DOCSLIB.ORG

F:\Arizona Riparian Council\Newsletters\Vol15no2

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
F:\Arizona Riparian Council\Newsletters\Vol15no2 Volume 15, Number 2 June 2002 NATIONAL FORESTS IN ARIZONA AND RIPARIAN AREAS Janet Johnson Grove, Tonto National Forest, Phoenix Office here are six National Forests KAIBAB 2,873,300-acre contiguous block in Arizona: the Apache- of land that extends from 1,300 The Kaibab borders Grand Sitgreaves (Supervisor's feet in the Sonoran Desert to 7,900 T Canyon National Park to the north Office in Springerville), Coconino feet. It is centered between the and south. A third block of the (Flagstaff), Coronado (Tucson), forested Colorado Plateau above National Forest lies west of Kaibab (Williams), Prescott the Mogollon Rim and the Basin Flagstaff centered on I-40. Its (Prescott) and Tonto (Phoenix). and Range geology of western and 1,557,274 acres occupy an southern Arizona. In addition to elevation range from 3,000-10,418 the Salt and Verde Rivers, there APACHE-SITGREAVES feet. Vegetation types include pine are a number of perennial and This 2,003,525-acre forest is (Pinus spp.), spruce (Picea spp.), intermittent streams that cut located in central and eastern and aspen (Populus tremuloides) through this transition zone: New Arizona, and elevations range forests and mountain meadows. River, Cave Creek, East Verde, from 3,500-11,500 feet. It includes Kanab Creek is the most prom- Fossil Creek, Pinto Creek, a vast ponderosa pine (Pinus inent stream. The limestone form- Sycamore Creeks, Haigler Creek, ponderosa) forest above the ations underlying most of the Canyon Creek, Tonto Creek, and Mogollon Rim, mountain Kaibab National Forest are very Cherry Creek. meadows of the White Mountains porous, so that surface water and and the Blue Range and Blue riparian areas are uncommon. River along the New Mexico State CORONADO line. Portions of Chevelon Creek, PRESCOTT The Coronado National Forest the Black River and the San Fran- includes Arizona's southeastern The 1,237,061 acres of the cisco River lie within the Apache- mountain ranges. Elevations from Prescott National Forest follow Sitgreaves National Forest. 3,000-10,720 feet span the two parallel mountainous areas distance from Sonoran and lying on either side of the Chino Chihuahuan Deserts to spruce-fir COCONINO Valley. Elevations extend from (Picea spp.-Abies spp.) forests. The Coconino is an 1,821,495- 3,000-8,000 feet in the Sierra Broad basins separate these acre forest on a pine-covered Prieta, the Bradshaw Mountains Cont. on pg. 3.....National Forests plateau cut by deep canyons and and Black Hills. Vegetation types bordered on the south by the include ponderosa pine, Mogollon Rim, a 1,000-foot cliff pinyon-juniper (Pinus spp.- running for miles across central Juniperus spp.) woodlands Arizona. Elevations extend from and grasslands. The Verde Inside This Issue 2,600-12,633 feet. The Coconino River is the most prominent President’s Message ............... 2 includes the San Francisco Peaks, riparian resource of the Everyone and Everything........... 7 Oak Creek Canyon, and the Red Prescott National Forest. Spring Meeting................... 8 Rocks country around Sedona. Species Profile................... 9 Important streams include the TONTO Legal Issues.................... 11 Verde River, Sycamore Canyon, Lying below the Noteworthy Publications.......... 13 Wet Beaver Creek, and West Clear Mogollon Rim, the Tonto Creek. Committee Reports .............. 14 National Forest is a Calendar....................... 16 The Arizona Riparian Council 2 2002 Vol. 15 No. 2 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE t's hard to believe that we just consists of two meetings (spring In addition, the question was completed our 16th Annual and fall) and the distribution of a asked: What riparian issues should ISpring Meeting. I would like to newsletter three times per year. I the Council focus on? The issues thank all of the speakers and am confident that the Council will that were brought up include: presenters for their contributions always provide forums for the to this year's meeting. I was exchange of information, i.e., the • Governor's Water Manage- especially pleased to hear about meetings and newsletter. How- ment Commission the Wickenburg High School ever, is there more that the organi- • Issue of subflow Constructed Wetland project and zation can and should do, and how • Forest restoration to see that there will be a next can we get more members actively • Fossil Creek restoration generation of scientists conducting involved in the Council? Or • Water conservation education riparian research. should the Council simply con- • Use of effluent A