San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area
The San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area contains nearly of public land in Cochise County, Arizona, between the international border with Mexico and St. David, Arizona. The riparian area, where some of the upper San Pedro River meanders, was designated by Congress as a Riparian National Conservation Area on November 18, 1988.
One of the most important riparian areas in the United States, the San Pedro River runs through the Chihuahuan and Sonoran Desert transition zone in southeastern Arizona. The river's stretch in the southern San Pedro Valley is home to 84 species of mammals, 14 species of fish, 41 species of reptiles and amphibians, and 100 species of breeding birds. It also provides invaluable habitat for 250 species of migrant and wintering birds and contains archaeological sites representing the remains of human occupation from 13,000 years ago.
In addition to protecting the San Pedro River's rare ecosystem for future generations, the BLM also works to stabilize and preserve several historic buildings and structures located throughout much of the San Pedro Riparian NCA, including those of the Fairbank Historic Townsite, the Little Boquillas Ranch and the San Pedro House. The San Pedro House is located along the river to the east of Sierra Vista and is a fully restored historic ranch house dating to the 1930s. It is now used as a visitor center and bookstore for the San Pedro Riparian NCA.
