A thoughtful and many ways ground breaking study on the potential impacts that future climate variability might have on plants, animals, people and ecosystem processes. It describes the geographic setting of Pima County, the history of weather data collection; variables such as precipitation, variability of rainfall, drought, floods, groundwater, temperature, frost and potential evapotranspiration; and the potential responses of over forth species of concern to short term climate variation.

The report concludes that "it is clear to us that the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan is a credible, science-based process designed to achieve clear and laudable goals for the long term conservation of biodiversity in Pima County." Recommendations included giving more attention to the effects of roads and evaluating the effects of livestock grazing on biodiversity.

Demonstrates that an effort to protect only listed species would lead to a reserve that was closer to the urbanizing areas of Tucson, and therefore more expensive. The Listed Species Reserve is also one that makes a call on more non-federal land. By limiting the focus of the reserve to listed species, the broader and long term benefits are lost, and trade-offs of high potential habitat are not based on such comprehensive biological principles.

Describes the relation of the current and proposed system of mountain parks and preserves to the ongoing multi-species conservation planning process. Business interests will be able to pursue land uses which impact habitat, so long as defined conservation standards are met. This report simply frames planning possibilities by outlining the known potential of twelve park and preserve areas in eastern Pima County.

This document and the Geographic Information System file that is now a part of the County library of over 1000 coverages, gives the scientific community access to mapping that better differentiates perennial, ephemeral and intermittent watercourses, and provides more comprehensive coverage of shallow groundwater sources. This data is significant because riparian habitat is one of the most important and least protected of the habitat types in Pima County.

Builds upon the "Biological Stress Assessment" through the identification of threats and stressors to watercourses within Pima County. It provides background on technical and water policy matters, describes potential and existing impacts to watercourses within Pima County, suggests options for reducing stressors, and outlines a number of issues for discussion withing each watershed planning unit.