Save the Verde!  Ice Cream Social,
Update & Calendar 

Greetings,

We'll start off by bidding Ashley Fine a fond farewell laced with tremendous thanks as she leaves the Center to pursue her dream job of teaching.  Not to worry, though, she'll still be active in our efforts to protect the Verde as an occasional volunteer.

Edie Dillon has joined the Center team as the new Verde Program Associate.  Edie is a talented organizer and event coordinator, and you can contact her at edillon@biologicaldiversity.org.  Of course you can also still reach Joanne Oellers, Verde Program Coordinator, at joellers@biologicaldiversity.org and Michelle Harrington, Rivers Program Director, at mharrington@biologicaldiversity.org.

Special Event:

Save the Verde
ICE CREAM SOCIAL
August 18 - 1:00 p.m. Granite Creek Park, Prescott
Try the "Verde River Float"

Bring your ideas, bring a friend, and be part of our growing group with heartfelt dedication to protecting Arizona's precious Verde River.  This river will not continue to flow without your help.  Contact Joanne at (928) 772-8204 or joellers@biologicaldiversity.org for more information.

Commit:  Your letters or blog and article comments WEEKLY in the local media
Take advantage of public media opportunities (some listed below under "Who's Saying What") to hold the decision-makers accountable.  Insist on maintaining base flows of the Verde River and a regional water management plan that addresses growth.  Contact Joanne at (928) 772-8204 or joellers@biologicaldiversity.org for assistance or information.

Next Upper Verde River Watershed Protection Coalition meeting - August 22
Last month, Howard Mechanic proposed the establishment of a Coalition-led workgroup with the charge of management the Big Chino Aquifer and Prescott Active Management Area.  The Coalition is expected to respond to the request at this month's meeting.  We must promote the concept of a regional vision for the watershed not just in terms of water for residents, but to nurture and support the plants, animals and other organisms who call the upper Verde River home.  Please come to the Prescott City Council Chambers (201 South Cortez, Prescott) at 2 p.m. on August 22 and speak up!

SRP provides details of its Habitat Conservation Plan
Since 2002, endangered Southwestern Willow Flycatchers have been establishing territories in trees in the lakebed of Horseshoe Reservoir on the Verde River north of Phoenix.  Salt River Project (SRP) dam operations continue to fill this reservoir and therefore submerge the vegetation that forms the habitat of the flycatcher.  To mitigate the effects of this lost habitat, SRP is developing plans to purchase suitable flycatcher habitat in the Verde Valley.  Also at risk from SRP dam operations and requiring mitigation are the native fish of the Verde.  SRP and the City of Phoenix have pledged over $8 million over 50 years for mitigation to obtain an incidental take permit which allows them to operate their Verde River dams in compliance with the Endangered Species Act.  See the U.S. Fish and Wildlife website for more information about the plan and how to provide comments: www.fws.gov/southwest/es/arizona/HCPs.htm#BartlettHorseshoeHCP

Recent Daily Courier article:
www.dcourier.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=46713&TM=34112.49

Looming water rule changes cause concern for Chino Valley
Arizona Department of Water Resources is proposing new rules that govern priority of water allocation by the State for Big Chino sub-basin water transportation.  The rule change would date Prescott's priority rights back to 1991, even though they did not purchase the water ranch from which they intend to pump and transport groundwater until December 2004.  Chino Valley officials believes their rights to Big Chino water should also date back to 1991, a point the rule change as currently written does not provide.

www.chinovalleyreview.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=12661

Central Arizona Partnership sponsors "The Last Word on Water"
You can be assured that this event was not the last word on water or even a good word.  A panel of area mayors discussed water issues and in another segment of the forum, Grady Gammage told the Prescott area officials and citizens, "You are at the cutting edge of the rural-urban tension in Arizona."  Later, Mark Holmes, Chino Valley Water Resources Manager, criticized the late Laurie Wirt for causing public anxiety about the upper Verde River going dry.  Ms. Wirt, in fact, should be praised for bringing attention to this eventual likelihood if measures are not prescribed to prevent this from happening.

www.dcourier.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=46771&TM=4534.142

Who's Saying What
The media heats up! Visit the links below to see who's saying what about growth, water, open space, and quality of life.

