All in attendance introduced themselves.
Emily Burton, the summer student intern for VWA, was introduced.
It was reported that the Guest Speaker for tonight, Dan Neery of the Rocky Mountain Research Station in Flagstaff could not make it tonight but he did want to mention that the Beaver Creek Watershed Web Page was up and running although many elements were still under construction. The one element of the Web Page for the Watershed that is up and running is the extensive Bibliography for the Beaver Creek Watershed Research Studies.
A stand in speaker was asked to speak on short notice concerning something he is involved in. Bryce Babcock, an interpreter on the Verde River Canyon Railroad was asked to speak about the train and what can be seen in the Verde River canyon and along the river.
The May minutes were approved as written.
Treasurer Report was passed out and approved. VWA currently has an account balance of $4783.50. It was also reported that if the Cooperative Agreement with the Verde Natural Resource Conservation District is approved at this meeting, the balance would be reduced by $4,000.00 through a transfer of funds to the NRCD as per the terms of the Cooperative Agreement.
An update of the nomination process to nominate the Verde River and it’s watershed for recognition as an American Heritage River was given by the nomination coordinator, John Parsons. John gave a background as to why VWA is interested in submitting a nomination to be recognized as an American Heritage River and the benefits that could be realized by the people, governments and organizations within this watershed through this recognition. There was discussion by Jack Young, Wilkinson, Warren Greenwell, Anita Rochelle, Mark Peterson, and Bob Rothrock and others not identified on the pros and cons of American Heritage Rivers Recognition.
A great amount of concern was expressed about the Constitutionality of the President giving this recognition and designation and that this was another attempt by the federal government to take private property and private property rights. Attempts were made to reassure those with those concerns that if the initiative turns out to be different than the way it was worded in the Federal Register, that VWA would not submit the nomination package to the Federal Government. It was explained that the way it the initiative was worded, it fits very well with what VWA stands for and would greatly assist VWA in accomplishing it’s goals and objectives. An abstract of the terms and components of the Cooperative Agreement between VWA and the Verde Natural Resource Conservation District was given by Secretary -Treasurer and it was voted to approve the Cooperative Agreement and forward to Verde NRCD for it’s approval. Upon approval by VNRCD, funds would be transferred to VNRCD for execution of the agreement.
The new Summer Student Intern was asked to give a short background on herself and her interests and what she was hoping to get from her summer in working for VWA.
The Revised Articles of Incorporation as proposed by the Long Range Planning Committee and revised by the general body were approved. Another vote will be taken at the next meeting in Chino Valley to assure concurrence by the membership.
There were no further committee reports.
In other business, Jeff Schalau of the U of A, Cooperative Extension Service reported that in a Yavapai County wide well test, 7 used for domestic water were found to have high nitrate concentrations. Anyone wanting further information can contact the Yavapai County Extension Service.
For a future topic for presentation at a VWA meeting it was suggested that it be on the water quality issues in the Verde Valley such as the Camp Verde Water Company arsenic reduction system for Camp Verde water.
The Meeting was adjourned at 9 p.m.
By T. Bonomo, VWA Sec.-Trea.