatory review and approval.

Sustainable recreation is a critical part of our community goals and yet achieving that requires coordination, education and investment for diverse stakeholders. Balancing different user groups needs with ecological needs requires careful planning and on-going dialog.

Invasive plants

Invasive plants, such as Tamarisk (also known as salt-cedar), Arundo, Russian Olive, and Tree of Heaven can have devastating impacts on a river and the birds and other wildlife that live along the river. Heavy infestations can cause the river to cut deeper into surrounding soils and lose its natural character. These plants replace other native species and do not provide the same nesting and nutrition to native birds and animals. In many cases these species grow so tightly together that access to the river can be difficult or impossible for humans and many animals. Once this dominate, single species forest replaces natural forests it can become a serious fire risk if weakened by insects or disease.

Rivers throughout the Southwest have fallen prey to these pest plants. While local coalitions have thus far kept invasive plants at bay over most of the watershed, vigilant work is required to keep them from destroying the riverside forests we love.

© 2025 UMCES

  • Home
  • About
  • The Process
  • Contact
  • Report Cards
    • Chesapeake Bay
      • Bay Health
      • Watershed Health
      • Indicators
        • Overall Health Index
        • Dissolved Oxygen
        • Nitrogen
        • Phosphorus
        • Turbidity
        • Water Quality Index
        • Chlorophyll a
        • Water Clarity
        • Conductivity
        • Aquatic Grasses
        • Benthic Community
        • Fish community
        • Temperature Stress
        • Protected Lands
        • Social Index
        • Walkability
        • Heat Vulnerability Index
        • Household income
        • Affordable housing
        • Income equality
        • Jobs growth
      • Bay Regions
        • Lower Eastern Shore
        • Choptank River
        • Upper Eastern Shore
        • Upper Western Shore
        • Patapsco and Back Rivers
        • Lower Western Shore
        • Patuxent River
        • Potomac River
        • Rappahannock River
        • York River
        • James River
        • Elizabeth River
      • Watershed Regions
        • Overall
        • Chemung
        • Choptank
        • Elizabeth
        • Juniata
        • Lower Eastern Shore
        • Lower James
        • Lower Potomac
        • Lower Susquehanna
        • Lower Western Shore
        • Middle James
        • Middle Potomac
        • Middle Susquehanna
        • Patapsco and Back
        • Patuxent
        • Rappahannock
        • Shenandoah
        • Upper Eastern Shore
        • Upper James
        • Upper Potomac
        • Upper Susquehanna
        • Upper Western Shore
        • West Branch Susquehanna
        • York
      • Issues
        • 2024
        • 2023
        • 2022
        • 2021
        • 2020
        • 2019
        • 2018
        • 2017
        • 2016
        • 2015
        • 2014
        • 2013
        • 2012
        • 2011
        • 2010
        • 2009
        • 2008
        • 2007
        • 2006
      • Publications
      • Take Action
      • About
    • Clinton River
      • Health
      • Indicators
        • Overall Health Index
        • Household Income
        • Local Ownership
        • Cost of Flooding
        • Income Equality
        • Trade
        • River Economy
        • Wetlands
        • Tree Cover
        • Forests
        • Fish Populations
        • Bird Diversity
        • Benthic Community
        • Protected Lands
        • Fish Consumption
        • Bacteria
        • Heat Vulnerability
        • Air Quality Index
        • Environmental Justice
        • Flooding
        • Sewer Overflows
        • Impervious Surfaces
        • Farmland
        • Affordable Housing
        • Walkability
        • Parks
        • Beach Access
        • Watercraft Access
        • Fishing
        • Nitrogen
        • Phosphorus
        • Dissolved Oxygen
        • Water Temperature
        • Turbidity
      • Region
        • Clinton River
      • Issues
      • Publications
      • About
    • Detroit River
      • Health
      • Indicators
        • Overall Health Index
        • Household Income
        • Local Ownership
        • Cost of Flooding
        • Income Equality
        • Trade
        • River Economy
        • Wetlands
        • Tree Cover
        • Forests
        • Fish Populations
        • Bird Diversity
        • Benthic Community
        • Protected Lands
        • Fish Consumption
        • Bacteria
        • Heat Vulnerability
        • Air Quality Index
        • Environmental Justice
        • Flooding
        • Sewer Overflows
        • Impervious Surfaces
        • Farmland
        • Affordable Housing
        • Walkability
        • Parks
        • Beach Access
        • Watercraft Access
        • Fishing
        • Nitrogen
        • Phosphorus
        • Dissolved Oxygen
        • Water Temperature
        • Turbidity
      • Region
        • Detroit River Watershed
      • Issues
      • Publications
      • About
    • Guanabara Bay
      • Bay Health
      • Basin Health
      • Indicators
        • Overall Health Index
        • Dissolved Oxygen
        • Biological Oxygen Demand
        • Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen
        • Total Phosphorus
        • Orthophosphate
        • Turbidity
        • Fecal coliform
      • Sanitation
      • Issues
      • Publications
      • About
    • Huron River
      • Health
      • Indicators
        • Overall Health Index
        • Household Income
        • Local Ownership
        • Cost of Flooding
        • Income Equality
        • Trade
        • River Economy
        • Wetlands
        • Tree Cover
        • Forests
        • Fish Populations
        • Bird Diversity
        • Benthic Community
        • Protected Lands
        • Fish Consumption
        • Bacteria
        • Heat Vulnerability
        • Air Quality Index
        • Environmental Justice
        • Flooding
        • Sewer Overflows
        • Impervious Surfaces
        • Farmland
        • Affordable Housing
        • Walkability
        • Parks
        • Beach Access
        • Watercraft Access
        • Fishing
        • Nitrogen
        • Phosphorus
        • Dissolved Oxygen
        • Water Temperature
        • Turbidity
      • Region
        • Huron River
      • Issues
      • Publications
      • About
    • Lake Erie
      • Lake Health
      • Watershed Health
      • Indicators
        • Overall Health Index
        • Total Phosphorus
        • Dissolved Phosphorus
        • Total Nitrogen
        • Nitrate + Nitrite
        • Chlorophyll a
        • Walleye
        • Yellow Perch
        • Emerald Shiner
        • Bloom Index
        • Source Water Toxin
        • Recreational Toxin
        • Total Suspended Solids
        • Fish
        • Macroinvertebrates
        • Habitat Quality
        • Fish Consumption
        • Pesticide
      • Lake Regions
        • Overall Lake
        • Northwest
        • Southwest
        • Maumee
        • Northeast
        • Eastern Islands
        • Sandusky Bay
      • Watershed Regions
        • Overall Watershed
        • Auglaize
        • Cedar/Portage
        • Detroit
        • Essex
        • Raisin/Huron
        • St. Joseph
        • St. Marys
        • Lower Maumee
        • Lower Thames
        • Sandusky
        • Tiffin
        • Upper Maumee
        • Upper Thames
      • Issues
      • Publications
      • Take Action
      • About
    • Long Island Sound
      • Health
      • Indicators
        • Overall Health Index
        • Dissolved Oxygen
        • Chlorophyll a
        • Water Clarity
        • Dissolved Organic Carbon
      • Regions
        • Overall
        • Western Narrows
        • Eastern Narrows
        • Western Basin
        • Central Basin
        • Eastern Basin
      • Issues
        • 2018
        • 2015
        • 2013
      • Publications
      • Take Action
      • About
    • Maryland Coastal Bays
      • Health
      • Indicators
        • Overall Health Index
        • Chlorophyll a
        • Dissolved Oxygen
        • Nitrogen
        • Phosphorus
        • Seagrass
        • Hard Clams
      • Regions
        • Overall
        • Assawoman Bay
        • Chincoteague Bay
        • Isle of Wight Bay
        • Newport Bay
        • Sinepuxent Bay
        • St. Martin River
      • Issues
        • 2023
        • 2022
        • 2021
        • 2019
        • 2018
        • 2017
        • 2016
        • 2015
      • Publications
      • Take Action
      • About
    • Orinoco River
      • Health
      • Indicators
        • Water Quality Index
        • Risks to Water Quality
        • Water Supply and Demand
        • Natural Land Cover
        • Stable Forest Area
        • Terrestrial Connectivity
        • Fire Frequency
        • Ecosystem Services
        • Human Nutrition
        • Mining in Sensitive Ecosystems
        • River Dolphins
      • Regions
        • Arauca River
        • Atabapo River
        • Bita River
        • Guaviare River
        • Inírida River
        • Matavén River
        • Meta River
        • Tomo River
        • Tuparro River
        • Vichada River
      • Issues
      • Publications
      • About
    • Rio Grande
      • Health
      • Indicators
        • Overall Health Index
        • Annual low flow
        • Zero Flow Days
        • Municipal Water Supply
        • Groundwater
        • Agriculture surface water supply
        • Flow Alteration
        • Riparian Areas
        • Water Supply for Compact
        • Impaired Streams
        • Invasive Trees and Shrubs
        • Wetland Loss
        • Bird Diversity
        • Silvery Minnow
        • Native Fish Diversity
        • All Fish Diversity
        • Native peoples and acequias support
        • Native peoples and acequias representation
        • Water Resource Governance
        • Water Resource Management
        • Protected Lands
        • Fire
        • Park Visitation
        • Recreation Access
        • Cultural and Historical Places
        • Walkability
        • Heat Vulnerability Index
        • Social Vulnerability Index
        • Air Quality
        • Affordable Housing
      • Regions
        • Overall
        • Upper Rio Grande - CO
        • Upper Rio Grande - NM
        • Middle Rio Grande
        • Lower Rio Grande
      • Issues
      • Publications
      • About
    • River Raisin
      • Health
      • Indicators
        • Overall Health Index
        • Household Income
        • Local Ownership
        • Cost of Flooding
