Hereford natural resource conservation district
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday, September 20, 2017
Sierra Vista County Complex—Small Conference Room—9:30 a.m.
Board Present: Jim Lindsey, Lucinda Earven, Rachel Thomas, John Ladd,David Greenberg
Others Present: Jack Ladd—Advisor, Jeri Ligon—Advisor,Pat Call—Advisor, Don Decker—NRCS, Chuck Cunningham—Cooperator, Ivette Cunningham—Cooperator, Tricia Gerrodette—citizen, Kathy Morris—Board Clerk
A. Call to Order
Lucinda Earven called the meeting to order at 9:32 a.m.
B. Introductions
Introductions were not necessary.
C. Review and Approval of Regular Meeting Minutes, August 16, 2017
Motion:Rachel Thomasmoved to approve the regular meeting minutes of August 16, 2017.
Second:John Ladd seconded the motion.
Vote:Carried unanimously.
D. Committee and Other Reports
1. Upper San Pedro Partnership: Lucinda Earven reported the last USPP meeting was “quite good.”
They discussed “where to go with the partnership”. A report was given on 2017 Groundwater Pumping
and Recharge Update. This report revealed the Horseshoe Draw will significantly add recharge to the river.
New officers were elected: Pat Call—Chairman, Rick Mueller—Vice Chairman
2. NRCS: Don Decker reported on the upcoming Arizona Conservation Partnership Program meeting to be held October 4, 2017 at the Cochise County Complex meeting room on Melody Lane in Bisbee.
3. USFS: No one present to report
4. BLM: No one present to report.
5. The Arizona Rangeland Conservation Partnership: This program has been called Restore Arizona and The Arizona Rangeland Conservation Partnership. The proper title now is Arizona Conservation Partnership Program(ACPP).
John Ladd reported there were several committee meetings at the AACD Summer Conference concerning this program. Next year will be the 3rd year of the program and funding is still dependent on BLM and NRCS.
As a landowner, if you have had an ACPP funded project there is a waiting period of two years for an individual to apply again.
The original proposed project (Restore Arizona) had duration of five years. The idea now is to make ACPP a permanent program. Other than NRCS and BLM additional groups are being approached about funding the program.
6. Cochise Conservation and Recharge Network (CCRN): John Ladd said he and Pat Call showed Pat’s drone video of Horseshoe Draw and John gave an overview of what has been accomplished.
CCRN continues to collect data from previous projects and follows the studies. The main project in sight now is Coyote Wash (Moson Road and Charleston Road, Cochise County). Coyote Wash goes through Sierra Vista and so carries a lot of “new water” (water that falls on pavement and runs off). The name is Urban Enhanced Recharge (UER). CCRN projects being accomplisheddepend on being funded.
E. District Financial Reports
- Payment Authorizations:
Motion:Rachel Thomas moved to approve items 1-12 for payment.
Second:John Ladd seconded the motion.
Vote:Carried unanimously
2. Monthly Financial Reports
Tabled.
3. Motion to File Financial Report for Audit
Tabled.
F. Old Business
1. Horseshoe Draw & ADEQ Water Quality Improvement Grant, Phase 1: John Ladd reported Ron Tiller—ADEQ, Liz Boettcher—ADEQ and three othersfrom ADEQ visited the Ladd Ranch/Horseshoe Draw site September 19, 2017 to see how the site has functioned, any maintenance issues and any monitoring. John said there have been 10 floods through the holding pond this season. Jake Buckley—Granite Construction was also in attendance and was able to answer ADEQ’s questions. They were assured Cochise County is totally capable of handling the maintenance of the project.
Rip rap at the inlet was moved by the flood—which was known would probably happen because the rocks used weren’t large enough. To alleviate the problem the same basketball sized rocks will be used but will be cemented into place (large enough rocks are cost prohibitive). Reinforcing the inlet and outlet with more concrete will also be helpful. Another idea for Phase 2 is to off-set the inlet and outlet pipes so the water does not wash in a straight line.
Cochise County personnel visited and assessed the site last week.
