SCIENCE TECHNICAL ADVISORY TEAM
MEETING MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 10, 2005
Attendees: Bill Shaw, Sherry Barrett, Maeveen Behan, Carolyn Campbell, Neva Connolly, Christine Curtis, Doug Duncan, Mima Falk, Eileen Finnerty, Julia Fonseca, Paul Fromer, Trevor Hare, David Hogan, Ken Kingsley, Natasha Kline, Leslie Liberti, Christina McVie, Elissa Ostergaard, John Regan, Sherry Ruther, David Scalero, Cecil Schwalbe, Susan Shobe, Linwood Smith, Priscilla Titus, Tom Van Devender, Lori Woods, and Annette Plicato
Absent: Rick Brusca, George Ruyle, and Bob Steidl
Call to Order and Opening Remarks
Chairman Shaw called the meeting to order at 9:07 a.m.
Approval of December 16, 2004 Minutes
The minutes were approved without revision.
Conservation Acquisition Commission (CAC) Acquisitions
Julia Fonseca reviewed data supplied in the agenda package. The information included a listing of who is on the CAC. Bill Shaw said that Bill Roe is the perfect chairman, considering his experience. Julia said there are four categories of open space: Community, Jurisdictional, Davis-Monthan, and Habitat Protection Priorities. Multi-use lands and forest in-holdings were excluded from analysis. Julia supplied information on what has been acquired since 1999. There are no acquisitions in Northwest Tucson.
CAC Process Referral to STAT
The Chairman mentioned that the CAC has approached STAT for an opinion on the biological value of lands not included in the 2004 bond priorities as established by TNC/AOLT. Considerations mentioned by STAT included the type of information, the threat to the resources, and the desire to be systematic, and the benefits to species and the reserve system design. Paul Fromer said that acquisition is necessarily opportunistic. Sherry Barrett said that the existing maps are the products of assumptions and choices based on what was known at the time; credibility is best when new information and omissions are acknowledged. A subcommittee will continue the effort to develop criteria for STAT’s consideration. Priscilla Titus will attend as the RECON representative.
Critical Landscape Connections
Julia discussed the updated information in the agenda package concerning CLC’s priorities. STAT members will review and send comments to Lori Woods. The focus is on three areas: Catalina/Tortolita, I-10/Santa Cruz River, and Avra Valley. The Catalina area has few opportunities left. Its future depends on State Land acquisitions. In the I-10 area, the underpass area needs to be acquired. In Avra Valley, the area between the Tohono O’odham Reservation and Saguaro National Park West is being subdivided. City of Tucson land is important open space. Along the CAP, hog wire fencing is being used to deter javelina from the Tumamoca, but impairs wildlife movement.
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Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Support for SDCP
Elissa Ostergaard from Arizona Game and Fish presented information on her organization’s conservation activities. They are working on a Cienega cooperative agreement, developing wildlife linkages, and working with the Corps of Engineers on feasibility studies. AZ Game and Fish is providing financial support to the Santa Cruz River West Branch project. This project must be completed by the end of the calendar year.
They are also assisting with road kill and bird count surveys. They are working with Wendy Burroughs from Pima County Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation Department installing burrows in the regional park along the CDO. A “Living with Wildlife” website has been created as a speakers bureau for living with wildlife.
The Chairman expressed support for all the conservation education going on.
Sherry Ruther volunteered to follow up with AZ Game and Fish in Phoenix on wildlife strategy. She will give an update at the next meeting and ask them to give a presentation.
On March 28[1], there will be a public meeting concerning state wildlife. STAT members should attend. Sherry Ruther will find out more about this.
MSCP Take Analysis
The second draft of this document was distributed to those present and mailed to STAT members not in attendance. Lori Woods began the discussion by explaining that they considered acreage versus species in doing their studies. Twenty-seven species met the requirements with the burrowing owl being marginal.
Much of Harris riparian is considered built by the economic model, but actually still existed when the map was done. We need to measure how much riparian in the built environment has been conserved.
Maeveen Behan stated that we must think in terms of proportion instead of acreage. City of Tucson is annexing much of permit area. Table 3.2 in the document connects the CLS with the bond program. Impacts inside the CLS have to be offset with bond money. This gives an incentive to the Board of Supervisors to achieve the CLS. Since 1999, more than 17,000 acres have already been purchased.
Sherry Barrett recommends a subcommittee analyze different species for coverage. Such an analysis needs to consider ordinance effectiveness, known locations, and what species experts advise. Chairman Shaw recommends a major workshop on April 1 with STAT members plus others, with no other agenda items. Before the workshop, STAT members will vote yes/no to Paul Fromer per species, which should narrow the field of inquiry and issues.
Species Needing Special Management
Carolyn Campbell and David Hogan discussed information in agenda package concerning species management and the MSCP. There are 21 species on their list for special handling. Their goal is to ensure long-term survival of habitat and plants by active measures. All species can be covered, but some need area-specific directives and proactive measures such as re-establishment. Section 3.5 in the HCP addresses this. For example, desert pupfish does not occur here anymore, but needs re-establishment. In regards to Pima Pineapple Cactus, we need to make sure genetic diversity is addressed in acquisitions and mitigation, adjusting the CLS through adaptive management if necessary.
Chairman Shaw requested that the presentation handouts be distributed to STAT.
Pima Pineapple Cactus
Mima Falk said the new map of the Priority Conservation Areas for the Pima Pineapple Cactus is okay. The status review is ongoing. Reviews are required every five years. There is an opening through the Federal Register for comments, which will be accepted until May 2005. Mima will see that the Federal Register notice is made available to STAT.
REMAP and SDCP Biological Monitoring
USEPA is offering grant funding to those entities eligible to receive federal assistance under the Clean Water Act. March 14, 2005 is the deadline for applications. Natasha Kline offered to talk to the NPS Sonoran Desert Network Inventory and Monitoring Program staff to see if they could work with the County to develop/submit a monitoring proposal for aquatic macroinvertebrates, or some other relevant parameter. Bill Shaw supported this idea, and Ken Kingsley offered his expertise to assist in any way.
SDCP Species List Update
David Scalero distributed the second draft of the list. This will be placed on a website. He invites comments. Cecil Schwalbe inquired into the criteria used. Dave replied that it contains any known species and observations. STAT members are encouraged to contribute their guidance to the effort.
Mesquite Mouse Update
Neva Connolly and Ken Kingsley gave an update on the survey that ends the last weekend in February. Mesquite Mice exist in Sonora, as well as Southern Arizona. Testing DNA is the most definitive way to distinguish this species from others, without killing them. DNA is being collected under a separate study.
Other SDCP Updates
Sherry Ruther mentioned that CLS revisions would be going to the Board of Supervisors on April 19, 2005.
Set Next Meeting
The next STAT meeting will be Friday, April 1, 2005.
Chairman Shaw adjourned the meeting at 12:32 p.m. on February 10, 2005.
Respectfully submitted,
Annette Plicato
[1] After the February 10 took place, the date of the state wildlife meeting changed to April 28, 2005.