Compilation of the Verde Watershed Biblioography has been underway since the 1970's. The effort was undertaken by Dr. Jim Byrkit, a now-retired NAU professor with a wide and varied background.
Dr. Byrkit was born in Jerome and his father was Manager of the mining operations there. He harbors a lifelong love for the Verde Valley, it river, rocks, streams, plants, animals and, yes, people.
One of Dr. Byrkit's dreams has always been to write a several hundred page book about the natural and cultural history of the area. Compilation of a thorough bibliography was the first step in that dream.
Bruce Hooper of Northern Arizona University shared in the compilation effort and should always be given credit along with Dr. Byrkit for this unique creation.
In 1995, Jim Alam, retired District Conservationist for the former Soil Conservation Service, began an EPA/ADEQ 319(h)-funded Irrigation Diversion Improvement Project for the Verde Natural Resource Conservation District. Dr. Byrkit shared the bibliography with Mr. Alam, who then made some additions and editing. Mr. Alam also reformatted the bibligraphy from MacIntosh to Windows/DOS.
Permission to add this biblipgraphy to the Verde Home Page was received from Dr. Byrkit at the 1997 Verde River Days in Cottonwood.
ANYONE using this bibliography for anything other than personal purposes is at least morally obligated to give proper credit Dr. Byrkit, Hooper and their efforts in making this benchmark document available so freely on the Internet.