Coconino Plateau Water Advisory Council
August 31, 2007
Flagstaff City Hall
211 W. Aspen Ave.
Flagstaff, Arizona
Second Floor Conference Room
Water Advisory Council Members Present
Liz Archuleta, Chairman
Deb Hill, Coconino County
Lena Fowler, Navajo Nation
Tom Whitmer, Arizona Department of Water Resources
Scott Reger, Arizona Game and Fish Dept.
Bob Michaels, Bureau of Reclamation
Brenda Smith, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Palma Wilson, Grand Canyon National Park
Rick Shireman, Flagstaff Area Monuments NPS
Rory Steinke, Coconino National Forest
Mike Williams, Kaibab National Forest
Barry Baker, Tusayan
Lisa McNeilly, The Nature Conservancy
Chairman Liz Archuleta called the meeting to order at 10 a.m. and those present introduced themselves. Joanne Keene introduced Brenda W. Burman, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Water and Science at the U.S. Department of the Interior, who happened to be visiting Flagstaff.
The first item was approval of the minutes from the July 27 meeting. On a motion by Brenda Smith, seconded by Tom Whitmer, the minutes were approved as submitted.
The next item was a report from the Technical Advisory Committee. Tom Whitmer gave this report. He said that the TAC met to discuss pursuing a research grant from the Arizona Water Institute and outlined what the project would be. It will be associated with Environmental Goal 3 of the WAC strategic plan which is in regard to at-risk water resources. The overall project will identify criteria for what at-risk means, pull together a group of stakeholders to participate in the project, and identify at-risk resources based on the new criteria. Tom said that Abe Springer will be project lead and is putting together the draft proposal for TAC review. He asked that the WAC vote in support of the proposal. On a motion by Bob Michaels, seconded by Brenda Smith, the WAC voted unanimously to support the proposal.
Next on the agenda was a report from Joanne Keene, Chair of the Government Affairs Committee (GAC). First, she asked for any other interested in participating in the GAC to contact her. Next, she reported on the meeting the executive committee and advocacy group had with Ryan Smith and from Jon Kyl’s office last week She said that he had some suggestions for the scope of work and questions about the cost estimates. She reported that the Bureau of Reclamation is reviewing the proposal and the advocacy group hopes to make another visit to DC in October to continue pursuing congressional authorization for the feasibility study.
Tom Whitmer provided an update on SWAG and other statewide legislative issues. He apprised everyone of the upcoming meetings that ADWR would be holding to get input on the water adequacy legislation SB1575 that passed last year. He said they would be in Flagstaff, September 21 at 1 p.m. He described these as informational meetings to go over the legislation and will be asking for input on components of the Rules package, he said a key component will be in defining water adequacy.
Liz Archuelta gave the next update from the WAC advocacy group. In following up on their previous meetings she mentioned that the Bureau of Reclamation’s position for opposing any feasibility authorization, and that Senator Kyl wants to have more input on the scope of work and timeline.
Bob Michaels, Bureau of Reclamation, said that they are working on an update for the cost estimates, that they are reviewing it again and have stressed the need for a good, tight estimate.
Liz mentioned that at the next TAC meeting in September Ryan would participate by phone and provide some input.
The next item on the agenda was a report by Deb Hill, Chair of the Public Outreach Committee (POC). Deb introduced the members present and asked Brenda Grey to review the mock-up of the website they have been working on. Brenda said that she’ll be the WAC webmaster, and that the site will be hosted on the County’s server. She said they are still accepting water-related photos for the site.
Tom asked if member agencies would be able to post events. Brenda said yes, and they would be able to link the calendar to those events. Tom said government affairs committee is willing to work with public outreach to prepare a canned presentation. He said they are looking at October-November time frame to submit to state legislators.
Deb asked for comments about the overall design and everyone agreed it looked great.
