MINUTES
Coconino Plateau Water Advisory Council
September 25, 2009
USGS Building #3
2255 N Gemini Drive,
Flagstaff, Arizona 86001
Water Advisory Council Members Present
Joelynn Roberson, WAC Vice-Chairman, Hopi Tribe
Sue Pratt, Coconino County
Brad Hill, City of Flagstaff
Brent Bitz, City of Sedona
Tom Whitmer, Arizona Department of Water Resources
Sybil Smith, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
Bob Michaels, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
Brenda Smith, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Don Bills, U.S.G.S.
Brenda Burman, The Nature Conservancy
1. Welcome and Introductions Joelynn Roberson,
WAC Vice-Chairman
Joelynn Roberson, CPWAC Vice-Chair, called the meeting to order at 10 a.m. and asked for introductions by those in attendance.
2. Approval of Minutes Joelynn Roberson, June 26 and July 31 WAC Meetings WAC Vice-Chairman
On a motion by Tom Whitmer, seconded by Brenda Smith, the minutes from the April 24, 2009 WAC meeting were unanimously approved as submitted.
3. Presentation- Quagga Mussels and Tom McMahon, Arizona
Other Invasive Species Game and Fish
Joelynn Roberson introduced Tom McMahon, Invasive Species Coordinator with the Arizona Game and Fish Department. Tom began his presentation by stating that he is the only invasive species coordinator in the state, and that it is a big undertaking. He gave the definition for “Aquatic Invasive Species” per the 2009 Aquatic Interspecies Interdiction Act, passed by the Arizona Legislature under HB2157. “Any aquatic species that is not native to the ecosystem under consideration and whose introduction or presence in this State may cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health. This does not include any nonindigenous species (e.g., rainbow trout, largemouth bass) lawfully or historically introduced into the State for sportfishing purposes.”
Mr. McMahon showed slides with photographs of some aquatic invasive species including bullfrog, crayfish, New Zealand mud snail, and plants including Salvinia and Hydrilla. Tom said that there is the issue of the beetle which is currently being used in other states to eradicate Salt Cedar (Tamarisk), but the fact is that birds rely on the Tamarisk for habitat. He noted that this beetle has been reported in Page and at Lee’s Ferry. Tom also showed slides of two invasive mussels-zebra and quagga. Tom said that the zebra mussel is not in Arizona, yet.
Mr. McMahon had specimens of quagga mussels which had been found in Yuma and at Lake Mead. He noted that they are small bi-valves which most likely arrived in North America through ballast water in the Great Lakes in the late 1980’s. He stated that the quagga mussel was first found in Arizona in early 2007, but that they were probably brought here in 2005 by large watercraft from the Midwest or Great Lakes region. He noted that populations of these mussels have been found in Lakes Havasu, Mead, Mohave, and Pleasant. They have also been found in the CAP canal system from Lake Havasu to Granite Reef Dam. He said that per monitoring projects, there is currently no evidence in Powell, Roosevelt, or the SRP canals.
He noted that the problem in Arizona is with moored boats, important stage is when they are attached. He explained that they will clog up pipes and showed photos of a fire water pump in Waddell and other examples at Lake Mead and Lake Pleasant. He noted their ability to rapidly accumulate and clog water supplies/pipelines from ½ in. to 20 ft. in diameter.
Brad Hill asked how Arizona Game &Fish is working with Lake Mary. Tom McMahon said they are not currently monitoring at Lake Mary. He emphasized that the responsibility goes across the board and includes land management agencies as well as AzG&F.
Tom McMahon explained why the quagga mussels are so problematic, noting that they can spawn 4-6 times a year in the arid southwest having up to 50,000 eggs per spawn.
He noted that Arizona is spending $750,000 to $1.5 million on prevention and control, and nationally it’s estimated to be from $500,000 million to $5 billion.
Mr. McMahon explained that the mussels are spread through the movement of water craft and what Arizona Game & Fish through public outreach and other methods. He showed photos of a boat decontamination station at Lake Mead, noting the high costs to establish such a facility. He said it must be manned as it requires the use of 160 degree water at very high pressure with contact for 10 seconds. He noted that the message to boat users is that they must clean, drain, and dry boats. He said that chlorination is used in California, but they found that it requires much more than anticipated and that it also leaves the shell behind, which is not desirable.
Tom described the use of Pseudomonas Flourescens, a common bacteria which may provide a method to kill the quagga mussels. He said the Bureau of Reclamation has a trial ongoing at Davis Dam with results expected in 2011. He cautioned that this is not a “silver bullet.”
