GENEROUS DONATION LAUNCHES NEWSLETTER

Due to a generous member donation, CWA is excited to produce our first bi-monthly edition of E-Updates. Every issue will be loaded with valuable information, water news & announcements for stakeholders within the Benson Subwatershed.

The CWA editing staff is most interested in your feedback and suggestions as we explore readable formats, graphic options, and topics of interest.

Our current format uses quick “blurbs” or summaries of hot topics that link back to our website or others for more details. Our side bar is designed to allow for fast navigation and to highlight additional resource links. Resource links will direct you to specific information about your well, our drought status and precipitation records, water studies, and presentations of the latest Growth Forum.

For our first edition, we have chosen to highlight several 2007 events where water has been a major focus. Future editions will be able to do so in a more timely manner.

Again, we thank both our generous donor and consultant Scholer Graphics for making this first edition possible.

Mary McCool,
Director

GOVERNOR SIGNS INTO LAW
IMPORTANT WATER BILLS

The 49th Legislative Session successfully moved eight bills forward to be signed into Law by the Governor. New Bills will take effect Sept. 19th.

Four of these bills were initiated by the Statewide Water Advisory Group and will

• Allow counties to require new subdivisions to have a determination of adequate water supply from the Arizona Department of Water Resources.
  
• Create a Water Supply Development Revolving Fund to provide loans and grants to water providers for water supply development.
  
• Prohibit the drilling of a well if the Director of ADWR determines that the well will likely cause the migration of contaminated groundwater from a remedial action site to another well.
  
• Authorize the future formation of the Upper San Pedro Water District – the district and any subsequent related taxes are required to be approved by voters.

Click here for more information and list of signed bills.

BENSON CITY COUNCIL REVIEWS DRAFT OF WATER CONSERVATION PLAN

In a Work Session held June 25th, Benson City Council reviewed a draft Water Conservation Plan that will be developed over time and will serve as a comprehensive foundation upon which to base City Policies and Ordinances.

Brad Hamilton, Public Works Director, and Alan Forrest, Consultant, briefly reviewed a 15 page outline that is expected to evolve and change over time as the City evaluates and analyzes water conservation technologies and programs.

The City’s overall water conservation strategy will address the reduction in water system losses and the reduction of water use. The draft reviews existing programs, and proposes programs with short-term, near-term, and long-term actions. This water conservation plan will be only one segment of a much larger regional management strategy.

Click here for draft:

LOCAL RESIDENTS CONCERNED
WITH PROPOSED FREEWAY ROUTES
ALONG SAN PEDRO RIVER

At the June 26th CWA General Meeting, a representative from the Cascabel Working Group shared concerns related to several of ADOT’s proposed corridor alternatives for the I-10 Phoenix-Tucson Bypass Study. Several of the fifteen potential corridor alternatives are aligned with the San Pedro River and would significantly impact the Skyline/ Benson/ Cascabel Area.

A goal of the Cascabel Working Group is to present data and arguments about environmental, archaeological, recreational, economic and other features of the Valley that make building an interstate through this route unfeasible or undesirable.

ADOT is currently seeking public input during a study to provide a shorter, faster route that will attract through trucks and other traffic from I-10.

Click here to learn more about the efforts of the Cascabel Work Group:

Click here for a “fast” map of proposed alternatives:

Click here to submit concerns to ADOT:

IS WATER ONE OF THE GREATEST CHALLENGES FACING THE COUNTY?

In a twelve-minute telephone survey sponsored by Cochise County Planning and Zoning, residents were requested to identify the biggest challenges facing the County in the next ten years.

Approximately four hundred County residents were randomly selected to participate in a county-wide survey about the future pattern of growth and land use issues in areas outside of City Limits.

“Respondents were eager to answer the question ‘Why do you choose to live in Cochise County?’”, stated Judy Anderson, Director of P & Z.

Additional answers will tell the County how respondents

• View the current rate of growth
  
• Rate their current quality of life
  
• Prioritize different types of projects that should be built in their communities

Survey results will help formulate follow-up activities for visioning meetings to be held throughout the county in the fall.

P & Z has currently scheduled the visioning meeting for J-6, Mescal/ Skyline/ Benson/ St. David for September 15th at Cochise College. The Pomerene session is slated for January 16, 08 at the Pomerene School.

Click here for Full Survey:

VOLUNTEERS SPEND DAY ON THE RIVER

Participants used GPS units to record where water begins and stops from the Mexican Border downstream to The Narrows, approximately 11 miles north of Benson. The Community Watershed Alliance organized efforts within the Benson Watershed with willing property owners so that flow data was more complete.

Five teams of hikers, equestrians, and ATV riders covered a total of 27 miles within the Middle San Pedro Area. Data will be processed by Cooperative Extensions – NEMO program and shared at a future CWA General Membership Meeting.

Also during the second week in June, CWA volunteers assisted Arizona State University with collecting Streamside Vegetation Data for transects established last year on four properties.

Click here for more information about the Riparian Monitoring Network:

Wet-Dry Study

POSSIBLE SOURCE FOR THOUSANDS OF FREE GALLONS OF WATER

Monsoons are just around the corner – presenting an opportunity to capture thousands of free gallons of water over time. This opportunity is what CWA members have been exploring with Guest Speaker Carmen Miller from Water Wise during the May and June monthly meetings.

Miller has provided an overview of possible benefits for capturing rainwater to use for landscaping and household needs. The June meeting provided the nuts and bolts for roof capture systems with additional tips for first flush operations and maintenance.

In July, Rich Weisberg from Oasis Water Harvesting will do a PowerPoint Presentation featuring nearby Rain Harvesting systems in operation and Miller will provide landscaping tips that can be immediately implemented.

Click here for formula to determine the gallon-potential of your roof: