GOODYEAR, AZ – Police from the cities of Goodyear and Avondale are working together with the Maricopa County Attorney to stop a local natural refuge from being buried under trash and debris.
The Tres Rios Riparian Refuge is the meeting point of the Salt, Gila, and Agua Fria rivers in the West Valley and has been plagued with multiple problems threatening the stability of its natural environment, according to officials.
The refuge is home to several plant species that can only exist in a riparian environment such as salt cedar, seep willow, and cottonwood. Various animals such as javelinas, hawks, desert tortoises and bobcats also inhabit the area.
Over the years however, the number of incidents regarding illegal dumping, fishing and poaching, as well as weapons violations, have increased.
County Attorney Andrew Thomas is reportedly working with the combined force of the Goodyear and Avondale police departments to crack down on offenders and restore the refuge to its natural state.
"Tres Rios is a unique and gorgeous habitat for wildlife here in the Valley,” Thomas said in a news release. “We must prosecute those who pollute this refuge, remove the trash they've left behind, and protect this area once and for all from future damage.”
Some of the new measures that will be taken to protect the refuge will be more patrols in the area, specialized prosecution for polluting offenders, and a mass community cleanup of damage done to the area.
"The residents of Goodyear and the West Valley are fortunate to have these resources,” said Mark Brown, Chief of Goodyear Police. “We are committed to protecting them from polluters and criminals who threaten the natural beauty of these treasured landscapes."
