Lower San Pedro Watershed Alliance

Legal/administrative process efforts: associated with advocacy for following conservation laws. LSPWA invested approximately 1400 hours of volunteer time responding to permit applications at the federal and state levels by a private corporation that desires to establish a new infrastructure corridor through 33 miles of previously undisturbed landscape in the most ecologically sensitive portion of the lower San Pedro Valley. We also wrapped up our involvement in another case, with the federal government admitting that they improperly issued a Clean Water Act permit to a private corporation desiring to build a 70,000-resident development on the River. The U.S. Department of Justice has agreed to reimburse legal expenses to LSPWA, five co-plaintiffs, and attorneys at Earthjustice. Three members of LSPWA (two directors and one member at large) served on the litigation review committee, and other LSPWA members contributed volunteer hours.

Collaborative Conservation: LSPWA spent about 350 hours of LSPWA volunteer time to participate in quarterly meetings, working group meetings, field events, fence removal work, wildlife monitoring, invasive species control, and document preparation. This program area benefits our mission by developing collaborative relationships with other parties interested in conserving the natural resources of the lower San Pedro watershed, as we accomplish conservation goals related to public education, sustainable rural economic development, appropriate recreation, wildlife corridor connectivity, the coordination of various County resource plans, soil and water conservation, and the abatement of invasive vegetation species.