special thank you goes to tinue to provide for the exchange • Drought impacts on riparian Cindy Zisner who has been orga- of information? issues nizing spring meetings since day At the spring meeting, Kris one. It goes without saying that Randall conducted a brief but It was suggested during the without Cindy's help spring productive “brainstorming session meetings would not be possible. session” to gather input from the that additional meetings be held in Theresa Pinto also deserves a big participants as to what should be a few locations throughout the thank you for handling the the focus of the Council and its state (Tucson, Flagstaff, and arrangements with Rancho de los Board. The brainstorming session Phoenix) to continue the process Caballeros. produced several good ideas and of determining where we are going This year's meeting marked comments on a variety of topics. as an organization. The Board has the end of Kris Randall's three- Here is a summary of those since met and discussed how to year tenure as President. Kris has comments and ideas. continue the evolution process. It provided great leadership over the was decided to use the Riparian years and we are very fortunate • Provide more technical sup- Listserve and ask the membership that she will remain an active port for riparian area science. to submit comments and ideas. participant in the Council. Janet • Become a riparian issues Because the Listserve reaches Johnson also stepped down as advocacy group and comment most of the Council membership, Vice President this year. She to on riparian issues. more people should be reached has contributed so much and her • Create a higher public profile than by conducting a meeting. I efforts will be missed. Please take for the Council and its efforts. believe this process will improve the opportunity to say thank you to • Increase the number of mem- the organization as a whole and both of them when you can. bers who are actively involved provide the stimulus to get Tom Hildebrandt and I are in the Council. additional members actively excited about leading the Council • Cooperate with other environ- involved in Council activities. I and building upon the efforts of mental organizations that have welcome your suggestions or ideas Kris and Janet. Our first priority overlap with riparian issues/ regarding the direction of the will be to develop a clear direction topics or science. Council or possible meeting for the Council. Our bylaws state • Find new ways to communi- locations. Please email them to me the purpose of the Council is to cate riparian system informa- at [email protected] or call me “...provide for the exchange of tion. at (480) 694-4116. information...” as it relates to • Define riparian area standards. riparian systems in Arizona. Our Jeff Inwood, President exchange of information generally The Arizona Riparian Council 3 2002 Vol. 15 No. 2 National Forests..Cont. from pg. 1 The Coconino National Forest has mountain ranges, or sky islands, planned and implemented from each other. Collectively, riparian restoration there are 11 blocks of federal land projects in various that comprise 1,717,857 acres. locations in the Lake The headwaters of the rivers of Mary watershed, and southeastern Arizona originate in Clover Springs in the these isolated mountain ranges. West Clear Creek watershed. MANAGEMENT The Coconino National Forest has OF RIPARIAN AREAS identified numerous Management of riparian areas high-elevation riparian varies with each National Forest, areas that have been depending on issues, staffing, and degraded by a variety of riparian area resources. Almost all manipulations over most activities managed by National of the last century. Forests affect streams and riparian Typical stream con- Location of National Forests in Arizona. Map areas: recreation, road construc- ditions can be described from Rocky Mountain Region 3 website. tion, wildlife, fisheries and as highly eroded,with (http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/forests/az.html). especially threatened and endan- active down cutting, head gered species, timber harvest, cutting, and substantial livestock grazing, urban develop- lateral erosion. In many cases, reference reaches. This informa- ment, and fire management. Many floodplains have been abandoned tion is combined with existing individuals at both the District with a subsequent loss of the hydrology and watershed data to Ranger and Forest Supervisor riparian vegetation that helps to evaluate the size and frequency of levels share coordination of maintain stream channel stability. flows expected for these streams. riparian area management. Two of Given enough time in the absence The actual channel modifica- the