25th Annual Arizona Riparian Council Meeting
and Workshop

Cohosted by the Gila Watershed Partnership

Please join us at our 25th annual Arizona Riparian Council meeting and workshop at Eastern Arizona College in Thatcher on March 29-31, 2012. The theme of our meeting this year is: People and the Upper Gila River Riparian Ecosystem: Past, Present, and Future, and we are having it in conjunction with the Gila Watershed Partnership.

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Allen Haden and Stephanie Yard of Natural Channel Design will conduct a workshop starting at 1:00 pm. They will present an overview of what it takes to plan a stream restoration project. Based on information from an actual restoration project, workshop participants will discuss project objectives and planning strategies. At the end of the workshop, Natural Channel Design will reveal the plan they prepared for the project. On Saturday, a field trip to the project is scheduled. This should be an educational and fun workshop. The workshop should end sometime after 5:00 pm.

Friday, March 30, 2012

We will begin at 8:00 a.m. on Friday morning with an Introduction and Welcome by ARC President, Kris Randall and an Overview of the Gila Watershed Partnership by Executive Director Jan Holder. Five invited speakers will then discuss issues and topics pertinent to the Gila River.

• Jeanne Godaire, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Denver will present on a study conducted on the geomorphology of the Gila River.
• Jeff Humphrey, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Phoenix will discuss the Endangered Species Act and conservation efforts in the area
• Mary Reece, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Phoenix will present water issues on the Gila River.
• Liz Petterson, Arizona Land and Water Trust will talk about their Desert River Initiative
• Jan Holder, Gila Watershed Partnership discuss conservation coordination efforts with local landowners

Bill Brandau, Chair, Gila Watershed Partnership will provide a lunch time presentation on the history of the area and the Gila Watershed Partnership. After lunch we will have a panel discussion with the above speakers. We will have a short business meeting, followed by the technical papers session. The meeting will end around 5:00 pm.

Friday evening activities will be at Discovery Park. Dinner will be lasagna/vegetarian lasagna with Dave Henson, Eastern Arizona College, talking about the Chiricahua leopard frog refugium and recovery efforts for the frog. You’ll also be able to tour the riparian/wetland restoration site. Discovery Park is part of Eastern Arizona College and alcohol and smoking are not permitted there.

Saturday, March 31, 2012

We will leave Eastern Arizona College at 8:00 a.m. for a field trip to an actual stream restoration project that Natural Channel Design has done. Some vans may be available and we encourage carpooling as parking is very limited. Lunch will be provided. The field trip will end around 2:00 p.m.

Registration

Accomodations

Springhill Suites, 2855 W Highway 70, Thatcher has reserved a block of rooms for us and will hold them until March 16. The hotel is 5 min away from the College (square with S below). We highly encourage you to reserve them as soon as possible at the rate of $89 and for federal employees with ID, $77. They are very nice rooms with sitting area, microwave, coffeemaker, and refrigerator. Please take advantage and let them know it is for the Arizona Riparian Council meeting. Their number is (928) 428-6900. On the map below Eastern Arizona College appears farther from Highway 70 than it is. We will be meeting in the Gherald L. Hoopes Jr. Activities Center which is right on Highway 70. See campus map.