The Santa Cruz River (Spanish: Río Santa Cruz " Holy Cross River") is a left tributary of the Gila River in Southern Arizona and northern Sonora, Mexico. It is approximately 184 miles (296 km) long. [3] The Santa Cruz River east of Nogales just after re …

Take a look at the Santa Cruz River map to learn about where the river starts and flows. In addition, find out helpful facts, such as the Santa Cruz River being one of the major rivers that runs through Tucson.

Santa Cruz River flows from headwaters in San Rafael Valley south into Mexico where it makes a "U" turn and flows north back to Tucson and beyond. Santa Cruz River Just South of Mission Tumacacori. The Santa Cruz River is about 184 miles long. It begins in the high grasslands of the San Rafael Valley east of Patagonia, AZ.

The Santa Cruz River is a vital migration corridor and north–south flyway for hundreds of species of birds and other native wildlife, such as bobcats and javelinas. The endangered Gila topminnow and Longfin Dace are swimming once again after decades of absence.

Mar 20, 2024 · The Santa Cruz River is an international waterway. It begins in the San Rafael Valley, flows southward into Mexico, then makes a U-turn back into the United States. Here, it flows from south to north, eventually joining the Gila River.

Oct 3, 2024 · For thousands of years, the Santa Cruz River in Southern Arizona has been a lifeline for people, plants, and animals. It has nurtured one of North America's oldest agrarian communities and supported the Sonoran Desert ecosystem, creating a vibrant oasis amid a …

After drying the river out and changing it dramatically, we are beginning to put water back and restore parts of it to a lusher, more natural state. Explore the materials below to learn about the amazing story of your local river!

About the River: Introduction Map of the Santa Cruz River. An actual, wet river flows through the heart of Santa Cruz County, on the border of Mexico in southern Arizona. Considering the fate of most river systems in the southwest, the Santa Cruz River is a bit of a miracle.

The Santa Cruz Valley contains several stretches of natural river flow, important riparian and grassland habitats, unfragmented wildlife migration corridors, and diverse plant and animal communities, including numerous endangered species.

NOTICE: Southern Santa Cruz River Updated Floodplain Map. To view the preliminary maps for the Southern Santa Cruz Remapping Project, click here.