WCGF Grant Cycle 1 Projects Spreadsheet (1).xlsx

	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	I	J	K	L	M	N	O	P	Q	R	S	T	U	V	W	X	Y	Z	AA	AB	AC	AD	AE	AF	AG	AH	AI	AJ	AK	AL	AM	AN	AO	AP	AQ
1	APPLICANT NAME	1. PROGRAM/PROJECT NAME	TYPE OF CONSERVATION ACTIVITY	2. PROGRAM OR PROJECT	PROGRAM / PROJECT SUMMARY	4. CITY	COUNTY	CD	LD	WATERSHED	ACTIVE MANAGEMENT AREA (if applicable)	IRRIGATION NON-EXPANSION AREA (if Applicable):	5. GRANT DOLLARS REQUESTED	MATCHING FUNDS	GRANT DOLLARS TOTAL	6. ESTIMATED ANNUAL ACRE-FT WATER SAVINGS		EXPLAIN CALCULATION FOR ANNUAL ACRE-FT WATER SAVINGS	7. EXPECTED DURATION OF PROJECT	8. WHAT IS THE ACTIVITY YOU PROPOSE TO FUND WITH GRANT MONIES?	9 - What Is The Source Of The Water That Will Be Conserved? If It Is Mainstem Colorado River Water Or Colorado River Water Delivered Through The Central Arizona Project, Please Clearly Indicate So -	10. COMMUNITY DESCRIPTION IMPACTED (population Size, Demographics, Principal Economic Activities, Etc - )	11 - What Is The Extent To Which Your Water Conservation Activity Achieves One Or More Of The Following (select All That Apply): 1 = Long Term Reductions in Water Use 2 = Improvements in Water Use Efficiency 3 = Improvements in Water Reliability	Describe:	12 - What Is The Extent To Which Your Water Conservation Activity Addresses One Of More Of The Following:	Describe:	13 - How Will Your Water Conservation Activity Align With A Local, Regional, Or Statewide Water Plan Or Integrated Resource Management Plan?	14 - What Are The Costs And Benefits Of Your Water Conservation Activity, Including Any Environmental Impacts?	15 - How Will You Measure The Effectiveness Of The Conservation Activity?	16 - If Your Water Conservation Activity Is Eligible For Funding From WIFAs Long-term Water Augmentation Fund Or Water Supply Development Fund, Does The Nature Of Your Conservation Activity Make Funding From Those Funds Impractical, And Why?	17 - Would The Conservation Activity Be Otherwise Implemented Without This Grant Funding? Explain -	18 - To What Extent Will Your Water Conservation Activity Maximize Or Leverage Multiple Available Funding Sources, Including Federal Funding?	19 - Are There Cost-sharing Opportunities With Other Applicants Or Other Parties? Explain -	20 - What Is The Source And Amount Of The Match (including In-kind Match)?	21 - What Qualifications And Capacity Do You Have For Completing Your Proposed Water Conservation Activity? Include Any Past Managerial Deficiencies And Provide The Name(s) And Qualifications Of The Individual(s) Or Entities Who Will Be Managing This Activity -	22 - Will There Be Significant Management Impacts As The Result Of The Proposed Conservation Activity, Or Any Technology Associated With The Conservation Activity? (for Example: Additional Costs Or Staffing Requirements)	23 - Will The Proposed Conservation Activity Promote Collaborative Partnerships To Address Water-related Issues? Explain -	24 - What Is The Stakeholder Involvement In The Conservation Activity Planning Process?	25 - Will The Proposed Conservation Activity Include Public Outreach And Opportunities For The Public To Learn About The Conservation Activity? Explain -	26 - Is There Community And/or Sector Support For The Conservation Activity? Explain -	27 - How Feasible Is It To Complete Your Water Conservation Activity? Explain -	28 - If The Conservation Activity Is A Continuation Of Ongoing Activities, Has The Activity Been Shown To Be Effective? If A New Activity, Has The Proposed Project, Technology, Or Technique Previously Been Implemented?	29 - Will The Proposed Conservation Activity Implement An Established Best Management Practice? Explain -

2	Higley Unified School District	Artificial Turf	Programs and projects that reduce water use Per A.R.S. 49-1332(B)(2)	Project		Gilbert	Maricopa	5	14	Yes			$3,000,000.00	$1,000,000.00	$4,000,000.00	0	0	unknown	NA	Replacing turf with artificial turf throughout the district.	Delivered through CAP.	Our district contains 2 Preschools, 2 middle schools, 2 High Schools, 1 on-line, and 9 elementary. By converting the turf to artificial turf we will be saving on water use.	value1	Save on water usage.	Water supply shortages	Help cut back on the water being used.	It is our goal to develop a plan that will decrease our water consumption by 30% over the next 5 years.	Currently we pay around $525,000 a year in water fees. Looking to reduce that.	By comparing what we have spent in previous years on water.	NA	Yes, we have it in our 23 plans.	Any money we receive in grants will help us use towards other projects.	NA	NA	Tyler Moore, CFO	Additional construction costs may occur.	Yes, develop a committee to study and recommend water saving design ideas.	We would open a bid for automated timers throughout the district for irrigation.	Yes, we will announce cost saving measures to the public and in our governing board sessions.	Yes, the town of Gilbert is starting a water conservation committee.	With the additional funding it will be an achievable goal.	Yes, we have put in 2 artificial turf football fields which have save an estimated $30,000 per year per site.	By implementing our water saving devices and continual monitoring we feel we can accomplish this goal by 2028.
