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Dear Friend,
This fall season we bring you multiple ways to learn, have fun, and take action for the Verde River. If you're the activist type, there's plenty to get steamed about. If you're the literary type, there's plenty to read and write about. And if you just like to get out, there's lots of the Verde to explore.
Watershed Wednesday - November 12 - JOIN THE FUN!
The Raven Café on November 12th will be the scene of an interactive performance incorporating poetry and activism for an important environmental cause. "Let It Flow: The Magnetic Poetry Approach to Telling Your Elected Officials What You Think," is a local take on the popular refrigerator-magnet poetry series. See our calendar for details and the event poster here.
Next Upper Verde River Watershed Protection Coalition Meeting - November 26
Come by and meet the municipal leaders making decisions about the future of the upper Verde River. Get involved by attending this meeting at the Prescott City Council Chambers (201 S. Cortez St., Prescott) at 2 p.m. Agendas and meeting minutes are posted here.
"Fishing for Answers" Quiz!
Three species of native "dace" exist in the upper Verde: Longfin Dace, Speckled Dace (both species of special concern because their populations are declining), and Spikedace (a highly endangered fish listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act). What makes a fish a dace?
The Scoop on the Spin
It seems the City of Prescott and the Town of Prescott Valley officials consider our Save the Verde campaign effective enough to spend $144,000 to challenge us by hiring a lobbyist and a public-relations pro. As part of the PR campaign, they've launched a new Web site, www.protectingourwaterresources.com, in an attempt to "spin" their way back into the good graces of their citizens.
Officials of the cities, along with the Web site itself, state that Salt River Project (SRP) and the Center for Biological Diversity have been trying to vilify the cities and their pipeline project. What we have done consistently since at least 2004 is demand a plan for mitigating any potential impacts to the upper Verde River prior to construction of the pipeline. This mitigation could be in the form of a Habitat Conservation Plan or any other legally binding plan that ensures that the Verde River and the imperiled species that depend on the river will be protected from harm. Instead, the cities argue that having the pumping location 20 miles from the Verde headwaters and installing a monitoring system will be mitigation enough. And to prove their points they recite assertions, new and old, some previously disproven, some in direct conflict with scientific reports, and all without references, to argue against the concerns expressed by the public, the Center, SRP and wildlife agencies. So just as the cities have created their own FAQ and "Myths vs. Facts" pages, the Center and others are creating our own fact sheets, with references, to provide answers based on the best available science and in the best interest of the public. Here are a few points to get your feet wet. And visit SaveTheVerde.org for more information.
What the Cities' Site Says:
1. "A significant geologic barrier known as the 'playa intrusion' or 'clay plug' divides groundwater under the Big Chino Water Ranch from the remainder of the Big Chino Sub-basin. This feature severely restricts groundwater flow to the aquifer below, similar to kinking a hose. Groundwater levels mapped by hydrologists demonstrate this fact."
2. "The communities have also committed to monitoring the aquifer in the area for potential impacts, and to respond promptly to any demonstrated impacts. This is part of their 140-year long history of stewardship of the upper Verde River. There has been conjecture about potential impacts sometime in the future. If things change and actual impacts from the communities' groundwater pumping are demonstrated by existing or future monitoring programs, the communities have publicly committed to remedy such impacts."
Our Take:
1. The "clay plug" theory was discredited years ago. It is a clay playa that extends into the basin, but does not completely separate the upper basin water from the lower basin.(i) It does not prevent pumping in the upper basin from impacting the lower basin. Water flows downhill and follows the path of least resistance.(ii) If the "plug" was an actually efficient barrier, there'd be a lake in the upper basin. Instead, the water flows under or around the clay playa.(iii) Instead of a kinked hose, it's more like a bathtub with a body in it.
2. The City of Prescott's 140-year long history of so-called stewardship of the upper Verde River has resulted in the dewatering of Del Rio Springs, which emanates from the groundwater-mined Little Chino Sub-basin, effectively eliminating about four miles of perennial stream flow to the upper Verde.(iv) At this point it seems the communities are all talk. No remedy plan for addressing future impacts in the Big Chino Sub-basin and upper Verde River has been provided to the public for review.
What Do You Think?
After you've taken a peek at the statements from the City and Town (unreferenced, by the way), be sure to provide them your feedback. Then let us know what you told them. Was there a point especially dear to your heart? We'd like your comments. Please contact Joanne at (928) 772-8204.
Give Back to the Verde
Whether you've seen the Verde in person or in a photo, the River has given something to you. Now is the time to give back to the Verde.
Would you:
1. Sign a statement of support for Verde River protection and sustainable planning for the region? Please add your name to the petition. You can make a real difference. So far, we've collected about 3,000 signatures both online and on paper. Thanks to those who have signed on. Now tell your friends to do the same! If you'd like to help collect signatures, as several generous volunteers already have, contact Joanne at (928) 772-8204.
