January 2003 Gambel's Tales Newsletter Sonoran Audubon Society

8/9/2019 January 2003 Gambel's Tales Newsletter Sonoran Audubon Society

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An Imminent Threat to the Clean Water Act

By Matt Sicchio

Director of Outreach

American Rivers

We need to give you a heads-up about a dangerous new

threat to rivers.

The Bush Administration is expected to announce a rule-making in late December or early January that could ex-clude intermittent and ephemeral streams, small tributar-ies, and wetlands adjacent to those waters from coverageunder the Clean Water Act.

Since its passage thirty years ago, the Clean Water Act hasgranted protections to all waters of the United States. Butnow the Administration will propose new regulations thatcould strip Clean Water Act protections from manystreams and wetlands across the nation.

The river movement must flex its collective muscle to turn

back this aggressive attack on clean water. Attached is afact sheet with additional information about the Admini-stration's expected proposal, and a number of steps thatyou can take to help defeat it.

This fight will not be won without a broad and vocal con-stituency for rivers. We need your voice. The attachedfact sheet has a number of steps you can take now, and wewill be in touch with additional steps you can take as wereceive new information on this threat. Among the mostimportant steps you can take is to help get the word out tothe entire river movement by passing this email on to yourmembers, activists, and colleagues who have an interest inprotecting streams and wetlands.

Fact Sheet:

The Bush Administration is putting polluters first and it istime for the river movement to respond. The Administra-tion has targeted changes to a number of rules and policiesthat would unravel protections that our rivers, streams andwetlands currently receive under the Clean Water Act.

(Continued on Page 2)

January 2003

The Newsletter of the Sonoran Audubon Society

Volume 4 Issue 5

Gambels TalesAt our next meeting.

Wednesday January, 8 at 6:30 p.m.

Old Growth Forever

By Sharon Galbreath

Photo of an immature Northern Goshawk by Jim Burns

Sharon moved to Flagstaff in 1973 to attend Northern Ari-zona University where she received a Bachelors Degreein Fine Arts.

She has been a volunteer for twenty two years and firmbeliever in the power of grass roots activism. Her first realexperience with environmental activism was the ArizonaWilderness Campaign which started in 1980. Sharon or-ganized Sierra Club campaigns to restrict scenic flightsover the Grand Canyon and to stop the development of theCanyon Forest Village development just outside of theSouth Rim of the Grand Canyon Nat ional Park.

She has worked on logging issues since 1985, with a focus

on old growth logging on the North Kaibab, forest restora-tion issues and management of the wildlife urban interfaceand fire issues.

Sharon is currently serving as the Executive Director ofthe Southwest Forest Alliance. She helped start the Alli-ance and served on its board of directors since its forma-tion in 1994.

The cutting down of much of the old growth forests hasresulted in the rapid decline of the pictured Northern Gos-hawk.


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Page 2 Gambel's Tales

(Continued from Page 1)

Among the most egregious moves is an anticipatedchange in the definition of waters that qualify for protec-tion under the Clean Water Act. The river movementmust counter these attacks on clean water with a unifiedand nationwide response. American Rivers is committedto helping lead this charge and helping local, state, andregional conservationists fight to protect the rivers and

streams you care about.

Whats Being Proposed limiting the waters pro-

tected by the Clean Water Act

Since its passage thirty years ago, the Clean Water Acthas granted protections to all waters of the United States.But now the Administration will propose new regulationsthat could strip Clean Water Act protections from manystreams and wetlands across the nation.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and theU.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) announced theirplan to proceed with this rulemaking at a Congressionalhearing on September 19. At that hearing, the Corps and

EPA signaled their intent to exclude intermittent andephemeral streams, small tributaries, and wetlands adja-cent to those waters from coverage under the Clean WaterAct. If we allow the Administration to move forwardwith this plan, more than 60 percent of all the nationsriver miles and wetlands adjacent to those waters couldlose all protection under the Clean Water Act. Thiswould strip away all federal controls on the discharge

of sewage, toxic waste, oil, industrial pollutants, and

factory farm waste into those waters. It would also

allow the filling of those streams and wetlands for any

purpose.

