DRAFT
MINUTES FROM THE SCIENCE TECHNICAL ADVISORY TEAM
MEETING OF MARCH 29, 2004


Call to Order and Opening Remarks:
Chairman Shaw called the meeting to order at approximately 12:40 p.m. Sandy Albert was introduced as the person providing administrative support to STAT.


New STAT Members:
Welcome letters to new members will be sent this week.


Minutes from the February 9, 2004 STAT Meeting:
The minutes from the last meeting were accepted as amended (Page 4, CEPO should be CFPO, and “lack of taxonomic status” should read “question of taxonomic status” for the cactus).


SDCP artist recognition:
The artist was not present. Chairman Shaw will send a letter of recognition from STAT members to the SDCP artists at Pima County Graphic Design.


Report from the subcommittee on PPC:
The subcommittee did not meet. Linwood Smith will set up a meeting with Mima Falk. The model will be updated relative to Pima Pineapple Cactus. A new report will be sent to Mima soon, so the timing is good. This item will be addressed at the next meeting.


NPS monitoring effort:
Chairman Shaw and others members support comprehensive ecosystem monitoring. There seems to be synergy with the work of the Sonoran Desert network of the National Park Service. They are testing the effectiveness of different monitoring strategies tested using real data sets. Bill will meet with Maeveen Behan and Mr. Huckelberry about funding monitoring plan development. STAT will review any scope of work.


Discussion of MSCP review comments by STAT:
Comments from Mima and USFWS were not included in the package. These will be distributed. Rather than discussing them at this meeting, Bill wants RECON to summarize substantive issues and these will be discussed by STAT at the next meeting.


Discussion of STAT’s role as described in MSCP:
The role of STAT is to provide technical advice and advice on priorities for funding of monitoring during the implementation phase.


Land stewardship update:
Comments on land classifications made on Julia’s handouts were received. Revisions were noted for the Ironwood Forest and Bureau of Reclamation mitigation lands.


SDCP and CLS update:
Mr. Huckelberry has put a hold on the Comprehensive Plan amendment for Conservation Land System. Planning & Zoning approved the amendments subject to definitions and public hearings. This will be a STAT agenda item after May bond elections.


Announcements:
Safe Harbor Agreement for pupfish will be out tomorrow.

The publication by Southwest Environment News summarizes peer-reviewed literature. For copies contact Udall Center or Robert Meredith.


Call to audience:
No items raised.


Set next STAT meeting date:
Next STAT meeting will be held on Monday, May 24, 2004 at 12:30 p.m.


Attendees for this meeting were:
Sherry Ruther, Pima County Development Services
Julia Fonseca, Pima County, Flood Control District
Sandra Albert, Pima County, Flood Control District
Phil Rosen, University of Arizona
Ries Lindley, Tucson Water
Tyler Jones, Town of Marana
Jenny Neeley, Defenders of Wildlife
Marit Alanen, Arizona Game and Fish Department
Rick Brusca, Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
Tom Van Devender, Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
Chairman Shaw, University of Arizona
Doug Duncan, US Fish and Wildlife Service
Sherry Barrett, US Fish and Wildlife Service
Bob Steidl, University of Arizona
Paul Fromer, RECON
Lori Woods, RECON
Linwood Smith, EPG, Inc.
Sharon Stevens, University of Arizona
Ken Kingsley, SWCA
Trevor Hare, CSDP/SIA
Carolyn Campbell, CSDP
Grady O’Brien, Earth Knowledge