Verde River MySpace:
Post a comment of your own, add to the conservation message, or say hello to Ron at:
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=180524078

Online Letters to the Editor:

RESPOND TO A LETTER -
You read em' – why not write em'?  It's easy.  Follow the link to see what's up in the Prescott Daily Courier then respond with your own opinion.
http://www.dcourier.com/main.asp?SectionID=36&TM=45724.7

OR SUBMIT YOUR OWN -
Prescott Daily Courier
www.dcourier.com/Formlayout.asp?formcall=userform&form=1

Verde Independent
http://verdeindependent.1upsoftware.com/Formlayout.asp?formcall=userform&form=1

Prescott Valley Tribune
https://admin3.getactive.com/Application%20Data/Microsoft/Word/jherrmann@prescottaz.com

Blogs and More Blogs:

CourierWatch
http://courierwatch.blogspot.com/

Press Pass
http://www.dcourier.com/main.asp?SectionID=109&SubSectionID=172&ArticleID=44728

Citizen Journalist Blog
You can simply use this site or register to conduct a forum on this site. http://www.dcourier.com/FormLayout.asp?Formcall=CJ_Reg&SectionID=111

Waterblogged by Shaun McKinnon
"Follow the currents, from the snowpack to the rivers, to the lakes and aquifers, to the people who control it all." www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/ShaunMcKinnon/5160

Article Comment Submission Forms:

If you want to express yourself on the spot, this is for you.  Online editions of most newspapers leave space after articles for YOUR comments.  Let the readers know your opinion while it's fresh!

Calendar
Check out the latest calendar of events! If you have an item for the calendar or want more information, please contact Joanne at (928) 772-8204 or Michelle at (602) 628-9909.

Volunteer for Action-Packed Events!
Come on out with our staff and others like you who settle for nothing less than full protection of the Upper Verde River.  Say you will attend one of these events and help inform community members of the threat and how THEY CAN HELP. Contact Joanne at (928) 772-8204 or joellers@biologicaldiversity.org.

Aug 18 – This Saturday!
Save The Verde ICE CREAM SOCIAL at 1 p.m. at Granite Creek Park, Prescott.

Sep 15 – Saturday
Mortimer Nursery's SECOND ANNUAL AUTUMN OUTREACH FAIR will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the nursery located at 3166 Willow Creek Road in Prescott.

Sep 20 to Sep 23 – Thursday through Sunday
2007 YAVAPAI COUNTY FAIR

Sep 29 – Saturday
Arizona State Parks is celebrating 50 Years with VERDE RIVER DAY.

Oct 3 and Oct 4 – Wednesday and Thursday
The Ripple Project, a service learning initiative of Prescott College, would like to invite you to CONNECT YOUR COMMUNITY, a forum for awareness and discussion about the most pressing issues in Yavapai County.

Have a House Party!
Want to do something special for the Verde?  Host a letter-writing party!  All you have to do is let us know you want to host a party, invite a few friends, provide some food and beverages, and we'll show up with some entertainment, ideas and materials.  If you're short on friends who can help, we'll find some for you — our phone list is growing!  Please contact Joanne at (928)772-8204 if you're interested in hosting a House Party.

Stay Tuned...
...for Center for Biological Diversity-sponsored music and art in community venues.

Visit SaveTheVerde.org
And click to Take Action!  From the site you can send letters to the editor of local papers and send letters to decision-makers.  You don't have to wait for a house party! Send a letter now!!  You can also download a Little Drop of Water to decorate and send us.

Make a Contribution
The Center for Biological Diversity appreciates your interest and involvement in the Save the Verde campaign.  Please visit savetheverde.org for other news and updates.  You can make a donation to this campaign from the secure Web site.  Please contribute today!

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