Approve separate agreements with Hereford Natural Resource Conservation District (NRCD), for conveyance of the Horseshoe Erosion Control Device (Structure) to Cochise County; and with San Jose Ranch, for license and access agreement for the Structure.

Horseshoe Draw is a large watershed that originates in Mexico and drains to the San Pedro River, joining it south of Highway 92.  The erosion control project will curtail erosion above the structure and therefore loss of healthy grasslands. It will also reduce flooding and sediment discharge downstream and is estimated to incidentally recharge up to 40 acre feet per year into the aquifer near the San Pedro River.
Cochise County is a founding member of the Cochise Conservation and Recharge Network (CCRN), whose aim is to implement meaningful conservation and recharge projects. We are focusing first in the Upper San Pedro watershed.  Extensive studies and engineering by CCRN members indicate that incidental recharge of this project in combination with the Palominas Recharge Project are synergistic, that is they produce a better effect than either one alone on the base flow of the San Pedro River.  This site would also be favorable for enhanced recharge activities.
We proposed that once constructed, it would make sense to include the Horseshoe Draw project with the other Cochise County recharge projects. This would include the Palominas Recharge Project (built in 2014), Three Canyons property, Riverstone property (preliminary engineering complete) and Bella Vista property (preliminary engineering complete, Phase II engineering underway).
The Board directed  staff in a November 2016 work session to draw up agreements that would:  convey the Horseshoe Draw recharge project into the County’s regional storm water capture program, provide for access and assumption of associated maintenance-related responsibilities. The agreements before you now provide for these items.

The Flood Control District will participate in construction meetings and will conduct inspections and review test results throughout construction, will recommend to FCD Board upon completion that it accept the structure according to the agreement, if constructed substantially in accordance with approved plans. If accepted, FCD will become responsible for inspections annually and as needed and will provide routing maintenance and repair of the structure.

Cochise County will not accept conveyance of the Structure nor will take on inspection, maintenance or repair responsibilities.

Return one signed copy of each agreement to Teresa Garcia of the FCD for disbursal to NRCD and San Jose Ranch.