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Reusing every drop of water is critical to sustainability in our desert home. Tucson Water’s purple pipe-reclaimed system recycles treated wastewater and delivers it to irrigate landscaping and recharge the aquifer at three unique recreation spots. Sweetwater Wetlands, the Santa Cruz River Heritage Project, and the Shirley E. Scott Southeast Houghton Area Recharge Project (SHARP) can recharge and store a maximum of 6.5 billion gallons of recycled water a year.
This December, get outdoors to enjoy Sweetwater, SHARP, and the Heritage Project! Each destination is a different take on “sustainable desert oasis.” All are free public parks managed by Tucson Water:
Sweetwater Wetlands: Sweetwater is a 60-acre urban park, home to native wildlife and migrating visitors in a unique riparian setting. Discover 2.5 miles of pathways, bridges, and viewing platforms around different water features, all using reclaimed water. At 25 years old, this thriving wetland and its recharge basins are one of the region’s top birding and photography locations. The park is accessible from “The Loop.”
SHARP: Find 40 acres of desert landscape to walk, cycle, take photos, walk a dog, relax under a ramada, and see water in recharge basins (most often filling during the cool months). There are 1.6 miles of two-way, walking/running trails including an accessible path. A single-track mountain biking trail, part of the larger Fantasy Island Trails system, hugs the site. There are ramadas, picnic tables, and benches, plus more than 1,500 low-water-use desert plants and trees, irrigated with reclaimed and rainwater.
Santa Cruz River Heritage Project: Thanks to reintroducing reclaimed water into a mostly dry riverbed, this riparian area connects nature, recreation, history, and culture in one spot. The flowing water has attracted the return of native – and sometimes endangered – trees, birds, reptiles, insects, and fish. There’s access to the site via the nearby “Loop” trail.
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