I had originally planned on doing a short blog about the Nature Conservancy in Patagonia.
Then curiosity set in and I wanted to learn more about what came before TNC -- way before.
So, this has grown into a bigger project and at least two or more blogs. However, in order to meet my self-imposed deadline of January 1, here is a brief introduction.
My schoolmates and I always pronounced it "Blue Haven", but the road that borders Sonoita Creek on the west side is "Blue Heaven Road". Our pronunciation is most likely a Spanglish throwback to growing up in Nogales. I have been told that the name was taken from an old lodge or retreat of some sort--hearsay at this point until someone can provide me with more evidence.
The area is indeed a haven, a swath of green gathered along Sonoita creek. Based on my limited research, the creek takes its name from an abandoned Pima mission near Sonoita. It winds its way south through Patagonia, then on to Patagonia Lake, and then slowly disappears beneath the sand on its final approach to the Santa Cruz River.
Its path through Blue Heaven is quiet and meandering for most of the year and vigorous and sometimes turbulent during the monsoon season. A thunderstorm can transform it into a torrent clearing every bug, reptile, bird, and mammal in its path and depositing seed, soil, and debris along its banks.
In a part of the country that is normally painted in various shades of brown, having this oasis was a magnet for every sort of outdoor activity ranging from boy scout jamborees to camping, picnicking and boondocking. It was loved too much and it suffered the indignities of an indifferent public - littered, trampled, and torn. Sad.
In 1966 TNC bought a 308-acre tract. Additional purchases would follow culminating in today's 873-acre Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve. I am deeply grateful to everyone involved in bringing the Nature Conservancy to the rescue: the staff, volunteers, and community members who have helped transform the Sanctuary into a treasured part of Patagonia and the state of Arizona.
In the coming months, I will continue to research and gather more information about the original San Jose De Sonoita Land Grant and the history, people, and events that have helped shape the creation of Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve. I welcome your participation in this effort by responding to this blog or emailing me, radarfain@gmail.com
Thank you.
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