They believe in beavers.
Supporters of the Watershed Management Group (WMG) give busy and industrious new meaning with the 6th Annual Beavers & Brews fundraiser at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 24 at the WMG Living Lab and Learning Center, 1137 N. Dodge Blvd.
The unique event, which is the culmination of the WMG Summer Campaign that seeks to raise $100,000, will benefit river restoration efforts and spread awareness about the beaver reintroduction scheduled for Ciénega Creek in 2025. Proceeds will also support free education programs spearheaded by the local nonprofit dedicated to development of community-based solutions that ensure the long-term prosperity of people and health of the environment.
“People are fascinated by the idea of beavers being here in the Sonoran Desert. I think that many people don’t realize beavers have been here historically and that they are still here ... and this event gets people excited about the idea of water and flowing rivers. You can’t have beavers unless you have water in the rivers, so this opens up possibilities about river restoration efforts and that captures people’s imaginations,” said Lisa Shipek, Executive Director of WMG.
People are also reading…
WMG is involved with an annual Beaver Survey to track the population in the San Pedro Watershed, which Shipek said is estimated at between 75 and 100 beavers in the Arizona-Mexico portion of the river.
The project drew the attention of Emma Blake, who began volunteering with her son, Henry Schon, in 2021.
“We were first attracted by the beavers. I thought, ‘How cute!’ They put out a call for volunteers to assist with the Beaver Survey and we have gone beyond beavers to be concerned about water in Southern Arizona and getting the rivers running again,” Blake said.
For Schon, a 16-year-old junior at Basis Tucson North, the experience has affirmed his love of the outdoors and expanded his understanding of environmental conservation and sustainability.
“Watershed Management Group has taught me a lot about how beavers live here and how our human actions affect them, which has been very enlightening. Before the Beaver Survey, I was not very interested in the environment. I was more interested in urban society. Having more experiences in nature has made me develop an understanding of how important it is for our world and all parts of our society,” Schon said.
Both Blake and Schon plan to support Beavers & Brews, which they consider an educational celebration. The event creates an immersive experience with photos of Ciénega Creek, beaver photos and videos, and other activities to provide insight into the beaver habitat.
“Learning about beavers is important for everyone who lives in Arizona. Nature is such a part of the state’s traditions and not informing yourself about them leaves you missing out on lots of what makes Arizona great,” Schon said.
The fundraiser also offers an introduction to WMG green infrastructure projects and hydro-local living initiatives designed to cool Tucson by five degrees and ensure a water-secure future for the city.
