Conservation Groups Challenge Bush Administration Denial of Protection for Arizona's Bald Eagles and that they suppressed scientific panel recommendations (1/12/07)
Save the Verde! (10/06)

Our Water, Our Future Arizona PIRG Pushes for Water Reforms (1/29/06)

Draft management plan for the Agua Fria National Monument/Bradshaw-Harquahala (3/06 - I think this is still active in 07)

Support State Land Reform (1/12/07)

The BLM is currently requesting public comments on their draft management plan for the Agua Fria National Monument/Bradshaw-Harquahala. You can read the draft DRMP/DEIS and write - submit your comments online at their interactive site. Go to <https://www.blm.gov/eplanning/az_pn/builds/build217/index.htm> (3/06)

Grand Canyon National Park is continuing their transportation planning process with an Environmental Assessment on South Rim Transportation. Public scoping is scheduled to begin soon. (3/06)

A New Way to protect special places against hardrock mining! Visit the Citizen's Mining Company (10/6/05)

Older, but still relevant

Prescott Audubon Society as Steward

All Prescott Audubon members with access to the Internet are encouraged to sign up for Audubon Advisory. This is a biweekly newsletter you will receive by email. It tells you about the latest legislation in the US Congress regarding environmental issues. When National Audubon Society needs your help in writing to our Congressmen, it asks you to CLICK HERE. When you click you receive an email already written to the appropriate Arizona Senators or Representatives. You can either send the email as it is written or you can edit it to your liking. In either case it is an easy way to let our congressional delegation know what you think about pending environmental legislation, and you help National Audubon put pressure on various congressional representatives in regard to how they should vote on such legislation.

You can pick and choose the issues you wish to address. It is easy to sign up. First get on the Internet and go the National Audubon web site, www.audubon.org. Then, in the lower right hand corner of the Home page is a little picture of a flying owl, and the words "sign up for Audubon Advisory". Just click on those words, and follow the instructions. This tool is a great way to impact federal legislation concerning the environment, and you can decide how much time to spend!

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Another easy way to find out what's going on and act on issues is to visit StateDemocracy.com - A nonprofit site - "The mission of Statedemocracy is to deliver democracy to your desktop using an easy one-stop portal to present what's going on in Congress and your State legislature, so you can convey your informed opinion as a constituent, and thereby ensure that democratic representation works . . ."

Our Water, Our Future
Arizona PIRG Pushes for Water Reforms

ARIZONA PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH GROUP

Arizona's rapidly increasing population is continuing to run up against dwindling water supplies. Arizona is at the epicenter of areas that will face a potential water supply crisis by 2025, meaning existing water supplies may not be adequate to meet demands for people, farms or the environment. To counter dwindling supplies and unchecked growth, Arizona PIRG is working to create a sustainable water policy for the state.

The U.S. Census Bureau projects Arizona's population will double by 2030. University of Arizona scientists warned over a decade ago that over-pumping from encroaching development could dry up the San Pedro River in 10 to 15 years. Those predictions are being realized already.

At the heart of Arizona's water scarcity issue are state laws that allow developments to be built regardless of the availability of water supplies. In most of the state, development can occur even if there is an inadequate supply of water.

While cities, including Phoenix and Tucson, limit development if there is not an adequate water supply, in many other areas of the state developers have been rapidly moving forward with large construction projects even if there is an insufficient water supply.

In meetings with agency leaders, water policy experts, prominent academics and advocates, Arizona PIRG stressed the need to reform water use policy, highlighting that development should only occur where there is enough water to support it. "All Arizonans should have a local, clean water supply," said Lela Prashad, Arizona PIRG's public interest advocate. "To do nothing is to invite future shortages and put unneeded strain on our water systems and our environment. Our decision-makers must act now to ensure our water needs can stand up to Arizona's current and future growth."

ARIZONA PIRG REPORTS WINTER 2006 EDITION VOL. 1, NO. 2

Write a letter to state decision-makers about Arizona's water policy.

ARIZONA PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH GROUP 130 N. Central Ave., Suite 311 , Phoenix, AZ 85004; (602) 252-9227

Links:

Background info:
http://www.arizonapirg.org/AZ
.asp?id2=21252&id3=AZ&
This page includes links to many water study resources

Fact Sheet:
http://www.arizonapirg.org/
AZ.asp?id2=21251&id3=AZ&

Prop 106 Goals Still Valid

Sharon Arnold

Although voters rejected Prop 106 and a competing proposition, there is still much that can be done to encourage state trust land reform. Many of the organizations that supported Prop 106 will be meeting over the next several months to determine realistic options. You can voice your opinions and help dispel the misleading information published by Prop 105 supporters. Contact local media and your state representatives with the facts so that voices for significant trust land reform continue to be heard.

(Whole article in Wingtips, January 2007, page 1)

Grand Canyon National Park is continuing their transportation planning process with an Environmental Assessment on South Rim Transportation. The kinds of issues they will address include long waits (during peak periods) at the South Entrance Station, congestion and parking problems in the Village (again during peak periods), visitor confusion due to poor signage, under-utilization of the Canyon View Information Plaza, and damage to resources.

The first step in the development of the Environmental Assessment is a public scoping period. During the scoping period, the park is looking for public input on the issues and concerns the members of the public have, and what solutions to those issues the park should consider and study during the Environmental Assessment process. The scoping period is scheduled to begin in mid-March and will last for at least 45 days.

People who want to receive notices from the park such as details of the timeline and process, their objectives, and how to submit comments and suggestions, should send their contact information - email address AND mailing address - to Kathryn Hauge at kxha@deainc.com. (The park's scoping letter is sent via U.S. Mail.) Folks without email should send their mailing address to:

Kathryn Hauge
Administrative Assistant
David Evans and Associates, Inc.
1331 17th Street, Suite 900
Denver, CO 80202

The park recently transmitted a Report to Congress that contains a lot of information about South Rim transportation. Option A in that Report may be considered for one of the alternatives in the Environmental Assessment, along with other alternatives. The other alternatives will be developed with consideration for the comments and suggestions the park receives during the public scoping period described above. The URL for this Report is www.nps.gov/grca/mgmt/#plans. Look for the bullet that says "Transit Report" in the bottom right-hand corner.

Why is this necessary? There are many competing interests for the lakes, and a few will spoil it for the many. PAS believes that there are many more people interested in wildlife than motor boats.

What are our plans?

1. Vigilance. For example right now dirt is being hauled away from Willow Lake, disturbing a heron roosting site. We have spoken about this to Jim McCasland, Director of Parks and Recreation, and while he refused to postpone the dirt removal, he expressed concern and knowledge about the birds and said that some disturbance was going to be necessary, particularly in the beginning of the lakes development. Mr. McCasland cordially invited our comments and concerns and we encourage all birders to call him at 771-5841 whenever there seems to be a problem.

2. Record keeping. To protect the birds, we need to document bird usage of the lakes. And this means the exact spot and date. Marking maps would be a good idea and we hope to make maps available to members in the near future. Right now we are lucky to have Laurel McCurdy, a Prescott College student, who is beginning this documentation for his spring project. This will be very useful information.

3. Participation. Fishing is a sport actually declining in numbers, while birding grows more and more popular. However motor boaters are a vocal lot and we must make our presence felt.

With adequate information we hope to close areas of the lakes and shore when the birds need it the most. Our ultimate goal will be the designation of "bird sanctuary" for these lakes and Watson Woods.

Questions may be directed to Eve Gill, Conservation Chair, 717-0544.