Laserfiche WebLink
<br />. . <br />) <br />Arizona Water Protection Fund <br /> <br />lJl)II/~~ <br /> <br />N <br /> <br />E <br /> <br />w <br /> <br />5 <br /> <br />LET T E R <br /> <br />Winter 2000 <br /> <br />An Update for Arizonans Concerned with Our Natural Resources <br /> <br />A MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN: <br /> <br />LOOKING TOWARD <br />THE SIXTH FUNDING CYCLE <br /> <br />The Arizona Water Protection Fund <br />(AWPF) Commission starts off the new <br />year with an appeal to the Arizona <br />legislature to restore annual funding for <br />the AWPF grant program. The AWPF <br />was created in 1994 to provide funds <br />annuaily for grants to maintain, enhance <br />and restore rivers and streams and <br />associated riparian resources in Arizona. <br />A.R.S. S 45-2112(B) appropriates $5 <br />miilion annuaily from the General Fund <br />for the Arizona Water Protection Fund. <br /> <br />However, the legislature declined to <br />appropriate fuil funding to the AWPF <br />Commission for FY 2000 and FY 2001 . <br />This decision was based on recommen- <br />dations by the JlBC (Joint legisiative <br />Budget Committee) and the OSPB <br />(Office of Strategic Planning and Budget) <br />who apparently misinterpreted the large <br />balance in the AWPF account. <br /> <br />The Commission encumbers the funds <br />needed for an entire project at the time <br /> <br />In 1994, the Arizona Legislature created <br />the Arizona Water Protection Fund as <br /> <br />"an annual source of monies for the <br />development and implementation of <br />measures to protect water <br />of sufficient quality and quantity <br />to maintain, enhance and restore <br />rivers and streams <br />and associated riparian habitat. " <br /> <br />An annual grant program is offered by <br />the AWPF Commission and administered <br />by the Department of Water Resources. <br /> <br />it makes a grant award. This step is <br />necessary to ensure that funds are <br />committed to complete multi-year <br />projects and to ensure that funds are not <br />committed more than once. The large <br />balance was unfortunately interpreted <br />as monies available for new projects. <br /> <br />We recail the legislature creating the <br />AWPF as a pro-active measure to <br />forestail federal intervention in Arizona <br />stream and riparian resource issues, a <br />threat which continues. The AWPF <br />fosters a "grass roots" approach rather <br />than a "top-down" approach; the public <br />proposes solutions to local problems. <br />Monies are disbursed as grants to <br />landowners, local governments and other <br />entities to implement solutions for <br />environmental concerns. <br /> <br />The AWPF Commission received $8.5 <br />miilion in funding requests (grant <br />applications) in the most recent grant <br />cycle (FY 2000). The Commission was <br />pleased with the quality of proposed <br />projects and awarded nearly $7 miilion to <br />successful grant applicants. Available <br />funding included carry-over and interest <br />monies.(See article on page 2.) <br /> <br />The decision to fund a greater number of <br />projects as compared to previous funding <br />cycles leaves a negligible balance for <br />viable projects in FY 2001. Although the <br />Commission anticipates a deposit to the <br />AWPF from the sale of Central Arizona <br />Project water to the State of Nevada <br />(via an ad valorem tax), it is likely to be <br />insufficient for a significant program. The <br />AWPF Commission hereby requests that <br />the 44'h legislature restore $5 miilion in <br />General Fund appropriations for FY 2001 <br />as intended by A.R.S. S 45-2112(B). . <br /> <br />INSIDE: <br /> <br />GRANT AWARDS <br />1999 FUNDING CYCLE <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />INFORMATION <br />TRANSFER FORUM <br /> <br />AWPF <br />COMMISSIONERS <br /> <br />Light" daggers" <br />to either side of a <br />solar spiral mark the <br />Winter Solstice. <br /> <br /> <br />Source: Rock Art Symbols <br />of the Southwest. <br />by Alex Patterson, 1992 <br />