In February 1966 The Nature Conservancy (TNC) purchased its first property in the state of Arizona – our own Patagonia- Sonoita Creek Preserve. The deal included 312 acres of the former San Jose del Sonoita land grant along Sonoita Creek. Year round water on the property still supports an increasingly rare riparian cottonwood-willow forest and numerous fish, plant, and bird species.
Since the initial purchase, TNC has purchased other properties locally and today has protected over 800 acres around Patagonia (see map).
Holly Richter, Director of Conservation for the Arizona Chapter of TNC, says plans are beginning now for the 50th birthday party in February 2016. The statewide celebration will look back at past successes/lessons learned and project forward to future opportunities. Richter confirmed that, 50 years later, the Chapter’s most challenging priority continues to be protecting and restoring Arizona’s precious flowing waters. In 1966, TNC pursued its conservation goals independently and focused its resources primarily on water and wildlife protection. Today, TNC uses a community-based conservation approach that leverages the resources of many public and private partners and attempts to balance environmental, social, and economic needs. For example, TNC has partnered with Cochise County on an innovative project to create aquifer recharge sites in the San Pedro River watershed.
Historically, there have been some rough patches in the relationship between TNC and Patagonia residents. The original land purchase removed public access to a popular swimming hole and picnic area along Sonoita Creek. In 2002, there was a contentious public vote that attempted to block a water use agreement between the Town and TNC. In 2006, TNC substantially reduced paid staff at the Preserve, which reduced both maintenance activities and programming efforts. However, there is a fresh breeze blowing now.
In June of 2014, Luke Reese was hired by TNC as a full time Manager of the Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve. You may have noticed the impact of Reese’s initial focus on deferred maintenance and signage on the Preserve. However, he has a much bigger vision. Reese believes the preserves owned by TNC serve three important functions. First, they are a laboratory to demonstrate and evaluate science-based conservation practices. Second, they provide a venue to show both visitors and local residents the value of TNC’s stewardship. And third, he believes preserves serve as a platform to promote a conservation ethic within their local communities. There are opportunities to do much more in each of these functional areas at the Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve.
On the science side, TNC has been collecting data on stream flows and local wells, with only a few short interruptions, since the early 1980s. Reese hopes to begin work soon in both Sonoita and Harshaw Creeks to restore more natural water movement and retain additional surface water below ground. He is also discussing a partnership with Borderlands to create a restoration and monitoring plan for the riparian area on the TNC land contiguous with the Native Seed Search farm. The Preserve often provides a field site for graduate studies, university research, and local research.
An example of TNC stewardship that Reese hopes to develop is a partnership between TNC, the Patagonia Firewise Community, and the Patagonia Fire Department to reduce fire fuel on TNC and other local properties that pose risk to the local community. Job one is reducing the tree density and ladder fuels on the Cemetery Trail property.
Reese is particularly interested in activities that promote a conservation ethic. A great example is the building of a new trail to link Audubon’s Paton property with TNC’s Geoffrey Platt Trail. A new entrance into the Preserve will be created directly across Blue Haven Road from the Platt Trail so that local residents and visitors can walk on trail from Patons to the Preserve. Chris Strohm, an experienced trail designer, is leading the volunteer effort to build the new trail. It will be completed before the February 2016 50th birthday celebration.
The Preserve has brought back guided bird walks every week. They are being led by several of our community’s most experienced birders. Reese is also looking for opportunities to partner with schools and other nonprofits to expand conservation education programs for children and adults.
The 50th anniversary provides an impetus to fuel these and other ideas. TNC is looking to actively involve local residents in setting priorities for all their Patagonia properties as well as helping plan a birthday bash worthy of a 50-year-old! Call Luke Reese at (520) 394-2400 to offer suggestions and/or sign on to help.