By Srianthi Perera, The Republic | azcentral.com
Within its 177 square miles, Peoria is home to vast natural environments.
They include the Sonoran Desert; Lake Pleasant, in the foothills of the Hieroglyphic Mountains; other isolated mountainous areas, such as West Wing, East Wing, Sunrise Mountains and Calderwood Butte; and the Agua Fria and New River water courses.
Without a plan for preservation, there’s no assurance that the accompanying wildlife habitats, scenic vistas and historic ruins of the Hohokam Indians who settled along the river basins will remain a part of the city’s future.
To ensure that they do, city officials have created the Sonoran Preservation Program, an ambitious plan that could cost as much as $240 million to implement, though officials said they likely will spend less.