2. Ask business owners you know if they would endorse this position statement. And tell Joanne who you've approached.
3. Help organize or participate in a rally?
4. Commit to helping out during April River Week 2009?
5. Join other Verde River friends for a cleanup of the upper Verde River?
Objections to Objections
Recall from October's update a public comment period was required of Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) in preparation for making its decision whether or not to include the Prescott's Big Chino Water Ranch water as part of its assured water supply. During this period, 40 individuals and 11 municipalities or groups sent letters to ADWR objecting to the city's request for modification of their assured water supply. Prescott has responded to the objections, and ADWR should be deciding any day now whether to add Big Chino water to Prescott's assured water supply portfolio, hold a hearing to review the request and objections, or deny the application. Whatever the decision, you can expect a fight.
Imperiled Fishes of North America
The third compilation of imperiled, freshwater and diadromous (moving between fresh and salt water) fishes of North America, conducted by a U.S. Geological Survey-led team of scientists and prepared by the American Fisheries Society's Endangered Species Committee, has been released (http://fisc.er.usgs.gov/afs/index.html). According to Mark Myers, USGS director, "Freshwater fish have continued to decline since the late 1970s, with the primary causes being habitat loss, dwindling range and introduction of non-native species. In addition, climate change may further affect these fish."
Of fish in the 1989 imperiled-fish compilation, 89 percent are either still listed with the same conservation status or have become even more at-risk. Only 11 percent improved in status or were delisted. Nearly 40 percent of fish species in North American streams, rivers, and lakes are now in jeopardy, according to the most detailed evaluation of the conservation status of freshwater fishes in the last 20 years. The 700 fishes now listed represent a staggering 92 percent increase over the 364 listed as "imperiled" in the previous (1989) study. Researchers classified each of the 700 fishes listed as either vulnerable (230), threatened (190), or endangered (280). In addition, 61 fishes are presumed extinct. The authors emphasize that improved public awareness and proactive management strategies are needed to protect and recover these aquatic treasures.
Calendar
Don't miss this month's calendar of events. To contribute calendar items, ask questions, or volunteer to help with a Save the Verde event, please contact Joanne at (928) 772-8204 or Michelle at (602) 628-9909
You can visit our archives if you are new to our list or missed an update.
New Verde Hikes and Cleanup Scheduled
Dozens of curious and hardy hikers have joined us on our series of upper Verde River hikes led by the Center for Biological Diversity and Sierra Club Yavapai Group. If you want to get in on a free educational trip to one of our local wetland wonders, call soon - our trips fill up fast. Please see our calendar for dates and descriptions.
The perfect way to say "thank you" to the Verde for your outing is to have some fun and really make a difference with like-minded river lovers. Please consider joining us in an upper Verde River cleanup in conjunction with April River Days, April 17 through 25. Watch for details in future Save the Verde updates.
Contributions Always Welcome
The Center for Biological Diversity appreciates your interest and involvement in the Save the Verde campaign. Please visit savetheverde.org for other news and updates. You can make a donation to this campaign from the secure Web site. Please contribute today!
Little Drops of Water - Express Yourself
Download a Little Drop of Water to decorate and send us. Look for new displays including your little drops in shops and libraries around the watershed. Contact Joanne at (928) 772-8204 if you know of someone who would welcome a display from us.
Host a House Party!
Want to do something special for the Verde? All you have to do is let us know you want to host a party, invite a few friends, provide some food and beverages, and we'll show up with some entertainment, ideas and materials. If you're short on friends who can help, we'll find some for you - our phone list is growing. Please contact Joanne at (928) 772-8204 if you're interested in hosting a House Party.
"Fishing for Answers" Quiz Answer:
Daces are members of a group of related small fish of the family Cyprinidae that live in freshwater and are native to North America. The name originates in the Old French "dars," derived from "dart."
(i) Wirt, F.N., DeWitt, Ed, and Langenheim, V.E., 2005, Hydrogeologic Framework, in Wirt, Laurie, DeWitt, Ed, and Langenheim, V.E., eds., Geologic Framework of Aquifer Units and Ground-Water Flowpaths, Verde River Headwaters, North-Central Arizona: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2004-1411-D, 27 p.
(ii) Watson, Ian, Burnett, Alister D., 1993, Hydrology: An Environmental Approach, CRC Press, 1993, 702 p.
(iii) Wirt, F.N., DeWitt, Ed, and Langenheim, V.E., 2005, Hydrogeologic Framework, in Wirt, Laurie, DeWitt, Ed, and Langenheim, V.E., eds., Geologic Framework of Aquifer Units and Ground-Water Flowpaths, Verde River Headwaters, North-Central Arizona: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2004-1411-D, 27 p.
(iv) Wirt, L., 2005, The Verde River headwaters, Yavapai Count, Arizona in Wirt, Laurie, DeWitt, Ed, and Langenheim, V.E., eds., Geologic Framework of Aquifer Units and Ground-Water Flowpaths, Verde River Headwaters, North-Central Arizona: U.S Geological Survey Open-File Report 2004-1411, 33 p.
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