Action 8.
Regular Board of Supervisors Meeting
Board of Supervisors
- Meeting Date:
- 09/14/2021
- Title:
- SPRNCA MOU
- Submitted By:
- Kris Carlson, County Attorney
- Department:
- County Attorney
Presentation:
No A/V Presentation
Recommendation:
Approve
Document Signatures:
BOS Signature Required
# of ORIGINALS
Submitted for Signature:
Submitted for Signature:
1
NAME
of PRESENTER:
of PRESENTER:
Mark Apel
TITLE
of PRESENTER:
of PRESENTER:
Environmental Projects Coordinator
Docket Number (If applicable):
Mandated Function?:
Not Mandated
Source of Mandate
or Basis for Support?:
or Basis for Support?:
ARS 11-952
Information
Agenda Item Text:
Approve a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), between the United States Department of the Interior, Fort Huachuca, Cochise County, and the City of Sierra Vista, for Cooperative Monitoring and Management of the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area (SPRNCA) and Surrounding Areas within Cochise County, Arizona, effective upon signing by each party.
Background:
Cochise County, the City of Sierra Vista, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and Fort Huachuca have been engaged in discussions over the past year about how to work together more effectively on issues related to the conservation of the San Pedro River and implementation of the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area (SPRNCA) Resource Management Plan (RMP).
This MOU is designed to help achieve a series of shared goals to ensure: a healthy San Pedro River and ecologically viable SPRNCA; adequate long-term water supplies to meet the reasonable needs of the area’s current and future residents and property owners as well as the SPRNCA; opportunities for continued economic growth and development in Cochise County and Sierra Vista; and an operationally secure Fort Huachuca that can accomplish its national defense missions, have a safe and adequate water supply, and comply with all obligations under the Endangered Species Act.
This MOU is designed to help achieve a series of shared goals to ensure: a healthy San Pedro River and ecologically viable SPRNCA; adequate long-term water supplies to meet the reasonable needs of the area’s current and future residents and property owners as well as the SPRNCA; opportunities for continued economic growth and development in Cochise County and Sierra Vista; and an operationally secure Fort Huachuca that can accomplish its national defense missions, have a safe and adequate water supply, and comply with all obligations under the Endangered Species Act.
Department's Next Steps (if approved):
This MOU is intended to be executed by the County, the City, Ft. Huachuca, and the City separately and according to each party's approval guidelines. Once each party has signed a copy of the MOU, the parties will meet for a joint-signing at the San Pedro House.
Impact of NOT Approving/Alternatives:
Cochise County will not be a party to the MOU, which will leave Cochise County without a voice in the cooperative monitoring and management actions decided upon by the signatories to this MOU.
To BOS Staff: Document Disposition/Follow-Up:
Please route the signed MOU to County Administrator Richard Karwaczka in preparation of the San Pedro House signing.