DOCSLIB.ORG

Cienega Creek Basin Groundwater Evaluation

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Cienega Creek Basin Groundwater Evaluation Cienega Creek Basin Groundwater Evaluation Frank Postillion, CGWP, Chief Hydrologist David Scalero, Principal Hydrologist Jacob Prietto, Hydrologist Jennifer Becker, Principal Hydrologist Pima County Regional Flood Control District July, 2015 Draft Executive Summary Overview: Pima County Regional Flood Control District (District) has evaluated the historical and current water balance and effects on regional groundwater conditions, and potential impacts on the hydro- and meso-riparian vegetation along the watercourses of the Cienega Creek Watershed (CCW) . The CCW study area is approximately 475 square miles in eastern Pima County, western Cochise County and northeastern Santa Cruz County, Arizona, with most of the basin in Pima County (Figure 1-1, Area Map). The amount of the CCW in the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) Tucson Active Management Area is 80 square miles, mostly within the southern portion of Davidson Canyon (Figure 1-1) Pima County (County) property within the CCW includes the Cienega Creek Natural Preserve (CCNP) in the lower part of the watershed, Bar V Ranch, Empirita Ranch, and Sands Ranch and Clyne Ranch. Cienega Creek stream flow supports rare and endangered fish and frogs as well as dense areas of riparian vegetation including cottonwoods, mesquites, and willow that provide shelter and foraging habitat for a wide variety of birds, bats, and other wildlife species. These unique natural resources are under threat from man-made land use changes and natural changes, including global climate change. The County and the US Government have invested millions to protect the CCNP in the lower watershed and the Las Cienegas National Conservation Area in the upper watershed and other important conservation areas in the CCW. The County has begun to compile risk assessments of potential threats, including drought, depletion of groundwater, land use and mining, and develop appropriate management strategies to reduce or eliminate impacts from these threats to the sustainability of the Cienega Creek Watershed. Geologic Features : Sedimentary units underlying the area, consist of the Quaternary surficial deposits, Tertiary older basin fill alluvium, Pantano formation and hydrologic bedrock. Differences between the upper and lower basins have to do with the thickness of the formations. The younger alluvium is thin in both basins, not exceeding about 200 feet in the upper basin and may not reach 100 feet in the lower basin. Although productive with significant sands and gravels, the recent alluvium does not provide an appreciable amount of water for large well use. However, it provides an abundant amount of water for riparian trees and vegetation along Cienega Creek, its tributaries and Davidson Canyon. The basin fill can be as thick as 1,200 feet south of I-10 near Empirita Ranch, but productivity of the aquifer diminishes with depth. In the upper basin, the basin fill consists and lenses of sands, gravels and silts and is as deep as 2000 feet near Sonoita, and more productive in the Empire Ranch area along the Cienega Creek corridor and floodplain. In some areas the basin fill of the upper basin could be semi–artesian potentially due to the sequences of silts and clays. The Pantano formation, consisting of mostly consolidated and cemented sandstone, unproductive claystone and mudstone, present in the lower basin, and in some areas such as downstream of Pantano Dam, forms a semi-impermeable layer above the recent alluvium. In areas of the upper basin the Pantano formation may underlie the basin fill in the deeper portions of the aquifer near Sonoita. Bedrock consists of consolidated sedimentary rocks with a mix of plutonic, igneous and other sedimentary rocks. The underlying bedrock complex and the surrounding mountains yield little water to the system but serve as a primary recharge medium for the mountain fronts in areas of large and smaller fractures and can provide movement of water toward the central portions of the basins. Where the bedrock nears the surface along Cienega Creek and Davidson Creek, groundwater is forced to the surface due to the very low permeability of the bedrock. The “Narrows”, Pantano Dam and “Three Bridges” have shallow bedrock underlying Cienega Creek bed and adjacent confining bedrock along the sides of the Creek. Cienega Creek Groundwater Evaluation Page ii Groundwater Conditions: Of the over 2000 wells in the upper and lower Cienega Basin, most are private