September 1997
Confluence Newsletter
- VERDE NAVIGABILITY CONSIDERED--Multi-year controversy rolls on.
- LEADERS DISCUSS CRBS--Will local communities decide to continue CRBS?
- SECTION SEVEN LOOMS--Water transfer triggers lengthy process.
- FORESTS EYE CONSOLIDATION--No visitor services at beaver Creek.
- FISHERY CHANGES PROPOSED--Catch all you want but you gotta keep 'em!
- SEPTIC ALTERNATIVES EXPLAINED--Oak Creek could be cleaner.
- SHAMROCK PURCHASE PONDERED--Prescott Valley might buy water company.
- WET SEMINARS PLANNED--Learn how to help kids understand water.
- LOW FLOWS CONTINUE--August was pretty low flow, too.
- RANCH TOUR NEARS--U of A opens "ag research center" on V BAR V Ranch.
VERDE NAVIGABILITY CONSIDERED--A public hearing will be held at 10 a.m., October 15, in the ADOT Auditorium, 206 S. 17th Ave. Phoenix, to consider whether the Verde River was navigable in 1912. Approval of a final report on the issue is scheduled to take place December 10. The Arizona Navigable Stream Adjudication Commission is the State’s latest attempt to settle the 12-year-old controversy. Extensive background material on the complex issue. is available on the Internet (http://aspin.asu.edu/ansac) FOR MORE INFORMATION: Christina Waddell @ 1-602-542-9214
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LEADERS DISCUSS CRBS--Verde Valley mayors and Yavapai Supervisor Chip Davis met August 21 to learn about Phase One of the Cooperative River Basin Study(CRBS). The group discussed whether a possible Phase Two could help address water resource issues in the fast-growing region. No decisions were made but a consensus urged ongoing consideration of a Phase Two during upcoming VWA meetings. FOR MORE INFORMATION: Warren Greenwell @ 1-520-395-5718
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SECTION SEVEN LOOMS--The proposed sale of Central Arizona Project (CAP) water allotments to Scottsdale has triggered an Endangered Species Act Section 7 consultation. Although no local Verde River water is involved in the sale, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) determined the transfer’s indirect impacts may affect the region’s endangered species. After the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation provides some required additional information later this month, FWS will have 135 days to complete their Section 7 analysis. Proceeds from the proposed sale by Cottonwood Water Works and the Camp Verde Water System are targeted to drill more local wells. However, sources close to the proposed transaction estimate costs involved with the lengthy process could substantially reduce net dollars available from the sale. FOR MORE INFORMATION: Bruce Ellis @ 1-602-395-5685
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FORESTS EYE CONSOLIDATION--Three Ranger Districts on two National Forests in the Verde Valley are working toward the day when they will operate out of one office. Federal legislation is now being drafted which would allow the sale of land and buildings on Forest Service sites in Sedona, Camp Verde and Groom Creek near Prescott. Proceeds from any sale could be used to construct a centrally located administrative facility on a convenient local National Forest site. Improved service delivery efficiency could occur with less duplication of effort. The Verde, Sedona and Beaver Creek Districts recently consolidated fire and business management operations. Visitor information services are no longer available at Beaver Creek. Future operations under one roof could reduce complications of combining organizations. FOR MORE INFORMATION: Tom Bonomo @ 1-520-567-4121
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FISHERY CHANGES PROPOSED--Catch limits could be removed for exotic fish in the Verde River and its tributaries. The move comes as the Arizona Game and Fish Department works to manage waterways designated as critical habitat for the endangered native spikedace and razorback sucker. There are no plans to eliminate the exotic sport fishery. Biologists believe “no limit” fishing will reduce predation pressure. The watershed’s large population of large and small mouth bass, flathead and channel catfish and sunfish feed on the vulnerable native fishes. Another proposed change would ban any live bait above Tuzigoot Bridge and restrict live bait elsewhere to creatures caught in the Verde. Live bait usage is already banned on the tributaries. Creel surveys conducted over 120 days between July 1, 1996 and June 30, 1997 tallied 23,700 fish caught in the Verde system. More than 20,000 of those were stocked trout. Biologists conclude most area fishing pressure occurs during winter months. Trout stocking season is once again scheduled to begin in November at five sites along the Verde River. About 1,500 rainbows from Page Springs Hatchery will be placed at each site every two weeks until March. FOR MORE INFORMATION: Joe Janisch @ 1-602-789-3258
