Yavapai County Water Advisory Committee: June 18, 2008 Meeting
Agenda Item 4: Coordinators Report and TAC Report
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AGENDA ITEM #4:
Coordinators Report and TAC Report
Budget:
From preliminary “May 2008 Financial Report”: Account balance: $243,676.64; YTD Deductions: $208,053.16 (Fiscal year begins July 1).
Accounts payable (upon completion): NAU Verde Geospatial Phase I - $17,171.00
Coordinator Updates:
WAC Agendas/Speakers: The following table lists the confirmed speakers and draft schedule for other months. Note: some months have more than one speaker.
WAC 2008 Speaker Schedule – DRAFT v052908
DATE / TITLE / SPEAKER / CONFIRMEDFeb 20 / Communicating Science / Nick Melcher / Yes - done
Mar 19
Cottonwood / Growth Scenario #1 and plans for other scenarios (Approve #1 and set objectives for others) / Hoyt Johnson + TAC / Yes - done
Mar 19
Cottonwood / ADWR – Water Adequacy Legislation (overview, process, water hauling exemption, schedule) / Doug Dunham / Yes - done
Apr 16
Prescott / “Emergent Persistent Chemicals” (update on science, esp. re: recharge and gw) / Chuck Graf / Yes -done
May 21
Cottonwood / NAU Verde Valley Surface Water Model – Phase I Geospatial Database / Abe Springer and Rob Ross (NAU) / Yes-done
June 18
Prescott / Legislative update / Tom Whitmer / Yes
July 16
Cottonwood / “SRP in the Verde” (Issues and Activities) / Greg Kornrumph / Yes
July 16
Cottonwood / ADWR Verde Programs Overview / Tbd (Leslie Graser) / Schedule for later
July 16
Cottonwood / Project WET/Education in Yavapai (program details and plans) / Kerry Schwartz and/or Edessa Carr (Extension Office) / Schedule conflict – schedule for later (Sept)
July 16
Cottonwood / PDR’s / Conservation Easements
(where to go from here – follow up) / Dan Campbell (?) / no
Aug 20
Prescott / No Meeting
Sep 17
Cottonwood / USGS Northern Arizona Groundwater Flow Model / Kyle Blasch, USGS / Yes
Oct 15
Prescott / CYHWRMS – Appraisal Study Update / Leslie Meyers / tentative
Nov 19
Cottonwood / Verde Science Results (Baseflow studies, water chemistry studies) / Don Bills, USGS
James Hogan, U of A / no
Dec 17
Prescott
Other Agenda Items under consideration:
1. Verde River Ecological Flows Study (Jeanmarie Haney, TNC)
2. “ADWR” – Many possibilities - Need to link to a need of the WAC (e.g. Monitoring in Verde Basin, General Programs Review, RWI, Conservation, etc)
3. “HCP’s follow up” – USFWS John Nystedt, Brenda Smith
4. “Conservation Survey Results and next steps” (Shaun Rydell, City of Prescott)
5. “Conservation effort by Coalition” (e.g. Intent and findings, and applicability to the rest of the County)
6. Legal Issue (Federal position, State Process)
7. TAC issues (e.g. USGS Model interpretation; Adequacy rulemaking issue paper; science/monitoring results, etc.)
8. USGS Seepage Run – Results (Synoptic Study of last summer) – Don Bills, USGS Flagstaff (TAC first)
9. Verde River Geochemistry – James Hogan, U of A (Seepage Run data) (TAC first)
10. Agua Fria Needs assessment and plans (TAC first)
11. Phase II Verde Valley Surface System - NAU work (TAC first)
12. City and Town Updates
13. Monitoring – Data, Maps, Needs, Plans (review WAC sites and others) (TAC)
14. TNC, VRBP, UVRWPC, and other groups.
15. Water Quality (e.g. arsenic updates)
16. LDIG Report Presentation
17. Colorado River Water Issues (NAMWUA – Herb Dishlip)
18. Coconino Plateau WAC issues (regional planning)
19. ADWR Water Adequacy follow up
Reclamation Appraisal Level Water Supply Study (WAC (County), ADWR, USBR)
The study has begun. A kick-off meeting was held on May 14, 2008. The meeting was hosted by the cost share partners. Presentations were given in order to review the Study organization, the Plan of Study, and some lessons learned from previous studies in other locations. The Technical Working Group was briefed on the first work and regular meetings were scheduled.