domestic wells. Well pumping is focused in three main areas: Sonoita, Vail and the Jay-6 area near I-10 and the Cochise/Pima County line. The other area is spread among private wells within the upper and lower basins. Pumping has increased from about 2,290 acre- foot (AF) in 1984 to almost 4,700 AF by 2014. The dominant pumping categories in 2014 include private domestic, at 1,700 AF, 1,850 AF for municipal wells, 885 AF for agriculture and 265 AF for industrial/mining. Groundwater movement generally mimics surface topography, following the path of Cienega Creek in the lowlands and moving north-northwesterly toward the Tucson Basin. The most recent water-level data compiled in 2014-2015 show varying depth to groundwater, ranging from below 50 feet near the channel corridor of Cienega Creek north of I-10 and south of the “Narrows” and in some areas of Davidson Canyon; near 100 feet north of I-10 and on the Empirita Ranch; near 200 feet in the Sonoita area; 200-300 in the Jay Six area near I-10 and the Cochise/Pima County Line; and 300-500 feet in the Vail area near Colossal Cave Road. Some of the areas recognized as designated Shallow Groundwater Areas are now deeper than 50 feet, especially south of I-10 on Empirita Ranch. Historic water levels show a declining trend since the early 1980s, especially in the lower Cienega Basin. Deeper wells show steeper declines over the last 20-30 years. Shallower wells near perennial reaches show less decline, but there is still a declining trend. Overall, the lower Basin shows a water level decline of about 0.9-0.95 feet/year (ft/yr) over the last 20-30 years. The decline in the last 10-years in the lower Basin has been about 0.5 ft/yr. The probable stressors are drought and increased pumping in the Vail, J-6 areas and more private domestic wells in the area. The upper Basin appears more resilient to water-level decline and experienced less increased pumping than the lower Basin. The declines in the last 20-30 years range from 0.2-0.3 ft/yr. However, water-level declines in the last 10 years have increased to 0.6 ft/yr, possibly due to increased pumping and drought. Despite significant flood flow and volumes recorded at Pantano Dam in the last 10 years, lack of significant winter flows have minimized recharge of the upper and lower basins and recoveries of shallow groundwater levels in the area. The declining groundwater levels have also resulted in reduced perennial flow and flow length since 1994. Several local and watershed-wide groundwater modeling studies have been performed over the last 35 years. University of Arizona models developed in the 1980s-1990s projected significant water-level declines could result from high volume pumping in the upper and lower Basins from proposed mining or residential development and suggested levels that could threaten the riparian habitat along the Cienega Creek. In the past 10 years conceptual and three-dimensional flow models have been developed covering the mid-upper and portions of the lower Basin, evaluating the impacts of the proposed Rosemont mining pit, on the water surface elevation of these areas. The major models looked at the specific declines resulting from the Rosemont pit redirecting groundwater and changing gradients for the final Rosemont Environmental Impact Statement. The models showed significant declines would result from pit excavation, even with the importation of water pumped from the Upper Santa Cruz Basin to process. The geographic extent of mine impacts on water levels would increase over time, projecting from 50 to 100 to 1000 years in the future. The models did not account for the current pumping impacts or a range of climatic conditions. These models did not account for the current declining water level conditions in the Cienega Creek Groundwater Evaluation Page iii Basin. As such, these models were not adequate in projecting the overall impacts of current and future pumping, and a range of climatic conditions coupled with mine pit construction. Water Quality and Geochemistry: Groundwater and surface water quality in the Cienega Basin is influenced partially by geology, including gypsiferous bedding in lower Cienega, lower total dissolved solids (TDS) in the Davidson Canyon area and upper Cienega Creek, and different water types. The lower Cienega basin is dominated by calcium-sulfate–bicarbonate waters, except for groundwater at Pantano Dam which is sodium sulfate and dominated by older recharge. Davidson Canyon and the upper watershed groundwater and surface water are dominated by lower TDS, calcium-bicarbonate types and sodium bicarbonate types. Isotopic