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SEPTIC ALTERNATIVES EXPLAINED--Staff from Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) and Coconino County met recently with more than 100 Oak Creek property owners to describe a range of options for residential sewage disposal along the unique waterway. Earlier this year, ADEQ and Coconino County Environmental Health Services inked an “Oak Creek Guidance” document which gives regulators flexibility in helping residents construct more efficient waste disposal systems. Composting toilets, various filtration techniques, wetlands and evaporation mounds are some alternatives available for the porous soils within 200 feet of the creek’s edge. Although no scientific evidence exists to link septics with Oak Creek’s periodic bacterial pollution problems, environmental officials hope to ease the process for implemeting proven disposal alternatives. Almost 400 homesites are located upstream from Sedona. Some of the septic systems were installed decades ago. FOR MORE INFORMATION: Dan Salzler @ 1-602-207-4507
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SHAMROCK PURCHASE PONDERED--Prescott Valley leaders are considering whether to proceed with a possible purchase of the Shamrock Water Company. Twenty public meetings were held this summer to gauge public attitudes toward municipal acquisition of the privately-owned utility. Officials say turnout was very good and more than 8 out of 10 favor the idea. Shamrock is valued in the $14-million range. The company pumps over 3,000 ac.-ft. per year and serves about 25,000 people. Formation of a special district may be required for the Town to finance purchase of the utility to address tax issues. FOR MORE INFORMATION: Jack Richardson @ 1-520-775-6210
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WET SEMINARS PLANNED--University of Arizona Cooperative Extension is offering eight National Project WET seminars for teachers and volunteers during October and November. The six hour seminars will give participants training in K-12 curriculum which illustrates the water cycle, ground water resources and their movement, water use, sources of water pollution and more. Participants will also learn how to use the newly-acquired, grant-funded ground water flow models as a unique, hands-on, visual learning tool. Project WET activities and organization are similar to the popular “Project Wild” or “Project Learning Tree” programs. The Cooperative Extension hopes to train public volunteers so Project WET programs can be staged for organizations and special events. Project WET materials will be displayed at Verde River Days, Sept. 27. Information will be available on water quality, water resources, and nitrates in some area water wells. The new Ground Water Model will be on display. FOR MORE INFORMATION: Jeff Schalau @ 1-520-445-6590 (Ext. 12)
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LOW FLOWS CONTINUE--August rainfall produced a slight boost in Verde watershed runoff. but the total continues far below normal. Inflow to Horseshoe Reservoir was 12,861 acre-feet compared to 10,175 ac. ft. last year and a long-term median of 24,500 ac. ft. The Verde River at the Highway 260 bridge peaked at 620 cubic feet per second (cfs) on August 18 and 329 cfs on August 29. In early September the river continued well above 100 cfs. Average watershed precipitation was 1.83 inches in August or two-thirds of normal. Year-to-date watershed precip is running 77-percent of normal. The two Verde reservoirs held 137,026 ac. ft. on September 1, near normal for this time of year, but only 44-percent of capacity. The Phoenix water needs have been largely met by the Salt River watershed. Roosevelt Lake is down to only 19-percent of capacity. Ground water pumping has been four times median this year at 114,900 ac.-ft. FOR MORE INFORMATION: Charlie Ester @ 1-602-236-2587
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RANCH TOUR NEARS--The second annual V Bar V Ranch Tour will take place September 13. Faculty from the U of A College of Agriculture and the Yavapai Cooperative Extension will explain livestock and wildlife management, erosion control, forage assessment and watershed conditions. Various ranching-related demonstrations will take place at the Mahan Park ranch headquarters near Clint’s Well. The tour costs $10 including lunch. The sign-up deadline has passed but space may be available on a “stand-by” basis. The V Bar V agricultural research center covers about 77,000 acres between Camp Verde and Happy Jack. Recent rains have improved range conditions throughout the ranchlands. Staff will begin weening, working and marketing cattle later this month. Allotment planning and an elk study are ongoing. FOR MORE INFORMATION: Brenda @ 1-520-646-9113 (Ext. 10)
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