An assessment of the Verde River Corridor Project in Arizona

Abstract This paper reports the results of an assessment of the Verde River Corridor Project (VRCP), the first citizen-based multi-objective river corridor project to be completed in Arizona. Several studies have identified the Verde River as having national significance and as being in need of protection to conserve its resources. The assessment seeks to test the usefulness of the VRCP as a positive model for river conservation in the southwest United States. Key issues and concerns identified by the VRCP steering committee fell into five general topics: economics and commercial uses, land conservation, private property, recreation, and water. Recommendations for each issue were developed by five subcommittees and incorporated into a plan of action. Progress made by the VRCP in implementing recommended actions was investigated. Specific recommendations for land and water conservation goals were evaluated in order to judge their effectiveness at accomplishing the desired objectives. This evaluation used criteria developed by the US Environmental Protection Agency for developing and implementing effective riparian protection policies. Implications for river corridor planning are examined and strategies used during the VRCP are addressed in terms of transferability to other Arizona sites.