4. Horseshoe Draw & ADEQ Water Quality Improvement Grant, Phase 2: (these two items were combined during the meeting) John Ladd also reported ADEQ didn’t have the time to walk to the site of Phase 2 so John drove them as far as possible where they could look over to the site.
ADEQ told John they are behind in the grant applications and no grant decisions have been made because the ranking had not yet been completed.
2. Conservation Implementation Strategy: Don Decker provided the update that the deadline for the report has changed. The reports will be the new way NRCS decides how EQIP funds are distributed to which areas and will not “kick in” until 2019. HNRCD still needs to write small land owners into their plan. 3. AACD Summer Conference—September, 2017: HNRCD attendees to the conference were: Jim Lindsey, Lucinda Earven, John Ladd, and David Greenberg.
The AACD Board of Directors meeting dealt partially with which state department conservation districts should be under. (Currently conservation districts are under the State Land Department). The motion presented was for the conservation districts to be under the State Forestry Department. 11 in favor, 4 against, and 6 abstained (there are 42 conservation districts in AZ and 22 districts were represented). Regardless of this vote it will require a change in the State legislation to move conservation districts from the State Land Department to the State Forestry Department.
In another meeting there were presentations from SHPO personnel. Frivolous opinions have been extracted from SHPO requirements. Requirements need to “go by the law” without opinions. SHPO is a federal law under the Antiquities Act and the states are implementing that law. John Ladd is still promoting changing the historic marker from 50 years to 100 years of age.
Another meeting featured John Ladd giving a presentation of the Horseshoe Draw Project using Pat Call’s drone video.
There was no training for new district board supervisors.
There was also a meeting on feral horses. The West has open land for 27,000 wild horses and burros and presently there are 72,000 wild horses and burros. Taxpayers are paying $50 million annually for “holding” wild horses and burros. Horses don’t just crop off the grass they eat—they pull up the grass, therefore the feed for wild horses has been demolished. Birth control and adoption programs have not worked in controlling the numbers and the slaughter barns have been closed. No solutions are in sight because BLM policies need to be changed.
G. New Business
1. Forest Service Meeting, Sonoita: Lucinda Earven and HNRCD cooperators Ivette and Chuck Cunningham attended the meeting which was aimed at forest permittees and covered Forest Service updates, grazing updates and wolf updates.
The Cunninghams learned about making a rain gauge and keeping track of precipitation on their land. Go to the website: myraingelog.arizona.edu/
2.Treated and Untreated Sewer Discharge Onto the Ladd Ranch: John Ladd reported the effluent sewage discharge from Naco, Mexico is an ongoing event because of summer monsoon floods and breakdown of the Naco infrastructure. Granite Construction, Board Patrol, Cochise County Health Department, ADEQ and Martha McSallyare now all aware of the problem. The International Boundary Water Commission at Nogales, Arizona/Mexico is the responsible agency. Martha McSally’s office is now involved. John shared a video of how the water is flowing through the Ladd Ranch. The problem is that Naco, Sonora, Mexico has grown enough their sewage lagoons are too small.
3. BLM SPRNCA RMP/EIS: Due to the fact the BLM has new personnel the District needs a coordination meeting to make sure the new personnel are aware of all the data the District has previously provided to BLM in regards to SPRNCA. Rachel Thomas will give Scott Feldhausen several dates to choose from.
4. Waters of the United States (WOTUS): Comments are due Friday, September 29, 2017. Rachel Thomas will work on HNRCD comments.
H. Education Programs
1. Tombstone High School Ag Program: No report.
I. Correspondence
1. Working Trees Info
2. Forestry Notes
J. Future Meetings / Agenda Items
HNRCD Regular Meeting
October 18, 2017 Wednesday 9:30a.m.
Cochise County ComplexLarge conference room Sierra Vista, AZ
K. Adjournment
Jim Lindsey adjourned the meeting at 11:25 a.m.
Approved by the Board______
(Date)
Signed______
(Jim Lindsey, Chairman)
Hereford NRCD does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, religion, color, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other status or condition protected by law.