Verde Valley Birding and Nature Festival: Wildlife Overpasses in Arizona

This presentation provides an overview of the I-17 Willard Springs Wildlife Overpass, a multi-agency project involving the Arizona Game and Fish Department, Arizona Department of Transportation, and the U.S. Forest Service. Interstate 17 serves as a critical travel corridor for people and is a significant barrier for northern Arizona’s wildlife. Using GPS wildlife movement data, topographical, geological, and hydrological analysis, our research identified the optimal location to reconnect fragmented habitats for elk, mule deer, and other native species. We will discuss how this project balances the diverse missions of our agency partners—from wildlife conservation to highway safety—while leveraging federal funding to build a safer, more resilient landscape for both motorists and animals.   Cost: $15.00       PPart of the Verde Valley Birding and Nature Festival Join us 100 miles North of Phoenix in North Central Arizona’s Verde Valley for the Verde Valley Birding and Nature Festival. Experience birding during the peak Spring migration season at Dead Horse Ranch State Park on the banks of the Verde River. Close proximity to the Verde, Oak Creek, Sycamore Creek, and other perennial waters offers a wide selection of guided tours, hikes, and workshops in one of Arizona’s richest birding habitats. Our experienced guides have extensive knowledge of birds and the unique habitat that makes this region special. The festival, presented each April by Friends of the Verde River, is a purpose-driven community benefit organization and 501© 3 non-profit working to preserve one of the last perennial flowing rivers in the American Southwest. Festival site is at Dead Horse Ranch State Park.