NOTES AND SMALL ASSIGNMENTS 12/8/11 vimeo.com/8287035 cwagaz.

org Portfolio: -Class notes -Assignments -Articles/handouts -Contract/Self eval Mark HolmesPlanned area developments looking to future for future growth Sustainable developments: Civano (Tuscon) Social Environmental Economic

sustainability lives in all

Adopted water and energy code: Civano (Tuscon) had policy put on all of their homes that put energy saving features on all their homes Said they would use energy and water of Tuscon Civanoneighbors.com Reducing potable water consumption by 65% Reducing home energy consumption by 50% oer 1995 Tuscon model energy code Reducing internal vehicle miles by 40% Reducing solid waste 2008 report: Heat/Cool savings over 96 post homes Civano 1 29% Civano 2 44% it takes water to make electricity it takes electricity to make water

Anything that helps lower peak resource usage helps energy companies, helps everyone? Virtual Water water embodied in production, distribution, disposal

VALUES REALITY NEEDS LAWS AND REGULATIONS River depends on aquifer and aquifer is what is threatened 1. Value AZ Rivers Verde River Aquifers: groundwater Big Chino Little Chino Springs Del Rio Upper Verde Springs Wildlife Corridor Habitat Riparian Uplands habitats Human Values Historical Recreational Educational Culture Water supply 2. Threats Ourselves Development Grazing management Pollutants Invasive Species Destruction recreation Groundwater pumping Regulations

lack of Ineffective: GMA Bifurcated water law 3. Tools ESA Indian Water Rights CWA NEPA Public Land Special Designation Wilderness act WSRA Parks, monuments National Forest Instream flow protection Community Organizations Water resource management Effluent reuse Greywater Landscape RWH Personal RWH Conservation Public Support District 4. Changes Water law Integrated management ground and surface Cost of water Reflect replacement value Better public awareness Environment Conservation 12/7/11 Synthesis 1. The resources that need protections are the plants, animals, and water. Water is the life source, without the water the plants and animals will cease to exist. If we don't protect the water, everything else will die. 2. The biggest threat is ourselves. I think the thing we need to focus most on is how we can convince the public to conserve their water, this will in turn help the Verde.

3. I think we need to keep promoting rainwater harvesting. If we can really prove that it will be benefiting people, I feel that they will be more likely to go for it. I do think the price of water needs to go up, but instead of focusing on the fact that the price will go up, put the attention on rainwater harvesting and how people will save money, help the water issue, and still meet their water NEEDS (not necessarily all their wants). 4. I think that the price of water needs to be increased. I know that when I paid for water in my housing last year I was MUCH more conscious about how much I used. If the price goes up, people WILL change because they have to. 5. I don't know what to tell the public, I think I'm still learning that. But I do know we need to make them realize that this is in their benefit AT THIS MOMENT. It's human nature to want what is best for ourselves and act on it, we need to show that what is best is water conservation, not consumption. Dec 1 questions 1. It said the soil treated with salt had low sodium in the runoff. If this is true then all the sodium was left in the soil. While salt-treated water harvesting soils produced good grapes for wine, I can't imagine that any crop would benefit from this. How would a crop of corn look from salttreated soil? 2. If we're talking about putting all of these things in our soil like salt, wax, and fiberglass, when does the amount of water stop being the concern and the quality of soil starts becoming the problem? 11/29/11 Water is underpriced, causing misallocation and overconsumption Water Costs (market water price): -Prescott well $1165/acre foot -Domestic well $70/af -Water Conservation $3000/af -Macro Rainwater Harvesting $30,000/af -Import water from BCA $25,000/af -Effluent $23,000/af -Imperial Valley irrigation water (California) $15/af Water use responds to price -increasing price cuts water use -increasing block rates must be substantial