six National Forests in Arizona of additional disturbances, these tion is performed using a small have full-time riparian area degraded channels would likely bulldozer, Bobcat, and other tools program managers Three of the restabilize on their own, although where appropriate. Generally, forests have hydrologists and three substantial soil erosion would stream gradient is lowered by have watershed staff trained in continue to occur. In reality, dis- introducing greater sinuosity or other disciplines. The following turbances from ungulate grazing meander to the stream. Appro- summaries were written by a have and continue to hamper priate cross-sectional geometries collective of individuals who are vegetative recovery necessary for are also constructed to contain involved in the management of significant stabilization to occur. relatively frequent flood flows riparian areas on their National Recognizing a need for a more while allowing higher flood flows Forests.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Arizona TIM PALMER FLICKR
    Arizona TIM PALMER FLICKR Colorado River at Mile 50. Cover: Salt River. Letter from the President ivers are the great treasury of noted scientists and other experts reviewed the survey design, and biological diversity in the western state-specific experts reviewed the results for each state. RUnited States. As evidence mounts The result is a state-by-state list of more than 250 of the West’s that climate is changing even faster than we outstanding streams, some protected, some still vulnerable. The feared, it becomes essential that we create Great Rivers of the West is a new type of inventory to serve the sanctuaries on our best, most natural rivers modern needs of river conservation—a list that Western Rivers that will harbor viable populations of at-risk Conservancy can use to strategically inform its work. species—not only charismatic species like salmon, but a broad range of aquatic and This is one of 11 state chapters in the report. Also available are a terrestrial species. summary of the entire report, as well as the full report text. That is what we do at Western Rivers Conservancy. We buy land With the right tools in hand, Western Rivers Conservancy is to create sanctuaries along the most outstanding rivers in the West seizing once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to acquire and protect – places where fish, wildlife and people can flourish. precious streamside lands on some of America’s finest rivers. With a talented team in place, combining more than 150 years This is a time when investment in conservation can yield huge of land acquisition experience and offices in Oregon, Colorado, dividends for the future.
    [Show full text]
  • Habitat Use by the Fishes of a Southwestern Desert Stream: Cherry Creek, Arizona
    ARIZONA COOPERATIVE FISH AND WILDLIFE RESEARCH UNIT SEPTEMBER 2010 Habitat use by the fishes of a southwestern desert stream: Cherry Creek, Arizona By: Scott A. Bonar, Norman Mercado-Silva, and David Rogowski Fisheries Research Report 02-10 Support Provided by: 1 Habitat use by the fishes of a southwestern desert stream: Cherry Creek, Arizona By Scott A. Bonar, Norman Mercado-Silva, and David Rogowski USGS Arizona Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit School of Natural Resources and the Environment 325 Biological Sciences East University of Arizona Tucson AZ 85721 USGS Arizona Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Unit Fisheries Research Report 02-10 Funding provided by: United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service With additional support from: School of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Arizona Arizona Department of Game and Fish United States Geological Survey 2 Executive Summary Fish communities in the Southwest U.S. face numerous threats of anthropogenic origin. Most importantly, declining instream flows have impacted southwestern stream fish assemblages. Maintenance of water flows that sustain viable fish communities is key in maintaining the ecological function of river ecosystems in arid regions. Efforts to calculate the optimal amount of water that will ensure long-term viability of species in a stream community require that the specific habitat requirements for all species in the community be known. Habitat suitability criteria (HSC) are used to translate structural and hydraulic characteristics of streams into indices of habitat quality for fishes. Habitat suitability criteria summarize the preference of fishes for numerous habitat variables. We estimated HSC for water depth, water velocity, substrate, and water temperature for the fishes of Cherry Creek, Arizona, a perennial desert stream.
