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Projects
REDROCK WATERSHED PROJECT RECEIVES WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT GRANT OF $249,000 FROM THE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY (ADEQ) These funds are made available each year through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under section 319 of the Clean Water Act and require a NON FEDERAL match of 40%. The Red Rock Watershed is located in the Canelo Hills near Patagonia. It is a tributary to Sonoita Creek. Four ranches in the area developed a plan to work together on grazing land management and watershed health several years ago. They entered into a working relationship with the US Forest Service and the University of Arizona to develop an extensive monitoring system that would allow them to assess what was needed to improve the health of the watershed as a whole. This project was a result of that effort and brings additional partners on board; the NRCS, Coronado RC&D and Santa Cruz Natural Resource Conservation District (NRCD). This project will install additional water and fencing to facilitate livestock management that will improve vegetation and reduce runoff into Sonoita Creek. CAMPOMOCHO – SACATON WATERSHED RUNOFF CONTROL PROJECT COMPLETED This project was started in 2001 with a $300,000.00 Water Quality Improvement Grant from EPA/Arizona Department of Environmental Quality awarded to Coronado RC&D and $250,000 in local contributions of cash, materials and labor. This watershed lies north of Willcox, with the upper reaches on US Forest land in the Pinaleno Mountains and the majority of the project area on state leased grazing land operated by the Hook Open A and Red Tail Ranches. Runoff was causing active erosion of rangeland and depositing sediment on roads and in farmsteads on the valley floor causing safety concerns. In addition, runoff, innundated rural wells and septic tanks, ran across farm fields and caused flooding in the City of Willcox. Grant funds were used to impact 5,500 acres of rangeland in the lower areas by ripping and seeding the area. Rips were placed on the contour fifty feet apart, creating roughness that slowed water and an area for infiltration to take place. These disturbed areas were seeded to native grass that was able to take advantage of the additional moisture trapped by the rips. Gully erosion on the upper regions was addressed by the construction of nine sediment retention ponds. The ponds were constructed in the larger gullys, forcing water to slow down and drop sediment as it moved through the pond system. The ponds will capture sediment and store flood water, reducing the amount of erosive runoff reaching the lower watershed. Cochise County was an active partner in the project, providing labor and equipment for some of the construction and engineering with the goal of saving dollars on a long term basis by not having to remove sediment from County roads in the area and by eliminating safety hazards the flooding and sediment caused in the area. El Paso Natural Gas Company provided funding for structures that protected their pipeline from the impacts of erosion. Other contributing partners were: the Natural Resources Conservation Service, University of Arizona Extension, Willcox San Simon Natural Resource Conservation District, local farmers and ranchers, Arizona State Land Department, Arizona Game & Fish Department. AG MARKETING PILOT RC&D funds were made available through NRCS to implement an ag marketing pilot program in the Willcox High School. Coronado RC&D Marketing Consultant Jan Holder will teach a six week unit for 25 junior and senior high school ag students using a unique approach. The class will be set up to function as a marketing company and will have an actual client. The newly formed Southeast Arizona Ag Producers Network are sheep producers that are looking for a marketing plan and materials to market their products. Students will work with the clients under Jan’s supervision and at the close of the project, bring all of the producers in to unveil the products the students have developed. Ag instructor and FFA Advisor Daniel Foster has developed an innovative program that prepares students for the real world. We are very happy to be working with him, the Willcox High School and the Ag producers network on this project. COTTONWOOD CREEK PROJECT TOUR Forty people attended the fall tour that was held on November 10, 2004 and featured the Cottonwood Creek Restoration Project. This project illustrates teamwork on the ground on the part of all the partners as well as in the funding required to treat the entire watershed. The US Forest Service controls the upper reaches of the watershed and has been actively constructing loose rock structures to trap sediment in the upper drainages. A grant from the Arizona Water Protection Fund allowed for the installation of additional loose rock structures in the drainages on private land between the forest boundary and Cottonwood Creek. NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program funding was used to install fencing to control livestock access to the creek and EPA/ ADEQ Water Quality improvement funds were used to stabilize the banks and erosion along the creek itself. Thank you to site supervisor Jeff Hoff, consultant Tom Moody of Natural Channel Design and Matt Roberts of NRCS for their informative presentations. The Sunglow Guest Ranch one of the project partners, hosted the tour, providing a meeting room and lunch. |
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