Call to Order
Minutes from the February 17th Meeting
Minutes for the March 23, 2000 STAT meeting were approved by all
members present.
News from other elements of the SDCP
Some of the members of the STAT and others will be holding
a meeting with the president of the University of Arizona to inform
him of the proceedings of the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan
(SDCP).
Mark Fink, Pima County Planning and Development, has completed
his report on committed lands for the SDCP. This report covers
the Category 4 lands as described within the Land Stewardship
report by Neva Connolly.
Julia Fonseca is currently working on a case study for the
Gila Topminnow. This study covers the presence and disappearance
of Gila Topminnow along the Cocio Wash near the Silverbell Mountains.
David Cushman has completed his report on the cultural and
historic aspects of the SDCP.
Gary Nabhan provided an executive summary of a report from
the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum which covers geological and ecological
diversity in the proposed Ironwood preserve.
Announcements
The next meeting of the Steering Committee will be held on
Saturday, April 29 at the Arizona- Sonora Desert Museum. This
meeting will cover elements of the SDCP as they relate to the
Avra Valley area (Sub-area 6B). During this meeting, Rob Marshall
will present the results of The Nature Conservancy's work on the
Sonoran Desert Ecoregion Plan.
Rob Marshall agreed to work as an advisor to the STAT and attend
as many of the meetings as possible.
Land cover subcommittee
Sherry Ruther presented an update on the efforts of the land cover
subcommittee. This group is responsible for reviewing current
land cover mapping and determining methods of improving this resource.
The focus, so far, has been placed on five different land cover
types: perennial and intermittent streams, riparian habitat, grasslands,
saguaro-palo verde-desert ironwood communities, and unique features
(i.e., limestone deposits, caves, talus slopes, springs, cienegas,
etc.). Pima Association of Governments (PAG) will update the database
on streams and shallow groundwater zones for Pima County. Review
of the riparian habitat mapping is on hold until it is completed
by the Harris Environmental Group. The subcommittee will approach
the ranch committee for the SDCP to obtain information on grasslands.
Mima Falk also suggested contacting the ARS, which is in the process
of mapping grasslands and has been able to detect signals of exotic
grasses. Mapping of saguaro communities has been deferred for
the time being. Wildlife managers from the Arizona Game and Fish
Department will be asked to review vegetation maps, to verify
questionable areas, and to determine where other resources (unique
features) may exist. Julia Fonseca stated that Pima County is
working with the U. S. Geological Survey to obtain their mapping
for limestone deposits. Neva Connolly briefly described Pima County's
efforts to review the land cover maps using plant community identification
provided during the pygmy-owl survey performed over the last year.
Biological criteria for permits subcommittee
This subcommittee is presently made up of Mima Falk, Sherry Barrett
and Bill Shaw. Mima and Sherry are charge with obtaining all of
the legal criteria required by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service
for permitting species, while Bill is responsible for looking
at past criticisms of Multi-Species Conservation Permits.
Decision Support Model subcommittee
Robert Steidl presented a new element for the Decision Support
Model (DSM). This element would include all of the work provided
by The Nature Conservancy in their report on the Sonoran Desert
Ecoregion Plan. Once the information from TNC is available, the
subcommittee will begin working with Peter Stine and the DSM team
to incorporate TNC's work into a data layer that can be used by
the model for determining preserve designs. A meeting of this
subcommittee and Peter's group will be held sometime in early
May.
Review and revision of vulnerable species list
Paul Fromer provided a revised Table 6 which lists the species
that are recommended for further study and evaluation for their
potential inclusion in the SDCP. Paul said that the consultants
are not asking to exclude any species from the overall list, but
are simply refining the list to focus their efforts on species
that can be reasonably justified for take permits. After some
discussion regarding the inclusion and exclusion of certain species,
the STAT decided to add six and delete one species from RECON's
list. Species added to the list include the Arizona Shrew, Southwestern
Willow Flycatcher, Sonora Sucker, Desert Sucker, Gentry Indigobush,
and Longfin Dace. The Song Sparrow (subspecies) was deleted from
the list. Also, the Desert Pupfish replaced the Quitobaquito Pupfish;
this was a mistake on the recommended list.
Riparian element background and goals
Julia Fonseca explained the background and goals statement for
the riparian protection and restoration element of the SDCP. A
handout with this information was provided in the package sent
to the STAT for this meeting. Mima Falk suggested that the first
goal listed should include a specific statement about preserving
vegetation. The STAT agreed upon the goals, as revised.
Effluent-based riparian restoration
There are currently two effluent-dominated reaches in Pima County,
both along the Santa Cruz River. One flows from the Nogales wastewater
treatment plant to just north of Tubac and the other flows from
the Roger Road treatment plant to the Pima-Pinal County line.
The second reach also includes wastewater dumped into the channel
from the Ina Road wastewater treatment plant. The water table
along the upper reach is fairly shallow, which allows for a more
broader riparian corridor along the channel. The water table along
the lower reach is much deeper, and the vegetation usually dies
once the effluent channel has shifted its course to another side
of the main channel.
Julia Fonseca provided a map of the various proposed projects
that would use effluent to restore and/or enhance riparian vegetation
within Pima County. In addition, she described the concepts, the
status, and the possible amounts of effluent that would be required
for the alternatives of each project. Three of the projects are
past the conceptual stage and are near the construction or design
phase: (1) the Tucson/Ajo Detention Basin which will require 144
acre-ft/year of effluent, (2) the Atturbury project which is a
2 year pilot study, and (3) the Cortaro Mesquite Bosque which
recently received a grant from the Arizona Water Protection Fund.
A field trip will be held on Thursday, April 27th, to tour the
locations of some of the existing and proposed projects.
Call to the Public
No comment.
Future Meeting Dates
Name Affiliation
STAT Members Present:
William Shaw School of Renewable Natural Resources, University
of Arizona
Sherry Ruther Arizona Game and Fish Department
Mima Falk U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Steve Prchal Sonoran Arthropod Studies Institute
Robert Steidl School of Renewable Natural Resources, University
of Arizona
Gary Nabhan Arizona Sonora Desert Museum
Cecil Schwalbe U. S. G. S. & School of Renewable Natural Resources,
University of Arizona
Doug Duncan U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Tucson)
STAT Members Absent:
Natasha Kline Saguaro National Park
Staff:
Julia Fonseca Pima County Flood Control District
David Scalero Pima County Flood Control District
Neva Connolly Pima County Flood Control District
Others:
Lori Woods RECON Environmental, Inc.
Paul Fromer RECON Environmental, Inc.
Ken Kingsley SWCA, Inc.
Harold Barnett Department of Economics, URI and SDCP Implementation
Team
Bart McGuire SDCP Ranch Conservation Technical Advisory Team
Trevor Hare Tucson Herpetological Society
Andy Holdsworth Sky Island Alliance and Coalition for the Sonoran
Desert Protection Plan