3	Peoria City of	Peoria Water Reservoir Conservation Program	Programs and projects that reduce water use Per A.R.S. 49-1332(B)(2)	Program	This program will achieve water conservation through increases in water system operational efficiency. Peoria will use funds awarded to construct system improvements at 18 sites throughout the Peoria water system that will improve water quality and in turn eliminate historically required significant flushing, or wasting, of water. As part of the water treatment process, chlorine is added to potable water to provide disinfection and ensure public health. This chlorine can interact with organic material in the water and create a â€œdisinfection byproductâ€�, called trihalomethanes (THM) that can be hazardous to human health. Drinking water regulations limit the amount of THM allowed. When the amount of THM in the drinking water nears the regulatory limit, Peoria is forced to flush drinking water from the system to get rid of the THM and pull fresher water into the system. Eliminating this flushing will decrease well pumping and water demand from Central Arizona Project (CAP) and Salt River Project (SRP) suppliers. Peoria performed a study to determine if THM could be efficiently removed at storage tank sites â€“ see the attached â€œCity of Peoria, Sports Complex TTHM and Corrosion Mitigation Pilot Projectâ€� This project demonstrated that significant THM removal could be achieved with relatively modest improvements to existing reservoirs in the water system. Peoria subsequently identified 18 reservoirs within the existing system that could benefit from the improvements. These improvements largely include water aeration, mixers, blowers, power supply, and controls.	Peoria, Arizona	Maricopa	8	8	ADWR Designated Watershed: Phoenix AMA Subbasins: West Salt River Valley, Lake Pleasant and Agua Fria	Peoria will make improvements to the following reservoirs assets located throughout the Peoria water system, all within the City of Peoria. Individual addresses can be provided if desired: R101 MOC W102 Butler W103 Sunnyboy North W103 Sunnyboy South R102 Cortez W106 Stone R103 Sports W112 Arrowhead W203 89th & Union Hills W206 Parkridge W204 Ventana W211 Patterson R201 Westwing West R201 Westwing East W410 Vistancia West W410 Vistancia East R403 Westland R401 Vistancia		$2,332,500.00	$777,500.00	$3,111,000.00	8	0.000002571520411	2.5 million gallons per year, or 7.7 acre-feet	Peoria will complete the operational efficiency program within 2 years following award of the grant. This work will likely require use of multiple contractors.	The activity will include improvements, including water aeration, mixers, blowers, power supply, and controls, at 18 reservoirs distributed throughout the Peoria water system that will eliminate or significantly decrease the need to perform system flushing, or wasting, of potable water.	The project will reduce, in various amounts, water acquired from the Colorado River through the CAP, groundwater pumping, and some SRP water.	Peoria covers nearly 179 square miles and is home to over 200,000 residents making it Arizonaâ€™s ninth largest city in terms of population. Ranked the Number 1 City to Live, Work and Play in Arizona by AZ Big Media, Peoria is a premier and thriving community that welcomes new families and new businesses. Peoria residents enjoy outdoor trails and parks and is home to a scenic desert oasis - Lake Pleasant Regional Park. Surrounded by the Sonoran Desert, it is an outdoor enthusiastâ€™s dream for action and adventure. Peoria is also fast-growing and ideally located in the northwest Greater Phoenix region and is within minutes of TSMC, one of the worldâ€™s largest microchip manufacturing companies. Peoria is a business-friendly community with lower costs of doing business. The Mayor and city leadership promote a pro-business environment that has identified industry sectors such as semiconductors, finance, healthcare, bioscience, and innovation as high-value targets for business attraction.	value1 value2	â€¢ Long-term reductions in water use This program will result in long-term water use reductions due to decreased yearly water system flushing requirements. Peoria expects the improvements to be permanent and provide enduring benefits to water use efficiency and water quality. â€¢ Improvements in water use efficiency. This program will directly increase efficiency of Peoriaâ€™s use of our valuable water resources. In short, we will be able to provide the same level of service to our customers while using less water due to elimination of wasteful flushing activities currently required by water quality standards.	Water supply shortages	Eliminating water wasted through system flushing will reduce our overall water demand and thus decrease Peoriaâ€™s exposure to any supply shortages. Future shortages will likely be addressed through a number of small steps communities take rather than a large, single step. This project will contribute to the overall city shortage preparation efforts.	