Requirements for functional martket: -regulated and structured market -rights must be defined -subsidies must be minor and few&far between Market Based Methods: -conservation easement -Severance and transfer Nevada: 2 major lakes: -walker lake (NFWF) --conservationist Katie Wright -high salt concentration -Lahontan cuthroat trout ESA issue -working with farmers (takes time and practice, want people to understand about potential dust bowl problem) -purchase and/or lease irrigation water rights -transfer purchased rights to instream rights -need legal authortiy to retain instream flow in water -lake needs 26,000-53,000 af/yr -$200 mill budget and as acquired 6,500 af/yr Deschutes River Conservancy (Oregon) -Wild and scenic river -Salmon reproduction is threatened ESA concern -prior to 1987 Oregon did not consider water instream to be a beneficial use Today we realize that if fish and wildlife benefit, the public also benefits. Other benefits include recreation, water quality, navigation, and conservation of aquatic life -Legal foundation -all water is publicly owned -Conservancy purchases rights -Does temporary leases -Does efficiency improvements: farmers funded for ditch lining, pipelines or converting from flood to drip or sprinkler irrigation you become more water efficient and we help you pay for it (state gets 25% farmer 75%) -Deschutes Water Alliance Bank -assists water users in transferring existing water rights between different uses (bank buys your water rights and has a giant bank of water rights and sells it to people/companies that need water rights) -Groundwater mitigation bank

ARIZONA WATER LAW: 1980 groundwater management act - 5 AMAs 1993 groundwater transportation act - couldnt transfer water between basins except Prescott 1999 Prescott AMA declared in overdraft :Overdraft Legal Consequences: -management plan with conservation requirements (we are now operating under the 3rd management plan) -assured water supply Safe Yield Defined: -Long term balance between natural recharge and outflow (no environmental water_ -Administration definition includes natural discharge -Not required. No penalties. No incentives. Prescott AMA Demand -1999 overdraft 6,000 afa -2005 overdraft approx 11,000 afa -Mainly single family residential use followed by: multi-family residential use commercial use industrial use turf other water loss (leak) Overdraft Solutions 1 -no SINGLE method is sufficient -Growth RESTRICTIONS? -Effluent use -Conservation Solutions 2 -Augmentation (we WILL need more water) Rain water harvesting Import from another sub-basin (big chino aquifer) Import from Colorado River Conservation -Important component of solution -Always helpful

-Supported by public if voluntary, educational -Safe yield can be achieved with current population what about growth? Residential water use: -10% water leaks --repair! -40% landscape use --personal rainwater harvesting! -50% inside home use --conserve! Questions 11/29 1. I know that the people have high hopes for Walker Lake, and I want to, but part of me thinks that it might not be saved. I think that were going to lose a lot of bodies of water permanently and seeing that Walker Lake is so close to being gone, its very likely that it will be one of them. Educating is so important and I think that they are doing a good job at that but the loss of water hasnt affected enough people negatively yet for major change to occur. 2. I really liked the concept of the City Snapshots in the water meter report document. I think that this document should be widely distributed throughout the areas that were covered in the report. Many people are oblivious to their water consumption and because they dont see the ending statistics of their usage, they dont think about how much theyre using (unless their bill is through the roof). I think if more people could see how much they are using collectively as a community it could be eye opening. Youre no longer ONE person using water, youre a community of thousands. 11/21/11 1 1. I enjoyed the editorial and think it relates really well to the Verde and to my future paper topic regarding the Verde. Solar energy is becoming so affordable it is likely that it has the probability of taking the place of coal. We know all the benefits of solar energy and we know that right now it is semi affordable upfront and will end up saving you money in the long run. Yet we still are dependent on coal. WHY?! We know our watershed is low, we know Arizona is a desert, we know that if we keep using water the way we are we WILL run out. And yet we watch the water levels drop and do nothing to conserve. WHY?! 11/17/11 Federal reserved water rights: -apply to both instream and out of stream water uses -may be created without actual diversion or beneficial use -are not lost by non-use -have priority dates established as of the date the land was withdrawn -cover both groundwater and surface water