After a short break Liz called for public any comment. Calvin Johnson, a resident of Leupp, made a request to the WAC for information. He said he had been directed to the WAC by the City of Flagstaff Water Commission. He expressed concern regarding the memorandum of understanding between the City of Flagstaff and Navajo Nation regarding the North Central Arizona Water Supply Study. He was representing concerns from residents of Canyon Diablo, stating that they don’t understand how the feasibility process affects the Little Colorado River adjudication. Furthermore, they have questions regarding the impacts of drought on water supplies. He expressed their desire to have an independent study not affiliated with Bureau of Reclamation, and that would include Leupp, Tolani Lake, Dilkon, and Bird Springs. He said that people out there are concerned and want to be involved in the planning process.
Deb Hill asked if Canyon Diablo residents wanted a presentation to review the study.
Calvin said that Canyon Diablo is at the heart of the C Aquifer and concerns about drawing from it. There was discussion about making a presentation at Canyon Diablo. Deb said that she would be happy to facilitate an educational meeting and would work with Calvin to provide an interpreter for it.
Lena Fowler, WAC representative from the Navajo Nation Water Rights Commission, said that they have been to each of the chapters several times to make presentations. She noted that Leupp, Tolani Lake, and Bird Springs have passed resolutions supporting it. She noted that the MOU with the City of Flagstaff is related to management of the C aquifer, not the North Central Arizona Water Supply Study.
There was discussion about the different issues—the MOU between Flagstaff and Navajo, the North Central Arizona Water Supply Study, C Aquifer, and Navajo Nation Water Rights in Southwest region (including Tolani Lake, Teastoh, and Bird Springs), and the Little Colorado River adjudication. Lena said that Calvin’s concerns cover all of these issues.
Liz clarified for Calvin that the WAC’s role in all of these issues is with the feasibility study related to the NCAWSS.
Robert Kirk said the MOU with Flagstaff and Navajo is about the two entities sitting down and talk about management of the C aquifer, it is not an agreement beyond that discussion.
The next item on the agenda was a presentation by Shaula Hedwall, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on endangered species. Her presentation included an introduction to the USFWS and the Endangered Species Act, listed and sensitive species of concern within the feasibility study area, and ongoing and current impacts to listed and sensitive species. She reminded everyone that the Coconino Plateau Partnership goal is to ensure an adequate long-term supply of water is available to meet the current and future reasonable needs while preserving the health of the environment.
Shaula reviewed the listed species most dependant on water in Coconino and Mohave counties. She identified 33 native fish throughout the state and their current status-1 is extinct, 12 “endangered”, 8 “threatened”, 5 are included in a draft statewide conservation agreement to present listing, and the remaining 7 are “wildlife of special concern.” She noted that the reason for the current status of these species is lack of water, especially in areas that are free of non-natives.
Shaula reviewed amphibians, fish, and riparian obligates that require water and what impacts their future including dams, diversions, and non-native fish. She further stated that over-grazing, roads, non maintenance of wetlands also impact watersheds and create problems.
Shaula said that it is important to not only look forward, but to look at how we’ve used water. She talked about the Little Colorado Spinedace, noting that its habitat is drying up and impacting its future. She used Barbershop Canyon as an example, noting that it has almost no water now, and they are losing the ability to find places to put these animals so that we can improve their chances of recovery.
Shaula again reminded the members of the Partnership’s vision and said she would be more than willing to come back and discuss the regulatory side of the ESA as we move to the feasibility study.
Scott Reger, Arizona Game and Fish, said that recreational use of water also plays into the picture.
Liz asked if the EIS for feasibility will cover regulatory concerns. Shaula answered that it would be under Section 7, if the Bureau of Reclamation takes the lead, otherwise Section 10 for local government.
After further discussion of the various issues, Shaula suggested that the group ask “is what we are using water for the best use.”
The next agenda was tentatively set to include a presentation on the new USGS groundwater model. The meeting will be September 28 at City Hall.
Liz noted that this was Ron Doba’s last day with the City of Flagstaff and expressed appreciation for all of his work on behalf of the WAC and TAC.
The meeting adjourned at 12 p.m.