Water and the Environment:
The Role of Ecosystem Restoration
Radisson Hotel City Center, Tucson, AZ
April 6, 2005, 10:30 a.m.

Slide 1: Ecosystem Restoration in AZ: Experience from the Field. I appreciate the opportunity to describe some of my ecosystem restoration experiences.

Slide 2: Since 1998, I have completed best management practice recommendations in the following agency reports and plans:

• LC Spinedace Recovery Plan by US Fish & Wildlife Service
• Nutrioso Creek Fish Management Report by AZ Game & Fish Dept
• Nutrioso Creek TMDL for Turbidity Report by AZ Dept Environment Quality
• Upper Little Colorado River Watershed Based Plan
• Safe Harbor Agreement with US Fish & Wildlife Service
• EC Bar Ranch Conservation Plan by Natural Resources Conservation Service, including:
   
  • Livestock Management Plan for rotational grazing, including limited dormant season use of certain riparian areas.
  • Irrigation Management Plan for efficient use of water through a sprinkler system.
  • Nutrient Management Plan for effective use of fertilizers.
  • Pesticide Management Plan for invasive species/noxious weed treatments.

Slide 3: Over $1.6 million has been invested, including an average of 50% match from myself, through participation in the following grant programs:

• Arizona Dept of Environmental Quality - Water Quality Improvement Grant Program
• Arizona Game & Fish Department - Heritage Fund, Cooperative Agreements, and Landowner Incentive Program
• Arizona Dept of Water Resources - Water Protection Fund
• Arizona State Land Department Stewardship Incentive Program
• USDA - Natural Resources Conservation Service - Environmental Quality Incentive Program
• US Fish & Wildlife Service - Partners in Fish & Wildlife Program
• Western Region Sustained Ag and Research Education Program
• In addition, I have received technical support from Apache-Sitgraves National Forest staff in Alpine and Springerville.

Slide 4: The many different practices I have installed address the water quality issue of exposed streambanks aggravated by historical overuse by large ungulates and the wildlife habitat issues affecting native "fish species of special concern", including one Federally listed as "threatened", and the "endangered" Southwestern Willow Flycatcher. The practices fall into three main categories:

Slide 5: The first type of practice is riparian and upland pasture fencing to control livestock and elk. So far, I have constructed about 25,000 feet of 5-wire fencing to allow rotational livestock grazing and 30,000 feet of 8-foot high fencing designed to exclude elk, as illustrated in this slide.

Slide 6: The second type of practice is stream channel restoration to reduce turbidity and increase habitat conditions. The first example illustrates a revegetation technique with a 90% survival rate that I have used to plant over 80,000 dormant willow poles to control erosion along incised streambanks.

Slide 7: The second example shows an erosion control structure using haybales and willows to prevent over 200 tons of soil along 600 feet of steeply incised banks from entering the stream channel every year.

Slide 8: The third type of practice is irrigation system improvements to help establish and maintain vegetative practices. For example, irrigation pipe and sprinklers which are 60% more efficient have replaced flood irrigation and earth ditches to save millions of gallons of water previously lost due to seepage and evaporation.

Slide 9: In order to improve my property, including riparian areas, I follow a three step process:

Step 1 is to implement restoration practices using grant programs. This step has generally been completed over the last 7 years.
 

Step 2 is to maintain sustainable practices through the Conservation Security Program after the Little Colorado River watershed is approved by NRCS.
 

Step 3 is to protect the practices over the long-term using a Conservation Easement Agreement.

Slide 10: As the first step, grant funding is essential for implementation of practices to help:

• Leverage landowner funds
• Qualify for tax benefits
• Provide valuable learning experiences
• Address species recovery plans and TMDL report recommendations

Slide 11: As the second step to improving property, maintenance of sustainable practices can be achieved through the Conservation Security Program, which is administered by the NRCS.

1. CSP is focused on soil quality and water quality as outlined in the CSP: Self-Assessment Workbook.
2. CSP provides incentive payments for up to 15 years to maintain existing conservation practices and related Management Plans.
3. CSP is only available by watersheds. For example, out of 84 watersheds in Arizona, 8 have been opened to producers in the first two years of CSP with the remaining 76 watersheds to be opened over the next six years. When the Little Colorado River watershed (ID 15020001), that includes Nutrioso Creek, is approved by NRCS, I will apply for maintenance payments to help support existing soil quality, water quality, and wildlife habitat improvement practices.

Slide 12: As the third step to improving property, long-term protection of practices can be achieved through a Conservation Easement that ensures wildlife habitat, open spaces, or other public benefits by prohibiting future real estate development and places other restrictions on land use. I am in the process of creating a Conservation Easement to protect three miles of Nutrioso Creek located on my property. I believe private landowners with riparian areas should restore and protect them in perpetuity because:

• Nationwide and in Arizona, over 50% of human populations depend on surface water for drinking purposes.
• In Arizona, 80% of all wildlife depends on a riparian area at some point in their lives.
• Less than 20% of riparian areas in the Little Colorado River watershed are in Proper Functioning Condition.
• With 90% of riparian areas in Arizona changed forever, the smallest wetland, stream, and water body needs our protection, including Nutrioso Creek.

Slide 13: While I have had very positive experiences with state and Federal agencies, less than 2% of landowners affected by species recovery plans and TMDL reports participate in grant programs. In order to effectively restore our ecosystems, we need to find ways to increase participation in grant programs addressing soil quality, water quality, and habitat improvement practices that are recommended in species recovery plans, TMDL reports, Watershed Based Plans, and by NRCS Conservationists.

Slide 14: Based on my experiences working with grant programs and implementing practices, I suggest the NRCS officials and staff:

1. Expand water quality and habitat improvement practices in the Technical Field Guide. For example, some effective practices, such as the willow planting technique and streambank erosion control structure illustrated earlier, are not in the Field Guide.
2. Rely on recommendations in species recovery plans and TMDL reports that affect projects supported by NRCS.
3. Give CSP priority to opening watersheds where producers have completed soil quality and water quality improvement practices recommended in other agency reports.
4. Make the Conservation Reserve Program, which is similar to CSP, available in Arizona. This 20 year old, $20 billion program with over 34 million acres enrolled in 47 states, could benefit ecosystem restoration in Arizona.

Slide 15: Another suggestion is for grant managers of non-USDA programs to:

1. Encourage grantees to contact NRCS for technical assistance and conservation plan development.
2. Encourage grantees to follow NRCS practice guidelines and adopt management plans so they might qualify for CSP maintenance payments.
3. Keep NRCS field staff updated on other habitat and water quality grant programs that might benefit NRCS cooperators.

Slide 16: In terms of outreach in recent years, over 400 people, including the former-Governor, legislators, agency staff, farmers, ranchers, and other members of the public, have visited the EC Bar Ranch to see my restoration practices, while over 15,000 people have visited my website.

In 2004, I created a descriptive film on DVD that was used by ADEQ at grant workshops in Arizona.

Photo monitoring and observations by riparian and vegetative consultants are used to determine the effectiveness of my restoration practices.

In summary, I have had a great experience meeting the challenges of ecosystem restoration and encourage other qualified private landowners to also cooperate with various state and Federal agencies in meeting public policy objectives.

For more information about projects on the EC Bar Ranch, please see my website at www.ecbarranch.com.

Under the Publicity tab, there are several recent articles discussing restoration practices, including the February issue of Conservation Incentives, published by Environmental Defense.

At this time, I would be glad to answer any Questions.