        • Income Equality
        • Trade
        • River Economy
        • Wetlands
        • Tree Cover
        • Forests
        • Fish Populations
        • Bird Diversity
        • Benthic Community
        • Protected Lands
        • Fish Consumption
        • Bacteria
        • Heat Vulnerability
        • Air Quality Index
        • Environmental Justice
        • Flooding
        • Sewer Overflows
        • Impervious Surfaces
        • Farmland
        • Affordable Housing
        • Walkability
        • Parks
        • Beach Access
        • Watercraft Access
        • Fishing
        • Nitrogen
        • Phosphorus
        • Dissolved Oxygen
        • Water Temperature
        • Turbidity
      • Region
        • River Raisin
      • Issues
      • Publications
      • About
    • Rouge River
      • Health
      • Indicators
        • Overall Health Index
        • Household Income
        • Local Ownership
        • Cost of Flooding
        • Income Equality
        • Trade
        • River Economy
        • Wetlands
        • Tree Cover
        • Forests
        • Fish Populations
        • Bird Diversity
        • Benthic Community
        • Protected Lands
        • Fish Consumption
        • Bacteria
        • Heat Vulnerability
        • Air Quality Index
        • Environmental Justice
        • Flooding
        • Sewer Overflows
        • Impervious Surfaces
        • Farmland
        • Affordable Housing
        • Walkability
        • Parks
        • Beach Access
        • Watercraft Access
        • Fishing
        • Nitrogen
        • Phosphorus
        • Dissolved Oxygen
        • Water Temperature
        • Turbidity
      • Region
        • Rouge River
      • Issues
      • Publications
      • About
    • Southeast Michigan
      • Health
      • Indicators
        • Overall Health Index
        • Household Income
        • Local Ownership
        • Cost of Flooding
        • Income Equality
        • Trade
        • River Economy
        • Wetlands
        • Tree Cover
        • Forests
        • Fish Populations
        • Bird Diversity
        • Benthic Community
        • Protected Lands
        • Fish Consumption
        • Bacteria
        • Heat Vulnerability
        • Air Quality Index
        • Environmental Justice
        • Flooding
        • Sewer Overflows
        • Impervious Surfaces
        • Farmland
        • Affordable Housing
        • Walkability
        • Parks
        • Beach Access
        • Watercraft Access
        • Fishing
        • Nitrogen
        • Phosphorus
        • Dissolved Oxygen
        • Water Temperature
        • Turbidity
      • Regions
        • Overall
        • Clinton
        • Detroit
        • Huron
        • Raisin
        • Rouge
      • Issues
      • Publications
      • About
    • Sudbury, Assabet, & Concord Rivers
      • Health
      • Indicators
        • Overall
        • Dissolved Oxygen
        • Temperature
        • Suspended Solids
        • Phosphorus
        • Nitrogen
        • Floating Biomass
        • Streamflow Alteration
        • Groundwater Level
        • Summer Streamflow
        • Visual Quality
        • Cultural Importance
        • Impervious Cover
        • Aquatic Connectivity
        • Ecological Integrity
        • Passability
        • Access
        • Trails
        • Bacteria
        • Fish Edibility
      • Regions
        • Upper Sudbury River
        • Lower Sudbury River
        • Upper Assabet River
        • Lower Assabet River
        • Upper Concord River
        • Lower Concord River
      • Issues
      • Publications
      • Take Action
        • Discover your rivers
        • Roll up your sleeves
        • Become a citizen scientist or advocate
        • Celebrate success
      • About
    • Verde River
      • Health
      • Indicators
        • Overall Health Index
        • Base Flow
        • Surfacewater BMPs
        • Groundwater BMPs
        • Water Quality Index
        • Water Quality Certainty
        • Turbidity
        • Macroinvertebrates
        • Upland Condition Index
        • Riparian Birds
        • Fish
        • Recreation Planning
        • Visitor Satisfaction
        • Recreation Access
        • Civic Engagement
        • Digital Engagement
        • Healthcare
        • Education
        • Unemployment
        • Affordable Housing
      • Regions
        • Overall
        • Big and Little Chino
        • Upper Verde
        • Upper Verde Valley
        • Oak Creek
        • Lower Verde Valley
        • Wild and Scenic
        • Lower Verde
      • Issues
      • Publications
      • Take Action
      • About
    • Willamette River
      • Health
      • Indicators
        • Overall Health Index
        • Water Quality Index
        • Toxics
        • Temperature
        • Native Fish
        • Non-native Fish
        • Juvenile Chinook
        • Bald Eagle
        • Channel Complexity
        • Floodplain Forest
        • Flow Targets
        • Peak Flows
        • Fish Consumption Advisories
        • Tribal Fisheries
        • Fecal Bacteria
        • Harmful Algal Blooms
      • Regions
        • Upper Willamette
        • Middle Willamette
        • Lower Willamette
      • Issues
      • Publications
      • Take Action
        • Know your river
        • Make a change
        • Join the movement
        • Celebrate success
      • About