Consideration and Approval of Joint Funding Request:  Monitoring the C Aquifer of the Middle and Lower Little Colorado River Basins.

The City has relied upon groundwater within the Coconino (C) Aquifer dating back to the 1950's. This water resource is a critical component of the City's ability to provide its citizens with a reliable, high quality water supply over the past 60 years. Additionally, in 2005 the City purchased Red Gap Ranch east of the City with the intention of pumping groundwater within the C Aquifer as a long-term water supply in the future. Partnering with the U.S. Geological Survey in the hydrologic monitoring of this valuable resource across the region is critical in helping to understand the impacts today or predicting any potential impacts into the future.

The City of Flagstaff's annual cost is $10,000 with the option to support the project at $10,000 a year for 2 additional years should Council elect to do so. Funds are budgeted within 202-08-304-1061-0-4290 Other Misc. Services.

COUNCIL GOALS: 2) Ensure Flagstaff has a long-term water supply for current and future needs.
REGIONAL PLAN: Goal WR.1. Maintain a sustainable water budget incorporating regional hydrology, ecosystem needs, and social and economic well-being. Goal WR.3. Satisfy current and future human water demands and the needs of the natural environment through sustainable and renewable water resources and strategic conservation measures.

Yes. Council approved this same agreement on July 3, 2012, and financially supported the project in FY13 and FY14. The proposal from the USGS has been updated in the agreement.

 

• Authorize the signing of the agreement with the USGS and become a collaborative stakeholder in monitoring the C Aquifer.
• Do not authorize the signing of the agreement with the USGS and thereby not becoming a collaborative stakeholder in monitoring the C Aquifer.

 

The current monitoring program was established in 2005 as an agreement between the U.S. Geological Survey and the Bureau of Indian Affairs to evaluate baseflow within Chevelon Creek, Clear Creek, and part of the Little Colorado River. The current program extends across the region and includes Wupatki, Flagstaff, Leupp, Chevelon Creek and springs on the Navajo Reservation north of Holbrook. Data and results from this project are relevant to the City such that the City has and will continually be asked to demonstrate what impact, if any, proposed pumping at RGR will have on the surrounding resources that rely on water from the C Aquifer. Proper baseline hydrologic information is important to understand the C Aquifer conditions prior to any pumping by the City. Additionally, the City is working on a biological, cultural, and hydrological Resources Evaluation (RE) for Red Gap Ranch as a cost-share project with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. The RE is essentially a precursor to a required Environmental Impact Statement before the City can fully develop and utilize groundwater from Red Gap Ranch. This cooperative agreement with the U.S. Geological Survey  has provided important data for this effort. 

The purpose of the current monitoring program is to establish baseline information for the C Aquifer before significant groundwater development occurs between Flagstaff and Winslow. Groundwater resources between Flagstaff and Winslow are already being affected by current withdrawals for municipal, agriculture, and industrial water uses. Staff recognizes the importance of monitoring the C Aquifer in the areas of Flagstaff, Red Gap Ranch, and Winslow and is proposing to continue funding this U.S. Geological Survey monitoring program. The objectives of the project are to: 1) establish baseline conditions in the C Aquifer prior to significant additional groundwater development, 2) evaluate baseflow in the Little Colorado River, Clear and Chevelon Creeks, 3) document changes in flow and water quality of the C Aquifer, and 4) inventory and characterize spring resources.

The total program costs $67,500 per year. These costs are shared by the BIA Navajo Area Office ($50,000) and the USGS ($7,500). We propose the City provide $10,000.