Over 4.5 miles of trails weave through the park, and there are interpretive education panels on wildlife and vegetation throughout.
I'm lucky to have such a beautiful adventure companion!
In 1986, the Town of Gilbert made a commitment to reuse 100% of its effluent water. The Town’s desire to create innovative and unique ways to combine water resource development with wildlife habitat, educational and recreational opportunities led to the development of the Riparian Preserve in 1999. Of the 110 acres, 70 acres make up the 7 water recharge basins that are filled on a rotating basis with treated effluent and allowed to percolate into the aquifer where it is stored for future use. One of the ponds has a unique distribution stream that mimics the action of an ephemeral desert stream. An additional lake is filled with reclaimed water, and is designated as an urban fishing resource through the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
Riparian is the word to describe the habitat formed where a body of fresh water meets the land, such as a the banks of a river, stream, or lake. While water is scarce in the desert, Arizona is home to many diverse riparian habitats. The Preserve is organized into various vegetative zones ranging from marshlands to native riparian and upland vegetation areas that represent the native riparian habitats of Arizona.
Approximately 298 species of birds have been identified on the site, and many insects, fish, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals have found homes there as well.
I was fascinated by this structure, each pond has a weir that controls their water level and can be adjusted as necessary.
There is so much information available in the Preserve it's hard to take it all in.
Marley loves going on our adventures but he sure wanted to terrorize the birds!
We found a painted rock!
This was a really cool sundial in the park. It's certainly is a lot bigger than the one Cashton made at our house!
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