Join the Friends of the San Pedro River!
The FRIENDS OF THE SAN PEDRO RIVER (FSPR) is a volunteer, non-profit,
non-political organization that supports the BLM in their stewardship
of the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area (SPRNCA).
The FRIENDS OF THE SAN PEDRO RIVER (FSPR) is a volunteer, non-profit,
non-political organization that supports the BLM in their stewardship
of the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area (SPRNCA).
You can make a difference! Consider becoming a member today!
You can make a difference! Consider becoming a member today!
Learn more...
Hide details...
The Friends offers:
The board meets monthly in Sierra Vista, Arizona.
Learn more...
Hide details...
Join the Friends of the San Pedro River. Your
modest dues will help, and your membership
will increase our impact in the community.
You will be helping to save our river for future
generations.
The Friends of the San Pedro River is a
nonprofit organization that assists the Bureau of
Land Management (BLM) care for and interpret
the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation
Area.
The Conservation Area with the San Pedro
River forms an isolated green corridor in the
desert. The river and surrounding conservation
lands shelter many kinds of animals and plants.
Many birds migrate through the Conservation
Area between the tropics and temperate North
America. The American Bird Conservancy has
designated the Conservation Area as a Globally
Important Area.
The Conservation Area also has important
historical sites dating from the Clovis era 13,000
years ago, Spanish settlement in the 1700s, and
the “Wild West” mining and ranching era of the
late 1800s.
During a recent year, the Friends provided
207 environmental & historical events to
about 2,000 people. These events included
interpreti ve walks, bird walks, history walks,
hikes, and special events such as festi vals.
The Friends' education program provided
information to 700 students. The Friends
operate information centers and gift shops in
the San Pedro House and Fairbank Schoolhouse
and help maintain these buildings.
Members receive benefits such as guided
tours, social events, talks about natural and
human history of the area, discounts on gift
shop purchases, and a newsletter.
You!
can help protect the San Pedro River by
joining the Friends. To join, simply fill
out the membership application in this
brochure and mail it with your check to
the address on the form or turn them in at
the sales counters in the San
Pedro House or Fairbank Schoolhouse.
To become a member, please fill out the
membership application form and mail it with your check to
the Friends of the San Pedro River at the address on the form.
Upcoming Events and Hot Topics
-
Check out the following videos from Ty Holland, the first of which was featured on local Tucson TV stations KVOA and KOLD recently:
Copyright (C) 2012 - Ty Holland.
First Light of the Morning San Pedro River and Deer At The San Pedro River
-
January 17 - Hands on Land lecture Sky Island Habitats at Buena High School room 2111 on Tuesday at 2:10 PM
January 21 - Hands on Land Field Trip at San Pedro House, time TBD. -
January 21 - History Walk at Fairbank Saturday at 9 AM
-
2nd Wednesday and 4th Saturday - Bird Walk at San Pedro House (SPH) 8 AM
-
Every Sunday - Bird Walk at the Sierra Vista Environmental Operations Park (EOP) 8 AM
-
Every Saturday - Interpretive Walk at San Pedro House (SPH) 9 AM
-
The November edition of the River Roundup Newsletter and Calendar of Events is out!
(NOTE: Acrobat Reader available free from Adobe for reading PDF files) -
Did you know about the lawsuit against the Friends of the San Pedro River?
Learn more...Did you know about the lawsuit against the Friends of the San Pedro River?
Hide details...
For subscribers of the Sierra Vista Herald, read their article about the lawsuit.
Here is a summary of events in regard to the lawsuit:
In May 2011, a woman filed suit in the superior court in Tucson against Friends of the San Pedro River (FSPR) and several of its members. The suit was for injuries she suffered during a trail ride on the Las Cienegas National Conservation Area. The ride on this BLM property was on August 8, 2009. FSPR organized the trail ride, and an FSPR Docent led it. The ride was part of FSPR’s former volunteer equestrian program. FSPR operates under a “volunteer group services agreement” with the federal government. The agreement is through the U.S. Department of Interior’s Bureau of Land Management. The agreement contains a statement of activities FSPR conducts in the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area and elsewhere. FSPR and BLM staff jointly developed the 2009 schedule of activities. FSPR conducts no such activities without the approval of BLM. Our equestrian program then featured periodic trail rides within the SPRNCA and in adjacent locales. BLM had approved all rides. In fact, during a meeting of the Board of Directors well before the ride there was a discussion of the forthcoming ride. Participants in that discussion included the Manager of the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area who is also the Manager of the Las Cienegas National Conservation Area.
Federal agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management realize that volunteers are concerned about being liable for accidents. BLM and other federal agencies promise to defend volunteers against liabilities arising from accidents.
The federal government has refused to provide the promised liability protection. FSPR is now responsible for the costs of defending this suit and for paying any judgment that might be awarded. The lawyer for that person has made a settlement demand of $250,000. The financial burden alone of defending against the lawsuit could bankrupt FSPR. This would end more than 20 years of volunteer service. The individuals being sued will also face enormous costs.
It is very difficult to understand why the federal government is not providing the promised liability protection. It appears that the federal government will not honor the volunteer agreement provisions that are provided to all federal volunteers. We also do not understand why the federal attorney, so far, has not provided our attorney with an explanation for the refusal to honor written promises. FSPR is concerned that our current volunteer activities might not receive federal protection. BLM says that such activities will receive protection, but that is what it said before. FSPR is looking into our own liability insurance.