The Technical Working Group (TWG) met again on June 5, 2008 and is starting on the first tasks including confirming the Study area, establishing a list of service providers and mapping service areas and existing population. Meeting will typically be on the first Thursday at 10:00 in either Cottonwood or Prescott (usually a video link will be established). The next meeting is scheduled for July 3rd in Cottonwood at 10:00.
The minutes of the June 5, 2008 Technical Working Group Meeting are reproduced below (3 pages).
Local drought Impact Group (LDIG) (WAC, Coop Ext, Yav County, ADWR, NRCS)
An update will be provide at this, June 18, 2008 WAC meeting (see Agenda Item 5)
The acting steering committee consists of Jeff Schalau (Chair of Education Participant Group; County Extension), Nick Angiolillo (Chair of Preparedness Group; County Emergency Management), Bob Adams (Chair of Monitoring Group; NRCS) Crystal Frost (ADWR), Tom Thurman (BOS), John Rasmussen (WAC Coordinator), Bob Arambula (NRCS), and Kresta Faaborg (NRCS). The primary meeting topics have been the nature of the participant groups, participant group goals/strategies, state involvement, and next steps.
Education: Cooperative Extension Position (Project WET and other Programs)
A Project WET water festival has been scheduled for the Verde Valley in October 23, 2008 at the Dead Horse Ranch State Park. Chris Moran is leading the planning committee.
Edessa Carr is continuing with Extension’s education programs and Project WET training planning with area schools.
An “Update and a 2008/2009 Programs summary” presentation to WAC is planned for this fall, depending on schedule availability. September appears to be the most likely month for the Project WET update to the WAC.
The WAC has budgeted for another year of half-time funding for the Cooperative Extension position. This will be discussed at the June meeting (agenda item #7)
Northern Arizona Regional Groundwater Flow Model (NARGFM) (USGS)
WAC will be updated by the project Chief, Kyle Blasch, at the September, 2008 regular meeting. Otherwise this update has not changed since last month. Peer review meeting was held on April 10th. Initial model runs are scheduled for May, 2008.
The WAC is preparing a set of scenarios for some of the initial models runs. One scenario is complete, and work on additional scenarios is set to begin in the TAC. The TAC recommends seeing what the model does with the first scenario before sending the USGS other scenarios (in case there are some special considerations that arise based on the outcome of the model run with the initial scenario)
The initial model runs will also involve runs for sensitivity analysis and assessment of the model set up. This is important to have completed prior to drawing too many conclusions from the initial runs with the WAC scenarios.
In addition to testing and evaluating the model as constructed, the primary purpose of the initial runs will be to provide decision makers with some preliminary results and a sense of the models capabilities. More detailed runs and analyses will occur after the report is put together and the “bugs” are worked out.
USGS Verde River Seepage Run (Synoptic sampling) (USGS)
No Change since last month. Data has not yet been officially published. Data is being used by USGS NARGFM modelers and U of A geochemists. Expect to receive presentation from USGS (Don Bills, Project Chief) by this summer. This will likely be a topic for a “Verde science” meeting day (e.g. the September WAC meeting). Coordinator has spoken with both Don Bills and James Hogan and we are looking at a presentation to the WAC on both the USGS work and the U of A chemistry in July, September or November (Cottonwood Meeting dates)
Long-term Scenario Development Project (H3J Consulting - Hoyt Johnson)
The tables for population and water-use for Scenario #1 have been distributed. The TAC is awaiting a final report with descriptions of the methods, contacts and the details of the assumptions that went into developing the first scenario. The TAC knows that it is extremely important that all of the assumptions and the methods be explained for each scenario that is produced.
An ArcGIS point file has been sent to the USGS for inspection and inclusion into the first model runs.
Ideas for additional scenarios were discussed at the regular April TAC meeting, and discussed with the WAC. At the May TAC meeting, it was decided to move forward with developing a proposal for further work. The TAC will recommend another model run to develop a “more aggressive” growth scenario that incorporates some areas of state lands, and some variations on some cities (more growth and higher water use). A conservation scenario will also be examined.
A cost estimate and detailed work plan for additional work by H3J Consulting will be discussed by the TAC and provided at a later WAC meeting (July or August). For now the highest priority is to publish the final report for scenario 1, and get some feedback from the initial model runs.
