BACKGROUND
It has been difficult for some people to understand why there is a need for a comprehensive planning process for the Verde River Corridor. Water still flows in the river, people's wells are still pumping up clean water, the fishing is good, eagles soar overhead, and trees still shade the banks. What is the problem?
The Verde River is facing many significant problems today, and they are likely to worsen over time without a management framework oriented toward finding the best solutions. Local communities are addressing issues and problems as they arise, but frequently these actions only affect the land and water within a town's boundaries. Several key goals of the Steering Committee have been to identify the problems and needs of the entire river corridor, recommend a coordinated and consistent management strategy throughout the corridor, and begin the process of solving the problems. Another key goal of the Steering Committee has been that of informing and educating themselves, agency representatives, special interest groups, landowners, and the general public. Most of the problems on the river have been ongoing for years, but can be abated with proper attention and an informed, involved public.
Specifically, some of the main concerns include (not in priority order):
• Protection of private property rights—trespassing, littering, vandalism
• Water quantity—instream flow, water transfers, diversions
• Water quality—pollution, sedimentation, scouring
• Protection and enhancement of the riparian habitat—fish, wildlife, vegetation
• Public river access—recreational opportunities, maintenance, law enforcement
• Current sand and gravel mining practices and regulations
• Adequate information and education of the public and landowners about opportunities and responsibilities of river use
• Potential loss of cultural resources, agricultural lands, and open space along the river
• Insufficient information specific to the Verde River Corridor
• Providing for commercial uses of the corridor while protecting river values
• Maintaining and improving the quality of life
MAIN CONCERNS
Private Property and Recreation Access Conflicts
Throughout the planning process, the primary concern of many residents was the issue of private property rights. The riparian lands along the Verde River Corridor are largely privately owned. The main obvious public access points to the river are at Dead Horse Ranch State Park and a few undeveloped sites on National Forest lands. Trespassing presents concerns to landowners since legal access points are few and are generally unpublicized, and access to the river is sought by an increasing number of river users. There is little question that the river will remain a high demand recreational area, but there are outstanding questions regarding how, and how much, river access should be made available.
Trespassing in the river corridor takes on a variety of forms and causes several problems. Trespassing on residential property is only one type of problem. Unsanctioned uses of the river corridor such as driving vehicles off road can cause the loss of significant vegetative ground cover, erosion, sedimentation, and leave ugly scars which harm the aesthetic character of the riverine environment.
Littering in and along the river has taken on mammoth proportions in the past with thoughtless people dumping household and yard trash, old appliances, furniture, and car bodies. Anglers and other recreationists often leave evidence of their presence such as cans, bottles, food wrappers, and old fishing line. Riverfront owners and courteous recreationists bear the brunt of cleaning up after these thoughtless and disrespectful people. More and more landowners are closing their lands to general public use as a result of problems with trespassing, littering, vandalism, and liability issues. Yavapai County has taken a major step in resolving the littering problem. The County Public Works Department has initiated an enforcement and clean-up progam that encourages citizens to report vandals and litterers and employs staff to educate offenders and enforce littering laws and regulations.
Increasing regulations, ordinances, and confusing permitting processes also top the list of landowner problems. Many landowners are requesting information about conservation easements and tax incentives regarding personal land stewardship actions and they have questions about the rights and responsibilities of riverfront owners. The laws and regulations can differ from one community to the next, and the unincorporated areas come under county regulations. This can result in inconsistent management along the river corridor.
Water
Another issue of primary concern has been water quantity. The State of Arizona is currently conducting an adjudication process to determine who gets how much water. This process, which will take many years, is extremely complex because it must involve all branches of government, the courts, Indian tribes, and commercial and private water rights holders. It was considered beyond the scope of this project to tackle the water rights issue except in its role of providing information and opening up the lines of communication.
Meanwhile, towns are trying to make decisions regarding growth, Central Arizona Project water allocations, and applications under the 1980 Groundwater Management Act. Water farming and water transfers have been a "hot" issue the past few years and the Verde River has figured into many different proposals.
Many people in the Verde Valley fear that there may not be any water left in the river for their use if other towns and interests obtain their allotments first. Also, more and more people are concerned about ensuring adequate flows in the river, called instream flows, to support fish and wildlife populations and their habitats, and for recreational activities.
In a 1989 report, the Fish & Wildlife Service calculated minimum instream flows for several stretches of the Verde River Corridor. Based on best available data, the flows needed to maintain the aquatic and riparian resources ranged from 13 cfs to 255 cfs depending on the stream segment and season. The recent water transfer proposals suggested for the upper Verde are projected to negatively impact the flow of water to the Verde Valley as well as the survival of endangered species found in the river (USDI FWS, 1989).
Other concerns voiced by Verde Valley residents regarding the use of water include the considerable amount of water used by irrigated fields for the relatively small economic return, inefficient ditch systems, increased pollutants in the return water to the river from the fields, and the general lack of support for water conservation efforts.
