30+ historic photos of the Santa Cruz River through Tucson
- Rick Wiley / Arizona Daily Star
Rick Wiley
Photo editor
- Updated
The Santa Cruz River was the lifeblood of Tucson for early Native Americans, the Spanish Conquistadores and early American settlers. It languished for years and became dry most of the year as the water table dropped.
It also became a neglected trench and trash heap. City leaders envisioned something better. By the early 1970s, the Army Corps of Engineers was studying the feasibility of channeling the river and creating a park. In 1977, work began.
It is now an integral part of The Loop bicycle and pedestrian trails.
If you like photos that explore Tucson's past, you can see more each week by subscribing to our historical newsletter:Β http://tucne.ws/time.Β
Rick Wiley
Photo editor
As featured on
For Star subscribers: Researchers will use a nontoxic dye to help show whether sunlight can destroy various chemical compounds in the Tucson river water, including pharmaceuticals and personal care products.
Tucson Water officials experiment with the releases of reclaimed effluent into the river.
Releases of reclaimed water into the river through Tucson's south side and downtown were shut down for up to three weeks for some mechanical upgrades.
More information
- Treated groundwater now flows in stretch of Tucson river, could spur lush vegetation
- Watch now: Santa Cruz River running red northwest of Tucson
- Borderlands takes to Tucson's Santa Cruz River to tell the story of water in the West
- A 'dead' portion of Tucson's Santa Cruz River will flow again β for 5,000 feet
- Longtime residents differ on prospect of water flowing in portion of Santa Cruz
- Starting today, a small section of Tucson's Santa Cruz River to flow again
- A lake once sat where the Santa Cruz just got water
- Photos: Princess Margaret's Tucson visit in 1965
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