Consideration and Adoption of Resolution No. 2025-06:  A resolution of the Flagstaff City Council, approving an Intergovernmental Agreement with the Arizona Game and Fish Department for wildlife drinkers along the Inner Basin Pipeline.
 

1. Read Resolution No. 2025-06 by title only
2. City Clerk reads Resolution No. 2025-06 by title only (if approved above)
3. Adopt Resolution No. 2025-06

Approval of the IGA will enable the City of Flagstaff and Arizona Game and Fish Department to re-establish existing and add additional wildlife drinkers along the Inner Basin Pipeline. Wildlife drinkers along the Inner Basin Pipeline have been in existence since the early 1990s yet due to the Schultz and Pipeline Fires in 2010 and 2022 the drinkers installed in the 1990s have become dilapidated and in disrepair. Re-establishment of existing wildlife drinkers and the addition of new ones will promote wildlife along the eastern slopes of the San Francisco Peaks.

Project Name:  Inner Basin Pipeline Wildlife Drinker Restoration

Cost:  All wildlife drinker infrastructure costs including valves, piping, tanks and drinkers etc. are covered by the Arizona Game & Fish Department (AZGFD). The estimated 100,000 gallons of raw, untreated, and unpressurized spring water that gravity flows from the Inner Basin down the pipeline is at essentially no cost to the City of Flagstaff. 

Funding Source: AZGFD will be covering all costs of wildlife drinker infrastructure internally and from donations such as the Arizona Elk Society ($10,938.27) and Rocky Moutain Elk Foundation ($76,000).

None

In 1992, the Flagstaff Water Commission originally approved the installation of three wildlife drinkers along the Inner Basin Pipeline.

1. Approve the IGA with AZGFD as presented; or
2. Reject and direct staff to renegotiate the terms of the IGA.

Due to lack of water sources along the eastern slopes of the San Francisco Peaks, in the early 1990s the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) in cooperation with the City of Flagstaff (COF) and Coconino National Forest proposed the installation of six (6) wildlife drinkers along the City of Flagstaff's Inner Basin Pipeline. The subject was taken to the Flagstaff Water Commission at the July 16th, 1992, meeting and was approved and later that year three (3) taps and three (3) corresponding wildlife drinkers were installed.  Over the years and due primarily to the Schultz Fire in 2010 and then the Pipeline Fire in 2022, the wildlife drinkers became dilapidated and unusable. With plans and preparations underway for the COF to repair the Inner Basin Pipeline, Waterline (FS146) and Schultz Pass (FS 420) Roads after the Pipeline Fire occurred in 2022, in early 2023 the AZGFD requested the re-establishment of the three previous wildlife drinkers and addition of three more along the pipeline. The Intergovernmental Agreement for these drinkers clearly states the justifications, obligations and exclusions related to the drinkers for the AZGFD and COF to abide. In general, the three (3) taps along the Inner Basin Pipeline and associated drinkers will be re-established with the addition of two (2) more. All infrastructure, installation and maintenance costs including valves, piping, tanks, and drinkers will be covered by the AZGFD and the COF will provide raw, or untreated, Inner Basin spring water in an estimated amount of 100,000 gallons annually at no cost when available.

Safe and Healthy Community:  Promote physical health through providing recreation opportunities, parks, open space and multiple transportation options.
Sustainable Innovative Infrastructure:  Deliver outstanding services to residents through a healthy, well maintained infrastructure system.
Livable Community:  Support regional partners which provide equitable & inclusive educational opportunities for Flagstaff residents of all ages.
Environmental Stewardship:  Promote, protect & enhance a healthy, sustainable environment & its natural resources.

Policy E&C.6.3:  Promote protection, conservation, and ecological restoration of the region's diverse ecosystem types and animals.
Policy E&C.6.6:  Support cooperative efforts for forest health initiatives or practices to support healthy forests and protect our water system.
Policy E&C.10.2:  Protect, conserve and when possible enhance and restore wildlife habitat on public land.
Policy E&C.10.5:  Support the development of watchable wildlife recreation opportunities.
Policy E&C.10.6:  Conserve and restore important wildlife corridors throughout the planning area to allow wildlife to find suitable habitat in the face of climate change by moving along vegetational and elevational gradients.

Inclusive Recreation:  IR-1:  Protect natural areas and ecosystem services that are most vulnerable to the impacts of increased visitation and climate change.
Water Security, WS-1:  Improve water infrastructure and expand water reuse.
Water Security, WS-2:  Improve ecosystem management for protection of water resources.
Healthy Forests and Open Spaces, HF-1:  Protect existing forests, resources, and meaningful open spaces.

None

Objective #5:  Accelerate infrastructure maintenance and replacement.