Verde Watershed Association
FACT SHEET RE:

American Heritage Rivers Initiative

----AHRI----

Updated July 15, 1997

WHAT IS AHRI?--The program in a nutshell.

CURRENT STATUS--What's VWA doing about the AHRI?

IMMEDIATE BENEFITS--Process itself could benefit VWA.

RECOGNITION BENEFITS--If recognized, how would AHRI help local interests?

AHRI OBJECTIONS--Arguments against AHRI recognition.

YOUR INPUT MATTERS--VWA is guided by the consensus of its members.

HISTORY OF VWA--The Verde Watershed Association in a nutshell.

VWA PHILOSOPHY--VWA encourages debate.

VWA Chairman Jay Wilkinson's thoughts on AHRI

WHAT IS AHRI?--The AHRI is a new program, launched by President Clinton, to recognize and assist community-based river restoration and preservation efforts. It is intended to support the natural, economic, scenic, historic, cultural, and recreational qualities of the river and its surroundings. Within the next few months, communities across the country will nominate rivers and watersheds. Ten will be selected for American Heritage River status. The VWA believes that drafting a nomination for the Verde River is a valuable exercise, but will not submit this nomination without the support of its members. There is currently a great deal of debate within the VWA about the AHRI. This fact sheet is intended to clarify some aspects of the AHRI program and to encourage further public participation in the discussion.

Stated Benefits of this status include: Focused Federal support:

-Federal agencies will focus their efforts on selected rivers while ensuring that their actions are in line with community and watershed goals. Coordinated assistance:
-Federal and state agencies will better coordinate their efforts, reducing duplication and interagency conflicts.
-National expertise will be available for community-based projects. Local direction:
-A locally selected watershed coordinator would help manage programs and implement the community’s vision.

Visit the Official Government Page describing AHRI

CURRENT STATUS--The VWA is currently preparing a nomination, using the process to enter a dialogue with the larger community and to create a consensus vision for the watershed and the river. However, the nomination that the VWA is preparing should reflect a consensus vision, and absolutely

WILL NOT

be submitted unless the proposal enjoys the broad support of VWA members and the public.

IMMEDIATE BENEFITS--The nomination process itself is designed to be a valuable exercise, regardless of whether the Verde’s nomination is accepted. Drafting a nomination will:

-Catalyze efforts to create a long range plan
-Encourage widespread community outreach
-Increase public awareness and involvement
-Stimulate communication and debate within the watershed community
-Promote the creation of a community vision for the Verde Watershed
-Result in a clarification of the VWA’s goals and a more involved, informed watershed community

RECOGNITION BENEFITS--Should the Verde recieve the American Heritage River designation, benefits would include:

-A watershed coordinator to help implement the community’s vision
-Faster implementation of the VWA Long Range Plan
-A wider range of Federal programs would become available, and federal entities would work together to reduce overlap and interagency conflicts. This is especially important in the Verde Watershed, which spans several counties and National Forests.
-Federal agencies would make the Verde a special priority, and programs would be simplified and expedited
-A "Good Neighbor" policy from Federal administrators, requiring them to ensure that their programs are complementary to the community’s goals.
-Increased publicity for and awareness of the Verde, resulting in additional private sector and State and local agency support for VWA..
-Federal agencies would make the Verde a special priority, and programs would be simplified and expedited.

No new regulations or programs will be created: American Heritage Rivers benefit from improved delivery and coordination of existing programs. The designation allows communities to implement their vision for the watershed more efficiently by directing and streamlining Federal support.

AHRI OBJECTIONS--Concerns about the American Heritage Rivers Program The AHRI is an evolving program and is still under debate in Washington. On a national level, debate is focused on the legality of the President’s proclamation. A resolution (H.R. 1842) has been introduced “to terminate further development and implementation of the American Heritage Rivers Initiative.” Congressional objections have resulted in the extension of the comment period to August 19. The nomination is likely to be due in December.

Since the AHRI is a new program, its actual effects on designated rivers remain unsure. This uncertainty has led to concern on a local level. Among the concerns expressed have been:

-A reluctance to encourage further Federal involvement in Verde Watershed affairs, and doubts that Federal agencies would cooperate with the watershed community
-Property rights concerns
-Unease about the ambiguity of the draft language, and a desire not to be the guinea pig for an untested program
-The lack of an explicit escape clause in case the program is unsatisfactory
-Larger concerns over the legality and constitutionality of the program

What Others Are Saying

YOUR INPUT MATTERS--Get informed! You are encouraged to become a part of the planning process, and to form your own opinion of the program as it evolves. To learn more about the AHRI and the VWA, and to keep up to date with changes, visit VWA’s home page. Bring your own comments to the next VWA meeting, 7 p.m., July 15 at the Chino Valley Town Council Chambers, and become a member of the VWA in order to vote in decisions about the Verde’s nomination. For more information, e-mail the Verde Watershed Association or call 567-6645.

HISTORY OF VWA--The Verde Watershed Association was formed in 1993 as a coalition of the watershed communities, organizations and individuals working together to resolve conflicts and promote sustainable productive use of the water resource through cooperation, communication and consensus building.

VWA PHILOSOPHY--Section 3, Article II of the VWA Articles of Association state: Ït is essential that the VWA conduct its activities in a manner that guarantees comprehensive, fair, balanced, and unbiased consideration of water rsource issues in the watershed. Strong differences of opinion will be sought out and accommodated within its tructure.

The VWA's challenge is not to decide who wins or loses, but to be as diligent as possible in hearing and understanding all sides of an issue, then in determining what compromises and accommodations may provide the most beneficial mix of benefits over the longest term to the most people, all in consonance with the highest level of protection for the Verde's wtaer resources."

World Wide Web Addresses for sites listed above:

http://www.epa.gov/OWOW/heritage/rivers.html--Gov't AHRI site.

http://www.jbs.org--John Birch Society

http://www/amrivers.org--American Rivers

http://www.libertymatters.org/Alert%2052897.htm--Liberty Matters website on AHRI