-are for the minimum amount of water reasonably necessary to satifsy both existing and foreseeable future uses of water for the primary purpose for which the land is withdrawn or designated. mohawk welling irrigation district 11/16/11 1. I found it very interesting how much this article related to the verde. This was probably one of my favorite reads. What really held relation to me was when they described goods as incommensurable, in other words, unmeasurable. This is the greatest struggle. What is the worth of the verde? To you and I the worth is in its presence. We see the verde as a sustaining component to Arizona. Sustainability is not short term. Many others, obviously the majority or we wouldn't be having this water issue, see its worth in what it can provide for the human population only. You also see this when he uses the metaphor of the herdsman and the overgrazing of his cattle. I think a major part is not necessarily getting people to change their physical acts, first we need them to actually care. To find the same worth in the verde as you and I. 2. "Freedom is the recognition of necessity." With this thought I can easily say that freedom to use as much water as we please is certainly going to dry up the verde. I fear that we will run out of water before we could ever get the amount of people needed to change their insatiable thoughts and actions on water policy. Sometimes I think, 'why don't we enforce stricter water laws?' Without water we can't survive, life in Arizona would cease to exist. If we don't take action we are hurling ourselves, at a sickening rate, to our own doom.

11/7/11 1. If in 1999, ADWR declared that Prescott was withdrawing more groundwater than could be naturally replenished, where does that leave us now, when the population has tripled in the last decade? 2. In The Battle to Save the Verde, it says that some people are pumping so close to the river that they are actually pumping subflow and not groundwater. It then goes on to say that SRP has filed lawsuits against some of the larger well owners, were the lawsuits filed against well owners pumping straight from the river? 11/7/11 questions 1. If in 1999, ADWR declared that Prescott was withdrawing more groundwater than could be naturally replenished, where does that leave us now, when the population has tripled in the last decade?

2. In The Battle to Save the Verde, it says that some people are pumping so close to the river that they are actually pumping subflow and not groundwater. It then goes on to say that SRP has filed lawsuits against some of the larger well owners, were the lawsuits filed against well owners pumping straight from the river? 11/5/11 questions 1. In the USFWS final ruling in the Federal Register the 2 litigants were the US Fish and Wilflide Services and The United States District Court for the District of Arizona. Their findings were that the bald eagles nesting in the Sonoran Desert area of central Arizona did not qualify as a Distinct Population Segment and were, therefore, not a listable entity. 2. Roundtail chubs threats in the Verde are habitat destruction. This is from dewatering, impoundment, channelization, and channel changes. These are caused by alteration of riparian vegetation and watershed degradation from mining, livestock overgrazing, roads, water pollution, urban and suburban development, and groundwater pumping. However, the primary threats to the Roundtail chub are predation and competition with nonnative fishes. 11/2/11 Questions on ESA readings 1. If the HCP act requires 30 days for public comments and is done at the same time as NEPA public comments, is the amount of time for an HCP extended when it is an Environmental Impact Statement or is the length of time for public comments shortened for the EIS? 2."The Fish and Wildlife Service has a policy limiting designation to lands and waters within the U.S. and both federal agencies may exclude essential areas if they determine that economic or other costs exceed the benefit." Does this mean that they just won't protect the land or species bc it's monetarily not "worth" it? 10/26/11 Questions for Sandy Bahr "A wilderness , in contrast with those areas where man and his own works dominate the landscape , is hereby recognized as an area where the earth and its community of life arc untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain. An area of wilderness is further defined to mean in this Act an area of undeveloped Federal land retaining its primeval character and influence, without permanent improvement or human habitation, which is protected and managed so as to preserve its natural condition ." --If trying to abide by this statement, what reasons made you feel that it was appropriate to add piscicides into fossil? Did you still find it necessary to add the antimycin after acknowledging that it is only a temporary solution? After the reply stating that there would have to be more treatments if more nonnative fish came into the area, do you still feel that adding the antimycin will cause more good than harm?

