July 1997
Confluence Newsletter
CRITICAL HABITAT LOOMS--There is a very high probability that the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) will declare critical habitat for the endangered Southwestern Willow Flycatcher on or about the court-ordered deadline of July 17. Apparently, officials and staff in Washington, D.C., have been hammering out the designation and required economic and environmental impact analysis. Two Arizona USFWS staffers have been summoned to the Capitol to assist in the process. It is expected any such habitat designations will include most of the streambanks along the Verde River and its perennial tributaries. Designated areas could possibly include irrigated lands as well. There have been no local meetings or public input regarding the potential impending designation. Any Federal actions taking place within designated habitat areas would require an often-lengthy Section 7 consultation with USFWS. Local observers have long feared critical habitat designation could have extensive impacts on ranching, farming and other traditional activities in the area. The Verde NRCD attempted to work out a cooperative agreement with USFWS which might have precluded critical habitat designation. However, those negotiations ended unresolved in early June. If critical habitat is actually designated on or before the July 17 deadline, a Federal Register notice will most likely be printed before July 21. If the designation actually occurs, the Verde Watershed Association will obtain and distribute reference copies of the Federal Register notice for convenient, timely access at all watershed public libraries. FOR MORE INFORMATION: Jeff Humphries @ 1-602-640-2720
Back to Top of Page
AMERICAN HERITAGE RIVERS--VWA now has a new “Fast Facts” format to inform members and the public about the organization’s interest in the American Heritage Rivers Initiative (AHRI) and other current projects and activities. The format lists both perceived benefits and objections raised concerning the proposed nomination. Additional sources of both pro and con information are included. The “Fast Facts” document is posted on the Internet and will be updated continuously as the issue is debated in months ahead. The “Fast Facts” format was designed and produced by Emily Burton, VWA’s summer intern. The only current AHRI-related activity underway is the preparation of a narrative overview of the natural, cultural, historic, economic, recreational and scenic aspects of the watershed. When drafted, this document will be posted on the VWA Home Page and circulated for public review and comment. VWA leaders note AHRI consideration has already increased meeting attendance and memberships. A nomination will not be submitted unless the proposal has broad-based community and public support. At the national level, the comment deadline is now August 19 with nominations due in December. FOR MORE INFORMATION: John Parsons @ 1-520-567-6645
Back to Top of Page
VERDE GUIDE PUBLISHED--—A Prescott-area man has printed 1,000 copies of “A Floater’s Guide to the Verde River.” The full-size, mile-by-mile guidebook is the most comprehensive, detailed documentation available for the Verde River from Sullivan Lake to Granite Reef Dam near Phoenix. The 159-page book contains hundreds of illustrations and thirty-four topographical maps. The author spent over ten years and nearly $15,000 on the manuscript. Many points along the river are photographed at low water and 1993 flood levels. An ample narrative covers natural and historic features along the river, as well as Verde watershed issues. The guide also includes definitions of virtually all relevant “river lingo”, shuttle tips, tourist information and a government directory. The book will be available at the July VWA meeting. FOR MORE INFORMATION: Bob Williams @ 1-520-778-3407
Back to Top of Page
HAZARD MARKING PROPOSED--—An effort is being launched to develop and implement the marking of hazardous areas along the Verde River and Oak Creek. Local search & rescue workers and other public safety professionals are invited to gather at 7 a.m., July 19 at the Cornville-Page Springs Rural Fire Department to discuss how public recreation hazards could be identified. The session comes in the wake of three recent drownings on the Verde and a serious diving injury on Oak Creek. Pancakes, eggs and coffee will be served. The effort is sponsored by the National Rural Waters Safety Planning Institute. FOR MORE INFORMATION: Allen Franks @ 1-520-639-1186
Back to Top of Page
IRRIGATION TOURS SCHEDULED--Headworks, flumes, siphons, headgates, laterals, cutouts, laser leveling, basins and berms, riparian habitat, non-point source pollution, water quantity, quality, land values and potential economic impacts are all covered in a driving tour designed for the real estate industry. Staged and funded as part of the Verde NRCD’s Irrigation Diversion Project, the two-hour field trip helps illustrate the many evolving issues facing operation and maintenance of irrigation systems and diversions in the Cottonwood area. The tours are free and staged from 9 -11 a.m. July 16, 21, 29, August 6, 13 and 20. FOR MORE INFORMATION: Richard Dehnert @ 1-520-634-2360
Back to Top of Page
HERITAGE GRANT WORKSHOPS--Arizona Game & Fish Department will sponsor three nearby workshops designed to help local communities and the public understand how to apply for project support from the Arizona Heritage Fund, a revenue source derived from the Lottery. Meetings will take place from 1-4 p.m. and 5:30-8:30 p.m. July 22 in Flagstaff (3500 S. Lake Mary Rd.); July 29 in Cottonwood (301 W. Hwy 89A) and August 12 in Payson (206 S. Bee Line Highway). Heritage funds can support schoolyard grants, environmental education activities, public access, urban wildlife habitat and sensitive habitat projects. FOR MORE INFORMATION: Robin Beck @ 1-602-789-3520
Back to Top of Page
SLUGGISH WATERFLOWS CONTINUE--Watershed runoff during June barely topped last year’s drought-stricken dribble. A total of 6,500 acre-feet trickled into Horse Reservoir, only 400 ac.ft. more than 1996. The June normal is 7,500 ac. ft. Flows at Camp Verde are running between 20-30 cubic feet per second and could drop much lower soon. Projections currently call for a “late monsoon” possibly beginning in mid-July. Watershed precipitation in June totaled less than a tenth of an inch or about 30-percent of normal. However, the year-to-date watershed precipitation total is 5.93 inches or 97-percent of median. Horseshoe Reservoir is mostly dry with about 19,000 ac. ft. of water in storage (14-percent of capacity). Bartlett contains 123,000 ac. ft. so the combined reservoir capacity on the Verde is 46-percent of normal. FOR MORE INFORMATION: Charlie Ester @ 1-602-236-2587
Back to Top of Page
RIVER FESTIVAL NEARS--Preparations are well underway for the annual Verde River Days (VRD) festival September 27. VRD began in 1989 and attracts thousands each year to Cottonwood’s Dead Horse Ranch State Park. The non-commercial free event is designed to showcase Verde watershed natural and cultural resources. Hikes, canoes rides, entertainment, sand-castle building and fine foods are featured. Sign-up packets for display booth space will be mailed this month to past and potential exhibitors. Demand is expected to be greater than supply for booth space this year so participants are urged to reserve early. FOR MORE INFORMATION: Pete Sesow @ 1-520-634-7596
Back to Top of Page
VWA COORDINATOR ACTIVITIES--Work continues to address ongoing VWA projects and priorities. Work has begun on a long-planned major revision of the VWA Internet Home Page (http://www.verde.org/vwa/index.htm). A generic “Fast Facts” format was designed to describe the status of all VWA projects. A VWA brochure was drafted for review. Biographical sketches of VWA officers, coordinator and intern will be available in mid-July. A narrative description of the watershed’s history and development is underway. An updated display highlighting VWA and the watershed is being designed. FOR MORE INFORMATION: John Parsons @ 1-520-567-6645
Back to Top of Page
Return to VWA Home Page
Return to Verde Watershed Home Page