For more than 20 years, FSPR volunteers have provided volunteer services and funds to BLM. For example, in fiscal year 2010 FSPR provided walks, hikes, and other educational activities for 4485 people. It also provided educational activities for 665 students. FSPR volunteers gave to BLM a total of 11,893 volunteer hours. This is the equivalent of providing BLM with 6.6 full-time staff. The hard work of FSPR volunteers contributes both to the local economy and to the support of local jobs. A 2002 study by the University of Arizona found that eco-tourism visitors to the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area (SPRNCA) and Ramsey Canyon Preserve annually bring between 10 and 17 million dollars to the local area. FSPR provides most of the public programs that occur in the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area. It also operates two information centers and bookstores.
-
Honor someone with a brick in our Dedication Walkway at the San Pedro House. See application for details.
-
Interested in videos of the river and related topics?
Learn more...Interested in videos of the river and related topics?
Hide details...
DVDs in the SPRNCA Natural and Cultural History Series
Exploring the San Pedro River: Plants of the Borderlands
Our River of Life
Coati on the San Pedro River
Reptiles of the River
Javelina of the San Pedro River
Reintroduction of the Beaver
Birds of the San Pedro River
San Pedro River - Related subjects
Tacos de Cabeza
Remembering the Sobaipuri
Story of the SPRNCA Natural and Cultural History Series
San Pedro River Cold Weather
Origin of the San Pedro River in Sonora, Mexico
Cochise Culture
The Sobaipuri
Agave Restoration Training Video
Greasewood a Sonoran Remedy
Apache Middle School water Conservation
El Pinacate y el Gran Desierto de Altar
Virgin of Guadalupe
Day of the Dead Naco Sonora
Huachuca Water Umbel
Trincheras Culture
Flash Flood at Horse Thief Draw
The River We Don't See
Corridor of Life
Images of the Borderlands
The Largest Cactus in the World
The Boojums of Libertad
Elephant Tree.
Events To Come and Other Topics
-
February 9, 5-8pm. National Riparian Service Team Community Meeting on Proper Functioning Condition of San Pedro River at Windemere Hotel.
-
April 9 and 10. BLM-lead public training sessions on Assessment of Proper Functioning Condition of San Pedro River. FSPR members and volunteers are encouraged to attend.
-
April 11 through 20. Field-based Riparian Assessments along San Pedro River. FSPR members and volunteers are encouraged to participate in walking the river corridor.
-
Join a natural history walk! Check out the FSPR Calendar of Events for the latest info.
-
Chris Long and Dutch Nagle discuss the SPRNCA and the Friends of the San Pedro River with Carol Sanger on KTAN radio's Community Connections. Listen to audio segments one, two, three, and four!
-
Does "real" research in the field interest you? The BLM needs volunteers for various monitoring efforts. Contact Chris Long at long.dll@starband.net) or leave a message at 459-2555.
-
Interested in nature-based educational experiences? Check out Wild World Education in Phoenix.
-
Be Outdoors Arizona promotes nature-oriented, outdoor activities for children. Learn more...
-
Read about GHOST TOWN: A visit to Fairbank.
-
Interested in rainwater harvesting and xeriscape landscapes? Learn more...
-
Bino box available!
Learn more...Bino box available!
Hide details...
Huachuca Audubon Society, in partnership with Audubon Arizona, is pleased to offer a free educational resource to the community. We have a portable box containing 24 binoculars, several field guides and a copy of the "Science Takes Wing" lesson set. Teachers are encouraged to checkout the box for use with their students. Scout and other community groups may also use the box. Conservation starts with understanding so share the wonder of birds with your favorite club or class this year! The box is available for one week periods. To reserve the box, please contact Tricia Gerrodette in Sierra Vista at triciag2@cox.net or (520) 378-4937.
-
Videos of the San Pedro River (DVDs for sale)
Learn more...Videos of the San Pedro River (DVDs for sale)
Hide details...
View our latest videos, in low resolution, Our River of Life (not yet for sale), Edible Cactus of the Southwest (in Spanish and English), and Reptiles! The Friends of the San Pedro River have several nature videos for sale on DVDs. Your purchase will help us continue our series, "The San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area Natural and Cultural History Series". This series is designed to educate the people of Arizona about the value of this extremely diverse ecosystem. They incorporate one or more of the following AZ Department of Education State Standards: Science, Strand 4, Life Sciences; Science, Strand 6, Earth and Space Sciences; Social Studies, Strand 2, World History; Social Studies, Strand 4, Geography. Our hopes are that our citizens will choose to make a positive difference in our environment. The high resolution DVDs cost from $4 to $10 each (plus $1 for shipping and handling). Our video series also includes Coati, Javelina, Beaver, Birds, and Plants. Learn more...!
Gigapixel Panorama of Kingfisher Pond in the SPRNCA.
You may be interested in the Empire Ranch Foundation and the Friends of Sonoita Creek.
Last Update
Posted January events to web site.
Learn more...
Hide details... Recent changes
Canceled remaining hikes this year.
Posted April events to web site.
Posted October events to web site.
Revised prototype FSPR web site.
Posted September events to web site.
Posted August edition of River Roundup newsletter to web site.
Posted May edition of River Roundup newsletter to web site.
Renamed FSPR home page fsprhome.shtml and added a redirect from the old index.htm
Revised prototype FSPR web site.
Last updated: 24 January 2012.
FSPR Home | About FSPR | Information
Back to TopCredit for photos in header and in left and right columns: Copyright © 2010 Gary Noonan
Copyright © Friends of the San Pedro River. Last modified: January 24, 2012
