United Verde Site

About the Program
The Freeport-McMoRan, Inc. United Verde Site is located in Jerome, Arizona, approximately 55 miles southwest of Flagstaff. Freeport-McMoRan, Inc. acquired the property in 1935. The site is 650 acres in size with 50 acres actively managed for wildlife. The program was first certified in 2013.

Practices and Impacts

• A pair of bald eagles has been nesting onsite since 2014 near Peck's Lake. The team has since partnered with the Arizona Bald Eagle Management Program to conduct monitoring efforts. Recent monitoring shows the eagle pair has not nested at the site for a few years, though one has been seen nearby. The data contributes to the Arizona Bald Eagle Management Program's Nestwatch Program. Through Nestwatch, the team helps to educate the community on the importance of bald eagle conservation. 
• The team fosters native wetland habitat on-site by eradicating invasive tree of heaven species. The team works with Fred Phillips Consulting to control the species through mechanical and chemical management. 
• The team hosts two educational events on-site annually: the Christmas Bird Count at Peck's Lake and the Birdy Verde. The Christmas Bird Count is conducted in partnership with the Northern Arizona Audubon Society. The team hosts birders on-site to observe native bird populations at Peck's Lake and conduct a complete bird count. The Birdy Verde event is held in partnership with Friends of the Verde River as part of the Verde Valley Birding and Nature Festival. The team hosts members of the community interested in native bird species and nature onsite at Peck's Lake to observe native bird species. Data from both events contribute to the Cornell University Lab of Ornithology's eBird database.