MINUTES
Coconino Plateau Water Advisory Council
September 26, 2008
USGS Building #3
2255 N Gemini Drive,
Flagstaff, Arizona 86001
Water Advisory Council Members Present
Liz Archuleta, Chairman, Coconino County
Deb Hill, Supervisor, Coconino County
Sara Presler, City of Flagstaff
John Kocjan, City of Page
Charles Mosley, City of Sedona
Joelynn Roberson, Hopi Tribe
Lena Fowler, Navajo Nation
Barry Baker, Tusayan-Valle
Bob Hart, U.S. Geological Survey
Bob Michaels, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
Brenda Smith, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Tom Whitmer, Arizona Department of Water Resources
Brenda Burman, The Nature Conservancy
Michael McCauley, Coconino NRCD
Liz Archuleta, WAC Chairman, opened the meeting and began with introductions by those present. Liz welcomed Brenda Burman as the new representative for The Nature Conservancy.
On a motion by Deb Hill, seconded by Sarah Presler, the minutes of the July 25, 2008 meeting were unanimously approved as submitted.
Kerry Schwartz, Director of Arizona Project WET, gave a power point presentation about their program. She said it was based on answering the question “how do we get to behavior change for conservation awareness?” and reviewed the curriculum, lesson guides, content, and method for four different workshops. Ms. Schwartz said that Project WET is a national program for K-12. She noted that they provide state-oriented and regional aspects in their curriculum. She identified teaching tools that address history, groundwater flow model, watershed and water testing. Ms. Schwartz said that Willow Bend in Flagstaff is one location for these activities.
Kerry asked the WAC about their interest in Project WET. Chairman Archuleta explained that it has come up in developing the strategic plan and they are trying to identify their role in education and how they can partner with existing activities, including links on the web site, etc. She also mentioned the education component of the water ethic. Liz said that the WAC’s first priority is to go out and educate the community about the WAC. Kerry said that Project WET is available to partner to bring regional issues to their curriculum.
The Council thanked Kerry for her presentation.
Next on the agenda was the budget. Chairman Archuleta said that they would be sending invoices out to the members who have committed to share in the funding. She said that Coconino County is willing to be the fiscal agent for these funds, keeping the account and presenting regular accountings to the WAC. Chairman Archuleta said that to-date the following members have committed: Coconino County, Hopi, Sedona, The Nature Conservancy have each committed $10,000; Navajo will be meeting on October 9 to discuss but anticipate funding $10,000 as well. The City of Flagstaff’s Water Commission has approved the $10,000 and it will go to the Council later in October. John Kocjan from Page said that they had discussed it on the $1 per person for $7800, but he will go back with the $10,000 request. Chairman Archuleta said that they are still discussing a potential $70,000 to meet budget and carry-over. She said that the Executive Committee is preparing a job description for the coordinator position and will bring it to the WAC for approval. She said it is being designed as a part-time administrative position, preferring a background in water or planning, not science or technical expertise.
Next on the agenda were reports from the committees. Leslie Meyers gave the report from the Technical Advisory Committee. She said that the TAC met and reviewed the old strategic plan for possible options for a new Arizona Water Institute (AWI) grant. She said that at this point they are soliciting for conceptual proposals and the TAC was interested in pursuing a grant to continue with phase 2 of the at-risk water resources project which is tied to goals in the strategic plan, and expanding it to a broader region and include other watershed groups. She said it is due October 10, with the final proposal due November 14 if it is accepted. The TAC will bring more information to the October WAC along with the report on the current research project. Leslie said that the TAC also discussed possible opportunities tied to the USGS Regional Groundwater Flow Model. Liz thanked the TAC for looking out for grant opportunities.
Joanne Keene gave the report for the Government Affairs Committee. She said that they are also starting discussing the strategic plan. Joanne reported on the DC advocacy trip related to getting feasibility authorization through the Rural Water Supply Act. She said that the advocacy group met with Commissioner Bob Johnson and it was a very productive meeting. Liz thanked Joanne for putting the meetings together and those who attended for their participation. She asked for confirmation that the CPWAC can get feasibility approved administratively through the Rural Water Act. The answer was yes and that the City of Flagstaff’s work on Red Gap Ranch, ADWR’s money can go toward funding the study. Tom Whitmer said that the feedback from DC was that the WAC contingent was impressive, and he encouraged members to continue to ask the Arizona congressional delegation to call or write Reclamation in support of this. There was further discussion about other funding options including WIFA grants.
