The Southern Marsh at I-40; sewage pumping station

This marsh and pond are used daily by coots and mallards, in summer by breeding red-winged blackbirds, and regularly by great blue herons and a variety of other waterfowl.

The large building pumps sewage to the treatment plant on the north side of I-40. In 2019, the land north and west of the pumping station was invaded by non-native scotch thistle. In 2020, over 700 thistles were removed there in 11 person-hours of volunteer work over 3 visits. In 2021, 150 thistles that were removed in less than 90 minutes. From 2022 onward, an hour of work per year can keep scotch thistle rare, illustrating that invasives can be controlled when an effort starts early.

The main valley that enters from the west is Bow and Arrow Wash, which flows from the Bow and Arrow neighborhood, crossing Lone Tree Road at the driveway to Coconino Community College. When the mile-long privately owned valley is transformed for urban uses, a FUTS trail will follow the main stream channel.