Field Trip: Float Down The Salt River Micayla Berglund **Welcome to the Salt River!** *** “People really don’t understand that they’re standing on the shoulders of giants,” says Angela Garcia-Lewis (Toy, 2021.). The Salt River is a hundred miles northeast from the mountains and runs through Phoenix, Arizona before it joins the Gila River. You have traveled to the starting point of the Salt River on a research expedition on how the Salt River has produced geodiversity and geoheritage starting with the lower area of the Salt River. Once you start floating down the river, you will have an opportunity to learn about all aspects of the river including the wildlife and its history. While safety is not guaranteed, you researched all necessities needed for the Salt River and read the [First Time Guide to Arizona’s Salt River Tubing](https://justsimplywander.com/salt-river-tubing/#:~:text=What%20to%20bring%20while%20Salt,to%20tie%20the%20tubes%20together.). As you float from one Recreational Area to another, you will be given a question at each study area. You can not exit the Salt River until all questions are answered. Your safety is not guaranteed until you have exited the Salt River.
**Land Acknowledgement** *** Before you begin the expedition, the Salt River was shaped by the Huhugam. They used stone tools to dig hundreds of miles of sophisticated irrigation canals in what is now known as the Salt River Valley. By creating the largest and most complex irrigation system in ancient North America, the Huhugam transformed the valley agriculturally, making it easier to settle into the community (Toy, 2021).
**Geodiversity** *** Geodiversity describes the variety of different geological formations such as rocks, fossils, minerals, and processes within a specific geographic region. Also, maintaining a wide diversity of abiotic habitats and systems, which are vital to life on Earth (National Park Services). In order to explore the differences in biodiversity and geoheritage of the area, you must float down to each recreation area and learn different aspects of that area.
**Why do we care?** *** The lower part of the Salt River flows from just below the Saguaro Lake and is located in the Tonto National Forest. It’s controlled by the Stewart Dam and flows year round. It is home for the abundant Arizona Upland Sonoran Desert vegetation and wildlife (Saguaro Lake Ranch). It is estimated that over 90 percent of all wildlife in deserts is found within a mile of a river (Robbins, 2019). The Salt River is the biggest water source of the Phoenix metro area and provides about 60% of the water that is used. It’s also the largest desert river stretching over 200 miles long and is joined by a series of perennial and spring-fed streams (Robbins, 2019). At the start of the 20th century, the first four dams were constructed on the Salt River for a growing Phoenix population and is now the main water supply but the northern side of Phoenix gets its water supply from the Colorado River (Robbins, 2019).
![](https://strapi.geoepic.app/uploads/small_Salt_River_Map_5ada5b937c.jpg) (Map by Shannon1, CC BY-SA 4.0 \, via Wikimedia Commons)
You have traveled to the Salt River on a research expedition to explore the geodiversity and the geoheritage. Your expedition begins at the Water Users Recreation Area (See map below). There you will find information plaques which provide information about the area. In order for you to exit the Salt River, you must answer the questions. You will only be able to exit safely once you have answered all questions.
**Salt River Regions** ***
![](https://strapi.geoepic.app/uploads/small_Salt_river_map_31fa9158ec.png) Map adapted from Canyon Paddle Co. (n.d.)
Remember, in order to be able to exit the Salt River you must explore all recreation areas found on the map starting at Water Users Recreation Area. If you do not start at Water Users, you risk not being able to exit the Salt River. As you float down the river, you will learn about each Recreation Area and explore the wildlife and unique environments the Salt River has to offer as you take this amazing geodiversity and geoheritage tour.