Kevin Burke asked how they are found-can they test water to determine their presence? Tom McMahon said that a PCR test can be done to take it to the DNA level, noting that was what resulted in a false-positive at Lake Powell. He also noted that it is very expensive test and only a few places will do it.
Tom concluded by stating that it is a large problem and not for one agency to address alone, a variety of agencies need to all participate in addressing. He mentioned the Invasive Specie Advisory Council which is comprised of state and federal representatives.
4. Report on recent meetings with Bureau of Tom Whitmer, ADWR
Reclamation and Legislative Day Brenda Smith, USFWS
Tom Whitmer reported on recent meetings the CPWAC Executive Committee has held with representatives from the Bureau of Reclamation and the CPWAC Legislative Day. He said that they first met with Lorri Gray-Lee, Bureau of Reclamation Regional Director for the Lower Colorado Region. Tom said that the presentations from Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe, City of Flagstaff, Coconino County, Arizona Game and Fish and The Nature Conservancy, and ADWR gave a good background. He said they discussed the appraisal study and pursuit of feasibility authorization and received some good feedback from Lorri.
The August CPWAC meeting was a special legislative day to make the same presentations to those participating state and federal representatives. Tom said that Representative McLain, Deschene, Mason, and Chabin from the State legislature attended, as did Clint Chandler from Senator Jon Kyl’s office, and representatives from the Governor. He felt it was very informative and well-received.
Tom then recounted the meeting the Executive Committee had with representatives from the Bureau of Reclamation’s Rural Water Supply Program. He said that they were very impressed with the CPWAC and felt it was tremendously successful. He said that they are still developing the directives and standards process, which should be completed by the first of the year, which would provide us the opportunity to continue pursuing administrative authorization for feasibility.
Brenda Smith agreed, saying that she felt all of the meetings were very successful and that it showed that we are united in what we want to accomplish.
5. Committee Reports
Technical Advisory Committee Leslie Meyers, Chair
Leslie Meyers, TAC Chair, said they are still working on the sustainable water budget, noting that it is a new project with not a lot of history. They are currently identifying data collection needs and suggested monitoring sites. She said that the TAC plans to give a presentation at the December 11 meeting.
Government Affairs Committee Brenda Burman, Chair
Brenda Burman, GAC Chair, said that they have spent the past few months scheduling and holding the meetings that Tom just briefed the group on.
At this morning’s meeting the GAC discussed the State Budget, noting that the Governor has informed the state agencies that they have to come up with a 15-20% reduction by January 1, which could result in a $3 million hit to ADWR, which could mean losing as many as 80 staff out of the current 200. She emphasized the importance of the support provided by ADWR’s Rural Water Program to the rural areas of the state.
Public Outreach Committee Patricia Cox, Chair
Patricia Cox, POC Chair, reported that they have been very busy over the past few months putting information and displays together in support of the last few months. She noted that the Sustainable Living Fair date has been changed to October 24, and unfortunately no one from POC will be available. At their meeting this morning they discussed asking if they could just put WAC brochures at the County booth for this year.
6. CAP ADD-Water Meeting Update Brenda Burman, Government
Affairs Committee Chair
Brenda Burman reported that she attended the CAP ADD-water meeting, noting that Brad Hill attended on behalf of the City of Flagstaff and Ron Doba was there representing NAMWUA. She said that questions were raised regarding who the water should be available to, how and where should it be provided. She noted that they discussed future sources of groundwater, agricultural land, and looking far into the future-desalination. She stated that it was very important that rural Arizona has a voice. There was a small group formed and Brad Hill was appointed to be the one rural representative on that group.
Brad Hill reported that there are 25 people in that group and he felt they should know after the first few weeks the role for rural areas outside the three-county CAP service area. Brad said he felt it was very important for the CPWAC to begin discussing this matter with elected officials of the CAP Board. He said Flagstaff’s objective is to allow folks from outside the 3-county area to participate, to keep the door open, as is the same for NAMWUA’s position.
7. Report on SWAG and other State Tom Whitmer, ADWR
Water Issues
Tom said that he is not sure of the future for SWAG, if they will meet again. He noted that Governor Brewer has formed a new committee comprised of Kris Mayes, Chairman of the Arizona Corporation Commission, Herb Guenther, ADWR Director, and Ben Grumbles, ADEQ Director to look at water issues
8. Wrap-up and set agenda for next meeting Joelynn Roberson,
Friday, October 30, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. WAC Vice-Chairman
Future Meetings-December 11
Joelynn announced that the next meeting would include presentations on watershed health, and that the November and December meetings have been rescheduled into one year-end meeting on Friday, December 11. The meeting adjourned at 11:30 a.m.