Upper Verde River Watershed Protection Coalition Watershed Taskforce Watershed Restoration and Management Project Plan Prepared for: MENT OF THE ART INT EP ER D IO S. R U. BU N R E TIO AU O F RECLA MA Prepared by: Upper Verde River Watershed Protection Coalition Watershed Taskforce December 2014 Upper Verde River Watershed Protection Coalition WATERSHED TASKFORCE Table of Contents Executive Summary ..................................................................................................................................................................... 1 1.0 Acknowledgements............................................................................................................................................................ 3 2.0 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................................ 4 3.0 Plan Development Process .............................................................................................................................................. 6 4.0 Development of Mission Statement .............................................................................................................................. 8 4.1. Common Ground...................................................................................................................................................... 8 4.2. Goal Comparison ...................................................................................................................................................... 9 4.3. Group Objectives ...................................................................................................................................................... 9 5.0 Assessment of Watershed..............................................................................................................................................11 5.1. Historical Conditions..............................................................................................................................................11 6.0 Need to Enhance Recharge...........................................................................................................................................14 7.0 Mapping ..............................................................................................................................................................................15 8.0 Desired Conditions .........................................................................................................................................................16 9.0 Realizing Desired Conditions........................................................................................................................................18 9.1. Existing Recharge Facilities....................................................................................................................................18 9.2. Enhanced Runoff and Recharge............................................................................................................................19 9.3. Silvicultural Prescriptions.......................................................................................................................................19 9.4. Possible Effects of Juniper Removal on Water Balance ...................................................................................19 9.5. Fire Regime and Condition Class.........................................................................................................................20 9.6. Capitalization on Urbanization .............................................................................................................................22 9.7. Land Use Management, Conservation and Aquifer Protection.....................................................................23 10.0 Project Evaluation Criteria ............................................................................................................................................24 10.1. Vegetation Management........................................................................................................................................24 10.2. Infiltration Enhancement......................................................................................................................................25 10.3. Capitalization on Urbanization...........................................................................................................................26 10.4. Land Use Management, Conservation and Aquifer........................................................................................26 11.0 Project Development......................................................................................................................................................27 11.1. Vegetation Restoration .........................................................................................................................................27 11.1.1. Hydrologic Monitoring Plan for Vegetation Restoration Projects ...................................................28 11.2. Infiltration Enhancement......................................................................................................................................39 11.2.1. Flood Detention .........................................................................................................................................39 11.2.2. Hydrologic Monitoring Plan for Gabion Projects ...............................................................................39 11.3. Induced Recharge..................................................................................................................................................53 11.4. Capitalization on Urbanization..........................................................................................................................55 11.4.1. Slaughterhouse Gulch Watershed .............................................................................................................55 11.4.1.1. Project Concept......................................................................................................................................55 WATERSHED PLAN Page i of ii Upper Verde River Watershed Protection Coalition WATERSHED TASKFORCE 11.4.1.2. Background Information........................................................................................................................55 11.4.1.3. Project Description ................................................................................................................................56 11.4.1.4. Project Cost.............................................................................................................................................57 11.5. Land Use Management, Conservation and Aquifer Protection ....................................................................57 11.5.1. Well Owner’s Rainwater Harvesting and Recharge System...................................................................58 11.5.1.1. Background ..............................................................................................................................................58 11.5.1.2. Policy/Institutional Issues ......................................................................................................................59 11.5.1.3. Cost Estimate for a Small Scale French Drain for Rainwater Harvesting and Aquifer Recharge.......59 12.0 Implementation/Next Steps...........................................................................................................................................62 12.1. Partnerships and Grant Applications Underway .............................................................................................62 12.1.1. U.S. Forest Service Wood to Energy Grant................................................................................................62 12.1.2. USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service, Resource Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP)...............................................................................................................................................................62 12.1.3. ASLD Woody Biomass Harvesting and Valuation .......................................................................................62 12.1.4. Arizona Water Protection Fund....................................................................................................................62 12.1.5. National Resource Conservation District (NRCD) Partnership ..........................................................62 12.1.6. U.S. BOR, Water and Energy Efficiency Grant.............................................................................................62 13.0 Conclusion.........................................................................................................................................................................63 13.1. Opportunities .........................................................................................................................................................63 13.2. Constraints..............................................................................................................................................................63 13.3. Needs........................................................................................................................................................................63