compositions of water samples can provide a useful tool for investigating hydrological processes in surface water and groundwater systems. Isotopic results, mostly limited to Davidson Canyon and lower Cienega Creek show groundwater wells, springs, and surface water samples having oxygen and hydrogen indicate a mix of summer and winter precipitation contributions, with a dominance of winter recharge and some evidence of evaporation prior to recharge or flow. Davidson Canyon Wash surface water flows generally reflect a winter groundwater source, compared to sites closer to the confluence of Cienega Creek. Some wells in the proposed Rosemont project area, a spring about 2-miles west of the proposed mine site, and a site over 10 miles downstream in Davison Canyon Wash may have less interaction with modern precipitation compared to most other sampled sites.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Aquatic Communities of Stream Ecosystems
    Arid West Water Quality Research Project Aquatic Communities of E~hemeral Stream Ecosystems FINAL REPORT Funding Provided by: EPA Region 9 Under Assistance Agreement: XP-99926701 Directed by: Pima County .. ~ (~ ) Wastewater •.,.0, Management Department Prepared by: URS GE I Consultants Chidw•ck Ecolo-gical D•v•~•on November 2006 Arid West Water Quality Research Project AQUATIC COMMUNITIES OF EPHEMERAL STREAM ECOSYSTEMS funding provided by EPA Region IX under Assistance Agreement XP-9992607 directed by Pima County Wastewater Management Department prepared by URS Corporation, Albuquerque, New Mexico and Chadwick Ecological Consultants, Littleton, Colorado November 2006 cover photo: Santa Cruz River, near Tubac, Arizona Linwood Smith, photographer FOREWORD The Arid West Water Quality Research Project (AWWQRP or “Project”) was established in 1995 as a result of a federal appropriation (Public Law 103-327) and the establishment of an Assistance Agreement between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and Pima County Wastewater Management (PCWMD), Tucson, Arizona. The establishment of this Agreement provided a significant opportunity for western water resource stakeholders to (1) work cooperatively to conduct scientific research to recommend appropriate water quality criteria, standards and uses for effluent-dependent and ephemeral waters in the arid and semi- arid regions of the West (“arid West”), and (2) improve the scientific basis for regulating wastewater and stormwater discharges in the arid West. Effluent-dependent waters are created by the discharge of treated effluent into ephemeral streambeds or streams that in the absence of effluent discharge would have only minimal flow. With the establishment of the AWWQRP, a management infrastructure was created to support the development of peer-reviewed research products.
    [Show full text]
  • History of the Empire Ranch
    HISTORY OF THE EMPIRE RANCH by Gregory Paul Dowell A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of the DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY In Partial Fulfillment off the Requirements For the Degree of MASTER OF ARTS In the Graduate College THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA 1978 Original typescript thesis converted by the Empire Ranch Foundation to a Word document in 2011 with permission granted by Gregory Paul Dowell STATEMENT BY AUTHOR This thesis has been submitted in partial fulfillment of requirements for an advanced degree at The University of Arizona and is deposited in the University Library to be made available to borrowers under rules of the Library. Brief quotations from this thesis are allowable without special permission, provided that accurate acknowledgement of source is made. Requests for permission for extended quotation from or reproduction of this manuscript in whole or in part may be granted by, the head of the major department or the Dean of the Graduate College when in his judgment the proposed use of the material is in the interests of scholarship. In all other instances, however, permission must be obtained from the author. SIGNED: _______________________________ APPROVAL BY THESIS DIRECTOR This thesis has been approved on the date shown below: ______________________________ ____________________ HARWOOD PERRY HINTON Date Professor of History Dowell, Gregory Paul History of the Empire Ranch, 1978 ii PREFACE Ranching in southern Arizona assumed a measure of permanence in the 1870s. With the slackening of the Apache threat, a number of cattle growers filtered into the valleys south of Tucson to start ranches and supply beef to mining camps and military detachments.
