Agenda

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ARF- 4728

2. A.

Work Session

Meeting Date:	01/30/2018
Submitted For:	James Menlove
Submitted By:	Janice Cook, Executive Administrative Assistant
Department:	County Manager

Information

Request/Subject

Letter of Support to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for formation of a watershed partnership in the Cobre Valley.

Background Information

On October 10, 2017, Susanna Eden, PhD, Assistant Director Water Resources Research Center (WRRC), University of Arizona (UofA), and Ashley Hullinger, Research Coordinator for the Water RAPIDS (Research and Planning Innovations for Dryland Systems) program at the WRRC, provided a presentation to the Board of Supervisors of information by the University of Arizona Water Resources Research Center regarding the Needs Assessment and Recommendations for Water Resources Management in Cobre Valley project.

Subsequently, Ms. Eden and Ms. Hullinger made another presentation to the Board of Supervisors on December 19, 2017, that included additional information on the potential formation of a Cobre Valley Watershed Partnership with potential funding from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

On January 23, 2018, Ms. Eden appeared again before the Board of Supervisors requesting a Letter of Support for the project addressed to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. The item was tabled until January 30, 2018, to obtain additional information on the grant application.

Evaluation

A watershed partnership will be beneficial to the management of critical water resources in local communities and will support a healthy watershed, contributing to the overall resilience of the region.

A watershed partnership in Cobre Valley will provide opportunities for needed collaboration and actionable steps forward to enhance the well-being of the community and protect the health of the watershed for the benefit natural areas and water users. Diverse interest groups and community members bring diverse knowledge, expertise, and perspective to the resolution of watershed-wide issues. Working together provides an excellent opportunity to generate a common understanding and the shared knowledge required for holistic watershed management, which can address vulnerability and resilience of natural resources and human water uses. Such an understanding is critical to effectively guide watershed management.

A partnership of the various non-profit organizations, local governments, state and federal agencies, industrial leaders, and community members will facilitate watershed-scale conservation and sustainable water management. Engaging stakeholders in exploring water management solutions increases their commitment to achieving shared goals. A neutral forum for discussion of shared concerns will improve trust and reduce potential conflict among the participants. We see the establishment of a watershed partnership as an important step toward regional cooperation. For example, on-going efforts to promote creation of creek-side trails could be coordinated through a partnership.

Conclusion

The Cobre Valley is in need of a group that brings all interests together and operates on a watershed-wide basis. In cooperation with local stakeholders, the proposed watershed partnership will create a tangible benefit for the area encompassed in the Cobre Valley.

Recommendation

Staff recommends approval of remitting the proposed Letter of Support to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for the formation of a watershed partnership in the Cobre Valley.

Suggested Motion

Information/Discussion/Action to approve a Letter of Support addressed to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for the formation of a watershed partnership in the Cobre Valley. (James Menlove)

Attachments
Letter of Support-Cobre Valley Watershed Partnershp