Peoriaâ€™s Drought Management Plan requires the Water Services Department to reduce water usage under a Stage 1 declaration by 5% and a Stage 2 declaration by 10%. Reducing the overall water needs through successful completion of the proposed program will help maintain compliance with these requirements. Peoria has already declared a Stage 1, and a Stage 2 could be declared as soon as mid-2023. This program will also align with the Cityâ€™s recently completed â€˜Sustainable Peoria Planâ€™, as well as the State of Arizonaâ€™s 5th Management Plan, which both set significant water conservation goals to achieve a long-term reliable water supply for our City.	Environmental impacts of this program are expected to be minimal. The costs are outlined above in this application. Program benefits include increased water quality and conservation of valuable water resource assets.	Direct measurement of the effectiveness of the conservation activity will be through water quality testing and the degree to which flushing to maintain water quality standards is eliminated. A truly successful project will result in system efficiencies such that system flushing to maintain proper levels of THM is no longer required.	This program does not meet the requirements for funding through WIFAâ€™s Long-Term Water Augmentation Fund or Water Supply Development Fund.	Grand funding will allow Peoria to increase the scope and accelerate the schedule for completing the program. Existing funding for the proposed program is spread out over many years such that the majority of the proposed projects are not in the city 10-year capital improvement program.	The proposed water conservation activity will help Peoria leverage funding available in our current Capital Improvement Program (CIP). The CIP has been heavily burdened recently by increases needed to address possible water supply shortages due to concerns related to the Colorado River.	The required matching funding for this program will be sourced entirely through funds acquired through Peoria Water Department customers. We are unaware of any other cost-sharing opportunities.	The required matching funding for this program, $777,500, will be sourced entirely through the Peoria Water Enterprise Fund (Water Rates).	Peoria has a long history of successfully completing large and complicated projects funded through WIFA loan programs. The proposed activites will be completed in a similar manner by the Peoria Water Services Department under the direction of Cape Powers, PE, Water Services Director. The department utilizes five professional engineers and two project managers, and a full complement of support staff, to successfully deliver a comprehensive capital improvement program on a yearly basis.	The Peoria Water Services Department is adequately staffed to ensure successful completion of this program. There are no concerns with regards to human or other required resources.	This project primarily involves city staff and selected contractors.	Peoria citizens broadly support water conservation and efficiency activities, especially when it comes to city operations. Comments received during the recent updating of Peoriaâ€™s sustainability plan indicate a desire for a community that is efficient with the resources available. Citizens also expressed concerns for future water shortages, and with the Colorado River in particular.	The City of Peoria Water Services Department currently executes a robust education and awareness program for issues related to water supply and conservation. This project, and the results of the associated efforts, will become part of the Peoria success story communicated to our citizens.	The Peoria Water Services Department enjoys the support of our rate payers as evidenced by approval of past rate cases. At the most recent public hearing held to raise rates, not a single citizen spoke against the proposal. The community also supports the Water Services Department through participation in our education and community involvement programs, much of which is focused on water conservation.	As part of our own â€œCity of Peoria, Sports Complex TTHM and Corrosion Mitigation Pilot Projectâ€�, we completed a project that is nearly identical to what we are currently proposing to do as part of this water conservation activity. The proposed program is an effort to extend the successes we are already experiencing to our entire water system.	The proposed activities to improve THM removal at the water reservoirs is proven technology as evidenced by our own â€œCity of Peoria, Sports Complex TTHM and Corrosion Mitigation Pilot Projectâ€�. In addition, we know of several other municipalities that remove THM in reservoirs with similar devices and installations. In short, removing THM as we are proposing is not a new technology and is used by many water supply systems throughout the country. THM removal will contribute to better water quality, which is expected to reduce required water system flushing.	The proposed activity is the result of execution of several BMPs from Schedule CER, Conservation Efforts Report from the annual ADWR report, specifically BMP 7.1 Evaluating New and Emerging Technologies and Practices (completion of the City of Peoria, Sports Complex TTHM and Corrosion Mitigation Pilot Project), and 7.4 Conducting Quantitative Analysis of Conservation Measures (our internal water audit exposed this efficiency opportunity). It is through the execution of these BMPs that we have arrived at a point where we are implementing the proposed activities.
