County Administrator

were asked to explore opportunities for protecting environmentally sensitive natural riparian areas in Eastern Pima County connected to areas of shallow groundwater and perennial and intermittent streams supporting unique riparian vegetation. Such areas include Sabino Canyon, Tanque Verde Creek, Cienega Creek, Arivaca Creek, and the San Pedro River. Multiple benefits accrue from protecting these sensitive areas, including slowing flood flows, reducing and preventing erosion, improving water quality, and conserving wildlife habitat, recreational opportunities, and scenic values. This paper provides a description of groundwater/shallow water dependant ecosystems and identifies sensitive riparian habitat found along intermittent and perennial stream courses and in shallow groundwater areas in eastern Pima County. Changes and trends that have or may occur to water sensitive riparian areas are discussed. Finally, an overview is provided of City and County policies and programs that help preserve these water sensitive riparian areas. Over the past century, eastern Pima County has lost significant amounts of riparian vegetation as groundwater levels have declined. The City of Tucson and Pima County have been taking steps to reverse this trend by replacing groundwater pumpivg and surface water diversions wit