**Study Area 1: Water Users** *** You have now arrived at Water Users Recreation Area which is also known as Point One to locals. It is a beautiful and scenic sight which is shadowed by high cliffs and has Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus) nesting areas nearby. This area is mainly made up of desert and mesquite (Prosposis sp.) trees. Patches of willow (Salix sp.)trees stretch along the west and east sides of the river. On the east side there are many mixed habitats of mesquite, willow, and tamarisk (Tamarix ) trees. Tamarisk is an invasive species in the area. There are open spots on the river where waterfowl often reside And can be viewed in the Water Users Recreation site. What types of wildlife can be found in this area? Bald eagle (Haliaeetus) Osprey (Pandeon haliaetus) Peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) Harris’s hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus) Great blue heron (Ardea herodias) Egret (Ardea alba) [Enter VR of Water Users Recreation Area](/scenes/salt-river-water-users-area)
**Study Area 2: Blue Point** *** You have now arrived at Blue Point Recreation Area which is also known as Point Two to locals. Blue Point is the smallest recreation site in the Lower Salt River. The primary habitats are Mesquite Bosque and Sonoran Desert. Cliffs run on the north side and the Salt River flows on the west side to the recreation site (Blue Point Recreation Site). Care should be taken because the water becomes very shallow and rapids are ahead. As you float down this area look for the usual bird sights of great blue herons and spotted sandpipers (Actitis macularius). The Mesquite Bosque habitat is a place where many migrating passerines and wintering birds like gray flycatcher (Empidonax wrightii) (Blue Point Recreation Site). In this region there is a possibility you may also see Phainopeplas (Phainopepla nitens), Lucy's warblers (Oreothlypis luciae), Bullock's orioles (Icterus bullockii), Anna's hummingbird (Calypte anna) and Costa's Hummingbird (Calypte costae), ladder-backed woodpecker (Dryobates scalaris) and Gila woodpeckers (Melanerpes uropygialis), gilded flickers (Colaptes chrysoides), cactus wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus) and rock wren (Salpinctes obsoletus), black-tailed gnatcatchers (Polioptila melanura), curve-billed thrashers (Toxostoma curvirostre), Black-throated sparrows (Amphispiza bilineata), and northern cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis) (Blue Point Recreation Site). What are the primary habitats of this area? [Enter VR of Blue Point](/scenes/salt-river-pebble-beach)
**Study Area 3: Goldfield** *** You have now arrived at Goldfield Recreation Area. Along the entrance road, there is a nice forest of Teddy Bear Cholla. Along the Goldfield stretch of the Salt River, a good mix of mesquite, tamarisk, and willows make up most of the habitat. The east side of the area has cottonwood groves that are always worth checking (Goldfield Recreation Site). In usual bird sights, you may also see raptors. Harris hawks are also seen very commonly during bird sightings and are seen on the entrance road to the area perched on the roadside poles. Along the cliffs bordering the north side of the Salt River, it is common to see Peregrine and prairie falcons (Falco mexicanus) when hiking. Though you may not see any waterfowl except for the occasional duck species (Goldfield Recreation Site). Spring and fall migration brings a nice variety of warblers and other passerines to this spot and be sure to keep an eye out for that possible vagrant, especially in the willows along the river and in the cottonwood (Populus fremontii) groves to the east. Winter sometimes brings western bluebirds (Sialia mexicana) (Goldfield Recreation Site). What trees seem to be common among the Salt River? [Enter VR of Goldfield Site](/scenes/salt-river-goldfield-recreation-area)
**Study Area 4: Coon Bluff** *** You have now arrived at Coon Bluff Recreation Area. This area is known for great mesquite habitats and a more dense Mesquite Bosque. As you look up, you will see a tall bank that overlooks the river on a trail that runs west of the parking lot. There are tall cliffs that overlook the area and shade most of the river in this part. On the east there will be cottonwood and willow trees as well (Coon Bluff Recreation Site). In this area it is common to find many Phainopepla. A plant that grows on mesquite trees also known as the Mesquite Mistletoe, which produces a fruit that Phainopeplas love to feed on. The mesquite mistletoe (Phoradendron californicum) is also a parasite that is a true evergreen plant. A few other common birds in mesquite habitats include white-winged dove (Zenaida asiatica), Anna's hummingbird, Gila and ladder-backed woodpeckers, gray flycatcher, ash-throated flycatcher (Myiarchus cinerascens), vermilion flycatcher (Pyrocephalus obscurus), loggerhead shrike (Lanius ludovicianus) and many more (Coon Bluff Recreation Site). Coon Bluff also contains a lot of saguaro cactus (Carnegiea gigantea) which is a habitats for many desert birds including, Gambel's Quail (Callipepla gambelii), greater roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus), verdin (Auriparus flaviceps), Cactus and Rock Wrens, black-tailed gnatcatcher, curve-billed thrasher, black-throated sparrow (Amphispiza bilineata), and northern cardinal (Coon Bluff Recreation Site). What do Phianopela eat? [Enter VR of the Coon Bluff Recreation Area](/scenes/salt-river-coon-bluff-recreation-area)
**Study Area 5: Phon D Sutton** *** You have now arrived at Phon D Sutton Recreation Area. This is where the Salt River and the Verde Rivers meet so watch out because the water starts to pick up speed