Our Chapter’s Namesake

The Cienega Creek name was chosen to honor Vail’s landscape and history. Many years ago, the Hohokam Tribe lived in the Tucson Basin and Vail area, making extensive use of Cienega Creek. The creek was the natural source of water for the Hohokam, sustaining their community and the wildlife they depended on. The modern descendants of the Hohokam are the people of the Tohono O’odham Nation. Their modern language roughly translates Cienega Creek, “to give life.” Our goal for our new chapter is to grow and actively serve our community as the waters of the creek did for the Hohokam and all the wildlife in our area.

The ecologically and culturally important Cienega Creek watershed provides about 20% of the water recharge for Tucson. Today, the Arizona Trail and local hiking trails connect to the creek as part of Pima County Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation.