The meeting was called to order by Chairman Jay Wilkinson at 7:04 p.m.
All others in attendance introduced themselves.
Minutes of the September meeting in Cottonwood were approved as printed in the Confluence.
The Treasurer gave the monthly report. No changes from the balance in September. VWA has a current balance in the account of $1333.50 and has collected $3450.00 in dues for 1997. Financial report was approved.
Chairman Wilkinson introduced his vision of how the various committee chairs and committees will function. He passed around a committee signup sheet for members to volunteer for committees. Agency people can serve as advisors to the committee and on committees but he would not like them to serve as committee chairmen.
Chairman Wilkinson reported: VWA would be hosting the state committee which is responsible for drafting grazing guidelines for best management practices under the Clean Water Act.
The City of Prescott is putting together a steering committee for the Prescott AMA and he will try to get a greater involvement of VWA on this steering committee. The next meeting of the steering committee will be on October 30 from 2 to 4 pm in Prescott Valley.
Jay made the members aware of handouts relating to issues that he is aware of concerning the watershed.
Chairman Wilkinson stated again that the American Heritage Rivers Initiative proposal from VWA has had no action because there is not broad-based public support in the watershed for this program.
Chairman Wilkinson introduced Bruce Palmer with the US Fish and Wildlife Service who gave a talk about the S.W. Willow Flycatcher. He talked about the value the nondescript bird can and will have in the preservation of the riparian habitat along the Verde River and it’s tributaries. He discussed the threats to the bird and the challenges to the recovery of the bird and the protection and enhancement of the habitat on which the bird depends. Bruce proposed a recovery program to include federal and state entities and major private landowners and to take on the elements of a habitat conservation plan.
Bruce made a commitment to spend as little time as possible in strategic planning and to focus the efforts on meeting conservation goals for the recovery of the bird. Bruce introduced Jackie Record, who just transferred to Arizona, who will be working directly with the Verde River issues for USFWS. She will be spending a lot of time in the Verde Valley and along the Verde River working towards the recovery of the Flycatcher and other T&E species in the Verde River. He stated that he also has some money on the table this year for initiating programs for the improvement of riparian areas.
Warren Greenwell of BOR gave an update on Phase 2 of the VWA strategic plan for water resources which is the building of community interest in proceeding with this phase. He has been working with County Supervisor Chip Davis and others to build that interest in moving forward with the next phase of the long range strategy. Jay commented that Americans are crisis driven and may need a crisis to move off dead center.
There were no committee reports or committee appointments. Chairman Wilkinson made another plea for members to participate on committees.
John Parsons gave an update on activities of the VWA Coordinator. He introduced Catherine Balzano of the State Land Department. Catherine mentioned that her work at the department is to work with the various NRCD’s around the state and she has recently been helping them in making applications to the State Water Protection Fund for various projects. Catherine volunteered to assist entities in filing out Water Protection Fund applications. John recommended that the entities in VWA participate in the Water Protection Fund program and submit applications for projects. John stated that he coordinated the meeting and workshop with the state committee that is developing best management practices for grazing. In other business, John Parsons suggested that a date be set outside of the regular meeting date for USFWS to make a presentation on the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher in the Verde Valley. This suggestion was adopted with the added suggestion that it be after the holiday season. There was some mention of having Dennis Parker also on that agenda but this was tabled for further discussion. John agreed to start setting up a meeting place and date.
The meeting adjourned at 8:37 p.m.
Prepared by: Tom Bonomo, Secretary-Treasurer