ARIZONA GAME AND FISH DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATION OF PROPOSED PROJECTS Roland C. Kufeld Project FW-16-R-5 Completion Report Work Plan 3 August 1, 1965 to Job 1 July 31, 1966 Abstract During this segment six separate Colorado River Diversion Projects were reviewed by the Arizona Game and Fish Department in cooperation with personnel of the U.S. Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife. Recom- mendations for consideration of fish and wildlife were submitted on each pro- ject. Projects reviewed were Winslow, Burro Creek, Black Creek, Flagstaff, Williams, and Prescott-Verde. One application on a small reclamation project, submitted by Curtis Canal Company of Safford, was received during this segment. A report on this project will be prepared by the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife in cooperation with the Arizona Game and Fish Department. Two watershed projects were investigated during the segment. These were the Harquahala in west-central Maricopa County, and the Fredonia pro- ject in northern Coconino County. Recommendations for improvement of wildlife habitat in connection with the Harquahala project were submitted to the Soil Conservation Service by the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife. Cost-sharing in development of a fisheries in connection with the Harquahala project was considered by the Arizona Games-id Fish Department, but the annual maintenance cost was deemed prohibitive. Construction of the Fredonia project will have no significant effect on fish or wildlife. Assistance was given the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife in preparation of a report on fish and wildlife in relation to multiple-purpose development of the Bureau of Reclamation's San Pedro Project. This report is subject to revision and has not been finalized. The water development possibilities in the Santa Cruz River Basin have been under investigation by the Bureau of Reclamation since 1964. In May, 1966, the Army Corps of Engineers announced its intent to investigate flood control needs in the Santa Cruz Valley. The Arizona Game and Fish FW16R5-WP3-J1 21 Department will cooperate with both agencies to insure that fish and wildlife interests are considered in any plans for construction of water oriented pro- jects in the Santa Cruz Valley. Recommendations It is recommended that this job be continued to cover all proposed projects not covered by a particular job. Objectives To participate in preliminary discussions of any water, drainage, watershed, or other developments which would appear to have an effect on fish and wildlife resources. Procedures Colorado River Diversion Projects The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation in their Reconnaissance Report, Arizona-Colorado River Diversion Projects, dated November, 1963, has outlined a number of possible water development projects, which are de- signed to develop water resources outside of the direct diversionary area of the proposed Central Arizona Project. These projects would provide for more efficient utilization of water from the Little Colorado and Gila River Drainages. Through more efficient use of existing water resources, addi- tional water will be made available to satisfy the water requirements of Arizona. The purpose and scope of the Bureau of Reclamation's Arizona- Colorado River Diversion Projects investigation has been described by Curtis (1965). When the Bureau of Reclamation conducts investigations on each pro- ject to devise preliminary plans for the comprehensive development, the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife is contacted to prepare a report on fish and wildlife in relation to the project. The Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife Report is prepared in cooperation with the Arizona Game and Fish Department under authority of and in accordance with the provisions of the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (48 Stat. 401, as amended; 16 U.S. C. 661 et. seq. ). FW16R5-WP3-J1 22 During this segment, six reports of the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife in various phases of completion were reviewed by the Arizona Game and Fish Department. Small Reclamation Projects One application on a small reclamation project was received during the segment. A report on an application of the Curtis Canal Company will be prepared by the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife Field Office in Phoenix in cooperation with the Arizona Game and Fish Department. Watershed Projects Two watershed projects were investigated during this segment: Harquahala in west-central Maricopa County and Fredonia in northern Coconino County. The Harquahala Valley Watershed Program is designed to provide flood protection to cultivated lands. Flood protection from flows originating in the Saddleback Mountains on the east flank of the cultivated lands would be provided by a diversion structure located immediately adjacent to the farm lands. The Saddleback diversion would discharge floodwaters and sediment into Centennial Wash at the southeast corner of the watershed. Two inter- connected floodwater retarding structures, located north and northwest of the farm