Last updated: September 2024
The Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area is a urban green space that transformed a former 5-mile-long city dump into a thriving riparian corridor (2, 3, 7, 9). The project, spearheaded by the City of Phoenix in collaboration with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Maricopa County Flood Control District, and the Arizona Water Protection Fund, has revitalized a degraded ecosystem (9). Through decades of concerted effort, involving government agencies, non-profits such as the Arizona Sustainability Alliance, and community engagement, the area has been restored to a lush habitat supporting diverse wildlife, including over 200 bird species (1, 2, 7). The project aimed to mitigate the pressing issues of urban heat, air pollution, and habitat loss that Phoenix grappled with (1). By creating green spaces, improving air quality, and offering recreational opportunities, the Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area stands as a testament to the power of collaborative conservation and community resilience (1, 6, 7, 9). The restoration area now boasts hiking and biking trails, a nature center, and various educational programs, making it a community space (3, 7, 9).
The Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area
Rio Salado Audubon Center
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Blue infrastructure
- Rivers/streams/canals/estuaries
- In-land wetlands, peatlands, swamps, and moors
- Riverbank/Lakeside greens
Key challenges
- Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
- Climate change adaptation
- Climate change mitigation
- Environmental quality
- Air quality improvement
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Habitat and biodiversity restoration
- Water management (SDG 6)
- Stormwater and rainfall management and storage
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
- Enabling opportunities for physical activity
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Environmental education
Principal problems in Functional Urban Area (FUA)
- Climate-Related Hazards
- Heat stress & Extreme temperatures
- Environmental Degradation
- Biodiversity loss
- Air pollution
Key priorities
Climate action (adaptation and/or mitigation), Biodiversity (conservation and/or restoration)
Focus
Creation of semi-natural blue areas, Creation of artificial wetlands, Management and improved protection of rivers and other blue areas, River rehabilitation/ restoration, Restoration of riparian vegetation, Protection of natural ecosystems, Protecton and enhancement of wetlands (other types than peatlands and mangroves, e.g. seagrass), Habitat restoration, Creating nature reserves, wildlife sanctuaries, or biodiversity hotspots to conserve unique ecosystems, Transformation of previously derelict areas, Landfill reclamation, Knowledge creation and awareness raising, Educational and awareness raising programs
Project objectives
1. To address biodiversity loss of the area by restoring the native wetland and riparian (riverbank) areas which provides habitats for over 200 species that were historically associated with the Salt River (3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9)
2. To provide a river ecosystem to achieve a sustainable balance of flora and fauna (6, 9)
3. To confer a seasonal migratory path for birds, maintain marshlands and irrigate some trees and bushes (4, 7, 9)
4. To reduce temperatures substantially, improve air quality, sequestering carbon by adding additional shade cover (1,6)
5. To increase canopy cover to reduce temperatures and provide health benefits for the community (1, 6)
6. To address water management issues by planting trees to reduce storm water runoff (1, 7)
7. To provide a variety of spaces for the community from 16 km of trails, a center for education (due to lack of recreational opportunities) and an opportunity to engage with wildlife (7)
Implementation activities
The project implemented several key activities to achieve its goals and address the existing problems in the area:
1. Waste Removal: Over 138,572 cubic yards of waste and 1,185 tons of tires were removed from the site, cleaning up the heavily polluted area (7, 9-10).
2. Habitat Restoration: 76,000 trees, plants and shrubs, including a Monarch butterfly sanctuary with willows, sages and milkweed. Most of the native trees were grown from seeds and cuttings gathered from within a half mile of the river bottom (7, 9-10).
3. Riparian Habitat Creation: Wetlands were established to mimic the historical habitat along the Salt River (2-10).
4. Trail Development: A network of trails was created for hiking, biking, and walking, providing recreational opportunities for the public (2-10).
5. Educational Programs: Programs were developed to educate the public about the importance of riparian habitats and environmental conservation (2).
6. Water Management: Planting trees to reduce storm water runoff and installed 5 pumps to maintain the marshlands and irrigate trees and bushes (1, 7)
7. Community Engagement: 6 public workshops were organized discuss land use preferences and gain input from area residents, public meetings were held to present information (9).
