Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan
and Multi-Species Conservation Plan

Overview

An important goal of Pima County's Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan is to ensure the long-term survival of the full spectrum of plants and animals indigenous to the county.

One of the most effective ways we can accomplish this is by preserving or improving riparian habitat areas and the ecosystem functions necessary for their survival. The Riparian Element of the SDCP identified the need for additional protection, management, and restoration of riparian areas, springs, streams and supporting shallow groundwater resources.

The District is involved in an array of activities in support of the SDCP. Check out the links below for more information on some of these core activities. While much has been accomplished, protection, management and restoration efforts will continue to be an important task for the coming decades.

• Riparian Protection—includes revisions to standards and guidelines for mitigating and protecting riparian habitat in Pima County.
• Riparian Land Acquisition and Management—includes management of lands acquired under the Floodprone Land Acquisition Program.  Many of these areas are sensitive ecologically. 
• Riparian Restoration—includes projects designed to repair damage to floodplains caused by previous agricultural, mining and urban activities.
• Water Conservation and Management—includes the new water policy.
• Ecological Monitoring—includes development of the monitoring methods for regional ecosystem trends
• SDCP/MSCP— an on-line book chapter on SDCP habitat protection in Nature-Friendly Communities