    [Show full text]
  • Index of Surface-Water Records to September 30, 1967 Part 9 .-Colorado River Basin
    Index of Surface-Water Records to September 30, 1967 Part 9 .-Colorado River Basin Index of Surface-Water Records to September 30, 1967 Part 9 .-Colorado River Basin By H. P. Eisenhuth GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRCULAR 579 Washington J 968 United States Department of the Interior STEWART L. UDALL, Secretary Geological Survey William T. Pecora, Director Free on application to the U.S. Geological Survey, Washington, D.C. 20242 Index of Surface-Water Records to September 30, 1967 Part 9 .-Colorado River Basin By H. P. Eisenhuth INTRODUCTION This report lists the streamflow and reservoir stations in the Colorado River basin for which records have been or are to bepublishedinreportsoftheGeological Survey for periods through September 30, 1967. It supersedes Geobgical Survey Circular 509. Basic data on surface-water supply have been published in an annual series of water-supply papers consisting of several volumes, including one each for the States of Alaska and Hawaii. The area of the other 48 States is divided into 14 parts whose boundaries coincide with certain natural drainage lines. Prior to 1951, the records for the 48 States were published in 14 volumes, one for each of the parts. From 1951 to 1960, the records for the 48 States were pub~.ished annually in 18 volumes, there being 2 volumes each for Parts 1, 2, 3, and 6. The boundaries of the various parts are shown on the map in figure 1. Beginning in 1961, the annual series ofwater-supplypapers on surface-water supply was changed to a 5-year S<~ries. Records for the period 1961-65 will bepublishedin a series of water-supply papers using the same 14-part division for the 48 States, but most parts will be further subdivided into two or more volumes.
    [Show full text]
  • ARCHAEOLOGICAL REPORTS and PUBLICATIONS Available Bound Prices Listed with Report Title Comb Bound $5.00 USB $5.00 Disk $4.00 Scan to E‐Mail Free If Available
    t THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO, OFFICE OF CONTRACT ARCHEOLOGY ARCHAEOLOGICAL REPORTS AND PUBLICATIONS Available Bound Prices listed with report title Comb Bound $5.00 USB $5.00 Disk $4.00 Scan to e‐mail Free if available Please check specific reports listed below for format availability @unm.edu kk oca The University of New Mexico Phone: (505) 277‐5853 1717 Lomas Blvd. NE Fax: (505) 277‐6726 MSC07 4230 www.unm.edu 1 University of New Mexico Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131‐0001 Publications sold within New Mexico are subject to NM Gross Receipts Tax T HESE PUBLICATIONS AND ANY INFORMATION CONTAINED WITHIN THEM ARE CONFIDENTIAL AND INTENDED SOLELY FOR PROFESSIONAL USE AUTHOR DATE REPORT FORMAT TITLE AVAILABILITY John C. Acklen 1977 185‐2 PDF available for An Archaeological Survey in the Rio Puerco Valley (East): The Public Service Company of New Rory P. Gauthier scan, disk, USB Mexico Marquez Line Adrienne Actis 2006 185‐901 $5.00 Bound Class III Cultural Resources Survey of Federal Law Enforcement Training Center Driver Training PDF available for Emergency Response Ranges on BLM and Private Lands Near Artesia, Eddy County, New scan, disk, USB Mexico Adrienne Actis 2006 185‐885 $5.00 Bound Cultural Resources Survey and Testing Nearby Water Well No. 12, Rio Rancho, Sandoval Richard C. Chapman PDF available for County, New Mexico scan, disk, USB Robert K. Alexander 1990 OCA‐017 PDF available for An Archaeological Survey of a Proposed Transwestern Pipeline Company Haul Road Near scan, disk, USB Laguna Pueblo, Cibola County, New Mexico Robert K. Alexander 1991 OCA‐019 PDF available for An Archaeological Survey of Proposed Building Sites for the Sevilleta Wildlife Refuge, Socorro scan, disk, USB County, New Mexico Robert K.
