SCIENCE
AND TECHNICAL ADVISORY TEAM
DRAFT MEETING MINUTES OF
JANUARY 12, 2006
Attendees: Bill Shaw, Marit Alanen, Sherry Barrett, Tom
Berry, Rick Brusca, Carolyn Campbell, Kathleen Chavez, Neva Connolly, Mike
Cross, Jason Douglas, Doug Duncan, Diana Durazo, Julia Fonseca, Andy Hubbard,
Natasha Kline, Leslie Liberti, Cheryl McIntyre, Susy Morales, Jenny Neeley,
John Regan, Scott Richardson, Sherry Ruther, David Scalero, Bob Schmalzel,
Cecil Schwalbe, Linwood Smith, Lori Woods, and Annette Plicato
Absent: Mima
Falk, George Ruyle, Bob Steidl, and Tom Van Devender
Chairman Shaw called the meeting to order at 9:10
a.m.
The minutes were approved as written.
Lori Woods discussed the additions to the September
2005 draft of the MSCP. She handed out
a written summary of the changes and additions. Some of the changes include:
City of Tucson lands in Avra Valley have been removed from the permit
area, species account for PPC now reflects the role of the ground-nesting bees,
lands committed to conservation are more clearly defined and quantified, a
draft list of permitted and prohibited activities has been developed for
acquired lands, and compliance monitoring costs will be borne by Pima County on
an annual basis.
Sherry Ruther summarized the actions of the CFPO
subcommittee. A composition of the
draft species conditions was handed out.
These conditions replace the draft presented to STAT on November 29,
2005. The next meeting will cover areas
thought important for breeding and connectivity and their overlap with the
permit.
The Chairman discussed the monitoring of the
biological elements of the species contained in the MSCP. Three handouts were distributed. Dr. Shaw would like all STAT members to
review them before the next meeting. He
would also like STAT’s feedback on Chapter 4 and Appendix H of the MSCP. Dr. Shaw directed that a subcommittee be
formed to prioritize the recommendations for biological monitoring. This subcommittee will meet and bring their
recommendations to the next STAT meeting in February. The subcommittee members suggested were: Chairman Shaw, Sherry Barrett, Julia
Fonseca, Andy Hubbard, Sherry Ruther, Linwood Smith, and Bob Steidl.
Monitoring Groundwater and
Surface Water
David Scalero gave a presentation on Tucson’s
resources for water monitoring. They
are USGS gauges along hydrologically important watercourses, measurements at
springs and along streams on County-owned properties, and gauges maintained by
Pima County. He handed out information
on Sabino Canyon Dam, Sabino Creek, Agua Caliente Spring, Redington, and
Cienega Creek Natural Preserve.
Julia spoke on the effluent and reclaimed water
guidelines and on water quality. Her
discussion highlighted four of them: 1)
Substitution of renewable water supplies for groundwater and surface water
diversions; 2) Restore/enhance native riparian and aquatic ecosystems by
releasing water to restore local aquifer conditions; 3) Revegetation of native
species in areas where perpetual irrigation is not needed; and 4) Enhance the
ability of secondary effluent or reclaimed water to support aquatic life. The benefits of improved water quality are
increases in bird, fish, and other aquatic species.
The next STAT meeting will be held on Friday,
February 17, 2006 at 9:00 a.m. at the Public Works Center, 201 N. Stone Avenue,
Basement Conference Room A, Tucson, Arizona.
A STAT meeting has also been scheduled for Thursday, March 23, 2006 at
9:00 a.m. at the Water Resources Research Center, 350 N. Campbell Avenue,
Tucson, Arizona.
Public meetings have been scheduled for three Santa
Cruz River projects. A plan
formulation kick-off meeting for the El Rio Medio project will be held
on January 18 at 6:30 p.m. at the El Rio Neighborhood Center, 1390 West
Speedway Blvd. A project update and
design input meeting for Paseo de las Iglesias will be held on January
31 at 6:30 p.m. at Pima Community College Desert Vista Campus, 5901 South Calle
Santa Cruz. A project update meeting
for Tres Rios del Norte will be held on February 15 at 6:30 p.m. at Twin
Peaks Elementary School, 7995 W. Twin Peaks Road.
Arizona Fish and Wildlife Service published a positive 90-day finding on a petition to list the Mexican Garter Snake. They are seeking information from the public to determine if listing under the Endangered Species Act is warranted.
The meeting adjourned at 11:20 a.m.
Respectfully submitted
Annette Plicato