Jointly sponsored by the Arizona Riparian Council, Arizona Association of Environmental Professionals, and the University of Arizona Water Resources Research Center the 27th Annual Meeting of the Arizona Riparian Council is focused on Riparian Protection at the Local Level: Methods and Lessons Learned. The meeting will be held at Riverpark Inn in Tucson, Arizona (see information at bottom of page).
On Thursday the meeting will be made up of three panels on various aspects of riparian protection at the local level followed by a discussion. There will be an optional dinner Thursday evening at La Cocina. Friday morning will be an overview of Thursday’s sessions, a business meeting, and a poster session. Following then will be two field trip options. See below for tentative program. Registration through Paypal or print registration form and mail to Cindy Zisner, Arizona Riparian Council, Julie Ann Wrigley Global Institute of Sustainability, Arizona State University, PO Box 875402, Tempe, AZ 85287-5402.
Registration (Paypal) and Sponsorship (Paypal)
Thursday, October 2, 2014
8:00 a.m.-9:00 a.m. Registration
9:00 a.m.– 9:30 a.m. Welcome and Goals and Objectives of meeting — Kris Randall, President, Arizona Riparian Council; Mike Dawson, President, Arizona Association of Environmental Professionals, Kelly Mott-Lacroix, University of Arizona, Water Resources Research Center
Speakers listed alphabetically. Order for presentations has not been determined.
9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – Panel 1 At the Table: Stakeholder Engagement in Riparian Protection and Restoration Efforts – MODERATOR: Cyndi Ruehl
- Michael Byrd, Prescott Creeks
- Cate Bradley, National Park Service — Processes on how to bring people together
- Carolyn Campbell, Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection
- Sarah Porter, Executive Director Audubon Arizona – Western Rivers Initiative, Working with urban youth
- Nancy Young Wright, Tucson Audubon Board member
11:30-12:30 LUNCH – Terrace Cafe
12:30 – 2:30 p.m. – Panel 2 In the Toolbox: Local Implementation of Regulations, Policies, and Laws for Riparian Protection and Restoration – MODERATOR: Julia Fonseca
- Marisa Rice, Pima County Flood Control District – Pima County flood plain ordinance
- Sallie Diebolt, Army Corps of Engineers – Corps perspective on in lieu fees
- Jackie Keller, City of Surprise – Land ordinance developed by the City of Surprise
- Jonathan Horst, Tucson Audubon – Tucson Audubon’s use of in-lieu fees mitigation and their experience in Tucson
- Doug Williams, Maricopa County Flood Control District
- Wendy Wonderley, City of Phoenix – Tres Rios Safe Harbor Agreement
2:30 – 2:45 p.m. – BREAK
2:45 – 4:45 p.m. – Panel 3 On the Ground: Collaboration for Riparian Protection and Restoration – MODERATOR: Kelly Mott-Lacroix
- Peter Else, Lower San Pedro Watershed Group – Local group just getting started
- Jan Holder, Executive Director Sky Island Alliance (formerly Executive Director Gila Watershed Partnership) – Working with landowners to protect riparian areas
- David McKee, City of Flagstaff – Public involvement in protecting Rio de Flag and the surrounding watershed
- Tudor A. Montague, Department of Environmental Planning, Gila River Indian Community – Preservation and restoration of the Pee Posh Wetlands
- Liz Petterson, Executive Director Arizona Land and Water Trust – Working to develop conservation easements with local landowners
- Peter Skidmore, Walton Family Foundation – WFF’s western river initiative and working with local watershed groups
4:45 – 5:00 p.m. – WRAP-UP and What’s next
Thursday night Dinner – Optional
6:00 p.m. Dinner at La Cocina, 201 N. Court Ave, Tucson, AZ.
Located in the heart of the historic Presidio district of downtown Tucson and tucked inside the walls of Old Town Artisans
R.. Roy Johnson will be our guest speaker. He will talk about his latest book he co-authored with Robert Webb, Julio Betancourt, and Raymond Turner titled Requiem for the Santa Cruz: An Environmental History of an Arizona River. Dr. Johnson will also discuss issues impacting riparian ecosystems. Click here for an offer to purchase book through the University of Arizona Press before the meeting so you will have a copy for Roy to sign.
Driving directions to La Cocina (2.3 mi) 201 N. Court Ave. from Riverpark Inn
From Riverpark Inn, drive south on South Freeway. Turn left onto W Starr Blvd. Take 1st left onto S Freeway. Turn right onto Granada Ave. Turn right onto W Alameda St. Turn left onto N. Main Ave and go around the block and take W. Washington to the restaurant.
SunLink Streetcar directions:
RiverPark Inn/Cushing Street stop eastbound to Broadway /Church Ave. stop., get off walk north on Church Avenue 3 blocks, turn left (west) on Washington Street to Court Avenue, look for La Cocina/Old Town Artisans on the left.
For the return trip retrace the steps except get back on SunLink at the Congress /Church Avenue stop and go westbound.
Friday, October 3, 2014
8:00 a.m. – 8:20 a.m. Overview of yesterday’s sessions. ARC Business Meeting and Elections results – Kris Randall
8:20 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Poster Session. Brief presentations by poster author(s) and time to read posters.
9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Field trips – 2 Options
Option 1 Effluent-Dependent Santa Cruz River and Simpson Farm In-Lieu Fee Project
Option 2 Paseo de las Iglesias Phase I and West Branch Preserve Bosque Basins Project. Trip information.
IMPORTANT NOTE: For those planning on visiting Paseo de las Iglesias Phase 1, the project site is an active construction site and therefore some precautions are necessary. Sturdy closed shoes are required. If participants have their own hard hats and safety vests these are advisable. The contractor will have a small number of extra hard hats and vests to borrow. We will be out of the way of most of the larger equipment however if we’d like to be able to see more of the site then those items will be necessary.
Riverpark Inn Information
Riverpark Inn is located at 350 S. Freeway, Tucson, AZ 85745 and has a SunLink Streetcar stop.
The Riverpark Inn as given us the room rate of $64.50 + $7.78 Sales Tax + $2.00 Bed Tax = $74.28. This rate is for 1-2 occupancy and includes our complimentary Full American Breakfast Buffet. This rate is valid 3 days pre- and post-event. For reservations call the toll-free reservation number (800-551-1466) and ask for the “Arizona Riparian Council” rate.