[CPEO-MEF] "Fort Huachuca [AZ] violations of San Pedro compact challenged"

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

Center for Biological Diversity 
For Immediate Release March 17, 2005

Fort Huachuca violations of San Pedro compact challenged

Expansion exceeds mitigation, jeopardizes River

The Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) and Maricopa Audubon have
filed Notice with Fort Huachuca, the Department of Defense (DoD) and the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to challenge violations of the August 23,
2002, Biological Opinion. These violations jeopardize the San Pedro
River and its dependent endangered species.[1] In the August 23, 2002,
Biological Opinion, Fort Huachuca and DoD promised not expand by more
than 500 people through 2011.[2] Since the August 23, 2002, Biological
Opinion, Fort Huachuca and DoD have added and/or committed locally at
least 2,851 new people and $621.5 million in direct, interrelated,
and/or interdependent activities without using commonly accepted
personnel and financial multipliers.[3] Using multipliers,[4] this
equates to 11,917 new people and $1.044 billion. [5] In addition, even
more direct, interrelated, interdependent activities are proposed, but
not yet committed. These equal at least 5,948 more people and $71.8
million without multipliers.[6] The peril to the San Pedro River and its
dependent endangered species has increased since the August 23, 2002,
Biological Opinion.[7] The peril has increased owing to the following facts:

* Increasing Fort Huachuca and DoD funded activities have caused an 
increase in off post water company deficit pumping by 13.8% from 2001 to 2003.[8]
* The local groundwater deficit has increased by between 63.3% (from
-5,144 to -8,400[9] acre-feet/year) according to Arizona Department of
Water Resources 2002 data,[10] and 134.3% (-5,144 to -12,050[11]
acre-feet/year) according to U.S. Geological Survey 2003 data.[12] (The
August 23, 2002, Biological Opinion mitigation is based on local
groundwater deficit of 5,144 acre-feet/year.[13])
* San Pedro River base flow, or the water in the stream during the
driest times of the year, continues decreasing dramatically.[14]
* The latest data from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers? data reveals
that the Fort Huachuca/Sierra Vista groundwater-pumping center is now
negatively affecting the flow gradient near the San Pedro.[15]

In 60 days, if Fort Huachuca, DoD, and USFWS do not remedy their
violations of law, CBD and Maricopa Audubon will seek additional
judicial relief. EarthJustice will provide legal representation for
these San Pedro River-saving efforts.


...

For the entire original press release, including the footnotes,, see
http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/swcbd/press/sanpedro3-17-05.html

-- 


Lenny Siegel
Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight
c/o PSC, 278-A Hope St., Mountain View, CA 94041
Voice: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545
Fax: 650/961-8918
<lsiegel@cpeo.org>
http://www.cpeo.org
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