General comments on Appendix L: The idea of adding the chemical antimycin is a little unsettling to me. Im obviously not familiar with the piscicide but knowing that fossil connects to larger bodies of water, how long/far can these chemicals travel through the water? This is concerning because although the non native species need to be removed, is it worth the potential loss or harm of and to the native wildlife? Although the barrier would be concrete and man made, I found it interesting that it was at one time a natural barrier that they are simply recreating after it was destroyed by flooding. General Comments on NEPA reading: USDA NEPA in Coconino only 3 water projects in under analysis and analysis completed 2 were on hold 2 were cancelled 7 in project archive ---For all the issues surrounding water this doesnt seem like a lot of projects concerning water when you look at how many projects there are on the site October 27 Sandy Bahr Sierra Club ---if people connect with wild places they will become better advocates for those places ---practice and promote the responsible use of the earths ecosystems and resources ---Educate and enlist humanity to protect and restore the natural quality of the environment NEPA --National Environmental Policy Act -Landmark law -First major environmental statute of modern era - adopted in 1969 -Adopted when federal agencies said they lacked statutory authority to consider environmental impacts of their actions -Puts focus on action of federal government, not private industry NEPA established Council on Environmental Quality --CEQ -Helps establish rules regarding the NEPA -If someone is doing something that wont go along with NEPA, CEQ is supposed to bring that to the doers attention Environmental Impact Statement -All federal agencies shall include in every recommendation a detailed statement on: -the environmental impact of the proposed action Decision Documents: will be accompanied by one of these 3 documents -Categorical Exclusion --CE

-A category of actions which do not ahve a significant effect on the human environmentno EA of EIS required -Small projects that are insignificant that the agency deems them not to require much analysis at all -There are no extraordinary circumstances related to the proposed action. MISUSE OF CE: -KOFA national wildlife refuge-construction of water development in wilderness, used CE when it wasnt appropriate, Sierra Club found out and wasnt able to stop construction but eventually won the litigation -Uranium mining exploration, Kaibab National Forest -Environmental Assessment --EA -Concise public document that provides sufficient evidence and analysis for determining significance of proposed action -Usually less than 150 pages FONSI --Finding of no significant impact -May first prepare an EA to make determination as to whether or not the proposed action will have a significant environmental effect -If EIS is not warranted agency must issue FONSI Format of EA: -Purpose and need -Alternatives, including the proposed action -Environmental consequences -Agencies and persons consulted -References cited -Environmental Impact Statement --EIS -Basically a really big EA (follows same general format_ -Big difference is that, under NEPA, a draft EIS must be prepared and circulated to the public before a final comes out -The public must be given an opportunity to comment on the draft EIS, usually just called a DEIS Publics Responsibilities and Opportunities -Let the agency know you are interested -Alert the agency of your concerns -Send your comments in during the formal comment period -Once a decision is made, you may appeal it -If you lose an appeal, you may only litigate over those issues on which you appealed Citizen Involvement -Comment period: 0 days CE

30 days EA 45 days EIS -Public meetings.open houses -Oral comments (only sometimes take) -Written comments When we contemplate the whole globe as one great dewdrop, striped and dotted with continents and islands, flying through space with other stars all singing and shining together as one, the whole universe appears as an infinite storm of beauty. --MUIR 10/25/11 Is there any law that maintains the baseflow of the river? There is nothing in Arizona right now. Other than environmental species act. How are groundwater contaminants regulated? CWA does surface water quality, national act is drinking water standards act. ADEQ has aquifer protection permit so anyone using an aquifer has to meet certain contaminant standards. 2 forms of navigability: -any navigable rivers that were navigable at the time of statehood is owned by the state what causes the water to move in the opposite direction to the cone of depression in a well Why are people so resistant to change? Habits? Aquifer- Geological formation that is water bearing. A geological formation or structure that stores and transmits water, such as to wells and springs. 10/24/11 Discussion Questions In 56 years we gained over 6000 wells, where do you think well be at in 2020? Why do you think people are so stuck in their habits and unwilling to change? What is a positive and negative in having citizen suits capable in the Clean Water Act? Where do you think Prescott will go for water when we run out? Discussion Questions From Courier Articles: What are your feelings on NARGFM? Do you think its data collection of groundwater will be good enough to accurately assess our groundwater resources? Do you think that the existing model needs improvements? Would you trust it enough when its in regard to the environmental impacts and the gauging of the baseflow in the Verde? In my opinion the citizens know a lot about the issue but everyone can always learn more. It is obvious from the readings in the courier that they are familiar with the program and have strong

