Approve the Annual Joint Funding Agreement No. 23ZFJFA00080100_00 between the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and Cochise County in the amount of $59,810 for the period of October 1, 2022, to September 30, 2023, to conduct hydrologic investigations and data collection.

For Federal fiscal year 2023 (FY2023) the funds from this agreement will cover ongoing hydrologic monitoring in the Sierra Vista Subwatershed of the Upper San Pedro Basin. This work has specific bearing on monitoring the hydrologic system with respect to attaining a sustainable yield of groundwater withdrawals in accordance with the goals of the Upper San Pedro Partnership. In addition, the information obtained through this basic monitoring is critical to verifying the predictive performance of groundwater modeling of the Sierra Vista Subwatershed. This agreement represents approximately an $18,000 one-time reduction from Cochise County's current commitment due to supplemental funds committed by the Bureau of Land Management. This agreement covers the ongoing monitoring of certain wells and stream gages throughout the Sierra Vista Subwatershed including the Lewis Springs, Charleston, Ramsey, Banning Creek and Babocomari gages. Monitoring like this leads to better decision making with regard to CCRN and County recharge projects. It also supports the goals of the MOU between Fort Huachuca, the County, BLM and City of Sierra Vista with regard to developing an integrated predictive groundwater model.

Your approvals are respectfully requested.

Not approving this funding would result in the inability of USGS to collect critical data that supports the sustainability goals of the Upper San Pedro Partnership, and water conservation and recharge efforts of the CCRN, the County and Fort Huachuca.

Please forward signed copies of the agreements to the Director of Engineering and Natural Resources Jackie Watkins and Environmental Projects Coordinator Mark Apel and Rudy Richard of USGS per cover letter.