The Lower San Pedro Basin is a medium-size, 1,624 square mile basin on the western side of the planning area.  Geographic features and principal communities are shown on Figure 3.8-1.  The basin is characterized by high-elevation mountain ranges and washes.  Vegetation is primarily Arizona uplands Sonoran desertscrub and semi-desert grassland with smaller areas of Chihuahuan desertscrub, madrean evergreen woodland, Rocky Mountain and madrean montane conifer forest and interior chaparral.  (see Figure 3.0-9)  Riparian vegetation includes strand and mesquite on the San Pedro River and Aravaipa Creek.

Principal geographic features shown on Figure 3.8-1 are:

• San Pedro River running northward from south of Cascabel to Winkleman where it joins the Gila River

• Gila River in the vicinity of Kearny and Hayden

• Peppersauce, Hot Springs, Buehman, Redfield and Kielberg Canyons south of San Manuel

• Tortilla Mountains to the west of Kearny and Hayden

• Santa Catalina Mountains to the west  and southwest of San Manuel

• Dripping Springs Mountains to the northeast, Galiuro Mountains to the southeast and the Rincon Mountains along the southwestern boundary, which include the highest point in the basin at 7,960 feet

• The lowest point at approximately 1,800 feet where the Gila River exits the basin

Click to view Figure 3.8-1 Lower San Pedro Basin Geographic Features

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