In 1980 Yavapai County requested that Arizona Department of Water Resources explore the possibility of constructing a flood control dam north of Clarkdale in the general vicinity of the Sycamore Creek/Verde River confluence. Preliminary information indicates that the construction of a dam at that location may not be feasible due to economics. Dams have substantial impacts and benefits that need to be thoroughly explored and weighed before decisions can be made.
Other potential waterpower and reservoir sites that have been explored in the past include: 1) Clarkdale reservoir site—a 240 foot high dam at Sec. 17, T17N, R3E; 2) Gittings waterpower site—a 200 foot high dam located at Sec. 28, T17N, R3E; 3) Camp Verde waterpower site—a 210 foot high dam located at Sec 1, T12N, R5E; and 4) Arizona Hydraulic Power Company waterpower project—a 165 foot high dam located at Sec. 30, T12N, R6E—containing a storage reservoir, diversion dam, two conduits, and three powerhouses (USDA FS, 1990). None of these projects are currently being considered, but all have been seriously proposed in the past.
Regulations and Management
Many residents have expressed concerns about programs administered by state and federal agencies which promote recreational uses of the river without adequate provision for management (overcrowding, user conflicts, enforcement, and access). They are concerned about government regulations and policies which place restrictions on riverside land uses. There is also a fear that some government programs will exercise the right of eminent domain or condemnation to obtain lands or rights of way. Although this has happened in rare instances, it is an uncommon, expensive, and extremely unpopular method, and one not taken lightly by any governmental entity.
Other residents and organizations are concerned that existing regulations and laws are not stringent enough to protect the river and its riparian values. Some individuals worry that special interests and large corporations have too much say in planning and zoning decisions that benefit development interests at the expense of environmental values. These different perspectives must be discussed in public meetings so that all concerned individuals can contribute opinions and recommendations to the decision-makers.
Commercial Uses
The mining of sand and gravel in the Verde River Corridor has been a controversial issue throughout the VRCP. Some residents would like to see all such activities outlawed. Others maintain it is their right and an economic benefit to the community to make use of the natural materials along the river.
The problem is complex. It is true that current mining practices have substantially altered the riverbed, with deep pits dug in the river channel, the course of the river diverted, and trees uprooted. These alterations can cause drastic changes both up and downstream: water quality can be negatively impacted and detrimental scouring and headcutting around river structures such as bridges can occur.
Sometimes streambed alterations may be modified or rehabilitated to benefit another use. One abandoned sand and gravel pit has been modified and put to excellent use by a commercial boat tour company. In some cases, the socio-economic benefits are an important consideration and may balance out the negative impacts. All residents of the Verde Valley rely on the products of the sand and gravel companies. These materials are the virtual building blocks for homes, building, roads, and bridges. An easy source of gravel in close proximity to the developing areas means inexpensive costs to the consumer and taxpayer. If companies are forced from the river without exploring alternatives, a new set of problems arise. This particular problem is impacted by federal regulations and laws and many solutions to this issue are beyond the control of local groups.
Open Space and Quality of Life
One of the attractions of the Verde Valley is its "country flavor." The large stands of riparian forests, green pastoral lands, and agricultural fields provide a rural atmosphere and a visual escape from the large urban cities. But the Verde Valley is growing rapidly. People want to live in a rural setting, especially one that has many of the amenities of a large city but still has a high quality of life.
Some people would like to see the entire Verde River Corridor become a protected greenway with limited recreational access the only intrusion. Other people would like to develop the riverfront lands for uses such as residential housing, resorts, and commercial recreational facilities. As more people move to the area in search of a new life, demands for land goes up. Each year more and more acres of agricultural land and open space are sold for commercial and residential development. The day is fast approaching when the Verde Valley may be just another crowded, polluted urban city. Are there incentives that can be implemented to encourage these open lands to be maintained? How much land should be protected as open space, parks, and greenways?
THE NEXT STEP
The VRCP's mission has been to determine solutions to these problems in order to preserve the character of the Verde River Corridor and make it an attraction for residents and visitors alike. The Steering Committee addressed all of these problems in the corridor planning process and came to the realization that corridor management must begin with problem-solving: clear identification of the problem, exploration of all viable alternatives, and a recommendation for action.
The Steering Committee members are confident that the problems in the corridor can be resolved. The subcommittees developed many recommendations that specifically address each of the problems that, when implemented, will provide achievable solutions.
Ten Most Frequent Concerns
The following are the ten most frequent concerns identified by the Verde Valley residents at the initial public meetings if the Verde River Corridor Project:
• Need for coordinated management of public lands
• Lessen impacts of sand & gravel operations mining on river corridor
• Maintain or improve water quantity and quality--stop future allocations and transfers
• Protect private property rights
• Restore and revegetate riparian areas and eroded streambanks
• Explore use of conservation easements to protect lands and provide access across private property
• Maintain, improve and increase public access to river for recreation uses
• Protect and enhance wildlife and its habitat
• Control generation and transportation of hazardous/polluting materials in/through area
• Explore funding sources for plan and its implementation