Tour of Tucson water-harvesting sites
These are some of the water-harvesting sites that have informed and/or inspired my water-harvesting work, or are sites in which I’ve (and often others too) designed and/or worked on the water-harvesting systems. There are far more sites than this, but here I list some of the more accessible ones.
If virtually touring these sites, use/click on the Google Maps Satellite view option, rather than the Map view (see upper left corner of map), since the satellite view enables you to see more of the natural land form and vegetation — more of the living aspects.
Click on the various site location links below the map for each site’s story, photos, and more.
If you want to visit sites in person, read the Where sections at the bottom of each location link below to see if it is an open site or if you need to arrange a tour.
Then click the SAVE button beside the link of the locations you want to visit, and a custom map will be generated for you based on your preferred mode of transport (by foot, by bicycle, or by car).
If you want to delete any sites from you list, just hit the SAVE button again to UNsave it.
- Altar Valley Conservation Alliance & ranch-based water harvesting
induced meanderingpassive water harvesting in soil and vegetationrangeland restorationstormwater and dirt road runoff harvestingstormwater harvesting
- Avra Valley Swales
historic water management and infrastructurepassive water harvesting in soil and vegetationrainwater harvestingstormwater harvesting
- Dunbar/Spring Neighborhood Rain-Irrigated Native Food Forest
food forestrypassive water harvesting in soil and vegetationrainwater harvestingstreet and stormwater harvestingviewpoint to see changing hydrology and ecology
- Historic check dams in the Catalina and Tucson Mountains
historic water management and infrastructurepassive water harvesting in soil and vegetationrainwater harvestingstormwater harvesting
- Kino Environmental Restoration Project (KERP)
active water harvesting in tankspassive water harvesting in soil and vegetationwater harvesting
- Kitt Peak Observatory
active water harvesting in tanksparking lot and stormwater harvestingrainwater harvestingstreet and stormwater harvesting
- Lancaster Family Regenerative Living Laboratory & Home
active water harvesting in tankscompost toiletsdark greywater harvestingfood forestrygreywater harvestingpassive water harvesting in soil and vegetationrainwater harvestingstreet and stormwater harvestingviewpoint to see changing hydrology and ecology
- Manzo Elementary School
Please note: You must schedule your visit to this site. Read the description for details.active water harvesting in tankspassive water harvesting in soil and vegetationrainwater harvesting
- Milagro Co-housing Community & its passive water harvesting
Please note: You must schedule your visit to this site. Read the description for details.active water harvesting in tanksconstructed wetlandsparking lot and stormwater harvestingpassive water harvesting in soil and vegetationporous pavementrainwater harvesting
- Nuestra Tierra Garden at the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona
active water harvesting in tanksair conditioning condensate harvestinggreywater harvestingpassive water harvesting in soil and vegetationrainwater harvesting
- Pima Canyon bedrock mortars, check dams & their springs
food forestryhistoric water management and infrastructurenatural oasispassive water harvesting in soil and vegetationrainwater harvestingstormwater harvesting
- Stone Curves Co-Housing Community
Please note: You must schedule your visit to this site. Read the description for details.active water harvesting in tanksgreywater harvestingparking lot and stormwater harvestingpassive water harvesting in soil and vegetationrainwater harvesting
- Sus picnic area historic check dams
historic water management and infrastructurepassive water harvesting in soil and vegetationrainwater harvestingstormwater harvesting
- Tohono Chul Sin Aguas Garden passive water-harvesting demonstration
parking lot and stormwater harvestingpassive water harvesting in soil and vegetationrainwater harvestingstreet and stormwater harvesting
- Tumamoc Hill, the Desert Laboratory, and Tumamoc Resilience Garden
active water harvesting in tankshistoric water management and infrastructurepassive water harvesting in soil and vegetationrainwater harvestingstormwater harvesting
- Underwood Family Sonoran Landscape Laboratory at the College of Architecture, Planning, and Landscape Architecture (CAPLA) at the University of Arizona
active water harvesting in tanksair conditioning condensate harvestinggreywater harvestingpassive water harvesting in soil and vegetationrainwater harvestingstormwater harvesting
- Watershed Management Group (WMG) Living Lab & Learning Center
active water harvesting in tanksair conditioning condensate harvestingcompost toiletsdark greywater harvestinggreywater harvestingpassive water harvesting in soil and vegetation
For a few additional water harvesting sites not in Tucson, check out the following links…
• Water-harvesting parking lot, garage, and driveway image gallery
• Roman- and Byzantine-era Cisterns of the Past Reviving Life in the Present