area, would intercept flood flows from the Big Horn Mountains. Com- bined floodwaters would be conveyed from the northwest floodwater retarding structure to Centennial Wash in a floodway diversion that also would function to intercept and divert additional flood runoff below the two structures. The Fredonia Watershed Project is designed to protect the town of Fredonia and surrounding crop lands from flood damage. San Pedro River Basin The Bureau of Reclamation is conducting reconnaissance investiga- tions in the San Pedro River Valley to determine water resources in terms of existing and future requirements for municipal, industrial, irrigation, recreation and fish and wildlife uses and plan methods for water storage, delivery and salvage, streamflow regulation and flood control. San Pedro Project plans include construction of an earthfill dam at the Charleston site, rising 165 feet above the streambed, and having a crest length of 1,800 feet. Project plans also propose to salvage an estimated 12,700 acre feet of water by clearing approximately 18,000 acres of bottom- land phreatophyte vegetation along the San Pedro and Gila Rivers in the pro- ject area. The bottomland areas tentatively proposed for clearing are covered laregly with dense mesquite forests. A few areas have stands of salt cedar. Nearly all of the land to be cleared is in private ownership. Clearing of veg- etation would be accomplished where feasible by the use of herbicides. Near agricultural lands mechanical methods would be required. Annual maintenance FW16R5-WP3-J1 23 of cleared areas would be necessary to suppress regrowth. Assistance was given the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife in preparation of a report on fish and wildlife in relation to multiple-purpose development of the San Pedro Project. This report is subject to revision and has not been finalized. Santa Cruz River Basin The Bureau of Reclamation issued a "Notice of Investigation" for the Santa Cruz River Basin Project in 1964. This is to be an investiga- tion of existing water needs and the possibilities for future water use, regulation or control within the Santa Cruz River Basin. The study will examine plans for development of the basin's resources, and consider areas that could be developed from water exchanges, coordinated through facilities of the Central Arizona Project. A reconnaissance report will be prepared by the Bure4u of Reclamation, although no progress reports on the Santa Cruz Basin Project were received by the Arizona Game and Fish Depart- ment during this segment. The Army Corps of Engineers conducted a public hearing in Tucson on May 25, 1966, to determine the need for flood control measures in the Santa Cruz Valley. All interested parties were invited to express their views concerning the character and extent of the improvement desired and the need and advisability of its execution. A statement by the Director of the Arizona Game and Fish Department expressing the Department's views concerning flood control in the Santa Cruz Valley was presented at this meeting. Findings and Discussion Colorado River Diversion Projects During the segment six separate projects were reviewed with per- sonnel of the Division of River Basin Studies, Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, Phoenix. Final reconnaissance grade reports of the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife were received on the Winslow, Burro Creek, Black Creek, Flagstaff, Williams, and Prescott-Verde Projects. A review report was received on the Burro Creek Project. The Winslow Project consists of two dams and reservoirs, together with diversion weirs, tunnels and supply canals, and would supply water to the Winslow and Holbrook areas. Wildcat Reservoir site, a lake of about 650 surface acres, is located within Sitgreaves National Forest on Chevelon Creek in western Navajo and eastern Coconino Counties, approximately 30 FW16R5-WP3-J1 24 miles south of Winslow. The site for Wilkin's Dam, which would cover about 600 surface acres, is located on Clear Creek in eastern Coconino County about 35 miles southwest of Winslow. Recommended provisions for fish and wildlife on the Winslow Project include (1) boat launching, parking and sanitary facilities, (2) control of speedboating and waterskiing, and (3) investigation of the feasibility of providing minimum releases from Wildcat and Wilkin's Reservoirs. With inclusion of recommendations the two reservoirs in the Winslow Project will produce a gain of 40, 700 man-days of trout fishing annually, an annual increase of 150 man-days of upland game hunting, and an annual decrease of 100 man-days of big game hunting. The proposed Burro Creek Project, located on Burro Creek about seven miles southwest of Bagdad, would consist of a 70 foot high dam, a reservoir with a minimum surface area of 225 surface acres, and a pumping system which would transport water from Burro Creek Reservoir through seven miles of pipeline to a small enclosed terminal storage reservoir near Bagdad. Fish and wildlife recommendations for the Burro Creek Project include plans to prohibit speedboating and waterskiing on Burro Creek Reservoir, and installation of boat launching, parking and sanitary facilities at the reservoir.