The Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Project in Phoenix was created to restore the habitats that were historically associated with the Salt River. The nearly 600 acres of the Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area stretches along five miles of the Salt River, from 19th Avenue to 16th Street, just south of downtown Phoenix.
The Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Project is an ongoing effort to restore the native wetland and riparian habitats of the Salt River, replacing what had become a waste disposal area with an ecosystem supporting both flora and fauna.
People are an important part of the restoration project. It includes a ten-mile trail system, staging areas for bikers, equestrians and hikers, and facilities for educational programs for schoolchildren to learn about riparian ecosystems and participate in the project.
Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area Factoid: This area of downtown Phoenix was previously a dump. The debris removed from the area at the start of the project included more than 1,000 tons of tires.