    [Show full text]
  • Section VII Potential Linkage Zones SECTION VII POTENTIAL LINKAGE ZONES
    2006 ARIZONA’S WILDLIFE LINKAGES ASSESSMENT 41 Section VII Potential Linkage Zones SECTION VII POTENTIAL LINKAGE ZONES Linkage 1 Linkage 2 Beaver Dam Slope – Virgin Slope Beaver Dam – Virgin Mountains Mohave Desert Ecoregion Mohave Desert Ecoregion County: Mohave (Linkage 1: Identified Species continued) County: Mohave Kit Fox Vulpes macrotis ADOT Engineering District: Flagstaff and Kingman Mohave Desert Tortoise Gopherus agassizii ADOT Engineering District: Flagstaff ADOT Maintenance: Fredonia and Kingman Mountain Lion Felis concolor ADOT Maintenance: Fredonia ADOT Natural Resources Management Section: Flagstaff Mule Deer Odocoileus hemionus ADOT Natural Resources Management Section: Flagstaff Speckled Dace Rhinichthys osculus Spotted Bat Euderma maculatum AGFD: Region II AGFD: Region II Virgin Chub Gila seminuda Virgin Spinedace Lepidomeda mollispinis mollispinis BLM: Arizona Strip District Woundfin Plagopterus argentissimus BLM: Arizona Strip District Congressional District: 2 Threats: Congressional District: 2 Highway (I 15) Council of Government: Western Arizona Council of Governments Urbanization Council of Government: Western Arizona Council of Governments FHWA Engineering: A2 and A4 Hydrology: FHWA Engineering: A2 Big Bend Wash Legislative District: 3 Coon Creek Legislative District: 3 Virgin River Biotic Communities (Vegetation Types): Biotic Communities (Vegetation Types): Mohave Desertscrub 100% Mohave Desertscrub 100% Land Ownership: Land Ownership: Bureau of Land Management 59% Bureau of Land Management 93% Private 27% Private
    [Show full text]
  • Appendix E: Facility Inventory
    Facility Inventory FY 2019 Distance to Risk/ Facility Name Waterway Name Evaluation Date waterway (~ mi) Priority Val Vista Unnamed 0.38 0.00 04/18/16 Old Nogales Maintenance Yard Nogales Wash 0.00 0.53 02/05/16 Nogales Maintenance Yard Nogales Wash 0.10 1.44 02/05/16 Tucson Commercial DL MVD Unknown 0.00 0.06 03/08/16 Tucson Construction Office Unnamed Wash 0.00 0.59 03/08/16 Tucson East MVD Tributary to Pantano Wash 0.00 0.12 03/09/16 Tucson Regional MVD Unnamed Tributary to Julian Wash 0.10 0.35 03/09/16 Tucson District Office Unamed Wash 0.00 0.26 03/18/16 Tucson North MVD Canada del Oro 0.36 0.12 03/19/16 Tucson Stack Operation Julian Wash 0.00 0.59 03/19/16 Grant Rd Maintenance Yard Santa Cruz River 0.00 3.24 04/13/16 Picacho Unnamed - 0.00 04/18/16 Casa Grande Maintenance Yard Unknown 0.00 1.47 04/18/16 Sonoita Rest Area Sonoita Creek 0.31 0.18 04/19/16 Benson Construction Office Unnameed Tributary to San Pedro 0.00 0.26 04/19/16 Johnson Road Storage Site Walnut Wash 0.24 0.35 04/19/16 Sonoita Maintenance Yard Sonoita Creek 0.42 0.41 04/19/16 Amole Storage Site Unnamed Tributary to Mescal Arroyo 0.22 0.47 04/19/16 St. David Maintenance Yard Unnameed Tributary to San Pedro 0.00 1.82 04/19/16 Sells Storage Yard Sells Wash 0.33 0.12 04/25/16 Ajo Maintenance Yard Unamed Tributary to Gibson Arroyo 0.00 0.47 04/25/16 Nogales POE Unnamed Wash 0.00 0.26 05/02/16 Holbrook MVD Tributary to Little Colorado River 0.35 0.12 05/10/16 Holbrook Statewide Striping Facility Unnamed Tributary to the Little Colorado River 1.05 0.47 05/10/16 Kayenta
    [Show full text]
  • TABLE of REGULATORY PEAK DISCHARGES (Revised October 28, 2014)
    TABLE OF REGULATORY PEAK DISCHARGES (Revised October 28, 2014) Section 16.16.030.B requires the Chief Engineer to list the base flood peak discharges of all watersheds that generate flood peaks greater than 5,000 cfs. This list meets that requirement and includes peak discharges for other return frequencies as well as for smaller watersheds where regulatory discharges have been determined. This list is not all inclusive; any watershed that generates base flood peak discharges of more than 100 cfs is subject to the requirements of the Floodplain and Erosion Hazard Management Ordinance, Title 16 of the Pima County Code. Listed discharges are subject to review and revision due to urbanization, improvements, changes in the watershed, and improved methodology (check with Floodplain Management Division staff before use). All discharge values are in cubic feet per second. Watercourse Regulatory Discharge1 Other Discharge Values Drainage Area Source of Discharge (1% Return (Return Frequencies)2 (sq. miles) Information Frequency) Agua Caliente Wash3 Upstream of confluence with FEMA Map Revision Tanque Verde Creek 7,180 6,090 (2%), 9,555 (0.2%) 40.40 (11-09-1817S) Downstream of the divergence of 10,540 7,930 (2%), 18,925 ‘’ the Agua Caliente Spur Flow (0.2%) Downstream of confluence with 13,000 9,200 (2%), 26,000 ‘’ Soldier Canyon Wash (0.2%) Upstream of confluence with 12,000 3,400 (10%), 8,400 (2%), 28.60 ‘’ Soldier Canyon Wash 24,000 (0.2%) Agua Caliente Split Flow @ Divergence from Agua Caliente FEMA Map Revision Wash 3,360 1,890 (2%), 7,080 (0.2%) (11-09-1817S) @ Confluence with Tanque Verde 5,820 3,160 (2%), 16,445 ‘’ Creek (0.2%) Page 1 of 29 Watercourse Regulatory Discharge1 Other Discharge Values Drainage Area Source of Discharge (1% Return (Return Frequencies)2 (sq.
