Save the Verde!
Center for Biological Diversity 
Update & Calendar October 19, 2007

Greetings,

Concentrations of water issues are higher than the arsenic level in Prescott's Chino Valley well field!  This fall, Yavapai County's Water Advisory Committee began collaborating with the Bureau of Reclamation in the scoping phase of a regional water appraisal study, and Prescott Valley's effluent auction proceeds on October 29 and 30 (also see the September 16 Save the Verde Update for more information).  As development continues and our water resources are further stretched, we must continue to DEMAND A PLAN and hold elected officials accountable for their actions that affect the future of the Verde River and let them know we are watching.  Ongoing events, "Sunrise on the Verde" raffle, monthly Upper Verde River Watershed Protection Coalition meetings, and opportunities to pitch in at community events offer you multiple ways to take action to Save the Verde. 

If you've missed an update or are new to the list, check out our archives!

Enrollment Needed
Explore ecological issues associated with groundwater overdraft in Yavapai College's Community Education course "Prescott Water Issues" facilitated by Jim Neal.  Examine fundamentals of Prescott's water problems.  Explore the geological, ecological, economic, legal, ethical and moral issues, and examine current and possible solutions.  Limited supply and rapidly increasing demand have led to the current overdraft (mining) of groundwater in Prescott, Chino Valley, Prescott Valley and Dewey/Humboldt.  State-legislated goals of achieving safe yield must be reached by 2025 in order to forestall mandated restrictive use and declining property values.  This topic involves every citizen and requires participation in a solution.  Time:  Mondays, Wednesdays and Friday; November 12, 14, 16, 26 and 28; 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.  Place:  Prescott Campus, Yavapai College, Building 3, room 125.  Fee: $60.  Call (928) 717-7755 to register for course number 75217.  The class will be cancelled if enrollment does not increase early this next week!

Reminder

Our generous supporter and "dad, artist, teacher, conservationist, paddler," Ron Harvey has donated an original, framed, 24" X 18" painting entitled "Sunrise on the Verde" for raffle to benefit the Center for Biological Diversity's Save the Verde campaign. The Frame and I Gallery provided the expert framing and is displaying the painting at 229 W. Gurley Street in Prescott. Every cent of your $5 ticket price goes directly to efforts to conserve upper Verde River critters and their habitat, so don't miss the chance to hang this masterpiece on your wall and give a little (or a lot!) to protect the river you love.

Stop by the Frame and I before October 31 and enter your chance to win a painting for you and a better future for the Verde! You out-of-towners won't miss out; contact Joanne at (928) 772-8204, and we'll work out a raffle ticket purchase.

"I want this river to be here, not just this year, but every year, so that my children and yours can share the view seen in this painting. If we all give just a little bit of ourselves, we can do it, just as millions of little drops can create a river." – Ron Harvey

To find out more about Ron Harvey, the Verde River Network, and to view this painting visit (and become a friend): www.myspace.com/theverderiver.

"Fishing for Answers" Quiz!
Question:  Which two fish have critical habitat designated under the Endangered Species Act along the Verde River?  (Answer located at the bottom of the page.)

Bumper Stickers – Proudly Show Your Support!
Our fabulous SaveTheVerde.org bumper stickers are now available.  Got River?  Stop by the Aspen Conference Room at 119 Grove Ave., Prescott, to get some for you and your friends, or contact Joanne and make your car or bicycle a moving advertisement for Verde River conservation.

Volunteer Toolkit Available
Now available in a convenient folder, handy, essential information including talking points, Top 10 Ways to Save the Verde, simple hydrology, bumper sticker, printed letters to send to elected officials, water droplet to decorate and add to our display, and a calendar of events where you can make a difference. 

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.

"Verde Float" at Agua Fria Parade
Join Save the Verde at the 100th anniversary of the Agua Fria Festival on October 27 in downtown Dewey-Humboldt.  We're staffing a table and joining the parade with a-sure-to-be-one-of-a kind entry.  The more visible our campaign becomes, the more we can expect people to change from interested to INVOLVED.  Got ideas or questions about the event?  Contact Joanne at (928) 772-8204.

Next Upper Verde River Watershed Protection Coalition meeting – October 24
Please come to the Prescott City Council Chambers (201 South Cortez, Prescott) at 2 p.m. on October 24.  Attend this meeting and encourage the timely implementation of management and protection for the upper Verde River and Big Chino Sub-basin, including responsible growth measures.  Agendas are usually available the week before at www.pvaz.net/Government/boards/verde.htm.

Check the Pulse of the Salt and Verde Watersheds
Now at your fingertips - data for the Salt and Verde watersheds collected by the USGS and Salt River Project at http://www.watershedmonitor.com/.  Find precipitation and flow data throughout the watersheds of the Salt and Verde Rivers allowing the public to "check the pulse" of the watersheds.  This is great information for citizen activists!

Got Water?
Discussions have begun to develop a plan for an appraisal study and to pursue a cost share agreement between the Bureau of Reclamation and Yavapai County Water Advisory Committee (WAC) to identify plans for meeting current and projected water resource needs and problems.  Appraisal studies are preliminary investigations to determine the desirability of proceeding to a feasibility study.  Questions asked during these discussions include, 1) is there an unmet water demand, 2) is there at least one potential solution to the problem, and 3) is there Federal interest?  What the study will fail to address, however, is whether our current rates of growth are sustainable in the long term and whether we should instead consider policies that protect resources, preserve flowing streams and their biological communities, and meet the needs of residents.  Please contact the WAC Coordinator, John Rasmussen, at 928-442-5199 or john.rasmussen@co.yavapai.az.us for more details on any of the WAC activities or if you would like to be added to the WAC email-recipient list.

Talk it up!
Visit the links below to see who's saying what about growth, water, open space, and quality of life. Then add your two cents.

Verde River MySpace:

Join the "Verde River Network" by becoming a friend of Verde River MySpace Post a comment of your own, add to the conservation message, or say hello to Ron at: www.myspace.com/theverderiver. 

Online Letters to the Editor:

RESPOND TO A LETTER OR EDITORIAL -
You read 'em – why not add your own comment?  It's easy.  Follow the link to see what's up in the Prescott Daily Courier, then respond with your own opinion.
www.dcourier.com/main.asp?SectionID=36&TM=45724.7.  Most newspapers provide comment space after letters to the editor.

OR SUBMIT YOUR OWN LETTER -
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
http://actionnetwork.org/BIODIVERSITY/jherrmann@prescottaz.com

The Arizona Republic
www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/sendaletter.html

Blogs and More Blogs:

CourierWatch
http://courierwatch.blogspot.com/

Press Pass
www.dcourier.com/main.asp?SectionID=109&SubSectionID=172&l=1

Citizen Journalist Blog
You can simply use this site or register to conduct a forum on this site. 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

House Party Hosts Wanted
Hosting a house party is one of the most effective ways for our campaign to generate letters to elected officials encouraging their support for habitat protection and regional watershed management.  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.  We want to continue sending letters to elected officials about providing habitat protection for the upper Verde River.  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.

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!

"Fishing for Answers" Quiz Answer:  spikedace and razorback sucker (The endangered southwestern willow flycatcher, a migratory bird, also has critical habitat designated along the Verde.)