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ENVIRONMENTAL
PLANNING ELEMENT
INTRODUCTION-Click
here for a map of the Little Colorado River Floodplain
The purpose of this section is
to describe the existing conditions with regard to natural resources and the
environment. It also identifies challenges and potential opportunities presented
by the physical and biological characteristics of the planning area.
Recommendations are made which address
both the constraints and opportunities identified.
Yesterday And
Today
The Eagar planning area occurs
at an elevation range of approximately
7,000 to 7,500 feet above mean sea level. Topography gently slopes down to the
north and northwest. Slope over most of the planning area ranges from 1-5%.
Slopes of 35-45% or more are limited to the extreme southwestern portion of the
planning area.
The planning area supports
primarily a plains grassland "short-grass" plant community that is dominated by
grasses, including grama grass (Boute/oua spp.), buffalo-grass (Buch/oe
dacty/oides), plains lovegrass.
Soils in the planning area vary
in their potential to support specific uses. Most of the planning area has soils
within the Eagar Series (EaB, EaC, EaD), which are well-drained soils formed in
gravelly alluvium derived from basic tuff. These soils exhibit moderate
permeability and low available water capacity and have been used for irrigated
farming, home sites, range, and wildlife habitat.
Climate in the planning area is
moderate in temperature and semi-arid with regard to precipitation. Average
annual precipitation is about 12 inches. Average annual snowfall is about 21
inches, with snow cover generally not persisting through significant portions of
the winter season.
The Town meets federal
air and water quality standards and guidelines. The rate of growth projected for
the Town is not expected to change this compliance.
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PLANNING ISSUES
·
The primary
challenges or potential constraints to planning are related to soil
characteristics, the potential occurrence of wetlands, possible or known habitat
for federally threatened, endangered, or proposed species, and FEMA floodplain
areas.
·
A potential
funding source which will support the enhancement of riparian open spaces is the
Water Quality Improvement Grant Program, administered by Arizona Department of
Environmental Quality (ADEQ) and supported by the United States Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA). Grants can be applied for to implement watershed
improvement projects where applicants provide 40% matching funds. For example,
the Town of Eagar was recently granted $382,800 for the Big Ditch Water
Loss/Water Quality Improvement Project. Surface water from the Upper Little
Colorado River is diverted into "Big Ditch" approximately 6 miles upstream of
Eagar for irrigation in the planning area. This grant was awarded to the Town of
Eagar to line the "Big Ditch" to reduce leakage losses, thereby increasing flows
in the Little Colorado River and improving riparian habitat and water quality.
Other watershed improvements, such as fencing to exclude livestock, riparian
plantings, and physical improvement to the stream may be eligible for funding.
Northern Arizona University has recently completed an assessment and inventory
of the Little Colorado River from Greer to Springerville. This study will also
provide recommendations or options for landowners that want to improve watershed
conditions. This group is conducting a demonstration project along a reach of
the Little Colorado River near Springerville to demonstrate how optimal
watershed conditions can be achieved. The availability of these data and this
study enhances Eagar's potential to obtain funding for similar improvement along
their reach of the Little Colorado River.
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GOALS, OBJECTIVES, AND POLICIES
GOAL: PROTECT AND IMPROVE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND NATURAL
RESOURCE
VALUES WITHIN THE EAGAR PLANNING AREA.
Objective: Protect air quality in the planning area.
Policy: Require dust control measures during construction
activities (i.e.,
watering or use of dust suppressants and clean-up of dirt
tracked
onto public roadways) to minimize fugitive dust emissions.
Policy: Assess priorities and implement paving of public
roadways based
on the amount of use they receive. Require paving for all
roads
within private developments.
Policy: Consider paving shoulders along roadways where
off-road
passing occurs frequently.
Objective: Preserve the integrity of soil
substrates and slopes in the planning
area and protect water quality within the Little Colorado River
watershed.
Policy: Avoid or limit development on floodplain or other
soil types that
have a shallow water table, slow permeability, low shear
strength,
and/or support wetlands. These are primarily Shay, Nutrioso,
and Hereford soil types.
Policy: Implement measures during and after construction
that minimize
impacts to soils. These should include minimizing the
footprint of
disturbance and soil compaction to building envelopes.
Policy: Limit development in areas with moderate slopes,
5-10%, and
slopes greater than 10%, to minimize soil erosion, excessive
cut
and fill, and allow safe passage of vehicles and pedestrians.
Policy: Avoid placement of fill within waters of the
United States. Fill
within waters of the United States requires a Clean Water Act
Section 404 permit or authorization from the United States Army
Policy:
Incorporate into this plan by reference, the
Upper Little Colorado
River Watershed Partnership Watershed Action and Management
Plan, November 2001 and future updates to this plan.
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