A large segment of the creek is perennial, providing water even in the blistering desert heat. Pinto Creek supports a verdant vegetative community including huge sycamores, cottonwoods, willows, and ash. This riparian vegetation provides important habitat for breeding neo-tropical birds and many other species. The creek also serves as an important migratory corridor for some of these species. A variety of wildlife inhabit the Pinto Creek watershed, including bear, mountain lion, deer, coyote, javelina, quail, bobcats, and bats, along with nine species of reptiles, four species of amphibians, and six species of fish.
Native fish swim in the creek unthreatened by exotic species, a rare situation in the Southwest.
As a cottonwood-willow riparian area, Pinto Creek is especially rare and valuable habitat both in the United States and globally. The Risk Carlota hopes to begin construction of the copper mine this fall and production in the summer of 1998. The entire project will alter or destroy 3,050 acres of national forest and patented lands. The main pit will lie right in Pinto Creek, forcing the permanent relocation of approximately one mile of the creek into a diversion channel. The ore will be cured with 59,500 gallons of new sulfuric acid per day added to recycled acid, threatening Pinto Creek's water quality.