Valer Clark
Founder

Valer has been restoring watersheds for almost 40 years. Starting from small rock dams known as trincheras, she has pushed the limit of what can be done in large watersheds. She has been instrumental in forming a network of organizations to focus on a wildlife corridor between the United States and Mexico. She founded and funded Cuenca de los Ojos AC in Mexico and Cuenca los Ojos 501(c)3 in the US. She serves on several boards including Borderlands Restoration Network and Fondo Mexicano para la Conservación de la Naturaleza. Valer and her staff prioritize education of local students to understand and participate in the beauty of the land where they live through dozens of hands-on workshops. She has encouraged and supported scientific study of Cuenca’s restoration practices and biodiversity of Cuenca ranches resulting in a significant contribution to our knowledge of the Sky Island region. 

Valer’s outstanding conservation efforts have been recognized by the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the US Geological Survey, as well as The Nature Conservancy. Her work has been recognized with numerous awards including Arizona Game and Fish Commission Award of excellence (twice), the 2008 National Wetlands Award, the Secretaria de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales y de la Comision Nacional de Areas Naturales Protegidas, and the Tucson’s Museum of Contemporary Art’s Local Genius Award in 2020.