Stewarding the natural and cultural resources of the Cienega Watershed of Southeastern Arizona.

Science: Water, Wildlife, Plants, and Citizen Science

Science educational resources at Las Cienegas National Conservation Area relate to water, wildlife, plants, and citizen science.

Follow a link below or scroll down for all resources.

Water
Las Cienegas National Conservation Area is special because it is one place in our wild landscape where there is water year-round.

Wildlife
Because of Cienega Creek’s perennial flow, the area is home to many animal species that depend on the precious desert water.

Plants
Las Cienegas is home to five distinct vegetative communities.

Citizen Science
Involve students in monitoring projects to aid scientific research.


Water

A cienega at Las Cienegas National Conservation Area. Photo courtesy BLM.

A cienega at Las Cienegas National Conservation Area.
Photo courtesy BLM.

What does cienega mean?

Student Reading Resources

Government Agencies and Nonprofits That Focus on Local Water Issues

Water Education Resources

Riparian habitat at Las Cienegas National Conservation Area. Photo courtesy BLM.

Riparian habitat at Las Cienegas National Conservation Area.
Photo courtesy BLM.

Watershed Education Resources

Water Resources – General

Hydrology of Cienega Creek


Wildlife

Pronghorn antelope in the Cienega Watershed.

Pronghorn antelope in the Cienega Watershed.

Pronghorn Antelope

Black-Tailed Prairie Dogs

  • A clear and concise article written for a University of Arizona environmental writing class about the prairie dog project.     
  • The Arizona Game and Fish Department’s webpage on the black-tailed prairie dog reintroduction project
  • A five minute video documenting a 2010 BTPD release into a new colony start in AZ
  • A story that aired in May 2013 on Arizona Public Media documenting the reintroduction project

Yellow-Billed Cuckoo

  • An article from the USGS about the importance of preserving the cuckoo’s habitat

Grassland Birds

Birds are important indicators of an ecosystem’s health. Learn about the research being conducted locally in these presentations:

 Learn more about birds and grasslands research from the National Audubon Society’s Appleton-Whittell Research Ranch

Southwestern Willow Flycatcher

Chiricahua leopard frog.

Chiricahua leopard frog.
Photo by Dennis Caldwell.

Chiricahua Leopard Frog

Gila Topminnow

General Resources


Plants

Grasslands of the Las Cienegas. Photo courtesy BLM.

Grasslands of the Las Cienegas.
Photo courtesy BLM.

Las Cienegas is home to a great diversity of plant life. A large expanse of intact rare desert grasslands grow near other interesting species that thrive in the area’s riparian corridor.

Grasses and Grasslands

  • A website providing an overview of Arizona’s grasslands
  • A printable guide for identifying native grasses
  • A chapter about a giant sacaton grass restoration project on the Cienega Creek Preserve
  • Listen to this audio clip by naturalist and local legend Petey Mequity as he talks about giant sacaton

Cottonwoods

  • Watch a video about the cottonwoods at the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area
  • Teachingmaterials for the video can be found here

Mesquite Trees

  • Watch these short videos about mesquite trees and their relationship to the grasslands.

Citizen Science

Take advantage of the following “citizen science” resources to assist with research in the Cienega Watershed and surrounding region:


More Information

For additional information, please contact us.

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