and rapids are up ahead. This is one of the more open areas and consists of a rocky mountain side with Willow and Cottonwoods trees (Phon D Sutton Recreation Site). Regular birds you are expected to see at Phon D. Sutton would include Gambel's Quail, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Great and Snowy Egrets, Green Heron, Bald Eagles and Cooper's Hawks, Greater Yellowlegs and Spotted Sandpipers, Greater Roadrunner, Black-chinned, Anna's, and Costa's Hummingbirds and many more (Phon D Sutton Recreation Site). What birds seem to be common along the Salt River? [Enter VR of Phon D Sutton Recreation Area](/scenes/salt-river-phon-d-sutton-recreation-area) **Study Area 6: Granite Reef** *** You have now arrived at Granite Reef Recreation Area. Granite Reef is known as a bird wonderland in Maricopa County. The habitat is excellent for resident, migrant, and wintering birds alike. Mesquite Bosque Forest, willow, and tamarisk trees surround the riverside. Desert habitat surrounds the riparian and mesquite habitats (Goldfield Recreation Site). What makes Granite Reef so spectacular and different from the other recreation areas is all the combined habitats. It's basically all crammed into a stretch that is less than a mile long, where an outstanding number of wildlife including birds can be found. Any day is productive here in all seasons. Other than Saguaro Lake, Granite Reef is the only other reliable place in the Salt River Area to see wintering waterfowl in abundance. At Granite Reef, it is very common to see a variety of wildlife and up to seventy species of birds (Goldfield Recreation Site). Why is Granite Reef different from other recreation areas? [Enter VR of Granite Reef Recreation Area](/scenes/salt-river-granite-reef-recreation-area)
**GLOSSARY** **Abiotic** \- Non\-living part of an ecosystem that shapes its environment **Geodiversity** \- The existence of a wide variety of different geologic forms and processes within a specific geographic region **Geoheritage** \- A generic but descriptive term applied to sites or areas of geologic features with significant scientific\, educational\, cultural\, and/or aesthetic value Mesquite Bosque \- A forest of thorny deep\-rooted tree or shrub of the southwestern U\.S\. and Mexico **Perennial** \- Lasting or existing for a long or apparently infinite time; enduring or continually recurring **Sonoran Desert** \- An arid region covering approximately 100\,000 square miles in southwestern Arizona and southeastern California Vegetation \- Plants considered collectively\, especially those found in a particular area or habitat **Waterfowl** \- Ducks\, geese\, or other large aquatic birds\, especially when regarded as game
**REFERENCES** About Arizona & the Lower Salt River: Saguaro Lake Ranch. Saguaro Lake Guest Ranch. (2019, September 17). Retrieved March 11, 2023, from https://www.saguarolakeranch.com/area/arizona-west/ Arizonapaddleboard. (2021, August 16). 5 tips on how to float the Salt River in Mesa Arizona. Canyon Paddle Co. Retrieved March 11, 2023, from https://canyonpaddle.com/2021/08/how-to-float-the-salt-river-in-mesa-arizona/ Blue Point Recreation Site. birderfrommaricopa.com. (n.d.). Retrieved March 11, 2023, from http://www.birderfrommaricopa.com/blue-point-recreation-site.htm Coon Bluff Recreation Site. birderfrommaricopa.com. (n.d.). Retrieved March 11, 2023, from http://www.birderfrommaricopa.com/coon-bluff-recreation-site.htm DesertUSA.com. (n.d.). Sonoran Desert. DesertUSA. Retrieved March 11, 2023, from https://www.desertusa.com/sonoran-desert.html Toy, R. (2022, January 26). A legendary Arizona River is under threat. Travel. Retrieved March 11, 2023, from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/a-legendary-arizona-river-is-under-threat Goldfield Recreation Site. birderfrommaricopa.com. (n.d.). Retrieved March 11, 2023, from http://www.birderfrommaricopa.com/goldfield-recreation-area.htm Granite Reef Recreation Site. birderfrommaricopa.com. (n.d.). Retrieved March 11, 2023, from http://www.birderfrommaricopa.com/granite-reef-recreation-area.htm Jim Robbins / Photography by Ted Wood • February 7, Jim Robbins / Photography by Ted Wood, Jim Robbins / Photography by Ted Wood, •, Jim Robbins is a veteran journalist based in Helena, More about Jim Robbins / Photography by Ted Wood →, Dinneen, J., Dinneen, J., Jones, N., Jones, N., Pearce, F., & Pearce, F. (n.d.). In era of drought, Phoenix prepares for a future without Colorado River Water. Yale E360. Retrieved March 11, 2023, from https://e360.yale.edu/features/how-phoenix-is-preparing-for-a-future-without-colorado-river-water Jim Robbins / Photography by Ted Wood • January 31, Jim Robbins / Photography by Ted Wood, Jim Robbins / Photography by Ted Wood, •, Jim Robbins is a veteran journalist based in Helena, More about Jim Robbins / Photography by Ted Wood →, Hurdle, J., Hurdle, J., Dinneen, J., Dinneen, J., Gibbs, A., & Gibbs, A. (n.d.). Running dry: New strategies for conserving water on the Colorado. Yale E360. Retrieved March 11, 2023, from https://e360.yale.edu/features/running-dry-new-strategies-for-conserving-water-on-the-colorado Toy, R. (2021, July 13). A legendary Arizona river is under threat. Record heat in Phoenix adds pressure on the Salt River, a humble waterway with an ancient history. National Geographic. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/a-legendary-arizona-river-is-under-threat Phon D Sutton Recreation Site. birderfrommaricopa.com. (n.d.). Retrieved March 11, 2023, from http://www.birderfrommaricopa.com/phon-d.-sutton-recreation-site.htm Water users recreation site. birderfrommaricopa.com. (n.d.). Retrieved March 11, 2023, from http://www.birderfrommaricopa.com/water-users-recreation-site.htm