    [Show full text]
  • Phase I Environmental Assessment, East Clear Creek, Coconino County
    PHASE 1 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT EAST CLEAR CREEK, COCONINO COUNTY, ARIZONA Resolution Copper Prepared for: Attn: Mary Morissette 102 Magma Heights Superior, Arizona 85173-2523 Project Number: 807.211 September 4, 2020 Date WestLand Resources, Inc. 4001 E. Paradise Falls Drive Tucson, Arizona 85712 5202069585 East Clear Creek, Coconino County, Arizona Phase 1 Environmental Assessment TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY....................................................................................................................... ES-1 1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1. Purpose ............................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2. Scope of Services .............................................................................................................................. 2 1.3. Limitations and Exceptions ............................................................................................................ 2 1.4. Special Terms and Conditions ........................................................................................................ 3 1.5. User Reliance ..................................................................................................................................... 3 1.6. Continued Viability ..........................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Area Land Use Plan
    DETAIL VIEW #1 RIM TRAIL ESTATES DETAIL VIEW #2 GIRL SCOUT CAMP 260 KOHL'S RANCH VERDE GLEN FR 199 TONTO CREEK 5 THOMPSON THOMPSON DRAW I E. VERDE RIVER DRAW II BOY SCOUT CAMP FR 64 FR 64 WHISPERING PINES PINE MEADOWS BEAR FLATS FR 199 DETAIL VIEW #3 FLOWING SPRINGS DETAIL VIEW #4 DETAIL VIEW #5 DIAMOND POINT FOREST HOMES & 87 FR 29 COLLINS RANCH E. VERDE RIVER COCONINO COUNTY EAST VERDE PARK FR 64 260 FR 64 TONTO VILLAGE GILA COUNTYLION SPRINGS DETAIL VIEW #6 DETAIL VIEW #7 DETAIL VIEW #8 FR 200 FR FR 291 PONDEROSA SPRINGS CHRISTOPHER CREEK 260 HAIGLER CREEK HAIGLER CREEK (HIGHWAY 260 REALIGNMENT) COLCORD MOUNTAIN HOMESITES HUNTER CREEK FR 200 DETAIL VIEW #9 DETAIL VIEW #10 DETAIL VIEW #11 ROOSEVELT LAKE ESTATES 87 FR 184 188 OXBOW ESTATES SPRING CREEK 188 JAKES CORNER KEY MAP: LEGEND Residential - 3.5 to 5 du/ac Residential - 5 to 10 du/ac Regional Highways and Significant Roadways NORTHWEST NORTHEAST Major Rivers or Streams Residential - 10+ du/ac Gila County Boundary Neighborhood Commercial Community Commercial WEST EAST Federal/Incorporated Area Lands CENTRAL CENTRAL Light Industrial LAND USE CLASSIFICATIONS Heavy Industrial SOUTH Residential - 0 to 0.1 du/ac Public Facilities AREA LAND USE PLAN Residential - 0.1 to 0.4 du/ac DETAILED VIEWS Multi-Functional Corridor FIGURE 2.F Residential - 0.4 to 1.0 du/ac Mixed Use Residential - 1 to 2 du/ac Resource Conservation 0' NOVEMBER, 2003 3 Mi Residential - 2 to 3.5 du/ac GILA COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN - 2012 Potential Resort/Lodging Use 1 1/2 Mi GILA COUNTY, ARIZONA DETAIL VIEW #1 RIM TRAIL ESTATES DETAIL VIEW #2 GIRL SCOUT CAMP 260 KOHL'S RANCH VERDE GLEN FR 199 TONTO CREEK 5 THOMPSON THOMPSON DRAW I E.
    [Show full text]
  • • UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT of the INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife
    •UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife Division of Fishery Services Phoenix, Arizona Progress Report • FISHERY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM Black and Salt Rivers Ft. Apache and San Carlos Apache Indian ,Reservations Arizona January 21, 1966 February 3, 1966 Initial Report Black and Salt Rivers Ft. Apache and San Carlos Apache Indian Reservations Arizona Introduction During the past several years, the Bureau of Sport'Fisheries'and Wildlife, in cooperation with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, has-intensified its fishery managementi assistance to the Ft. Apache and San Carlos Indian Reservations. During this period many reports summarizing fishery management activities have been submitted. None, however, has dealt with the important Black and Salt Rivers or their fishery potential. This report summarizes the- results of preliminary fishery investigations on the Salt and Black Rivers, including fishery potentials, and Is directed to the Tribal organization and•agencies of the San Carlos and Ft.-Apache Indian Reservations. The Black and Salt Rivers of Arizona flow through some of the most- spectacular canyons of the Southwest. The Salt River Canyon crossing at Highway 60 is often referred to as.the second-Grand Canyon of Arizona, with vividly colored canyon walls rising vertically more than 3,000. feet. The Black River follows a major - - - rift through basalt rock that is often narrow and exceeds 26000 feet in depth in many places. Canyons, alternately widening and boxing, extending from alpine to upper sonorian life zones, are characteristic of the study area Stands of virgin . spruce and ponderosa pine lend beauty to the.
