Filtering by
- All Subjects: Sonoran Desert--Ecology
- All Subjects: Water-supply
- Creators: The Pride Publishing Company
- Creators: Tellman, Barbara
- Resource Type: Text
The Groundwater Cleanup Task Force has examined various aspects of Arizona's cleanup programs as well as similar programs in other states and on the federal level. Its members have debated these issues in detail, and present this report as a summary of the Task Force's work and recommendations.
The purpose of this report is to summarize information relevant to water aspects of the SDCP and the Pima County Comprehensive Plan. It deals with water supply and human water demand, and water supplies and needs for riparian and wetland habitat.
Builds upon the "Biological Stress Assessment" through the identification of threats and stressors to watercourses within Pima County. It provides background on technical and water policy matters, describes potential and existing impacts to watercourses within Pima County, suggests options for reducing stressors, and outlines a number of issues for discussion withing each watershed planning unit.
Saguaro National Park encompasses two geographically distinct areas: Rincon Mountain District and Tucson Mountain District. Of the two, only Rincon Park has significant riparian habitat due to Tanque Verde Ridge. The scope of this study includes Rincon Creek, its tributary riparian areas and Tanque Verde Creek riparian tributary areas within or immediately adjacent to the Park. Both of these creeks have riparian resources that will likely be impacted by proposed development adjacent to the Park boundaries.
Concern has been expressed that mesquite bosques are disappearing or diminishing in quality, and that the survival of the mesquite mouse is consequently threatened. This study, funded by a grant from the Arizona Heritage Fund to the Pima County Regional Flood Control District, investigated the current distribution of the mesquite mouse by reviewing historical records from museum specimens, examining existing potential habitat at historic locations of the species and elsewhere in the county, and conducting a live-trapping study at 19 sites representing a range of ecological communities with mesquite as a major component.
A number of significant positive and negative economic impacts could result from Pima County's SDCP and related programs, according to an analysis of existing research on large-scale conservation planning undertaken to provide a framework for community decision-making. This report offers no final verdict on the net economic impact of Pima County's current, ambitious initiatives in habitat conservation and growth management. However, it does provide a framework for future assessment and decision-making.
A series of 51 individual stakeholder interviews and two focus groups conducted with members of the Pima County business community in fall, 2001, documented significantly divided opinion about the likely economic impacts of the county's SDCP. Only one major finding reflected consensus, while several others revealed sharp differences of opinion.