opinions on staying with it. I agree with the citizens and feel that there was a lot of work put into this program and like they said in the fourth article, it will never be perfect and it wont make perfect predictions.....a model is a predictive tool.....and scientists must use it to improve it.

10/20/11

Fundamental Hydraulic Parameters Capacity of a rock or formation to transit water --HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY--depends on size and connectedness of its open spaces, water is always moving in its response to gravity Conductivity is high for sand and gravel and low or clay and most rocks -- doesnt make good aquifers Porosity vs permeability void space rate at which water can move Specific Yield--measure of amount of water you can get out of the porous basins, something like clay that does not lose water easily has low specific yield Ground water is always in motion, replenishment comes from infiltration of rain and snow melt, runoff from rain and snow runs down into washes n seeps through floor into unsaturated zone, across water table, and into ground water All aquifers discharge Recharge=discharge when water is continuously going in it will always stay at an equilibrium Hydraulic head- altitude of the water level at a given point in a groundwater system (in reference to sea level) -Elevation of the water table represents the hydraulic head at that point in an unconfined aquifer Hydraulic head reduced=discharge reduced Water moves through gravel at rate of hydraulic conductivity Water always moves from high hydraulic head to lower hydraulic head Groundwater is always moving

Ground water flows from area of recharge through aquifer and will discharge to stream (what keeps all water {ground and surface} moving) Groundwater and Surface water are connected PUMPING GROUNDWATER AFFECTS RIVERS Adding a well is a new form of discharge (captures stream flow) Well: Recharge = Discharge-change in storage OR Recharge = Discharge+Loss of storage

Alluvial deposit is less dense Water usually originates in high country amount of precipitation that makes it into groundwater (recharge) is very small, about 4% Baseflow- water in a stream supplied by groundwater as seepage or spring water. This water sustains the stream during periods of no precipitation Baseflow starting at head water springs increases in 6 miles to perkinsville then decreases bc water is infiltrating back into the aquifer then there are continuous springs so baseflow steadily increases to camp verde, pumping between paulden and perkinsville will result in all baseflow ending and it will become dry wash eventually consumption of groundwater causes an annual decrease in groundwater discharge approx equal to the annual rate of groundwater pumpage and consumption summer base flow at the paulden gage in recent years = 20 cubic feet per second All base flow measured at the paulden gage is derived from the big chino and little chino sub basins government authorized pumping from big chino basin to provide water for Prescott, 8,000 acre feet per year BIG CHINO BASIN-FILL AQUIFER -235 sq mi of contiguous private or state trust land -generally easily accessible groundwater -easily use more than amt of water available Average summer decrease of del rio springs = .09 CFS/yr del rio springs will be dry by 2018

All water discharged by wells is balanced BY A LOSS OF WATER elsewhere -loss is initially from aquifer -loss of baseflow ultimately converts a perenially flowing arizona ricer to an intermittently flowing dry wash 1950-190 wells 1974-1900 wells 2006-6300 wells Is our only solution to drill more wells and pump groundwater? 10/18/11 Water Policy 101 Steve Pawlowski Federal Law: -Clean water act -Safe drinking water act -Wild and scenic rivers act Federal water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972 Clean Water Act -Waters had been so polluted that they caught on fire Objective: restore and maintain the chemical physical and biological integrity of the nations waters CWA Goals: -Eliminate all discharge of pollution into navigable waters by 1985 (has yet to happen) -To achieve where attainable a level of water quality which provides for the protection of fish, shellfish, and wildlife and provides for recreation in and on the water by 1983 (verde water is safe to eat fish and use for recreation) -Maintain and protect water quality for aquatic life and wildlife Important CWA Provisions: section 106 -Water quality monitering section 103-Water quality standards Total Maximum Daily Loads section 305-Water quality assessment section 319-Non point source pollution section 402-NPDES permit program section 404-Dredge and fill permit program

