Central Arizona Land Trust Protecting Family Agricultural Lands in the Verde Valley

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1 Central Arizona Land Trust Protecting Family Agricultural Lands in the Verde Valley Fauna, Farms and Flows Dan Campbell Director, TNC Verde Program Verde River one of the last living rivers left in the Arizona second best native fish population contributes to economic wellbeing of 3.5 million people 1

2 Water 189 miles from Paulden to Salt River 500 miles of perennial streams 7 major tributaries 1 st 26 miles spring-fed 42 ditches 13,290 exempt wells 2,237 nonexempt wells 3.5 million people depend on it Ecology 85% of region s wildlife 3 otter breeding populations Half the Desert Bald Eagles Important Bird Areas Thousands of breeding birds 10% of Cottonwood-Willow habitat rarest forest type 9 native fish 42 Reptiles 18 Amphibians 49 Mammals 2

3 Verde River Critters 85% of the wildlife in our area depend on its tributaries at some point in their day, year or lives Birdy Verde... One of the greatest densities of breeding birds in the US 3

4 Beaver Bytes Cooperative project with Prescott College Mapped beaver sign in 16 of the upper 24 miles of the Verde Determined how many there are and what they re eating Beaver significantly influence other ecological, hydrological and geomorphic process in the watershed What do Verde Beavers Eat? Goodding Willow 33% Fremont Cottonwood 25% Red Willow 19% Tamarisk 1% Other Natives 9% Coyote Willow 13% Dams per mile: 0.4 Dens/Lodges per mile: 1.1 4

5 Otter Water... One of only three places in Arizona Jack Mills T&E species Listed Bald eagle SW Willow Flycatcher Spikedace Razorback Sucker Loach Minnow Gila Chub Candidate and proposed -- Yellow-Billed Cuckoo -- Roundtail Chub 5

6 Human Habitat Verde watershed provides 40% of Phoenix s surface water supply in the SRP service area as well as water for Sedona Clarkdale Cottonwood Camp Verde Prescott PrescottValley Chino Valley Bob & Suzanne Clemenz Verde River Challenges Drought/Climate Change Urban development Invasive plants and animals Groundwater pumping Surface water diversions Upland grazing Dams Water pollution 6

7 Urbanization Verde Valley s population expected to double by % of wells drilled in AZ are in Yavapai County More people need more water Groundwater pumping ultimately takes water from the river and its tributaries. Snapshots from 1950, 1974 and

8 Verde s Biodiversity at Risk Jack Dykinga More than 90% of Arizona s rivers and wetlands lost or degraded since 1900 Historic Perennial River Flow 100 years ago Now 8

9 Trading farms for lawns 9

10 Which are flood irrigated Robust riparian and aquatic habitats Groundwater dependent Numerous surface water diversions for irrigation Base flow decline expected with increased ground-water pumping 10

11 and for crops 11

12 Some of the new agriculture is for wine 12

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14 and locally grown produce 14

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16 But all require irrigation diverting the flow of the river Verde Valley Irrigation Water Use 5,380 acres under irrigation 47% of this area is on properties 5 acres or less only 7% on properties over 100 acres 7 large ditches in the mainstem Divert more water than is needed Mostly for lawn grass Small orchards, hay, corn, and alfalfa Some estimates are as high as 17 x more diverted than used 16

17 Sometimes ALL of the river Irrigation Water Diversions Sometimes cutting off the river De-watering sections and reducing flow for fish 17

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19 Salt, Gila, Santa Cruz = Dead Rivers Sustainable Water: a balancing act What can be done about it? finding the balance Wildlife Ecosystem Needs Human Growth Demands 19

20 1. Protect the Verde River Greenway Verde River Greenway An informal designation 25 -year history in the Verde Valley Now 40 miles Involving new partners Rockin River Ranch to State Parks Shield Ranch to USFS 20

21 Verde River Greenway 515 species of birds Deadhorse State Park Pecks Lake and Tavasci, largest freshwater marsh NAS Important Bird Area Verde Valley Birding and Nature Festival and Verde River Days Deadhorse State Park 21

22 Pecks Lake Tavasci Marsh 22

23 Rockin River Ranch Shield Ranch 23

24 2. Environmental Flows Project Developed with Army Corps of Engineers Pilot project with USGS Target species and habitats Magnitude, timing, duration and frequency of natural flows Hydrologic and ecological relationships Scientific foundation for ecologically sustainable water management Model in arid Southwest Environmental Flows Model 24

25 3. Water Planning: SEGWAR TNC with USGS Potential effects of a pump on streamflow Effects on streamflow by artificial recharge Tool for communities to make informed decisions about water use 4. Economic Analysis of Water Management Alternatives in the Verde Valley l b f d Evaluate benefits and value of groundwater and surface water use in the Verde Valley and Sedona 25

26 Economic Analysis Nine-month study by national economic consulting firm Four questions Economic value of healthy river to communities Economic and investment consequences of uncertainty Feasibility of regulatory approaches Feasibility of market-based approaches Consumer Research Poll 3 Case Studies Water to Wine tour 26

27 SRiver4.JPG Bird and Nature Tourism 27

28 Birdwatching &Watching Wildlife doubled in last 20 years to 46 million (ranking just behind gardening) 18 M birders travel each year 350,000 come to Arizona spending $160/ day for a total over $1B per year 28

29 5. Irrigation Efficiencies Delivery Systems --Increase head gate efficiency Improve diversion structures to increase control and decrease maintenance costs Line ditches, fix leaks and reduce tailwater Farm/ Yard Efficiencies Water only as needed Alter applications: drip systems, center pivots Field improvements such as laser leveling Low water use crops or early season crops e 29

30 6. Protect Family Farms through Conservation Easements Legally binding recorded d real estate transaction Permanent runs with the land to future owners Can be gifted or sold to a qualified organization like CALT or VVLPI: committed to conservation purposes has resources to assure the restrictions 30

31 What they aren t Do not allow trespass Not a taking of any private rights Do not stop land from being sold, leased or gifted Do not necessarily provide public access Do not necessarily prohibit grazing, hunting or any other land uses Arizona Examples First gift: Kolbe s Rail X Ranch to TNC Largest gift: Babbitt Brothers Cataract Ranch 34,000 ac. to TNC and 6400 ac. to Coconino Co. Largest purchased: Sharp s San Rafael Ranch 22,000 ac. to AZ State Parks 31

32 Who can hold a conservation easement? Non-profit NGOs with a conservation mission (e.g. CALT, VVLPI, TNC, TPL) State, county or city agencies permitted to acquire property (e.g. State Parks) Federal land agencies (e.g. Forest Service) Farm before CE What rights can be transferred? Farm after CE 32

33 How Do Ranchers and Farmers Feel? CE transactions are completely voluntary They are initiated by the owners when they decide it s in their best interest. They can shield their working farms from development and be compensated fairly and retain the right to farm, sell, lease or bequeath their land. Summary of CE Benefits FOR LANDOWNERS: lower estate taxes, shelter income, protect their land base and re-invest cash for other purposes FOR COMMUNITIES: protects land and water resource permanently, leaves property in private ownership, keeps land economically productive and saves tax dollars 33

34 It s your community in your hands. 34