Case Study: Saving the San Pedro River Adam Czekanski 17 November 2005

Agenda Geographic Setting The Water Deficit Saving the San Pedro The Upper San Pedro Partnership Questions

Geographic Setting Flows north from the mountains of Sonora, Mexico Perennial flow from Hereford to Fairbank, AZ (~ 20 miles) due to groundwater forced to the surface by bedrock Remainder of river is primarily ephemeral (Courtesy of the Upper San Pedro Partnership)

The Water Deficit Groundwater that sustains the San Pedro is required by two primary groups: –The local community –The ecosystem of the San Pedro River Recharge of groundwater occurs through: –Mountain front recharge –Streambed infiltration –Groundwater underflow from Mexico

Local Community Greater Fort Huachuca / Sierra Vista community Farmers Ranchers Mining / Industry

San Pedro Ecosystem Over four million birds use the San Pedro basin during yearly migration Supports 80 species of mammals (2 nd most in the world) Home to more than 40 species of reptiles and amphibians (Courtesy of the Aurora Community Watershed Partnership)

The Water Deficit (Courtesy of the Upper San Pedro Partnership, 2005 Water Management and Conservation Plan)

Saving the San Pedro 1988 – Congress designates 69 km stretch of San Pedro as San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area (SPRNCA) Livestock grazing, water diversions, and mining prohibited (Courtesy of the Arizona Bureau of Land Management)

Upper San Pedro Partnership The Upper San Pedro Partnership (USPP) is a consortium of 21 agencies and organizations All agencies and organizations own or control land and/or water use, and have the ability and authority to identify and implement policies and projects

Upper San Pedro Partnership (Land Owners and/or Land or Water Use Controllers) Local Agencies –Cochise County –Sierra Vista –Huachuca City –Bisbee –Tombstone State Agencies –State Land Department, –Dept. of Water Resources Federal Agencies –Fort Huachuca –Bureau of Land Management –U.S. Forest Service –National Park Service –Bureau of Reclamation Other Organizations –The Nature Conservancy –Audubon Arizona –Bella Vista Ranches

Upper San Pedro Partnership (Resource Agencies) State Agencies –Department of Environmental Quality –Arizona Association of Conservation Districts Other Agencies –Hereford NRCD (Natural Resource Conservation District) Federal Agencies –U.S. Geological Survey –USDA Agricultural Research Service –Fish and Wildlife Service

Upper San Pedro Partnership The overall goal of the USPP is to: Ensure an adequate long-term groundwater supply is available to meet the reasonable needs of both the area's residents and property owners (current & future) and the San Pedro Riparian NCA. (USPP Organizational Documents) USPP does NOT make policy decisions, but provides the framework to research, plan, fund, and implement projects and policies through member agencies Publishes annual Water Management and Conservation Plan as a working document to outline planning, research, and progress Seeks to eliminate deficit groundwater pumping by 2011

Upper San Pedro Partnership Planning –Reduce current water use (efficient fixtures, better water practices by the public) –Avoidance of future water use (legislation, ordinances) –Methods to recharge the aquifer (Courtesy of the Aurora Community Watershed Partnership)

Upper San Pedro Partnership Research –Groundwater modeling –Water augmentation studies –San Pedro Riparian NCA studies (Courtesy of the Aurora Community Watershed Partnership)

Upper San Pedro Partnership Implementation of Measures –Recharging of aquifer with treated effluent by Sierra Vista and Fort Huachuca –Purchase and retirement of irrigated and grazing lands –Large scale installation of water efficient fixtures –Local laws governing turf use and care –Coordination with Mexican government for conservation projects in headwater region Net groundwater demand has been cut nearly in half since late 2002 (Courtesy of the Aurora Community Watershed Partnership)

Upper San Pedro Partnership Funding (see chart) Project spending: (Courtesy of the Upper San Pedro Partnership)

Questions What is the most critical feature of the Upper San Pedro Partnership that has enabled it to be so successful in such a short period of time? Will there come a point when the requirements for economic growth and prosperity in the Sierra Vista / Fort Huachuca area will outweigh the need to stringently protect the river and its ecosystem?