Sonoran Institute

10/17/2026

Available now: The Santa Cruz River Restoration Plan: Oslo Wash to Green Valley

The Santa Cruz River is a critical natural asset in southern Arizona, supporting groundwater, recharge, wildlife habitat, recreation, and community identity.

Explore the full resource through the link - http://Sonoraninstitute.org/resources

10/15/2026

Building a water-resilient future starts with sharing ideas and learning from one another.

Explore the Growing Water Smart Peer Network Webinar Series! New webinars every Wednesday.

Watch the full series:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-AaJT2jIMs&list=PLVV3kICgFNq0

10/12/2026

Green Drinks Tucson
Join us for a monthly networking event with local Tucson nonprofits and environmental stewards.

This month, we will be meeting at MotoSonora Brewing Company on Thursday, October 15, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

We will hear from Anna Darian from Patagonia Area Resource Alliance and Mara Tasker, director of the documentary "The River," airing October 14 at The Loft Cinema

10/01/2026

Join Favor Celestial, Barrio Kroeger Lane, Tucson Clean and Beautiful, Pima County, Sonoran Institute, Tucson Water, United Way and other partners as we come together to celebrate Days of Caring and the kickoff of the 2026-2027 Days of Connection series through a morning of fun, stewardship and connecting with nature and community!

This year we are joined by Pima Connecting Children in Nature Coalition which is celebrating the first ever “Children and Nature Week” and kicking off the 2026-2027 Days of Connection season with an action-packed day of nature play and action at Verdugo Park;

7AM-8AM: Early Bird Stewardship

8AM-8:30AM: Welcome and Grounding

8:30AM: Days of Connection Activities, Stewardship and Entertainment Start

Little Library Designation with Favor Celestial and D5 Supervisor Cano

10:00AM: Children and Nature Connection Panel

11:00AM: Storytime and Share-out and Gratitudes

09/22/2026

This Friday!

Help shape the future of the Santa Cruz River! 🌿 The Santa Cruz Refuge Project is hosting a Community Design Workshop on September 25, and everyone is welcome to participate!

This open house style workshop invites community members to share their knowledge, ideas, and perspectives about the Tucson stretch of the Santa Cruz River. Together, participants can help envision stronger connections between neighborhoods, the river, and the communities, both human and non human, that call this place home. All levels of experience and expertise are welcome!

When: September 25
🕘 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM | Drop in anytime
📍 1040 N. Olive Rd.
🍎 Refreshments provided!

Tucson Clean and Beautiful is proud to be part of the Santa Cruz River Refuge Community Coalition and to support opportunities for our community to get involved! ✨🌵

Come share your ideas and help shape what’s next for the Santa Cruz River!

🔗 Learn more and RSVP TODAY! Scan QR code and/or visit:
🌿www.santacruzrefuge.org


🌿https://sonoraninstitute.org/events/santa-cruz-refuge-project-community-design-workshop/


📣 Reposting this flyer as shared by the Project ✨

09/21/2026

Now Available: A Living River Report for the Santa Cruz River - Downtown Tucson to Marana, 2026

Cheers to Milestones of Stewardship! With this latest issue of the Living River report, we're celebrating the the 25th anniversary of the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan and its role in protecting the river and surrounding desert in Pima County. We also celebrate a new wildlife ramp, increased recharge, and the use of resources to not only serve water to residents, but to use water resources for restoration.

¿Quieres leer este informe en español? Tenemos una versión en español.

Want to learn more about some of the topics discussed in this issue and see trends in all the data that our partners collect on the river? Check out the Living River storymap, a new online resource currently available only in English.

These reports are completed in partnership and with funding from the Pima County Regional Flood Control District, the Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department, and City of Tucson - Government | Tucson Water.

https://sonoraninstitute.org/resource/lrr2026/

09/20/2026

POV: you're a bug on the Santa Cruz River during Sonoran Institute's Santa Cruz County Dragonfly Tour

Tours are still available in Pima County next Saturday

Sonoraninstitute.org/scrdft26

09/16/2026

Join Sonoran Institute and local experts to search for dragonflies Saturday, September 26 at one of four locations. Marana Heritage River Park, El Rio Preserve, Mission Garden, and Santa Cruz Heritage Project.

This event is family friendly and open to all, no prior knowledge required!

Únete al Sonoran Institute y a expertos locales para buscar libélulas, el sábado26 de septiembre, en uno de cuatro lugares. Marana Heritage River Park, El Rio Preserve, Mission Garden, y Proyecto del Patrimonio del Santa Cruz.

Este evento es familiar y abierto a todos, no se requiere conocimiento previo.

Los recorridos por el río del centro de Tucson estarán disponibles en español.

09/15/2026

Up next on our list for the Santa Cruz River Dragonfly Festival: Sonoran Sashay!

Presented by Queerd Science, this 21+ desert drag and cabaret show held at Club Congress explores artistic interpretations of research topics on the Santa Cruz River.

During this event, make sure to stop by our table to enter for a Sonoran Institute Cycling Jersey, learn how to get involved with us, and support our work on the Santa Cruz River! The raffle site is live now, but you must be present at the event to win!

Visit our websites event page or follow the link in our bio to purchase. All proceeds go to our work in the region.

https://sonoraninstitute.org/events/sonoran-sashay-cycling-jersey-raffle/

09/10/2026

Hola and howdy Green Drinkers 🌵

You’re invited to the next Green Drinks Tucson monthly gathering, a fun and informal meet-up of our local environmental community!

Thursday, September 17, 2026
6 – 9 PM
MOCA Tucson

Join Tucson Green Drinks at MOCA’s Free Third Thursday to celebrate Latino Conservation week and the "Living With Injury" closing reception. Come together as Tucsonans for a Clean Environment to network with others who care about water in the Sonoran Desert.

Free food, drink and art!