Rincon Creek flows west out of the the Rincon Mountains below Tanque Verde Ridge. People have lived here for thousands of years in order to take advantage of the water in the creek. These days the flow is seasonal - but both winter and monsoon rains tend to add enough water for it to flow impressively.

Much of Rincon Creek is either surrounded by private land - land divided from the ranches that once claimed the creek - or a long hike from any trailhead. The exception is the Arizona Trail crossing. On the AZT day hikers/bikers can touch the creek from several different trailheads and thru hikers collect near the creek getting water, often spending the night either before or after climbing up and over the Rincon Mountains.

This recording was made on a sunny late afternoon in April - this year the winter storms were impressive and Rincon Creek is stilled filled and flowing nicely with their water. The microphones were clipped to branches just above the water where a few tall green trees grow near the bank.

With some luck this might be what you would hear near the creek - farther from the water you might also hear vehicles on some of the not-too-far away dirt roads, work going on at the houses in the area or other hikers and bikers. In a dry year you might not hear water at all...

I think it is likely residential development will encroach on this soundscape in the next few decades. Saguaro National Park protects some of Rincon Creek, and perhaps a few more parcels will eventually be added to the park - but watching the Rocking K development unfold it seems optimistic to imagine a future where large chunks of the Arizona State Trust Land south of Rincon Creek aren't subdivided into residential lots.