John Fortune gave the report for the Public Outreach Committee. He reported on the movie “Running Dry” which the WAC sponsored in August. He said that 125 people attended and that they distributed brochures. He said they are still working on the web page and will have the power point presentation for October meeting. He said that they are looking for all members to volunteers for speaking on specific topics.
Chairman Archuleta noted that the movie was successful with great discussion. She said people hadn’t heard about the WAC but were glad to hear there is a group looking at regional water issues. She thanked Lena Fowler for bringing the movie to the WAC’s attention.
Lena said that DVD’s are available and mentioned that there is a shorter 20 minute version of the movie as well as the full length 70 minute one. The goal is to bring awareness of water situation globally-getting information to everyone. There was discussion about including a link to the Running Dry website on the CPWAC site. Lena will bring a box of DVD’s next month for WAC members to take and distribute. Cynthia White, Friends of Flagstaff’s Future, asked for a copy of the DVD and said that she would like to include information on the CPWAC in the next newsletter.
Tom Whitmer gave an update on the SWAG and other state-related water issues. Tom noted that the next SWAG meeting will be October 15. He also apprised the Council about some discussions the state was having related to surface water issues and whether to consider any legislation related to several aspects including: formal enforcement authority for surface water, buffer zones to protect riparian areas, and broadening water protection fund to allow purchase of conservation easements.
Flagstaff Mayor Sarah Presler mentioned that she was involved in a proposal to fund the revolving fund but it was denied. She said that the League of Cities and Towns has agreed to create a subcommittee to address water issues. She said it is important to continue to take the message that rural Arizona wants to pay its own way related to our water, although it is not always perceived that way by AMA’s.
Mike Macauley brought up his concern with healthy watersheds. Chairman Archuleta noted that watershed health is part of the strategic plan and maybe he could help pinpoint where the discussion should go. There was discussion about having speakers address the healthy forest and watershed issue and identified possible speakers to include Nora Rasure, Coconino National Forest, and NAU faculty.
Tom Whitmer noted that ADWR is completing the rulemaking process for the adequacy requirements pursuant to SB1575. Cochise and Yuma counties have adopted it, as have the towns of Patagonia and Clarkdale. Deb Hill mentioned that Coconino County is participating in the rulemaking process and has been discussing it extensively. The WAC asked Sue Pratt to send a copy of the Counties comments to them.
Tom also mentioned a proposal from the Arizona Department of Real Estate related to lot splits. Deb Hill said that it is intended to tighten up some of the issues with lot splits, and particularly those that are over 36 acres.
The next item on the agenda was a request from Sedona to be made a voting member. Chairman Archuleta distributed a letter from Sedona making that request, and Charles Mosley, City of Sedona Public Works Director, addressed the WAC. He said that the Coconino Plateau is the source of their water so they are interested in participating as a voting member. Chairman Archuleta said that the WAC Executive Committee discussed the request and recommends approval. Sara Presler asked about the relationship between the Yavapai County WAC and if there were any potential conflicts. Charles Mosley said that he would defer to the Yavapai County WAC Coordinator John Rasmussen to address that concern, although he felt that they were on similar tracks. Chairman Archuleta suggested having John Rasmussen give a presentation to the WAC at a future meeting.
There being no further discussion, Deb Hill moved to approve Sedona as a voting member, which was seconded by Mike Macauley, and passed unanimously. Charles Mosley thanked the Council and noted that the mayor would be the regular representative.
There was discussion about scheduling for the November and December WAC meetings. It was decided to combine them into one extended meeting on Friday, December 5, from 9-12. There was discussion about the agenda for that day, which was going to primarily be about the strategic plan and the water ethic. The timing for legislative day was discussed and the need to schedule it before they go into session. It may be incorporated into the December 5 meeting.
The meeting adjourned at 11:20 a.m.