To paddle down the Verde River even once is to fall in love with this beautiful waterway. It sustains life and provides endless outdoor recreation. Water is a rare and precious commodity here in the desert, and the Verde River shouldn't be taken for granted. That's why we invited Doug Von Gausig, Executive Director of the Verde River Institute, to tell us all about how we can better enjoy and care for it. Before recording this podcast, Doug and one of his Verde River Rangers, Kim Jenkins, took members of the Arizona State Parks & Trails team on a kayak tour. In between admiring the birds, dragonflies and damselflies, and the lush vegetation in this riparian area, we picked up on some other factors affecting the river. Litter like lost flip flops, aluminum beverage cans, and fishing line plus a lot of unsafe boating behavior like drinking alcohol (illegal) and not wearing a personal flotation device (dangerous) tempered the excitement of the day. We also learned about the environmental factors that have changed the river over time. Doug shares  on this episode what we can do better to appreciate and protect the Verde River.Follow along with the Verde River Institute on Facebook.Experience the Verde River Greenway State Natural Area.