The name’s only half-true at Sweetwater Wetlands

Wetlands – yes. But Sweetwater–not exactly. You’re more likely to get an occasional whiff of semi-treated household/bathroom water at these artificial wetlands in northern Tucson.

It all started as temporary overflow from Tucson’s water treatment plant in 1995. Since then, the Sweetwater Wetlands have expanded and become an established wildlife nature preserve that cleans and filters water with Mother Nature’s help and provides homes to many birds and other creatures.

And did I mention that it is very pretty, very scenic! A wonderful place to take a walk on a 75F January day in Southern Arizona.

Let’s start with a photo, above, of the plants that actually clean the water: bulrushes and cattails. These have been pulled up by the roots but their rooted sisters, below, encircle one of several ponds where coots paddle about squawking.

A sanctuary for wildlife, especially birds

A walking path lies just beyond the trees at the edge of the pond in this photo, above. It’s pretty much flat all the way around — my kind of hiking trail!

A couple of viewing pavilions and plenty of trees provide shade on hot summer days. As for the second photo — who ever imagined that garbage cans would need padlocks?! Maybe pranksters used to take the lids and toss them out into the pond? Or do something else silly with them?

Burned for new growth

Further along the path I came to one of the wetland ponds where the bulrushes and cat tails had been burned in a controlled fire. This clears out much of the dense growth and makes way for new plant growth in Spring.

Surprisingly, there are still golden leaves on the trees surrounding the wetlands. Most of the trees here in Southern Arizona, including mesquite, have lost their leaves by this time of year.

To see another water treatment facility that has been turned into a Japanese Garden, go here. Like the one in Los Angeles, this Tucson water treatment facility pours water into a nearby river, the Santa Cruz River, which is dry most of the year.

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