Call to Action on Proposed State Water Legislation

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A Sierra Vista area State Senator has introduced legislation that would circumvent current law by easing requirements that new developments must show the availability of a 100 year supply of water. This will clear the way for approval of developments, e.g., the massive development proposed along the San Pedro River south of Benson. It is hard not to view this as a death sentence for our river and the rural character of our area.

Arizona Audubon is organizing comments on the proposed legislation.  In this post, they explain how you can go about registering comments on this issue with our State legislators.

 

Join the Great Backyard Bird Count!

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Great Backyard Bird Count from February 16 to 19

The Great Backyard Bird Count runs from February 16 to 19

Join a Global Bird Count for The Year of the Bird 
The Great Backyard Bird Count takes place worldwide, February 16 to 19

For Release: February 7, 2018
New York, NY, Ithaca, NY, and Port Rowan, ON—The 21st Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) will take place February 16 to 19—in backyards, parks, nature centers, on hiking trails, school grounds, balconies, and beaches. This global event provides an opportunity for bird enthusiasts to contribute important bird population data that help scientists see changes over the past 21 years. To participate, bird watchers count the birds they see for at least 15 minutes on one or more days of the count, then enter their checklists at birdcount.org.

Arizona Game and Fish Dept. Seeks Citizen Scientists for American Kestrel Project

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The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) is enlisting the help of landowners and citizen scientists to assist biologists as part of the American Kestrel Partnership, a program designed to collect data to be used to conserve this important species for future generations. AZGFD is participating in the partnership, which is coordinated nationally by The Peregrine Fund.

“The goal of this project is to provide nesting habitat and raise awareness for kestrels in Arizona, while contributing to national efforts to assist these falcons,” said Kurt Licence, an AZGFD biologist. “This great citizen science opportunity will help us to collect data to guide management decisions that could impact the stability of kestrel populations. That data will help us to better understand why long-term studies have shown that American kestrel populations have declined 50 percent across their range in the past 40 years.”

For more information about the program, visit www.azgfd.gov/kestrel or e-mail raptors@azgfd.gov.

Public Comment Period on Vigneto Section 404 Permit Extended

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The Army Corps of Engineers has extended the public comment period on this proposed 29,400 home development near Benson to December 4.

Let your voice be heard!  Send your comments to the Army Corps on the Section 404 permit for Villages at Vigneto by the December 4 deadline.  Comments can be submitted via email to Kathleen.A.Tucker@usace.army.mil.

Your comments should stress the need for a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and a public hearing given the size, scope and impacts of this proposed residential development.

The full text of the public notice can be found here.

Please share this call to action with your friends and other concerned residents.

BLM Announces Re-opening of San Pedro House

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Pruning of Plaza and Bailey, the two Fremont Cottonwoods at San Pedro House, has been completed and the house and the surrounding area are once again open to the public.  All walks and other activities planned for the area will resume today, November 5.

We appreciate everyone’s patience as BLM and the contractor hired to complete this project have worked to ensure the safety of the public as well as prolong the lives of these two magnificent trees. 

Come out to San Pedro House soon to see Plaza and Bailey with their new “haircuts” for yourselves!

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