The Administration claims the proposed changes are nec-essary to respond to the January 2001 Supreme Court

decision on wetlands, Solid Waste Agency of Northern

Cook County v. Army Corps of Engineers (SWANCC).But that decision struck down only a policy that allowedthe Corps to exert jurisdiction over isolated water bodiesbased solely on that waters use by migratory birds. Asthe Administrations own Department of Justice has ar-gued in nearly two dozen court cases, the SWANCC deci-

sion does not mandate a more extensive change in thecoverage of Clean Water Act jurisdiction.

The Administration is expected to release its notice of

this new rulemaking through an Advanced Notice of

Proposed Rulemaking in late December or early Janu-ary. While we wont know exactly what they are pro-

posing until we see the formal notice, all signals point

to a proposal that will be very damaging to rivers and

human health.

What You Can Do

It is critical that the river movement defend the CleanWater Act with a swift and strong response from as largea constituency as we can generate.

Please join the campaign against Clean Water Act roll- backs by taking steps now and being prepared to actquickly when the Administration formally announcesits proposal.

Here is what you can do NOW:

1. Talk to the media now and prepare for future oppor-tunities Start talking to your media contacts to givethem a heads-up that we expect the Administration to

announce an effort to reduce the reach of the CleanWater Act. Let them know that you will be examiningthe proposal once it is released and would like to helpthem explore what it means for the local community.In the meantime, give some thought to small streams,creeks, and wetlands areas that are likely to lose theirClean Water Act protection and be prepared to takereporters there once the proposal is released. Be pre-pared to tell stories about creeks where dischargeswould harm human health and drinking water if thisproposal is implemented. Examples that illustrate thearbitrariness of protecting some waters but not othersare particularly valuable: such as a riverfront industrial

facility that would require a Clean Water Act permit todischarge into a river but not into a small creek run-ning through its property.

Following the formal announcement of the Administra-tions proposal, American Rivers will be providingtalking points for use with the media.

2. Contact your Congressional representatives Whilethe Administration will attempt its rollback withoutobtaining Congressional approval, there is much thatCongress can do to discourage the Administrationand/or respond to its rulemaking proposal. You canhelp by telling your members of Congress how con-cerned your group and its members are. Demand thatthey reaffirm the authority to protect all our waters,including by sponsoring or voting for the Clean WaterAuthority Restoration Act (S 2780 / HR 5194 in thelast Congress). We expect that this bill will be re-introduced in the new Congress by Congressmen JohnDingell (D-MI) and James Oberstar (D-MN), andSenator Russ Feingold (D-WI).

3.Contact local officials Encourage your local officialsto weigh in with your states governor and Congres-sional delegation. Point out that by giving pollutersand developers free rein, states and localities will haveto pay the tab for the toxic clean-ups, drinking watercontamination, flooding, and declining recreationvalue of their streams and wetlands.

4. Stay connected and be prepared to act AmericanRivers is tracking this proposal carefully. We willshare news of any developments as soon as we hear ofthem, through email, web postings, and phone calls.We will also be creating fact sheets and talking pointsto assist the grassroots river community in getting theword out to decision-makers and the media.


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Saturday, January 18 OR Sunday, Jan. 19, 2003

Wings Over Willcox

Leader: Bill Grossi

[email protected]

Join an all day tour, "Plovers, Longspurs and Others," atthe annual Birding Festival held in Willcox, Arizona.

You'll visit grassland feeders around Sunsites and Cho-chise Stronghold Campground then drive through agricul-tural habitats looking for plovers, raptors, and whatever isthere. Whitewater Draw should offer cranes, waterfowl,sparrows, buntings and the possibility of three quail spe-cies. Montezuma's Quail was there last year.

Use the Festival website: www.wingsoverwillcox.com fordetails and a complete schedule of Festival Events.