Clean Water Act-Citizen Suits: Empowers citizens to directly impact the CWA. If you feel like state isnt properly implementing the laws of CWA you can, as a citizen, sue polluters or state, create a lawsuit Navigable Waters the provisions of the Clean Water Act apply to navigable waters-includes streams that are navigable by canoes Waters of the United States: -territorial seas -water subject to ebb and flow of tide -all interstate waters (wetlands) -all other waters such as intrastate lakes, streams, mudflats, sandflats, wetlands, sloughs, prarie potholes, wet meadows, playa lakes, natural ponds -impoundments (lake mead, lake powell, anything impounded behind a dam) -tributaries -adjacent wetlands Two SCOTUS cases: Solid waste agency of northern cook county vs. US army corps of engineers -isolated wetlands were NOT protected by CWA if only basis was use of isolated wetlands by migratory birds (and there was no other connection to interstate commerce) Ropanos vs. US -protect only relatively permanent water bodies connected to traditional waters under the CWA -significant nexus to a traditional navigable water to be protected under the CWA. Nexus determined on case by case basis Amending to reduce law uncertainty: -Clean Water Restoration Act -Americas Commitment to the Clean Water Act Verde River=Water of the united states, traditionally navigable -relatively permanent -longest and most important perennial of Arizona -Water quality standards apply Water Quality Standards of Verde: -designated uses and water quality criteria bases on those uses -be adopted with public participation -has EPA review

CWA does not regulate water quantity CWA does not regulate ground water withdrawals CWA does not protect groundwater quality Water Policy- STATE LAW -Groundwater withdrawals are regulated -Groundwater management act of 1980 -Groundwater protected by state law Aquifer Water Quality Standards Aquifer Protection Permit-APP regulates discharge of pollutants to groundwater -Comply with AWQS at a point of compliance in aquifer -Technology-based requirements Big Chino Water Ranch Project Where can Prescott get more water? Big Chino Aquifer-pump wells Prescott Creeks H20 Sentinels Sierra Club Verde Watershed Association Verde River Greenway Citizens Water Advocacy Group Coronado Flash Flood USGS --YOU TUBE Arsenic Standard- .05, drinking water .01 mg/l Verde valley has natural arsenic bearing formations and location needs to have extra arsenic treatment for drinking water E. Coli standard- 235 cfu/100 I am only one, but i am one. I cannot do everything but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do --Edward Everett Hale Unless someone like you care a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. Its not. --The Lorax Unquenchable The big thirst The ripple effect -alex

OCTOBER 11, 2011 http://www.dcourier.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&subsectionID=1086&articleID=98847 http://www.dcourier.com/main.asp?SectionID=36&SubSectionID=1118&ArticleID=98877 SPEAKER: Tony Kryzysik, Ph.D Research and Consultant Ecologist/Author of Biological Inventory: UVWSR Upper Verde Watershed: -Landscape mosaic-Aquatic, Riparian, Wetlands -Exceptional Biodiversity -In severe risk from water withdrawal (human residential use and AGRICULTURAL USE) ton of wheat=1,000 tons of water Why so ecologically valuable? -LOCATION -Southwest US is SOOOOOO biologically diverse -AZ is the MIDDLE of the SW (recognized globally as being biologically diverse) -Verde watershed is in the MIDDLE of AZ -In context of 5 ecoregions -Whatever happens in the watershed happens to the water: forest fires, timbering, mining, pollution/any disturbance ends up in the water -Landscape Corridors -Riparian Zone and Perrenial Fluvial Channel-where all animals move and live around -Ridge Tops-where all animals move and live around -most populations live in pockets, not moving all over -Importance -Integrity and viability of metapopulations and Gene Pools -Dispersal of populations -Critical for climate change -Yellowstones climate moving several km/year -Rich in landscape elements-boulder outcrops, logs laying on ground, etc. -Habitat complexity -Biological diversity -Migratory-birds, bats, etc -Resident -Wintering -2 ImportantBirdingAreas in Upper Verde Watershed -Global designation-founded in Europe -One of the last Perrenial Free-Flowing Rivers in SW -SW Per