    [Show full text]
  • Arizona Fishing Regulations 3 Fishing License Fees Getting Started
    2019 & 2020 Fishing Regulations for your boat for your boat See how much you could savegeico.com on boat | 1-800-865-4846insurance. | Local Offi ce geico.com | 1-800-865-4846 | Local Offi ce See how much you could save on boat insurance. Some discounts, coverages, payment plans and features are not available in all states or all GEICO companies. Boat and PWC coverages are underwritten by GEICO Marine Insurance Company. GEICO is a registered service mark of Government Employees Insurance Company, Washington, D.C. 20076; a Berkshire Hathaway Inc. subsidiary. TowBoatU.S. is the preferred towing service provider for GEICO Marine Insurance. The GEICO Gecko Image © 1999-2017. © 2017 GEICO AdPages2019.indd 2 12/4/2018 1:14:48 PM AdPages2019.indd 3 12/4/2018 1:17:19 PM Table of Contents Getting Started License Information and Fees ..........................................3 Douglas A. Ducey Governor Regulation Changes ...........................................................4 ARIZONA GAME AND FISH COMMISSION How to Use This Booklet ...................................................5 JAMES S. ZIELER, CHAIR — St. Johns ERIC S. SPARKS — Tucson General Statewide Fishing Regulations KURT R. DAVIS — Phoenix LELAND S. “BILL” BRAKE — Elgin Bag and Possession Limits ................................................6 JAMES R. AMMONS — Yuma Statewide Fishing Regulations ..........................................7 ARIZONA GAME AND FISH DEPARTMENT Common Violations ...........................................................8 5000 W. Carefree Highway Live Baitfish
    [Show full text]
  • 5-Yr Review LEVI
    Little Colorado Spinedace (Lepidomeda vittata) 5-Year Review: Summary and Evaluation Photo by Arizona Game and Fish Department U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Arizona Ecological Services Office Phoenix, Arizona 5-YEAR REVIEW Little Colorado Spinedace/Lepidomeda vittata 1.0 GENERAL INFORMATION 1.1 Reviewers Lead Regional Office: Southwest (Region 2), Wendy Brown, Endangered Species Recovery Coordinator, (505) 248-6664; Brady McGee, Endangered Species Recovery Biologist, (505) 248-6657. Lead Field Office: Arizona Ecological Services Office, Shaula Hedwall, Senior Fish and Wildlife Biologist, (928) 226-0614 x103; Steven L. Spangle, Field Supervisor, (602) 242-0210 x244. Cooperating Field Office: Arizona Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office, Stewart Jacks, Project Leader, (928) 338-4288 x20. 1.2 Methodology used to complete the review: This review was conducted by Arizona Ecological Services Office (AESO) staff using information from species survey and monitoring reports, the 1998 Little Colorado River Spinedace (Lepidomeda vittata) Recovery Plan (Recovery Plan) (USFWS 1998), peer-reviewed journal articles, and documents generated as part of section 7 and section 10 consultations. We discussed potential recommendations to assist in recovery of the species with recognized spinedace experts. 1.3 Background: 1.3.1 FR Notice citation announcing initiation of this review: The FR notice initiating this review was published on January 11, 2006 (71 FR 1765). This notice opened a 90-day request for information period, which closed on April 11, 2006. We received comments from the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AGFD) and from Mr. Jim Crosswhite, owner of the EC Bar Ranch on Nutrioso Creek. 1 1.3.2 Listing history Original Listing FR notice: 32 FR 2001 (USFWS 1967) Date listed: March 11, 1967 Entity listed: Species, Lepidomeda vittata Classification: Threatened.
