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Illegal cattle grazing the Verde above Sycamore Creek
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October '09 Newsletter, Yavapai Group
Yavapai Group News
MEMBERSHIP REPORT:
569 members in Yavapai Group as of August 2009
ELECTIONS - PLEASE VOTE:
The Sierra Club is a democracy; we are now holding elections for state and local leaders. Ballots and voting instructions are contained in the latest issue of Canyon Echo, available for downloading at http://arizona.sierraclub.org/echo/2009/Oct09Echo_color.pdf
BIG HORN SHEEP:
Biologists recently presented the Arizona Game and Fish Commission with compelling data indicating that recovering the critically important Kofa desert bighorn sheep herd from near record-low population levels will be challenging due to additive mountain lion predation. To learn more or comment on the draft Environmental Assessment, visit www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/arizona/kofa. The EA is not required for the Arizona Game and Fish Department to manage resident wildlife (including mountain lions and bighorn sheep) off the Refuge.
The Kofa NWR bighorn sheep herd was once one of the most robust herds in the nation. Prior surveys estimate population levels ranging from 600 to more than 800 animals. However, in 2006 the survey revealed a historic low of 391 animals. The last two surveys showed an estimated 460 in 2007 and 436 in 2008. The 2009 survey is scheduled for October.
For history on the struggling Kofa bighorn sheep population, visit www.azgfd.gov/kofa.
IRON KING MINE:
On September 28, 2009 the BLM informed MINEX of their decision regarding their contaminated mine tailings. They will not be allowed transport to, process or beneficiate the manganese tailings at the Iron King Mine site or within the Town of Dewey-Humboldt. Instead, the company will simply load the tailings into closed containers from their current location on federal land
in Maricopa County and then transport the material for shipping to the buyer(s). EPA is developing an extensive Remedial Investigation Report for presentation to the public this winter. See this website for more information. http://www.epa.gov/region9/ironkingmine
If you would like to help with monitoring this Superfund Cleanup at the Iron King Mine, contact Doris Cellarius, 928-78-6724 (doris@cellarius.org).
URANIUM MINING GRAND CANYON:
Help protect Grand Canyon and the Colorado River from uranium mining for 20 years! Please attend a hearing and/or submit written comments. Thanks to your help and previous actions, on July 20, 2009, Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar ordered a temporary ban on new uranium claims and exploration across 1 million acres of public land surrounding Grand Canyon National Park. During the two-year "segregation" period, the Secretary will consider whether to withdraw the area from new mining for up to 20 years. Help him make the decision! Comments can be submitted by Oct 15 via email to azasminerals@blm.gov. We have asked for additional meetings in the state and will let you know if those get scheduled.
CLEAN AIR/CLIMATE CHANGE:
Proposed Rule: Prevention of Significant Deterioration and Title V Greenhouse Gas Tailoring Rule
On September 30, 2009, EPA announced a proposal that is focused on large facilities emitting over 25,000 tons of greenhouse gases a year. These facilities would be required to obtain permits that would demonstrate they are using the best practices and technologies to minimize GHG emissions. The rule proposes new thresholds for greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) that define when Clean Air Act (CAA) permits would be required for new or existing industrial facilities. The proposed thresholds would "tailor" the permit programs to limit which facilities would be required to obtain NSR and title V permits and would cover nearly 70 percent of the national GHG emissions that come from stationary sources, including those from the nation's largest emitters--including power plants, refineries, and cement production facilities. Small farms, restaurants and many other types of small facilities would not be subject to these permitting programs.
EPA will accept comment on the proposal for 60 days after publication in the Federal Register. Comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2009-0517, may be submitted at www.regulations.gov Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
To download a copy of this notice, go to EPA's Web site at: http://www.epa.gov/nsr.
Verde Update
VERDE RIVER CLEANUP:
Rocking River Ranch, the newest addition to the Az State Parks system, got a lot of TLC from Sierra Club and other volunteers last month. We picked up loads of trash, destroyed invasive species, removed old fences, then had a great lunch. The 200 acre ranch is on the Verde between Camp Verde and Beasley Flat.
