Verde River Recreation Guide differs from most guide books in that it is not just a factual description of the Verde and its tributaries. I tell stories, also. Stories which are designed to give you an intuitive feel for the water-shed, even if you never actually travel any of these waterways. I have personally paddled a canoe down the entire perennial portion of the Verde and significant sections of its major tributaries. I've canoed the Verde and its tributaries in all seasons and at a wide variety of water flow. I have also hiked many of the tributaries. I have had a great deal of pleasure discovering some of the special secrets of the Verde watershed and I?m going to present you with that same opportunity. The Verde watershed offers incredible variety and beauty. We are fortunate to have it. Enjoy it! Take care of it! --

Woody wetlands constitute a relatively small but extremely important part of the landscape in the southwestern United States. These riparian habitats support more than one-third of the regionÕs vascular plant species, are home to a variety of wildlife, and provide essential havens for dozens of migratory animals. Because of their limited size and disproportionately high biological value, the goal of protecting wetland environments frequently takes priority over nearly all other habitat types. In The Ribbon of Green, hydrologists Robert H. Webb, and Stanley A. Leake and botanist Raymond M. Turner examine the factors that affect the stability of woody riparian vegetation, one of the largest components of riparian areas. Such factors include the diversion of surface water, flood control, and the excessive use of groundwater. Combining repeat photography with historical context and information on species composition, they document more than 140 years of change. Contrary to the common assumption of widespread losses of this type of ecosystem, the authors show that vegetation has increased on many river reaches as a result of flood control, favorable climatic conditions, and large winter floods that encourage ecosystem disturbance, germination, and the establishment of species in newly generated openings. Bringing well-documented and accessible insights to the ecological study of wetlands, this book will influence our perception of change in riparian ecosystems and how riparian restoration is practiced in the Southwest, and it will serve as an important reference in courses on plant ecology, riparian ecology, and ecosystem management.

Includes Lost Creek, Mount Evans, Buffalo Peaks.