Photos: Water runs in the Santa Cruz River
Thanks to release of treated effluent at 29th Street, water will flow year-round in the Santa Cruz River west of downtown Tucson for the first time since the 1940s. The water has flowed much further north than officials at Tucson Water had expected. Tucsonans are enjoying the spectacle.
Santa Cruz River Project
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Sunsets over the recycled water being pumped into the Santa Cruz River for the Heritage Project and under the bridge at Speedway Ave., Saturday, June 29, 2019, Tucson, Ariz.The water has flowed farther than expected, reaching a few hundred yards north of Speedway as of Saturday evening.
Santa Cruz River Project
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A coyote takes a break from the heat north of St. Mary's Rd., using the cool mud from the recycled water being pumped into the Santa Cruz River for the Heritage Project, Saturday, June 29, 2019, Tucson, Ariz.
Santa Cruz River Project
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A couple of weeds hang on just south of the Speedway Ave. Bridge despite the flow of recycled water cutting a channel in the Santa Cruz River bed, Saturday, June 29, 2019, Tucson, Ariz.
Santa Cruz River Project
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A roadrunner hunts along the banks of the Santa Cruz River between St. Mary's and Speedway, taking advantage of the recycled water being pumped into the channel for the Heritage Project, Saturday, June 29, 2019, Tucson, Ariz.
Santa Cruz River Project
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White wing dove ply the newly recharged Santa Cruz River north of St. Mary's Rd., attracted by the recycled water being pumped into the channel for the Heritage Project, Saturday, June 29, 2019, Tucson, Ariz.
Santa Cruz River
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Damsel fly on the Santa Cruz River downstream from where effluent enters at 29th Street in Tucson.
Santa Cruz River Project
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A west bound street car cruises over the Cushing St. Bridge over a wide pool of the recycled water being pumped in the river channel as part of the Santa Cruz River Heritage Project, Tuesday, June 25, 2019, Tucson, Ariz.
Santa Cruz River
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A roadrunner on the Santa Cruz River downstream from where effluent enters at 29th Street in Tucson.
Santa Cruz River
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Treated effluent flowing in the Santa Cruz River west of Tucson.
Santa Cruz River Project
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A tiny cascade over the dam just below the Cushing Street Bridge, well north of the expected reach of the recycled water being pumped into the Santa Cruz River for the Heritage Project, Tuesday, June 25, 2019, Tucson, Ariz.
Santa Cruz River Project
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People come to the west bank of the Santa Cruz river between Cushing and Congress just before sunset to get a look at the recycled water flowing through the usually dry channel as the flow heads north beyond the expected reach of the River Heritage Project, Tuesday, June 25, 2019, Tucson, Ariz.
Santa Cruz River Project
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The new flow of the Santa Cruz River Heritage Project with recycled water gives Karina Ruiz a chance to work on her throwing arm, tossing rocks into the channel during a walk with her nanny, Tuesday, June 25, 2019, Tucson, Ariz. The family lives in the Mercado District and ride bikes though the area. "The water flowing is something we'll be able to appreciate regularly," said dad Jeremy Ruiz.
Santa Cruz River Project
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A little plant pokes through a berm temporarily blocking the the flow of recycle water being used to recharge the normally dry Santa Cruz as the flow reaches well north of expected reach of the River Heritage Project, Tuesday, June 25, 2019, Tucson, Ariz.
Santa Cruz River Heritage Project
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Johnny Dearmore skips a rock in the Santa Cruz River as reclaimed water is released into the channel at 29th Street as part of the Santa Cruz River Heritage Project on June 24, 2019. The release of effluent is the city’s first effort to restore a fraction of the river’s flow since groundwater pumping dried it up in the 1940s.
Santa Cruz River Heritage Project
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Ruben Moreno, right, and other members of Mariachi Luz de Luna lead city officials and guests towards the Santa Cruz River at 29th Street as part of the Santa Cruz River Heritage Project ceremony on June 24, 2019. The release of effluent is the city’s first effort to restore a fraction of the river’s flow since groundwater pumping dried it up in the 1940s.
Santa Cruz River Heritage Project
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Reclaimed water starts to fill an area in the Santa Cruz River at 29th Street as part of the Santa Cruz River Heritage Project on June 24, 2019. The release of effluent is the city’s first effort to restore a fraction of the river’s flow since groundwater pumping dried it up in the 1940s.
Santa Cruz River Heritage Project
Updated
Reclaimed water starts to fill an area in the Santa Cruz River at 29th Street as part of the Santa Cruz River Heritage Project on June 24, 2019. The release of effluent is the city’s first effort to restore a fraction of the river’s flow since groundwater pumping dried it up in the 1940s.
Santa Cruz River Heritage Project
Updated
A crowd of people stand at an area where reclaimed water starts to fill the Santa Cruz River at 29th Street as part of the Santa Cruz River Heritage Project on June 24, 2019. The release of effluent is the city’s first effort to restore a fraction of the river’s flow since groundwater pumping dried it up in the 1940s.
Santa Cruz River Heritage Project
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A man sits with his feet in an area where reclaimed water starts to fill the Santa Cruz River at 29th Street as part of the Santa Cruz River Heritage Project on June 24, 2019. The release of effluent is the city’s first effort to restore a fraction of the river’s flow since groundwater pumping dried it up in the 1940s.
Santa Cruz River Heritage Project
Updated
Reclaimed water starts to fill an area in the Santa Cruz River at 29th Street as part of the Santa Cruz River Heritage Project on June 24, 2019. The release of effluent is the city’s first effort to restore a fraction of the river’s flow since groundwater pumping dried it up in the 1940s.
Santa Cruz River
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Treated effluent enters the Santa Cruz River at 29th Street in Tucson.
Santa Cruz River
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Treated effluent enters the Santa Cruz River at 29th Street in Tucson.
Santa Cruz River
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Dragon fly on the Santa Cruz River downstream from where effluent enters at 29th Street in Tucson.
Mamta Popat
Photojournalist
Rick Wiley
Photo editor
Kelly Presnell
Photojournalist
As featured on
Tucson Water officials experiment with the releases of reclaimed effluent into the river.
