ADWR, Flagstaff, Navajo Nation representatives were planning on making the trip to seek congressional support for the feasibility study. There was discussion about other members’ ability to go or provide written request for support. Eunice said that they were making appointments with Bureau of Reclamation, the Department of Interior, and that the GAC suggested lobbying bureaucrats as well as congressmen.

Liz mentioned that she had a phone conference call yesterday with Kyl, Renzi, and McCain staffers and they seemed positive. There was discussion about attaching to legislation being presented by Gabrielle Giffords for the Upper San Pedro. The Congressional staff asked how the WAC would feel about that, so Liz posed the question to the WAC, and also asked Tom if he saw any drawbacks to doing so. Tom said that the difference was that the WAC is looking at meeting unmet demands, the San Pedro is looking at impacts to the River and Fort Huachuca. There was discussion about the difference in the amount of money the WAC is requesting and San Pedro was looking at a lot less. Tom said that he didn’t think that should be problematic as there are major differences in the studies. Deb suggested that the talking points distinguish those differences. Joe Haughey said that riding on the San Pedro legislation may help in expediting, but would like to keep options open, and he asked how the San Pedro group felt about us tagging on to their bill. After further discussion everyone seemed to be in consensus about adding the WAC request to the Upper San Pedro legislation.

Deb Hill gave the Public Outreach Committee report. She mentioned that the Coconino County Newsletter included an article on the WAC. She said that they had approved a logo based on the ones distributed previously. She said that she will email it to everyone but using it will require POC approval. She said that anyone wishing to use it should email a request to Deb or other designee and they will give approval within 7 days. Liz asked if it could be used for lobbying, and Deb said yes. Deb said that they were planning a joint meeting with the Government Affairs Committee and would develop a press release related to the DC trip.

Deb said that they are establishing the web site, which the County will host, and that Pat Cox from Reclamation will write content for the web site. She said it will be for public use. She requested organizational profiles from all the members, and also asked for water related photos that could be used on the site. She said that within the next 2-3 months they will have a prototype for review. She said that Brenda Grey with Coconino County will keep it updated and current, Don Bills is going to write some water Q&A. She said that they are continuing working on their strategic plan items and are researching statewide education programs.

The next report was from Tom Whitmer on the Statewide Water Advisory Group (SWAG). Tom said this was an amazing year for water at the legislature. Tom reviewed four water-related bills that were passed. These included SB 1575 giving County’s the authority to adopt water adequacy requirements for new subdivisions. He said that this requires a unanimous vote of the Board of Supervisors to adopt an adequacy ordinance, he also said that ADWR is now working on developing rules for implementing the new law. First, they will be developing adequacy rules for the different groundwater basins in the state.

Other legislation included the Water Development Fund, a bill prohibiting new wells in areas in superfund sites where there may be contaminated groundwater, and the Regional Water Authority created for the Upper San Pedro District.

Tom said the SWAG will keep meeting and in fact had a meeting that day. He said they will be working on establishing an agenda committee of 10-12 people to identify issues around the sate for further legislative action. He said there will also be a water development fund committee set up. Tom said they need a representative from this region on both committees.

Barry Baker asked about when the water adequacy for counties will take effect. Tom said that the adequacy won’t be effective until they have the rules adopted. He said that ADWR will still be making the determination of adequacy. Deb asked about the timing for the rulemaking process. Tom said months. Barry asked how a county could consider adopting the adequacy requirement without the information on the rules and without knowing how adequacy will be defined. Liz and Deb both said that Coconino County will not consider adopting an ordinance without being fully informed on the rules and how adequacy will be defined. Tom said he doesn’t expect any county to jump on it until after the rules are adopted.

The next item on the Agenda was a presentation by Abe Springer, NAU and Arizona Water Institute, on modeling 101 or “Introductions to Models and Modeling.” Abe said that he was making this presentation to help the WAC members understand the basics of groundwater modeling and in preparation for an upcoming presentation on the new USGS Regional Groundwater Flow Model. Be mentioned several models that had been done in the region. He reviewed the different types of models, why models are used, and modeling jargon.

Deb Hill asked about the level of confidence with models. Abe said that models help you understand how a system works. There was discussion about how models may be used and their reliability.

The meeting was adjourned at noon.