BECKER LAKE WILDLIFE AREA: RIVER WALK
TRAIL
Springerville
 |
| Little Colorado River |
A short, meandering stretch
of the Little Colorado River is a better place thanks to the
introduction of coconut matting and recycled Christmas trees.
These biodegradable
materials are just two of the many tools being used by conservation
agencies (Arizona Game & Fish Department, Apache Natural Resource
Conservation District, USDA, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Arizona
Dept. of Water Resources and Arizona Water Protection Fund) to
restore riverbank stability and inprove wildlife
 |
| Footbridge river traverse |
habitats. Project
managers are quick to conceed that some of these rehabilitative
practices are more successful than others, leaving the verdits up to
visiting hikers who can draw conclusions based on interpretive
singage placed along the experimental test grounds. The
biodegradable mats and trees augered into the riverbank are hardly
noticable and are slowing down erosion to help reinstate the river's
natural flows for a healthier riparian ecosystem. A robust community
of water-loving bullrush, grasses and showy milkweed at the water's
edge have taken root in the mesh of introduced materials. This is
providing shelter for nesting waterfowl and ample building supplies
for busy beavers. In fact, so many birds visit the area that the
site has been designated as an Important Bird Area by Audubon Arizona
. One shady section of the 1.2-mile, streamside hiking trail
exhibits the sun-dappled ambience of a Monet garden replete with
water-caressing willows and a wooden footbridge. Where the path
enters the surrounding floodplain and open rangeland, it becomes easy
to see how precious this ribbon of moisture is to sustaining life in
the White Mountains.
Although this close-to-town,
short hike isn't likely to get you into your target heart rate zone,
it's educational value and profound beauty makes it a worthwhile
diversion---coconut mats and all.
 |
| View of Springerville's Coyote Hills on horizon |
LENGTH: 1.2 miles one-way
RATING: easy
ELEVATION: 6920' - 6945'
GETTING THERE:
From Springerville, go 1
mile west on US60 (Main Street) to the parking area on the left.
INFO: Arizona Game &
Fish Department, 928-367-4281
Posts