Monday January 27 to Saturday February 1, 2003Agua Fria National Monument Winter Bird Count

Leaders :Dwayne Fink 480-967-9202 [email protected]

Josh Burns 602-468-3002 [email protected]

We have set up the week of Jan 27 through Feb 1 to do

the winter bird count of the Agua Fria NM. Emphasis will

be on the final two days: Friday and Saturday. But some of

us will be going out other days that week, and if you want

to do that please call Dwayne or Josh.

We are adding areas within the monument to bird, as we explore

the place. Those of you who attended the two Wednesday night

meetings in October and November know that there is a lot out

there.

The objective is to determine what birds are in variousareas during each of the seasons: Winter, spring(migrants), summer regulars, fall (migrants). And we needto do this over several years to have good data. Josh iskeeping the score, and is up to 218 species total.

Remember, anytime you go there, keep a list, and get it to Josh.

Wednesday, January 29, 2003

P.I.R. and El Mirage Pond

Leader: Marshall Esty 623 977-1637

Explore river and marshland along an old road now re-placed by a major highway to the raceway which doesn'tseem to disturb the water-oriented bird population. Con-tinue westward into farm land looking for raptors and spar-rows among fields and shorebirds that frequent the pond.

Difficulty: 1

Morning only. Meet at Sun Bowl parking lot on 107thAve. just south of Peoria Ave. in Sun City in order toLEAVE at 7:30 a.m.

Spring 2003 Field Trips

Sonoran Audubon strongly encourages

carpooling on all outings!

Please organize your own carpool, consolidate vehiclesat meeting places, and/or contact leaders for carpoolingassistance. Sonoran Audubon strongly encourages carpoolingon all outings!

Field Trips are rated in difficulty levels one, the easiest,to five, the most difficult. It is recommended thatpassengers reimburse drivers at an agreed rate.

REMINDERS: Dont forget water, sunscreen, hats

and insect repellent. Wear neutral colors. Avoid

bright colors. Wear sturdy walking shoes

Difficulty: 1 Morning only. Call leader for time and

meeting place.

Saturday, January 11, 2003

Montezuma Well

Leader: Eleanor Campbell 623 977-7639

[email protected]

Montezuma Well about 90 miles north of Phoenix is anatural body of water fed by an eternal spring surroundedby desert scrub. Ancient Indians channeled the water forirrigation and lush riparian vegetation grows around thecanals. American Wigeon winters here. Resident wrens,sparrows, and thrashers are prevalent. The entire scenicsite is geologically and historically fascinating.

Difficulty: 2 (A steep climb to Indian ruins is optional.)

Bring Lunch.Call leader for time and meeting place.

Friday to Sunday January 17 to 19, 2003

Bosque del Apache, New Mexico

Leader: Bob Bradley [email protected]

The highlights of a visit to this national wildlife refuge

will be thousands of Sandhill Cranes and Snow Geese

with some Ross' Geese to compare at close range. There

is a chance to see the American Bittern and Swamp Spar-

row (which the leader, coming from Colorado to do this

for us, will try to "nail down" ahead) as well as many

waterfowl and raptors.

Well look for higher elevation woodpeckers and finchesat Water Canyon nearby and unusual birds at Socorro. AVaried Thrush was seen here recently.

Difficulty: 1

Meet at the Visitor Center at the National Wildlife Ref-

uge at 7:30 a.m. on Sat. Jan 18. Questions?

Call Dick Fogle at 623 584-3922 or George Wall at 623

875-7057.


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The mesquite forest is home to wrens, woodpeckers, phoebes, juncos, and sparrows as well as flycatchers---even in Winter.

Difficulty: 1 Bring lunch and spotting scope.

This is a combined Birders Anonymous and SonoranAudubon trip. Meet at Bell Recreation Center, Hutton

Drive, Sun City to LEAVE at 7:00 a.m.

Call leader for details.

Saturday, March 1

New Audubon Nature Center

Leader: Dwayne Fink 480 967-9202

Preview the site of a proposed National Audubon NatureEducation Center in downtown Phoenix.

Details will be announced next month.