    [Show full text]
  • Appendix a Detailed Study Area Descriptions
    Appendix A – Study Area Description Appendix A Detailed Study Area Descriptions This Appendix provides more detailed descriptions of the geography and hydrology of the five transboundary regions that make up the study area. These summaries draw heavily on previous work on the U.S.-Mexico border project conducted by Parsons Engineering Science, Inc. (U.S. EPA, 2000), as well as USGS factsheets for three of the basins (Central Desert/Closed Basins: Papoulias et al., 1997; Rio Grande Basin: Blackstun et al., 1996; and Lower Rio Grande Basin: Buckler et al. 1997). A.1 Pacific/Salton Sea Transboundary Basins The Pacific/Salton Sea Basins contain watersheds that drain either to the Pacific Ocean or to inland seas. The basins drain an area of 14,000 square miles (36,000 km2). These basins have a very dry, semiarid climate with few fresh water resources. Flow is primarily from east to west, with stream flows originating from precipitation in the mountains flowing toward the Pacific Ocean. The flow in these streams is controlled through a series of hydraulic structures, including reservoirs. The Tijuana River is one of the main streams in the basin and one of the City of Tijuana’s major natural resources. The river flows northwest through the city of Tijuana before crossing into California near San Ysidro and then flowing into the Pacific Ocean. Figure A-1 shows the Pacific/Salton Sea Basins and their most important characteristics. Figure A-1. Pacific/Salton Sea Basins. A-1 Appendix A – Study Area Description A.1.1 Geography of the Pacific/Salton Sea Basins The San Diego, Cottonwood-Tijuana, and Salton Sea watersheds are the most important watersheds within the Pacific/Salton Sea Basins.
    [Show full text]
  • By the Rillito Creek Hydrologic Research Committee of the University of Arizona and the U
    CAPTURING ADDITIONAL WATER IN THE TUCSON AREA By The Rillito Creek Hydrologic Research Committee of The University of Arizona and The U. S. Geological Survey June 1959 Open-file Report CONTENTS Page Abstract.............................................................. 1 Introduction.......................................................... 3 Metropolitan development......................................... 3 Physical characteristics of Tucson basin......................... 4 Surficial water supplies.............................................. 8 Precipitation.................................................... 8 Runoff........................................................... 12 Sediment content of floodwaters.................................. 21 Quality of floodwaters........................................... 23 Soils............................................................ 23 Evaporation...................................................... 24 Vegetation....................................................... 28 Planned control of vegetation.......................... 31 Areas of phreatophytes................................. 31 Natural recharge of ground water................................. 31 Subsurface water supplies............................................. 34 Geology.......................................................... 34 Rock units.................................................. 34 Crystalline complex.................................... 34 Pantano beds........................................... 34 Alluvial deposits
    [Show full text]
  • Lower Cienega Creek Restoration Evaluation Project
    ti LOWER CIENEGA CREEK RESTORATION EVALUATION PROJECT: An Investigation into Developing Quantitative Methods for Assessing Stream Channel Physical Condition Funded by the Arizona Water Protection Fund Grant # 90-068 WPF by Lin Lawson and Hans Huth November 2003 Arizona Department of Environmental Quality Southern Regional Office Tucson, Arizona ADEQ Report #EQR0303 The "Old Timer" on the title page is a cottonwood we found in the Upper Basin of Cienega Creek near primary control point #2. The cadastral location of the tree is T19S R17E S15 dac (7.5 minute topographic map Spring Water Canyon, Ariz., 1981). The photo was taken from the terrace on the west side of the creek looking east. The base of the tree sits about ten feet below the top of the terrace and next to a barbed wire fence. Photo was taken at sunset on 18 June 2001 by Hans Huth with a Nikon digital camera. ABSTRACT This project was funded by the Arizona