    [Show full text]
  • Roundtail Chub Repatriated to the Blue River
    Volume 1 | Issue 2 | Summer 2015 Roundtail Chub Repatriated to the Blue River Inside this issue: With a fish exclusion barrier in place and a marked decline of catfish, the time was #TRENDINGNOW ................. 2 right for stocking Roundtail Chub into a remote eastern Arizona stream. New Initiative Launched for Southwest Native Trout.......... 2 On April 30, 2015, the Reclamation, and Marsh and Blue River. A total of 222 AZ 6-Species Conservation Department stocked 876 Associates LLC embarked on a Roundtail Chub were Agreement Renewal .............. 2 juvenile Roundtail Chub from mission to find, collect and stocked into the Blue River. IN THE FIELD ........................ 3 ARCC into the Blue River near bring into captivity some During annual monitoring, Recent and Upcoming AZGFD- the Juan Miller Crossing. Roundtail Chub for captive led Activities ........................... 3 five months later, Additional augmentation propagation from the nearest- Department staff captured Spikedace Stocked into Spring stockings to enhance the genetic neighbor population in Eagle Creek ..................................... 3 42 of the stocked chub, representation of the Blue River Creek. The Aquatic Research some of which had travelled BACK AT THE PONDS .......... 4 Roundtail Chub will be and Conservation Center as far as seven miles Native Fish Identification performed later this year. (ARCC) held and raised the upstream from the stocking Workshop at ARCC................ 4 offspring of those chub for Stockings will continue for the location. future stocking into the Blue next several years until that River. population is established in the Department biologists conducted annual Blue River and genetically In 2012, the partners delivered monitoring in subsequent mimics the wild source captive-raised juvenile years, capturing three chub population.
    [Show full text]
  • Name of Group Website Animas River Stakeholder Group Http
    Name of Group Website Colorado CBCCs Animas River Stakeholder Group http://animasriverstakeholdersgroup.org/ 2-3-2 Cohesive Strategy Partnership http://232partnership.org/ Animas River Community Forum https://www.animasrivercommunity.org/ Animas Watershed Partnership http://animaswatershedpartnership.org/ Arkansas Basin Roundtable http://www.arkansasbasin.com Arkansas River Watershed Collaborative http://arkcollaborative.org/ Arkansas River Watershed Invasive Plants https://riversedgewest.org/events/arkansas-river-watershed-invasive-plants- Partnership partnership-river-watershed-invasive-plants-partnership Barr Lake and Milton Reservoir Watershed http://www.barr-milton.org/ Association Bear Creek Watershed Association http://www.bearcreekwatershed.org/ Big Dry Creek Watershed Association http://www.bigdrycreek.org/partners.php Big Thompson Watershed Coalition http://www.bigthompson.co/ Big Thompson Watershed Forum www.btwatershed.org/ Blue River Watershed Group http://blueriverwatershed.org/ Chama Peak Land Alliance http://chamapeak.org/ Chatfield Watershed Authority https://chatfieldwatershedauthority.org/ Cherry Creek Basin Water Quality Authority http://www.cherrycreekbasin.org/ Cherry Creek Stewardship Partners http://www.cherry-creek.org/ Clear Creek Watershed Forum/ Foundation http://clearcreekwater.org/ Coal Creek Canyon Watershed Partnership http://www.cccwp.org/watershed/ Coal Creek Watershed Coalition http://www.coalcreek.org/ Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed http://www.poudrewatershed.org/ Coalition for the Upper South
    [Show full text]
  • Tonto Creek Total Nitrogen TMDL Effectiveness Monitoring Report Recommendation for Delisting
    Tonto Creek Total Nitrogen TMDL Effectiveness Monitoring Report Recommendation for Delisting Executive Summary Tonto Creek was placed on Arizona’s Water Quality Impaired Waters List 303(d) for Total Nitrogen initially in 1996 due to exceeding the aquatic and wildlife cold water (A&Wc) and warm water (A&Ww) designated uses. Total Nitrogen on Tonto Creek has an annual mean standard of 0.5 milligrams per liter (mg/L) and a single sample maximum (SSM) standard of 2.0 mg/L. Two reaches of Tonto Creek were listed as impaired due to exceedances of the annual mean nitrogen standard, Reach 013A is the headwaters to confluence with unnamed tributary at N 34° 18’ 10”/W 111° 04’ 14” and Reach 013B is Tonto Creek from unnamed tributary at N 34° 18’ 10”/W 111° 04’ 14” to Haigler Creek. The Total Nitrogen Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) was completed in June 2005. The TMDL identified several nonpoint sources as contributors to Total Nitrogen concentrations in Tonto Creek including recreational uses and unincorporated communities/summer home clusters (ADEQ 2005). There is also a permitted point source in the watershed, Arizona Game and Fish Department’s (AGFD) Tonto Creek Fish Hatchery. The 2005 Tonto Creek TMDL recommended implementation projects and appropriate best management practices (BMPs) to decrease the Total Nitrogen levels in Tonto Creek. Through Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) Water Quality Improvement Grant (WQIG) funding and other projects, septic system upgrades were made throughout the impaired watershed. AGFD also made several upgrades to the facility. These projects working in concert with each other were effective in reducing Total Nitrogen loads in Tonto Creek.
