Consideration and Adoption of Resolution No. 2024-01:  A resolution of the Mayor and City Council of the City Of Flagstaff, Arizona, Recognizing the Watershed Alliance For The Rio De Flag (WARF)

1. Read Resolution No. 2024-01 by title only
2. City Clerk reads Resolution No. 2024-01 by title only (if approved above)
3. Adopt Resolution No. 2024-01

The Watershed Alliance for the Rio de Flag (WARF) watershed stakeholder group formed as a result of the 2018 WaterSMART grant to Friends of the Rio, a local Flagstaff non-profit, for advancing watershed planning. The stakeholder group helped create the WARF plan. The WARF is a watershed plan to support future grant applications by stakeholders, to increase coordination of projects and studies across jurisdictions, and to increase awareness and engagement in watershed stewardship, preservation, restoration and education in our communities. Stakeholders in this process have included Friends of the Rio, the City of Flagstaff, Coconino County, NAU, Arizona Game and Fish, Coconino National Forest, and others. The purpose of this Resolution today is to show the City of Flagstaff's recognition and support. On October 19, 2023 the Water Commission recommended that City Council approve the plan and the resolution. The plan has been reviewed by Planning, City Attorney's Office, and the City Manager's Office. Substantive City stakeholder engagement with this initiative was through the Stormwater Section and occurred between 2019 to the present.

There is no financial impact to the City by recognizing this watershed plan through a Resolution. The adopted plan will provide favorable scoring for future Bureau of Reclamation grant opportunities for those stakeholders who have recognized this plan.

This plan provides suggestions and recommendations but does not create policy or authority to create policy.

Priority Based Budget Key Community Priorities and Objectives            Inclusive & Engaged Community - Promote environmental justice & the fair distribution of environmental benefits
Carbon Neutrality Plan
Regional Plan

There have not been previous Council decisions on this topic. This was brought up as an informational only item at the April 26, 2022 Council Work Session.

Alternative 1: Adopt the drafted resolution recognizing the WARF Plan and WARF
Alternative 2: Delay adoption until any Council questions, comments, or concerns are addressed, if any
Alternative 3: Deny adoption of the drafted resolution

The Watershed Alliance for the Rio de Flag (WARF) was created as a stakeholder group after the 2018 award of a Bureau of Reclamation WaterSMART grant to the local non-profit Friends of the Rio. The purpose of the grant was to create a multi-party stakeholder group and related watershed plan that would serve to provide general recommendations and guidance on watershed management of the Rio de Flag. The development of this plan, and creation of the related stakeholder group, satisfies a recommendation of the Bureau of Reclamation for future WaterSMART grant submissions by stakeholders (including the City of Flagstaff if Council recognizes this plan through Resolution).

The WARF Plan and WARF stakeholder group provide general recommendations and suggestions. Neither are policy-making tools. The adoption of the WARF Plan by Council will allow staff to pursue future Bureau of Reclamation WaterSMART grants with a more favorable status.

The WARF Plan provides a watershed level document that describes the Flagstaff area hydrology and Rio de Flag. Adoption of this plan will allow staff to pursue future watershed grants to address themes and projects identified within this plan. These include, but are not limited to, aquifer recharge studies, invasive plant management, public environmental outreach, flood control, and water quality.

The WARF group held a series of public meetings on the development of this plan. A website was also created early in the process and was updated as the plan was formulated over time (https://sites.google.com/site/watershedalliancefortherio/home).