Mónica Ortiz Uribe/KJZZ

The Gila River downstream from the town of Cliff, New Mexico.

A coalition of cities, nonprofits and others wants Arizonans to learn more about the lower Gila River and some of its challenges in an effort to get the river cleaned up.

The groups have created an online tool that takes viewers through the history, geography and ecosystems of the river.

To talk about that, as well as the state of another Arizona river, The Show spoke with John Shepard, senior director of programs for the Sonoran Institute.