4	Tempe City of	Nonfunctional Turf Removal at Arizona State University, hence forth referred to as ASU	Programs and projects that reduce water use Per A.R.S. 49-1332(B)(2)	Program	This application is for a Water Conservation Program that will address a portfolio of turf transition projects on the Tempe campus of Arizona State University. A total of eight sites have been mapped out for this project, covering both academic and residential areas of the campus. All of these project sites are in open areas that are accessible to the general public. The sites that have been identified for this program include (identified by adjacent campus buildings): -Palo Verde East residence hall: turf area along University Drive -Palo Verde West residence hall: turf area along University Drive -Goldwater Center for Science and Engineering: a retention basin on the north side of the building. The basin is landscaped with turf. -Sonora Center residence hall: a retention basin landscaped with turf on the north-east side of the building. -Nelson Fine Arts Center, Music Building, Farmer Education Building, and Payne Education Hall: seven smaller turf areas around and between these buildings. -Apache Boulevard Parking Structure: multiple turf areas on the west and north side of this facility. -University Center: several areas that are landscaped with turf around the University Center A, B and C buildings. This site includes substantial turf that is landscaped along a slope. As turf on a slope generally requires more irrigation water than turf on flat surfaces, transitioning this site will likely yield more than the estimated savings. -Psychology North: turf area between Psychology North and Tyler Mall. In the unlikely event that it is no longer feasible to include one of these sites in the program of turf removals, a comparable site will be identified to ensure that the overall water savings of the program will be maintained.	Tempe	USA	4	8 9 12	Sources of water supporting Tempe stem from the Salt, Gila, Verde and Colorado River watersheds.	Phoenix AMA		$3,000.00	$1,039,297.00	$4,039,297.00	16	0.000003961085308	This water conversion program is estimated to save 15.87 acre-feet per year from projects implemented in 2022-2023, which will equate to 476.1 acre-feet over thirty years. The estimated water savings is based on the number of inches of water needed for turf landscapes as compared to a landscape featuring desert-adapted plants. Factors that contribute to water needs include weather and evapotranspiration, crop coefficient and irrigation efficiency. Tempe utilizes the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association (AMWUA) Landscape Water Budget calculator to create water budgets for landscapes. This project is estimated to remove 184,650.00 square feet of nonfunctional turf from eight sites around north Tempe that are owned by ASU. This calculator was developed by turf and irrigation specialists in Arizona, with input from the University of Arizona Turfgrass Management School and CAL Poly University. Tempe and other AMWUA members have utilized the calculator to generate water budgets since 2001. The total square feet of turf removed for the proposed water conservation activity was entered into the water budget as turf and as desert-landscape. The calculator resulted in an estimated 28 gallons of water saved for each square foot of turf removed and replaced with a desert landscape at about 45.5% density and at 80% distribution uniformity. It is important to note that the water savings provided is conservative. The original irrigation system is assumed to be watering at a suitable efficiency rate for a sprinkler system (70% efficiency) and assumed to have no leaks. Actual water savings may be much higher.	The proposed conversions would be completed before the end of 2026 with permanent savings.	Tempe and ASU propose to remove 184,650.00 square feet of nonfunctional turf from eight turf areas belonging to ASU in north Tempe, saving an estimated 5,170,200 gallons of water (15.87 acre-feet) annually. Some of this nonfunctional turf is located in areas that are difficult to irrigate, such as against walls and on slopes. Most of the grass is comprised of large swaths of ornamental landscaping.	The areas being addressed by this program are served with a combination of water from the Salt River Project, the Central Arizona Project and groundwater. While conservation under this program will primarily benefit the Salt River Project system, it should be noted that conservation of normal SRP water supplies can ultimately support the accrual of water under the New Conservation Space (NCS) program at Roosevelt Lake, Gatewater supplies at Horseshoe Lake and potential conserved water from proposals to raise Bartlett Dam. Water from these programs is not tied to SRP lands and thus is able to support off-project uses that may currently rely on Central Arizona Project supplies.	