Water Protection Fund to evaluate a 10-mile reach in the Lower Basin of Cienega Creek, in southeast Arizona, for potential stream stabilization projects, and to develop and test quantitative techniques for assessing the physical condition of stream channels. A land survey of the geomorphology of the stream channel in the Upper and Lower Basins was conducted during the period December 2000 through April 2002. Two samples sites were located in each of the basins from which water quality, macroinvertebrate, and diatom samples were retrieved. One of the two sites in the Upper Basin was chosen as the reference condition to which the two sites in the Lower Basin were compared.
    [Show full text]
  • Programmatic Biological Assessment
    PROGRAMMATIC BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF BUREAU OF RECLAMATION’S WATER AND RIVER MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS, ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS’ FLOOD CONTROL OPERATION, AND NON-FEDERAL ACTIONS ON THE MIDDLE RIO GRANDE, NEW MEXICO March 1, 2003 – February 28, 2013 Partially incorporating the 2001 Biological Assessment Submitted to the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service RIO GRANDE SILVERY MINNOW SOUTHWESTERN WILLOW FLYCATCHER BALD EAGLE INTERIOR LEAST TERN February 19, 2003 U. S. Department of the Interior U. S. Army Corps of Engineers Bureau of Reclamation Albuquerque District Albuquerque Area Office Albuquerque, New Mexico Albuquerque, New Mexico TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................................................1 1.1 Biological Assessment Content and Scope................................................................................1 1.2 Summary of Recent Consultation Activities..............................................................................1 1.3 Summary of Minnow v. Keys Litigation and 2003 Consultation Approach..............................1 2 AREA OF ACTION ..............................................................................................................................................3 3 DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED ACTIONS........................................................................................................5 3.1 Introduction................................................................................................................................5
    [Show full text]
  • Arid West Water Quality Research Project AQUATIC COMMUNITIES
    Arid West Water Quality Research Project AQUATIC COMMUNITIES OF EPHEMERAL STREAM ECOSYSTEMS funding provided by EPA Region IX under Assistance Agreement XP-9992607 directed by Pima County Wastewater Management Department prepared by URS Corporation, Albuquerque, New Mexico and Chadwick Ecological Consultants, Littleton, Colorado November 2006 cover photo: Santa Cruz River, near Tubac, Arizona Linwood Smith, photographer FOREWORD The Arid West Water Quality Research Project (AWWQRP or “Project”) was established in 1995 as a result of a federal appropriation (Public Law 103-327) and the establishment of an Assistance Agreement between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and Pima County Wastewater Management (PCWMD), Tucson, Arizona. The establishment of this Agreement provided a significant opportunity for western water resource stakeholders to (1) work cooperatively to conduct scientific research to recommend appropriate water quality criteria, standards and uses for effluent-dependent and ephemeral waters in the arid and semi- arid regions of the West (“arid West”), and (2) improve the scientific basis for regulating wastewater and stormwater discharges in the arid West. Effluent-dependent waters are created by the discharge of treated effluent into ephemeral streambeds or streams that in the absence of effluent discharge would have only minimal flow. With the establishment of the AWWQRP, a management infrastructure was created to support the development of peer-reviewed research products. From within the Environmental Planning Division of PCWMD, the AWWQRP Project Director, Program Manager and support staff administer the Project. A Regulatory Working Group (RWG), comprised of 15 stakeholders representing both public and private interests, works to ensure that Project research has a sound regulatory basis and that research activities focus on important regulatory concerns.
    [Show full text]