Verde River
| Verde River | |
| River | |
 |
|
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| State | Arizona |
| Tributaries | |
| - left | Tangle Creek, Granite Creek |
| - right | Sycamore Creek, Wet Bottom Creek, East Verde River, Fossil Creek, Oak Creek |
| Mouth | Salt River |
| - coordinates | 33°32′48″N 111°39′45″W / 33.54667°N 111.6625°W |
| Length | 195 mi (314 km) |
| Basin | 6,646 sq mi (17,213 km2) |
| Discharge | for below Bartlett Dam |
| - average | 657 cu ft/s (19 m3/s) |
| - max | 150,000 cu ft/s (4,248 m3/s) |
| - min | 0 cu ft/s (0 m3/s) |
 |
|
The Verde River is the north and northwestern watershed of the Salt River–Verde River Watershed that co-join and enter the Gila River at Phoenix, Arizona, located in the U.S. state of Arizona. It is approximately 170 mi (273.5 km) long and carries a mean flow of 1120 ft³/s (31.7 m³/s) at its mouth with the Salt River making it one of the largest perennial rivers within the state.
Contents |
[edit] Description
The head of the Verde River begins below the dam that catches water from the Big Chino Wash and Williamson Valley Wash combining to create Sullivan Lake in Yavapai County, Arizona. This occurs during periods of sufficient precipitation. The Verde flows freely above and below ground for 125 miles (200 km) through private, state, tribal and United States Forest Service lands, specifically the Tonto National Forest, before encountering the first of two dams that make Horseshoe Lake and Bartlett Lake. The Verde River and the Salt River confluence near Fountain Hills. The cities of Camp Verde, Clarkdale and Cottonwood are located along the river and constitute the primary population centers.
In 1984 the United States Congress designated approximately 65 mi (100 km) of the Verde as Wild and Scenic through the National Wild and Scenic River program.[1]
In 1987, a six mile (10 km) stretch of the river was identified by the state of Arizona as a critical natural resource that needed protection and management. This reach of the Verde River, located between the town of Clarkdale (near the Tuzigoot National Monument) and the Bridgeport State Route 89A Bridge, became part of the Arizona State Parks system. The park, which encompasses some 700 acres (2.8 km2), is known today as the Verde River Greenway State Natural Area.
[edit] Ecology
North American beaver (Castor canadensis) were trapped "with considerable success" on the Verde River by fur trappers lead by Ewing Young, and including Kit Carson, dating to 1829. Edgar Alexander Mearns wrote in his 1907 naturalist survey “Mammals of the Mexican Boundary of the United States" that beaver were present on nearly all streams of the Colorado Basin. Re-introductions of beaver in recent times have transformed even small desert streams into robust riparian habitat, increasing species abundance and diversity.[2][3]
[edit] Recreation on the Verde River
Floating rafts and kayaks is a popular past time on the Verde as it runs through scenic valleys and the Mazatzal Wilderness. The facilities described below are maintained by the Tonto National Forest authority.
[edit] Fish Species
Upper Verde River: Walleye, Bullhead, Carp - 80 fishable miles, mostly near the Clarkdale area in North Central Arizona
Bloody Basin area: Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Sunfish, Catfish (Channel), Catfish (Flathead), Carp - 30 fishable miles
Area Below Horseshoe Lake: Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Sunfish, Catfish (Channel), Catfish (Flathead), Tilapia, Carp, Bullfrogs - 12 fishable miles
Area Below Bartlett Lake: Rainbow Trout, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Sunfish, Catfish (Channel), Catfish (Flathead), Carp, Bullfrogs - 20 fishable miles[4]
[edit] See also
- List of Arizona rivers
- List of National Wild and Scenic Rivers
- List of tributaries of the Colorado River
[edit] External links
- Verde Wild and Scenic River - Coconino National Forest
- Arizona State Parks: Verde River Greenway
- Arizona Boating Locations Facilities Map
- Arizona Fishing Locations Map
- Video of Upper Verde River
- Wildlife at Work: Beaver, Otter and Native Fish on the Verde River by Seth Ring
[edit] References
- ^ "Verde Wild and Scenic River, Arizona". Wild and Scenic Rivers. http://www.rivers.gov/wsr-verde.html. Retrieved 2009-10-02.
- ^ Christopher D. Carrillo, David L. Bergman, Jimmy Taylor, Dale Nolte, Patrick Viehoever, Mike Disney (2009). J. R. Boulanger. ed. "An Overview of Historical Beaver Management in Arizona". Proceedings of the 13th WDM Conference. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/icwdm_usdanwrc/882/. Retrieved 2011-11-21.
- ^ Seth Ring (2009). "Wildlife at Work: Beaver, Otter and Native Fish on the Verde River". The Nature Conservancy. http://vimeo.com/6057846. Retrieved 2011-11-21.
- ^ Arizona Fishin' Holes. Phoenix, AZ: Arizona Game and Fish Department. 2010. pp. 54. http://www.azgfd.gov/i_e/pubs/publications.shtml. Retrieved 2011-11-21.