The Tempe Water Services area spans 40 square miles and supports a diverse demographic of 192,687 residents who reside in the City of Tempe and Town of Guadalupe. Tempe is a unique provider in that non-residential water uses account for about half of the water used in the service area. As such, it is very important to Tempe to partner with ASU, one of our largest water users, to model water conservation best practices for other customers. ASUâ€™s 57,588 students on the Tempe campus will benefit from a campus that better reflects Arizonaâ€™s beautiful Sonoran Desert environment. This program is addressing non-functional / non-programmable turf â€“ it is not intended to take away any community spaces.	value1 value2 value3	This water conservation program will result in all three elements: a long-term reduction in water use, an improvement in water use efficiency, and an improvement in water reliability. The turf removals implemented under this program will be permanent and will result in a long-term reduction of water used by the university. Additionally, as part of the replacement landscaping work, the irrigation systems for these sites will be replaced with modern systems to enable efficient use of water for the new drought-adapted landscapes. Finally, irrigation water demand for turf jumps in the hottest months of the year â€“ driving the peak of the City of Tempeâ€™s overall municipal water system demand. By removing this turf, this program will reduce the peak demands placed on the Cityâ€™s water infrastructure and support the overall reliability of the system.	Water supply shortages	Tempe and ASU are determined to lead the way by setting an example for water savings in the region. Nonfunctional turf is a huge waste of water, and Tempe and ASU intend to set an example for the service area by eliminating water waste. Setting a strong example for efficient and effective use of water in Tempe is especially important as 20% of Tempeâ€™s land is currently reliant on imported water from the Colorado River through the Central Arizona Project and groundwater. Additionally, the land areas most dependent on imported water are also the areas that are experiencing the most growth and development. Removing non-functional turf within visible locations in the service area, sets a positive example for how Tempe water customers can maintain the quality of life they expect, while reducing unnecessary water usage. Additionally, maximizing the use of existing resources will increase Tempeâ€™s resiliency and preparedness for any water supply shortage scenario.	Tempe and ASUâ€™s proposed turf conversion water conservation activity is aligned with several water resource management plans, including the following: -The Arizona Department of Water Resources 4th Management Plan for the Phoenix Active Management Area Non-Per Capita Water Conservation Program -Tempeâ€™s Water Resources Plan -Tempeâ€™s General Plan 2040 -Tempeâ€™s Water Resources Plan and Utility Master Plan	The costs of the program include labor and supplies inclusive in the process of conversion, which includes: -Removing the turf -Converting and installing new irrigation systems -Installing decomposed granite -Installing shrubs, groundcover and plants Immediately after a conversion, the desert landscape may be warmer and drier than the turf that it replaced. Any established trees will be given extra care during the conversion process. Establishing plants in a newly xeriscaped space will also require more water during the establishment phase before they can be tapered off. This program has many environmental benefits. In addition to the intended environmental benefit of reduced water use, these projects will support biodiversity, rainwater management and mitigation of the urban heat island effect. Several factors are considered to support site biodiversity. The list of approved plants for use in these projects does not contain any plants noted as invasive by the state of Arizona nor by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Additionally, native plants are prioritized as habitats to support native bird and insect populations. Retention of rainwater on site is a key strategy for supporting long-term aquifer health. These new projects will be designed to slow and spread rainwater on the landscape to support rainwater retention. Finally, while the water-intensive nature of turf can provide some cooling, it does not provide any shade. The new drought tolerant landscaping at these sites will prioritize shade from native and desert-adapted trees to help mitigate the urban heat island effect.	The primary measurement of effectiveness will be measuring pre- and post- water consumption utilizing water meters associated with the landscapes being converted. All of the sites addressed through this program will be permanently converted to drought-tolerant landscaping, ensuring the overall effectiveness of this conservation activity. However, because poorly managed xeriscapes can use more water than necessary, each site will be regularly reviewed by the universityâ€™s grounds staff. Under the direction of an on-staff Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor, the grounds staff will inspect these sites to identify irrigation leaks and other irregularities. Data from irrigation hardware will also be reviewed to ensure that the new landscapes are not using more water than is calculated under a water budget.	No, the proposed water conservation activity is not eligible for WIFAâ€™s Long-Term Water Augmentation Fund.	