Establishment of Haigler Creek Preservation

The word restoration caused me concern if someone wants big pockets to pay to undo that dam and lake etc..  So I like avoiding that word and the idea of preserving the stream, and those who mess it up should pay to restore it.  Given the cost of the lake/pond already, I think they should pay all restoration costs and restore it, including AZ Game and Fish if they funded the project and permitted it, and, in the process, violated the National Endangered Species Act and NEPA requirements due the known chub and other species along and in the stream. 

They also have not been transparent with any of their actions after the entire community objected to their Gila Trout introduction project and related stream poisoning, and instead went underground with the ranch owner. Literally and figuratively, as they dug down to bedrock and obviously disturbed subflows of the stream and the basin.  Then the return flows in the basin, as clearly articulated by ADWR experts in the Gila Adjudication have affirmed that the pond is in the stream basin under any argument now that it was confirmed by the State Supreme Court.   Thus, in basin, ADWR was required to approve it and not destroy Arizona water rights.   In violation of the national endangered species act, then also ignored public process on endangered species, ie federal law.   This was also affirmed as the US Fish and Wildlife now control Glen Canyon Dam due to fish issues downstream, for example.  This is entirely comparitive to Glen Canyon where the State Fish and Wildlife service thwarted federal laws and now turn control of the river over to US FWS.   Thus their actions may turn control of the Salt River, in the middle of the Salt Adjudication, over to the USFWS if the State does not fix its issues first.   That puts most of the valley’s water supply subject to federal folks since the State cannot stop killing endangered fish.  For example.

Thus, in violation of State water law, the ranch, conservation lease, and Jordon/Az Game and Fish, evaporate 2.5 million gallons of creek flows to evaporation that are subject to the prior rights of Haigler on these properties and our wells   As the water no longer returns during drought, our wells go dry as the ranch with a third right takes the physical water and evaporates it for its own fishing while water or fishing are no longer available.   This likely requires the current landowers of Haiglers surface rights to enforce water rights with ADWR and cause Gillepse to cease to take all water in a drought as third priority to us downstream, if we are negatively affected by their diversion, which we are.

They no longer return water to the stream, thanks to Game and Fish’s and Jordon’s lake and  Game and Fish representatives said the pond saves water annually versus the prior use, which is totally inaccurate.  Due to that incorrect water opinion by the State, they jointly evaporate 2.5 million gallons per year into the air, which is not returned to the stream, and thereby their project increases the water temperature to a point where native or non-native rainbow trout are not sustainable now and other species affected, including us.   This is the problem statement.   Water quantity, quality, temperature, and sediment are all disturbed, and the environment of the stream is harmed now. 

And the third water right is taking the water in a drought, versus honoring the stream rights of first in time is first in right, meaning our wells are a higher priority than the pond.

I would not want that confusion from the start of who pays for fixing the mess, when we get the public records of this debacle.

So I therefore, prefer Preservation

Michael J. and Mark want to set up a domain name, communication and internet site to get funding and also manage messaging on something like fighting an upstream violation.  That way the messages of the NonProfit are “one” and not everyone etc.  So thanks to Mark and Michael on working on how to communicate our issues and setting it all up for the new media and communications environment.

Barbi Richards has agreed to serve as the formation Secretary-Treasurer and help with setting up essential items, such as bank accounts, and others can contribute as needed.   

I will now call John Carter to finalize the arrangements with him and his firm to file the formation papers.   I will initially cover John’s work, as I have other ongoing projects with John at my Engineering Firm.  John,  please send me an email for the cost retention, estimate, and signature so you can proceed.  I am hoping we can finalize this easily, but I will call you.

Once we get a separate arrangement set up John will then work with us to get the Haigler Creek Preservation Nonprofit framework and understanding exchanged so we can move ahead.  

I am also starting with this list of interested parties and community members. If you would like to be removed, please let us know.  We envision having a letter inviting everyone to join once we have our feet under the stool so to speak.

I wanted everyone to know the progress we have made and the approach and background so far.

Others want to contribute but the magnitude of issues calls for us to organize and be a class of folks with these issues.