Climate-focused activities
Climate change adaptation:
- Increase urban vegetation cover to reduce urban heat island effect
- Restore mangroves, marshes, reefs and wetlands to dissipate the effects of storms and floodwaters
- Restore and protect forests to prevent water runoff and assets loss due to flooding
Climate change mitigation:
- Increase the availability of green urban space for carbon storage (street tree cover)
- Protect and restore in-land wetlands, peatlands, swamps, and moors aiming at sequestering carbon dioxide and storing it in their soil
- Improve carbon sequestration through selection of more adaptable species
Communities vulnerable to environmental hazards or climate change impacts
Yes
Specification of climate or environmentally vulnerable communities
Urban heat islands
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity restoration:
- Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
- Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)
- Restore native species
- Public engagement
Main beneficiaries
- Citizens or community groups
- Marginalized groups: Socio-economically disadvantaged populations (e.g. low-income households, unemployed)
Governance
Management set-up
- Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- National government
- Local government/municipality
- Non-government organisation/civil society
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
- Taskforce groups
- Dissemination of information and education
- Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)
- Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
Government :
-U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: Led the project, co-designed and provided technical expertise and funding (9).
-City of Phoenix: co-designed and partnered with the ACOE and provided funding and support (9)
-Rio Salado Development District: A government entity created to oversee the project (9).
-Maricopa County Flood Control District: Provided technical and financial assistance (9).
-Sub-Regional Operating Group Members: The cities of Scottsdale, Tempe, Glendale, and Mesa contributed funding and support (9).
NGO: Valley Forward Association: A non-profit organization that played a key role in early planning efforts (9).
University: Arizona State University: Conducted early studies and provided academic support (9).
Citizens: public workshops were organized to discuss land use preferences and gain input(9
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Yes
(The project is part of the Water Resources Development Act (9).)
... a national policy or strategy?
Yes
(The tree planting project is part of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (1))
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(Arizona state law required that each city to adopt a General Plan to guide the physical development of the community. Based on this, the city issued the Rio Salado Beyond the Banks Area Development Plan, which focuses on flood control, habitat restoration, promoting development in the area, and establishing connections to trails, parks, and transportation systems of which the Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Project is part of (9,11). )
Type of enablers
Funds, subsidies or investment for GI/NBS in the city (available for the city or provided by the city)
Financing
Total cost
More than €4,000,000
Source(s) of funding
- Public local authority budget
- Public national budget
- Public regional budget
Type of funding
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Type of non-financial contribution
- Provision of land
- Provision of labour
- Provision of expertise
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
- Public authorities (e.g. land, utility services)
- Citizens (e.g. volunteering)
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Climate change
- Prevent the frequency and/or intensity of heatwaves
- Expected prevent the frequency and/or intensity of heatwaves
- Environmental quality
- Improved air quality
- Expected improved air quality
- Improved waste management
- Achieved improved waste management
- Water management and blue areas
- Increased protection against flooding
- Expected increased protection against flooding
- Enhanced protection and restoration of freshwater ecosystems
- Expected enhanced protection and restoration of freshwater ecosystems
- Green space and habitat
- Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
- Expected increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
- Reduced biodiversity loss
- Achieved reduced biodiversity loss
- Increased number of species present
- Achieved increased number of species present
Economic impacts
- Unknown
Socio-cultural impacts
- Health and wellbeing
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Achieved gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Reduced risk of heatstroke and/or dehydration
- Expected reduced risk of heatstroke and/or dehydration
- Cultural heritage and sense of place
- Improvement in people’s connection to nature
- Expected improvement in people’s connection to nature
- Education
- Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
- Achieved increased knowledge of locals about local nature
Type of reported impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
Yes
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Potential risks of implementation and trade-offs
Unknown
References
1.
The Nature Conservancy (n.d.). Addressing Heat and Air Quality in Phoenix. [Source link];
2.
Rio Salado Audubon Center (n.d.). The Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area. [Source link];
3.
City of Phoenix (n.d.). Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area. [Source link];
4.
City of Phoenix (n.d.). Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area. [Source link];
5.
Greater Phoenix Orienteering Club (n.d.). Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area. [Source link];
6.
City Forest Credits (n.d.). Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area AMEX Planting. [Source link];
7.
Kathleen Ferris (n.d.). Rio Salado Habitat: Wildlife Sanctuary Created From Wasteland. [Source link];
8.
Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (n.d.). PROPOSED ARIZONA POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM (AZPDES) RENEWAL PERMIT. [Source link];
9.
City of Phoenix Planning Department (2003). Rio Salado Beyond the Banks Area Plan. Phoenix, Arizona: [Source link];
10.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (n.d.). Rio Salado Oeste Urban Waters Technical Assistance Report - Vision, Goals and Strategies for Revitalization. Phoenix : [Source link];
11.
Visit Phoenix (n.d.). Thinking Ahead Sustainably . [Source link];
Volunteers from American Express in Phoenix helped with a planned tree planting along the Rio Salado Preserve
The Nature Conservancy
Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the Naturescapes project funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No 101084341.