Tucson Water has partnered with local non-profit organizations to protect and enhance open space and riparian areas in the Tucson region. You can contribute by making a donation through the “Open Space and Riparian Contribution” checkbox on your utility bill.

Open Space

Guided by the vision of the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan, and with funding largely from voter-approved open space bonds, Pima County has conserved more than 201,000 acres of open space in the last 15 years. This has created a vast network of open space largely around Tucson’s urban core with important parcels also being preserved, when possible, within the city of Tucson boundaries.

Contributions to the Open Space checkbox on your water bill will be used to purchase additional open space parcels and further strengthen this expansive preserve system that both humans and wildlife can enjoy. These new parcels will provide habitat for our unique Sonoran Desert wildlife and possibly provide linkages between existing open space parcels and preserve crucial water resources.

The Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection is a partner with Pima County, the City of Tucson, and Tucson Water on the preservation of open space in the Tucson region.
 

Riparian - Conserve to Enhance

The Tucson Conserve to Enhance Program (C2E) funds projects that restore and protect local riparian areas. Riparian areas are vegetation, habitat, and ecosystems associated with rivers, streams, washes, springs, or lakes.

There are two ways to donate to the C2E Program: 1.) “Full participants” conserve water at their home or business, track their water savings, and donate the value of their savings. To become a full participant, visit Conserve To Enhance, Tucson. 2.) You may also become a C2E donor without tracking water savings by simply contributing to the checkbox on your water bill. Currently funds are supporting the Atturbury Wash Restoration Project.
(Google Map of Atturbury Wash)

The Tucson Conserve to Enhance Program links water conservation efforts with watershed restoration to ensure that water conservation will translate into benefits for the environment.

The C2E Pilot has received its first wave of donations. Participants contributed an average of $3.26 per household per month. According to the Water Conservation Calculator, nearly 500,000 gallons of water has been conserved by participants in the past six months.

Click here to see a sample of the Utility Services Statement's checkbox and message.

Watch Emily Brott, Sonoran Institute, talk about the C2E Program on The Morning Blend, KGUN 9, March 14.

Watch Sonoran Institute Executive Director Luther Propst on Arizona Illustrated.

C2E is managed by the Sonoran Institute, the University of Arizona Water Resources Research Center (WRRC), and the Watershed Management Group. For more information, also see WRRC's C2E page.

See Facts, Questions and Answers about the "Open Space and Riparian" contribution checkbox for additional ways to donate, how to track your water conservation, and how to become more involved in this program.

Mayor and Council Memorandum (December 14, 2010) on Conserve to Enhance Contributions

Conserve to Enhance: An Innovative Mechanism for Environmental Benefits
(full poster, 36" x 30", pdf, 2.15 Mb)
(mini-poster, 8 1/2" x 11", pdf, 219 Kb)

Further reading:
Tucson/Pima Water Study (C2E in "Respect for Environment" section)
UA Effort Links Saving Water, Eco-Restoration
UA Behind Community Water Conservation Project
Save Water, Save The Environment