-Most endangered species are in SW Riparian areas -Repatriation of Native Fishes and Aquatic Invertebrates ONLY 5.8% OF ARIZONA -CONTAINS OVER 400 SPECIES OF NATIVE VERTEBRATES -78% OF AZ BREEDING BIRD SPECIES -89% OF AZ BAT SPECIES (25 OF 28) -83% OF MAMMAL CARNIVORES (17 OF 19) -83% OF AZ NATIVE UNGULATES (5 OF 6) mule deer, elk, pronghorns, javalina -76% OF AZ REPTILE AND AMPHIBIAN GENERA -94% OF AZ LIZARD GENERA -68% OF AZ SNAKE GENERA montane conifer- ponderosa, aspen, douglas fir, spruce, oak, white fir, sub-alpine fir dark green in S. AZ=montane on mt. tops(like stepping stones for species who prefer montane climate) Great Basin Woodland (pinon juniper woodland) Upper Sonoran desert- less evaporation in soils, saguaro cactus, ocatillo Madrean evergreen woodland- mexican species of pines and oaks, yuccas Chihuahuan Desert scrub- charactics of NM and TX, tarbush PRESCOTT HAS- great basin woodland, great basin grassland, interior chapparal Central AZ is very diverse, 4 different deserts: Mohave (west, winter rainfall coming from pacific ocean), Sonoran (has winter rains and summer storms), Chihuahuan(east, strong summer storms, weather coming from gulf of mexico), Great Basin -Very obvious chemical boundaries and Riparian zone -GREEN STRIP -Mesquite grows along edge of green and has 150 ft roots, doesnt necessarily need rain -Cactus has long shallow roots, when it rains, soaks up water and stores it Big Chino Wash- Great Basin Woodland, Great Basin Grassland Upper Verde- Great Basin Woodland, Montane conifer, a little of grassland chaparral and desert grassland Lower VerdeFish 82% of exotic species in verde are fish Sonora Sucker (can get up to 31 inches) eats cottonwood puffs that land on water Desert sucker (gets 12-13 inches) scrapes rocks for algae and microorganisms Spike dace Loach minnow Speckled dace (almost extinct) only fish that has occupied every single western watershed RARE Long finned dace RARE

Amphibians/Reptiles Only salamander is AZ tiger salamander (burrowers, almost never see adults) NON NATIVE- Bullfrogs, very devastating, eats other native frogs, birds, insects Multi-lined skink Utah milksnake Hopi rattlesnake Red spotted toad (in montane springs) blood vessels near anus so when it sits on any moisture it soaks it all up and even in dry conditions will be moist Canyon Tree Frog major color changes Yavapai ansis toad Arizona tree frog Sonoran mud turtle-has algae covering it Horned Lizard Plateau Lizard Collared Lizard Striped whip snake -verrry loooong Diamondback rattlesnake -responsible for most deaths Gila monster -very painful bite Mammals Bats live in riparian zone due to needing to feed on insects Black tail jack rabbits, eastern cottontail (montane), desert cottontail Gray Fox Bobcat Black bear River Otter Beaver Spotted Skunk Hog nose Skunk Kangaroo Rat Silky pocket mouse Birds Majority: Heron, Waterfowl, Shore- Blue heron Song bird-yellow breasted warbler, blue grosbeak, yellow billed cuckoo (rare), black phoebe, southwestern willow fly catcher, cliff swallows (mud nests like hornet nests) Raptors