Verde Valley Geospatial Database (Rob Ross, Abe Springer, NAU)
A draft final report for Phase 1 is currently in review. The WAC was updated in May, 2008, and plans for Phase 2 were introduced. A description and proposal for phase II is included with Agenda Item 7 of this June, 2008 meeting. The TAC recommends proceeding with the proposed Phase 2 work.
“Conservation Subdivisions” (County Planning & Zoning)
No change from last month: The Sustainable Planning Committee has continued to meet and plans to bring a recommendation for clustering as a matter of right in any residential zoning district (Ordinance, Section 441 Administrative Residential PAD). One of the purposes is to increase open space. Supervisor Davis (District 3) has raised questions and concerns about the concept.
There is recognition amongst many of the committee members that more needs to be done to reach their overall goals of better, more efficient subdivisions; however, they also realize a step-wise process will likely move farther faster. While the committee meetings have been open to the public, there will be an “official” period of public comment and meetings regarding these matters.
The Sustainable Planning Group met again on May 16, 2008, at the County Development Services Building in Prescott at 10 AM (Agenda recapped a meeting with Supervisor Davis, and the next steps (including topics to address a new section to the General Plan regarding sustainability).
These meeting are informal. Prior to any enactment of any of this committee’s recommendations, hearings will occur.
SB 1575 Water Adequacy Rules (ADWR)
As part of the informal rules making process, the WAC hosted another meeting with Doug Dunham, Deputy Assistant Director of the Water management Division (ADWR), and the Yavapai Communities on June 4, 2008. This was a follow up to previous meeting held in this area and has this area “caught-up” in regards to scheduled meetings in other areas of the State regarding SB 1575.
The hydrology reporting was discussed along with the schedule. Supporting materials were distributed to the WAC, and a power point was shown. These can be obtained from the coordinator. The TAC is preparing a briefing paper for the WAC on this issue.
The meeting reviewed the Assured and Adequacy programs (AMA vs non-AMA areas), their applicability to subdivisions as defined by the Arizona Department of Real Estate (>6 parcels, etc), and the criteria for a Water Adequacy Determination by ADWR (Physical, Legal, and continuous availability for 100 years; financial capability to have necessary system, and sufficient water quality).
The presentation also reviewed SB 1575 provisions and focused on physical availability changes (aquifer specific modifications and depth exemptions). Depth Exemptions for providers and dry lot’s are proposed (>1200’ if proven and 600’, respectively). While no aquifer specific changes to the existing rules were proposed for the greater Yavapai County area, Mr. Dunham did state that the exemption process is publicly driven and that the Director can be petitioned at any point in time.
Regarding the process - the statute indicates the mandatory things that ADWR is required to review. In this case, the only optional item was aquifer specific depth changes (whereby the Department did a targeted broad review and is recommending only one depth change (C and R aquifers on the Coconino Plateau); and a recommendation for changes to the depth exemptions (i.e. greater than 1200 feet may be allowed for central providers if supply is proven, and dry lot wells are lowere to 600 feet (from the previous 400 feet). Rules can be changed in the future with due public process (input, comments, etc). After the informal process is complete (August appears to be the time in this case), the formal process is initiated and it gets a formal hearing. The Governors Regulatory Review Council (“the GRRC process”) has the final say on the rules
The current draft rule language is dated May 14, 2008 (document is titled Proposed Rule Language: SB 1575 Adequacy Rules” – it was distributed to the WAC prior to the June 4, 2008 meeting. Please contact Coordinator if you would like a copy)
Additional information can be found at the ADWR website: http://www.azwater.gov/dwr/default.htm
No other SB 1575 meetings with ADWR in Yavapai County are scheduled at this time.
Water organizations:
Upper Verde River Watershed Protection Coalition http://www.uvrwpc.org/
The next Coalition Board meeting will be June 25, 2008 at 2:00 PM at Prescott City Hall. The next regularly scheduled TAC meeting is July 9, 2008, 1:00 PM at the Gladys Gardner Conference Room at the County Administrative Services Building in Prescott.
The Coalition and its TAC have created a Safe Yield Workgroup with purpose of examining and creating recommendations regarding safe-yield in the AMA. The members of the working group are the TAC members plus Howard Mechanic, representing Citizens Water Groups; Joanne Oellers, representing Environmental Concerns; Dirk Stingham, representing Private Water Companies; Jabe Willis, representing Private Wells owners, Steve Conrad, representing Growth Interests (Paul Daly is alternate); and Agriculture is not represented at this time. Regular meetings will be held on same day as the Coalition TAC meetings (please confirm dates and time via website, above)