In the early 1990s, a study of the Tanque Verde Creek by Dr. Julie Stromberg and others described the relationship between the depth to groundwater and the health of the mesquite woodland habitat in the area. This report revisits the Stromberg study to describe variations in groundwater levels since the report was completed early last decade. They identified around 3,000 acres of riparian vegetation in the Tanque Verde-Agua Caliente shallow groundwater zone.

One of the most pressing growth related problems is the proliferation of wildcat subdividing, or lot splitting. It is generally defined as the proliferation of new residential parcels without the benefit of subdivision regulation. Often these areas are devoid of any basic infrastructure, standard environmental regulation, subdivision standards, or infrastructure requirements. This report addresses seven areas of concern.