[Source: Our Opinion, Tucson Citizen] -- Granted, we can't expect miracles from the proposed Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area. But we can expect considerable progress, as demonstrated by the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area Act of 2000. There, wetlands are being restored along five miles of the Colorado River, providing a rare shady glen of willow, oak and tall grasses beside the river. A historic theater has been restored, a 1920s hotel is being renovated and a public-private partnership plans an $80 million riverfront development. The Santa Cruz Valley area would be twice as big, at about 3,325 square miles, encompassing the entire watershed, which is most of Pima and Santa Cruz counties.
Ranchers, farmers, business promoters, environmentalists and government officials have collaborated for more than four years on this plan, which was initiated by the Center for Desert Archaeology.
Congress designates National Heritage Areas to recognize a cohesive, distinctive landscape with natural, cultural, historic and recreational resources spawned by human activities and shaped by geography. In short: It's a special place. Surely our valley qualifies for this description. Our residents include descendants of prehistoric people (American Indians), of Spanish colonists from the 1600s, of Mexicans who settled here before it was part of the United States and of 19th-century pioneers.
The backdrop for that deep historic and cultural blend ranges from mountains to valleys to the unique Sonoran Desert, with flora and fauna of the most extraordinary biodiversity. Our heritage area would be only the third in the West, after Yuma and the Cache la Poudre area in Colorado. But it would be the largest Western heritage area yet and, dare we say, the richest in diversity of landscape, culture, history and recreation. [Note: To read the full article, click here.]
