Verde River Institute, Inc.

Our mission is to provide research and data, funding, policy expertise, education and consulting on diverse Verde River issues.

The Verde River Institute hosts more than 500 people each year on a kayak trip down the Verde River near Clarkdale, Arizona. This year, more than 350 of these will be school-aged kids. On these trips, participants learn about the importance of healthy, flowing rivers, how a riparian ecosystem works, and about the challenges and opportunities the river faces. In addition to this program, we conduct "citizen science"-based assessments of macroinvertebrate life in the Verde to quantify the overall ecosystem health. These programs engage youngsters and adults alike in doing actual science on the river that policy makers and stakeholders can use to make accurate and efficient decisions about river management. In cooperation with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and other agencies, the Verde River Institute also provides drone-deployed monitoring of the river's water quality as well as photogrammetric modeling and analysis of the Middle Verde through the Verde Valley. These monitoring images and models give stakeholders accurate data with which to design interventions in the river's health and flows.

Testimonials

"I have worked with the Verde River Institute on their photogrammetry program and can highly recommend their approach and results to any potential supporters. The Verde River Institute's program will provide valuable baseline data on the geomorphology and cartography of the Verde River through the Verde Valley. These data will prove invaluable to stakeholders, researchers and conservationists in the today and in future as they assess current conditions and changes in the stream, erosional features, and vegetation cover found along the Verde.

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality has cooperated with Verde River Institute on water quality studies as well as photogrammetry. We are very impressed with their professionalism, the quality of their data, and see them as an invaluable partner. We are happy to recommend the Verde River Institute for any grant that supports their programs.

Sincerely

Ron Tiller
Hydrologist"

"This is a letter of reference and support for the Verde River Institute and their request for the One for the Verde grant. I have been working with the Verde River Institute closely throughout the year and found their data collection to be extremely valuable in terms of protecting and enhancing the health of the Verde River.

The Verde River Institute is a pleasure to work with. They consistently share data, ask intriguing questions, and they display an aptitude for creativity and efficiency in the collection of credible water quality data. They are the leading volunteer group in the state with over 200 hours of sampling time and well over 5,000 data records collected! This data feeds directly into the Arizona statewide assessment and helps identify pollution sources in hopes to decrease pollutants in the future.

I strongly support the Verde River Institute and all of their hard work. Please feel free to contact me with any further questions.
Meghan Smart
Scientist III and Citizen Science Coordinator"

"Please accept this as the Town of Camp Verde's letter of enthusiastic support for the Verde River Institute's water quality testing program. We engaged the Institute's program last summer in an effort to better understand the factors influencing water quality along the 17-mile stretch of Verde River that passes though the Town of Camp Verde's corporate limits. The results of that testing have been both eye-opening and valuable, as the town establishes baseline information on water quality and develops recreational opportunities along the river corridor.

The tests have given Town staff, for the first time, a basic understanding of the fluctuations in water quality along the River. We will continue working with the Verde River Institute to better understand the origins of pollutants entering the river, risks to the public and begin identifying possible solutions. For those reasons, we ask that the One Fort the Verde Program provide support to the program as we all work towards a healthier Verde River.

Sincerely,
Mayor Charlie German
Town of Camp Verde"