SAFFORD — Gila Watershed Partnership wants the public to know about its successes, and failures, when it comes to the organization’s ongoing mission of restoration and protection of the waters of Graham and Greenlee counties.
GWP will host a public meeting Thursday, March 21, at 7 p.m., at the Circle D Ranch House at Eastern Arizona College’s Discovery Park Campus.
The nonprofit organization was formed in 1992 with a focus on restoration and water conservation; however, since 2014, focus has shifted to the arrival of the tamarisk leaf beetle.
The beetle eats the leaves of salt cedar (tamarisk) trees and was released as a biocontrol in 2001.
The first beetles in the Gila Valley were spotted in 2021, but the population remained too small for monitoring until 2023. Dr. Sarah Sayles, GWP executive director, will share that data during the meeting.
GWP partners have also been invited to share three-minute presentations on topics related to the watershed.
There is no cost to attend and refreshments will be served.
