Ecology

The wildlife monitoring activities at Arcosanti have their inception with the Friends of Agua Fria National Monument, a group that stewards and advocates for The Agua Fria National Monument. Adam C. Stein, PhD, a wildlife biologist, professor at ASU, and a friend of the Agua Fria, invited Arcosanti to participate in a study of the wildlife along the Agua Fria river. The monitoring was made possible with funding from the Agua Fria Solar Project. The study will monitor mammals for six-week intervals during three biologically important time periods throughout the year – the winter (lowest temperatures), the dry summer (highest temperatures and scarce water), and the wet summer (high temperatures but consistent water available due to monsoons). The observations are recorded on a database that assists with categorization to determine trends over seasons, years, and habitats. These documented observations will allow us to understand patterns, track species abundance, and identify the importantand key habitats of our more-than-human neighbors. Ultimately the study will allow us to pinpoint areas of concern and possibility to aid in the development of better land management practices.