FLOOD CONTROL STUDY:
The Yavapai County Flood Control District is revising the flood maps for the Verde Valley between Clarkdale and Beasley Flat. The old maps are 30 years old. The result will be more accurate predictions of inundation during rare large flood events - 100 year floods. All data and maps will be available to the public. No flood control projects or land use changes will be made by the study team, but other governmental agencies may use the data to change land use and construction requirements. No environmental impact statements will be written. The study will be completed in about a year.
UPPER VERDE RIVER WILDLIFE AREA:
Yavapai Group is partnering with The Nature Conservancy to help Arizona Game & Fish Department manage the Upper Verde Wildlife Area. Cattle grazing is prohibited, but invasive ungulate species (cattle) are leaking into the area through broken fences. We need volunteers to walk the fences monthly and report problems to AZGFD. Also, we need to assemble a work party to clean out a cattleguard. Contact Gary Beverly at gbverde@cableone.net for details.
WATER SENTINELS:
Welcome to Steve Pawlowski, our new Arizona Water Sentinels Coordinator. Steve will be heading up our program to Save the Verde River, including our Water Sentinels field work. Steve worked for the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality for 21 years in the water quality area; he has law degree, and worked previously as a teacher. We are excited to welcome him to our Arizona team.
STILLMAN LAKE RENOVATION:
Due to staff scheduling and weather problems, the treatment program has been postponed until the week of November 9.
MERCURY TESTING PROGRAM:
The third sampling of fish (non-native) tissue for Hg levels in the Upper Verde River is scheduled in two weeks. Afterwards, USFWS will have all three samples analyzed. We'll release and discuss the results when we get them.
ILLEGAL CATTLE GRAZING ALONG VERDE RIVER:
We are noticing that cattle are commonly grazing the Verde River riparian zone, which is a violation of the grazing agreements ranchers have with the PNF. If you notice cattle in the riparian area, please take a photo (include a brand or ear tag), note the location (GPS coordinates preferred), and send to Gary Beverly gbverde@cableone.net
CWAG News
The video from CWAG's September 12 meeting (A debate on the Taxpayer Protection Initiative, Prop 401) is on the CWAG Web site http://www.cwagaz.org <http://www.cwagaz.org/> . Click on "Video" at the top on our home page.
The Access 13 version will show the week of 9/20 through the week of 10/11. Due to the 60-minute program limitation, this version has less of the Q&A. Access 13 CWAG time slots:
Prescott--Sunday 2:00 p.m. and Tuesday 6:00 a.m.
Prescott Valley--Tuesday 7:00 p.m. and Friday 1:00 p.m.
Prescott National Forest News
MOTOR VEHICLE USE MAP (MVUM) RELEASED:
Prescott National Forest released the required MVUM on Sept 29. The map specifies which USFS roads are open to all motor vehicles, or only to motorcycles, or to quads, etc. All off road travel is now prohibited unless authorized by the map, which is available at the PNF district ranger stations. The PNF map is based on the 1986 Forest Plan plus amendments; as such it is released without public comment procedures. User created trails are not on the map, although the 1986 forest plan incorporated many UC trails making them official at that time.
Motorized trails: 410 miles
Non-motorized trails: 402 miles
Roads open to travel: 1500 miles
In the Prescott basin, motorized access is allowed:
- to designated dispersed camping sites only
- 50 ft off road for firewood gathering, with permit
- 50 ft off road for day use recreation
Elsewhere on PNF, motorized access is allowed:
- to campsite within 300 ft of a road (not trail)
- 50 ft off road for firewood gathering, with permit
Off road big game retrieval is not permitted; this is an interim rule until the Coconino and Kaibab National Forests complete their travel maps - the goal is to have a consistent rule across the three forests.
COMMUNITY FOREST TRUST/FORUM:
PNF is preparing a strategic recreation plan to guide both future MVUM changes and general public access development. Our stewardship group is working with them on this plan. The non-profit Trust is acquiring board members and seeking funding through grants. The goal is to have a paid coordinator active next spring to guide volunteer programs to improve and maintain recreational facilities in PNF.
This page was last updated on October 15, 2009