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Sustainable Environment

Urban Landscapes

Air Quality Planning

Travel Demand Management

Watershed Planning

Cienega Creek Projects

Cienega Creek, located 20 miles southeast of Tucson, contains remnants of a historically extensive cienega system, defined by springs and marsh areas. Designated as an “Outstanding Water” by the State of Arizona, Cienega Creek contains critical habitat for many wildlife and plant species, including threatened and endangered species.

Since 1989, PAG has conducted monthly and quarterly hydrologic monitoring and research in Cienega Creek and Davidson Canyon in coordination with the Pima County Regional Flood Control District and Pima County Natural Resources Parks and Recreation.

PAG’s hydrologic monitoring includes:

Calculating the quantity of streamflow
Sampling the water quality to serve baseline data, should the creek become impacted by mining or development
Conducting repeat photography
Assessing the depths to groundwater at wells located throughout the preserve
Measuring and mapping the lengths of the intermittent, ephemeral and flowing segments of the creek
Monitoring erosion
Evaluating the impact of drought

Drought impacts can be seen in the variation of flow extent measured during PAG’s wet/dry monitoring.

PAG publishes reports detailing the results of hydrologic studies.

Click here to view the Cienega Creek Hydrologic Research and Findings for summaries of the latest findings and links to highlighted reports.

Stewardship, partnership and education resources:

Take a 3D look at Marsh Station, to get a feeling for Cienega Creek’s lush perennial flow.

Mining Issues
Cienega Creek and Davidson Canyon are downstream from various mining interests, including the potential Rosemont Copper Mine in the Santa Rita Mountains and other limestone and gravel mineral leases along the creek.


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