Save these dates:

March 1-15 2003

Notice Date Change - Moved up two weeks

Oaxaca, Mexico

Leader: David MacKay

Contact: Daniela Yellan for more information

at:[email protected] or 602-942-7791

For the second year we are excited to team up with High

Lonesome Eco Tours to offer this very special tour to the

Mexican state of Oaxaca! No other trip to Oaxaca offers

such a range of habitats and opportunities to see this

many species

The pace of our trip is relatively relaxed, but unlike some

other tours that emphasize the city and valley of Oaxaca,

we will be doing a fair bit of moving to get us to the wide

variety of habitats available in the outlying regions of the

state. To help lessen the chore of changing hotels, we

have given ourselves multiple nights in the various loca-

tions.

None of the birding areas that we will visit on this trip

will require anything more than casual walking, however

there will be periods when we are walking for upwards of

two miles at a leisurely pace, which may mean being onyour feet for extended periods of time. There will be a

couple of optional walks that are on steeper terrain; how-

ever the footing is never poor.

The Oaxaca, Mexico might be filled when this newsletteris published. Call Daniela Yellan to find out if you canbe fit into the trip how to enroll etc. Look at November2002 newsletter for more details.

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Saturday, February 1

Tres Rios Wetlands

Leader: Daniela Yellan 602 942-7791

[email protected]

This wetland complex at 91st Ave. on the Salt River in

Phoenix is among the best places to find birds in the

West Valley. Expect to find herons, raptors, passerines

and wintering waterfowl in the varied habitats found

there.

Difficulty: 1 Bring Spotting Scope, if available.

Contact leader for details, meeting time and place.

Saturday, February 8

Salome Road/Arlington Valley

Leader: Carolyn Modeen 623 972-6273

[email protected]

Search for several species of thrashers and gnatcatchers

known to be found in this desert habitat west of Phoenix.

Then visit Arlington Wildlife Area. A variety of spar-

rows, raptors and other field birds should be seen.

Difficulty: 1 Bring a lunch.

Contact leader for meeting place and time.

Saturday, February 15Gilbert Ponds/Wildlife Center

Leader: Dwayne Fink 480 967-9202

Visit the Gilbert area wastewater recharge facility pondsfor wintering waterfowl and shorebirds. A bird list ofmore than 140 species has been compiled there includingmore than 50 species of water/shore birds. Black-neckedstilts, American Avocets and Sora have nested there.

Difficulty: 1 Bring lunch and spotting scope.

Call leader for meeting time and place.

Tuesday, February 18

Coon Bluff/Granite Reef Dam

Leader: Betty Baugus 623 412-1215

[email protected]

These sites on the Salt River in Tonto National Forestalways provide good habitat for ducks, herons, hawksand Bald Eagles.


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The tour price of $2650.00 per person, all inclusive of

meals, rooms, ground transportation and guides starting

with dinner on the first night in Oaxaca City, through

dinner on the last night in Oaxaca City is very reason-

able.

Saturday and Sunday, April 5 & 6

Gunnison/Grand Junction Colorado

Leader: Bob Bradley [email protected] the rare Gunnison Sage Grouse booming on theirlek. Look for Three-toed Woodpecker, Pine Grosbeakand Gray Jay at Grand Mesa southeast of Grand Junc-tion. Details will be announced next month. Participantsmight want to take two days travel each way and dosome birding on the way. Well have to coordinate those people who want to make the travel a little more lei-surely.

Puerto Peasco, Sonora, Mexico Christmas Count

Saturday December 14

By George Wall

Four members of our chapter -Dick Fogle, Chuck Kan-

gas, George Drew and George Wall went down to the

Puerto Peasco Christmas Bird Count . There were alot of birders from all over Arizona including Sierra

Vista, Tucson, Green Valley, Phoenix, Sun City, Glen-

dale etc. The four of us birded the Sandy Beach area.

