The Nature Conservancy’s Work Helps Sustain the Upper San Pedro

Sierra Vista, Arizona—6, January 2005— The Upper San Pedro Partnership worked very closely with federal agencies on a report to Congress on ways to manage water for sustainable yield along the Upper San Pedro River near Sierra Vista.

"There’s an annual water deficit here, which means more is being removed from our aquifer than is naturally replenished—leaving less water stored underground for future generations,” notes Holly Richter, the Conservancy’s Upper San Pedro Program Manager. “As drought and increases in population continue, the need for sound water resource management in our area grows.”

One of 21 governmental agencies and private organizations comprising the Partnership, the Conservancy played a leadership role within the group to ensure the report was based on the best science currently available.

Scientific tools recently developed by the Partnership will be used to predict possible water-scenario outcomes. Such tools help elected officials make informed decisions on multimillion projects and tough political issues, including how to manage for new development, identify locations for putting treated wastewater back into the ground and decide where to place municipal pumps.

Congress addressed the need to preserve both the San Pedro River and nearby Fort Huachuca in the National Defense Authorization Act for 2004. Recognizing the importance of collaborative water-use management, the bill gives congressional recognition to the Partnership and its efforts to eliminate deficit groundwater pumping by 2011.

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