    [Show full text]
  • A Conceptual Hydrogeologic Model for Fossil Springs, Western
    A CONCEPTUAL HYDROGEOLOGIC MODEL FOR FOSSIL SPRINGS, WESTERN MOGOLLON RIM, ARIZONA: IMPLICATIONS FOR REGIONAL SPRINGS PROCESSES By L. Megan Green A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Geology Northern Arizona University May 2008 Approved: _________________________________ Abraham E. Springer, Ph.D., Chair _________________________________ Roderic A. Parnell, Jr., Ph.D. _________________________________ Paul J. Umhoefer, Ph.D. ABSTRACT A CONCEPTUAL HYDROGEOLOGIC MODEL FOR FOSSIL SPRINGS, WEST MOGOLLON MESA, ARIZONA: IMPLICATIONS FOR REGIONAL SPRINGS PROCESSES L. Megan Green Fossil Springs is the largest spring system discharging along the western Mogollon Rim in central Arizona and is a rare and important resource to the region. The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of the source of groundwater discharging at Fossil Springs. This was accomplished by (1) constructing a 3-D digital hydrogeologic framework model from available data to depict the subsurface geology of the western Mogollon Rim region and (2) by compiling and interpreting regional structural and geophysical data for Arizona’s central Transition Zone. EarthVision, a 3-D GIS modeling software, was used to construct the framework model. Two end-member models were created; the first was a simple interpolation of the data and the second was a result of geologic interpretations. The second model shows a monocline trending along the Diamond Rim fault. Both models show Fossil Springs discharging at the intersection of the Diamond Rim fault and Fossil Springs fault, at the contact between the Redwall Limestone and Naco Formation. The second objective of this study was a compilation of regional data for Arizona’s central Transition Zone.
    [Show full text]
  • Oak Flat Acres – 2,422
    Location – Pinal County, east of Superior Oak Flat Acres – 2,422 The Oak Flat parcel and surrounding lands include approximately 2,422 acres of Tonto National Forest lands intermingled with private lands owned by Resolution Copper. Unpatented mining claims staked as early as 1917 cover this suitable nesting place for birds of prey, and bats may inhabit parcel except for 760 acres that were withdrawn from mineral some of the historic mine shafts existing in the area. Protection entry through executive order during the Eisenhower of these important features is part of the planning process for Administration. These 2,422 acres of federal land, which include the Resolution Copper mine. Specific language in the bill calls the withdrawal area, would be traded to Resolution Copper in the for a management plan and significant limitations on surface land exchange for more than 5,000 acres of high-value uses within the easement area. This includes appropriate conservation lands owned by the company in various Arizona levels of non-motorized public access and use and other locations. measures to protect the open space and conservation values of Apache Leap. When the ownership of this parcel transfers to Resolution Copper, access to some Oak Flat recreational sites will be limited or lost. • To protect public safety, rock climbing and bouldering activities This will include 16 campsites that are located on about 50 acres ultimately will need to be relocated. Resolution Copper is of the forest service parcel as well as portions of the parcel that working with interested stakeholders, including members of the are used for climbing and bouldering.
    [Show full text]