The birds we saw at the beach and while in Mexico

were Pacific Loon, Eared Grebe, Western Grebe,

Clarks Grebe, Black Storm-Petrel, Brown Booby,

Brown Pelican, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue

Heron, Snowy Egret, Cattle Egret, Turkey Vulture,

Red-breasted Merganser, Ruddy Duck, Osprey, North-

ern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel,

Black-bellied Plover, Snowy Plover, Semipalmated

Plover, American Oystercatcher, Willet, Spotted Sand- piper, Whimbrel, Long-billed Curlew, Ruddy Turn-

stone, Black Turnstone, Western Sandpiper, Heer-

manns Gull, Ring-billed Gull, California Gull, Herring

Gull, Yellow-footed Gull, Western Gull, Forsters Tern,

Rock Dove, Belted Kingfisher, Says Phoebe, Logger-

head Shrike, Common Raven, Rock Wren, Vesper

Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Great-

tailed Grackle and House Sparrow.

Puerto Peasco, Sonora, Mexico Christmas Count

Saturday December 14

By Steve Ganley, Compiler

A very successful Count was held at Puerto Penasco,Sonora on the 14th. Thanks to all the participants fortheir time and hard work. I don't have a final tally yetbut we should be around 135-138 species when all thedetails come in. There were several good birds reportedeither on the day before scouting trips or on the countday. Some of the birds found include: 2 Red-billedTropicbirds, 2 Black Storm-Petrels, a MagnificentFrigatebird, Ross's Goose, Hooded Merganser, Long-tailed Duck, Crested Caracara, Laughing Gull, Lesser

Black-backed Gull and Glaucous Gull. Other goodbirds were 2 Townsend's Solitaire and a Palm Warbler.

You can track you favorite CBC results as they come in

at the NAS web page:

http://audubon.birdsource.org/CBCOutput/circle_select.html

Not many Arizona counts of this year are on line yet

but its interesting to go back to previous years .

Phoenix-Tres Rios Christmas Bird Count

Highlights

By Troy Corman

The Phoenix-Tres Rios CBC was on December 17 and

did very well considering the very high gusty winds that

plagued us most of the day. The unofficial total was 148

species and I wonder how much higher that total would

have been without the winds! Highlights included 6

RUDDY GROUND-DOVES that have been present for

at least a week or so at El Mirage Pond. I understand

from Bill Grossi the best time and location to view them

is first thing in the morning as the doves warm up in the

sun in front of the cattail stand in the northeastern cor-

ner of the pond. I observed an immature TRICOL-

ORED HERON near the confluence of the Salt and Gila

Rivers. It was seen along the southern edge of the large

body of water just east of the old 115th Ave. road bed

and was there in the morning and again at sunset. A

quick check showed this possibly being the first winter

record for Arizona. Another great find by Roy Jones

and Steve Ganley were 3 FOX SPARROWS found to-

gether on private property which included 2 "SOOTY"

form Fox Sparrows.

They also found a YELLOW WARBLER at the Cobble

Ponds at 91st Ave. and the Salt River, while they were

unsuccessfully searching for the Northern Parula. Tom

Hildebrandt and his group found two AMERICAN BIT-

TERNS together at the marsh just east of the 115th Ave.

bridge over the Gila River, near Phoenix International.

Raceway.

Daniela Yellan, the compiler, will furnish a complete

report of the Tres Rios count in a future newsletter.


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Sonoran Audubon Society

P.O. Box 8068

Glendale, AZ 85312-8068

Other Dates of Interest:

Dec 5, 6:45 p.m. Board Meeting at Glendale Library in the small meeting room. All SAS members welcome.

Calendar of Monthly Meetings

Location: Auditorium, Glendale Public Library, 5959 West Brown Street

(one block south of Peoria Ave. & 59th Ave. intersection)

Time: 6:30 p.m.

Jan 8, 2003 Sharon Galbreath from Southwest Forest Alliance Old Growth Forever

Feb 12, 2003 Rand Hubbell and Terry Gerber An Overview of the Maricopa County Park System, With

a Focus on Lake Pleasant

Mar 12, 2003 Sandy Anderson, Director, Gray Hawk Nature Center The San Pedro River-Avian Paradise

Apr 9, 2003 TBA

May 14, 2003 TBA

Documents

January 2003 Gambel's Tales Newsletter Sonoran Audubon Society