Without this grant funding, this program of conservation activities is very unlikely to be implemented. For reasons outlined below, the university generally only implements turf removal projects when they are adjacent to a larger construction project. The sites identified for this program are largely stand-alone sites that would not be impacted by any such construction projects. Turf conversions are costly projects to implement and are disruptive to the local community during the construction process. Further, the resulting financial benefits are minimal due to the comparatively low cost of water. The funding from this grant is critical to turning this program of conservation activities from a proposed idea into real and tangible water savings for Central Arizona.	ASU is seeking to combine at least four budget sources to make this conservation activity successful. The budgets sources include the following: -Tempe Water Conservation Program rebate funds (Enterprise Fund) -ASU funding sources -Federal Funds through WIFA	Tempe Water Conservation, housed in the Municipal Utilities Department Water Utilities Division for the City of Tempe, and ASU, are partnering to propose this water conservation activity.	The source of the match is from the Water Conservation Program rebate funds of $40,000, and ASU $999,297. The amount totals $4,039,297. The total includes direct contractor costs for labor, materials and equipment.	The City of Tempe Water Conservation has successfully supported the conversion of over 6.5 million square feet of turf into desert landscapes through its numerous rebate and grant programs, including the Residential Landscape Conversion, Non-Residential Landscape Conversion, and the Neighborhood Grants Program. The turf conversion projects will be led by ASU staff, including: Erik Houston, Assistant Director of Grounds Services -C.L.I.A. â€“ Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor - #109487 -Certified Arborist - #WE-9677A Byron Sampson, Arizona State University Landscape Architect -Registered Landscape Architect (1987, AZ, 28449 â€“ Current) -Masters of Science of Design, ASU, 2022 -Bachelor of Landscape Architecture, Texas Tech University, 1980 -Basics of Real Estate Development, Urban Land Institute, 2008 -Smartscape, University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, 1999 Norman Yatabe, Project Manager at Arizona State University -Professional Landscape Architect (PLA), LEED AP -Bachelor of Landscape Architecture, University of Toronto, 1982	Existing staff will be utilized to manage the implementation of this conservation program. Irrigation controller technology costs are included in this proposal.	The proposed program promotes collaborative partnerships between the Tempe Water Conservation Program and ASU. Partnerships and ongoing collaboration between the two groups is very important. Water Conservation has been tasked with ensuring that water is used efficiently and effectively throughout the service area. ASU is one of Tempeâ€™s largest water users and is dedicated to sustainable management of their resources. Working together, Tempe and ASU can showcase proven water conservation techniques in high visibility public spaces. Through their partnership, Tempe and ASU hope to inspire other community members to initiate their own water conservation projects. Within ASU, the universityâ€™s facilities management staff have a collaborative partnership with several faculty from both the landscape architecture program as well as the sustainability programs. This collaborative partnership has informed grounds management practices with regard to native plants, urban heat island and biodiversity on the campus.	The sites addressed by this program have been identified by a team of ASU staff to ensure that they were appropriate choices for turf removal and transition to desert-adapted landscaping. All of the sites were determined to be non-functional turf â€“ that is, turf that does not serve the community as a gathering space or athletic field.	During the turf removal process, ASU will close down the sites for safety. However, there will be signage posted to explain the conservation activity. This program of water conservation also fits into ASUâ€™s broader sustainability outreach and engagement with the public. For example, the universityâ€™s Ecology Explorers program teaches K-12 students about urban ecology. All of the sites addressed through the program are open to the public. The universityâ€™s facilities management staff is also supportive of any collaborations that faculty may request to engage the public in the conservation activity. Tempe will arrange for a MailChimp news article and social media. Additionally, Tempe Water Conservation will work in partnership with the City Managerâ€™s Communications and Marketing Office to produce promotional material and post on social media to promote the collaboration amongst Tempe, ASU and WIFA.	There is notable community demand for this program. City of Tempe residents as well as ASU faculty, staff and students regularly advocate for removal of turf and replacement with desert-adapted landscaping to better reflect our Sonoran Desert environment. Tempe residents have demonstrated strong support for non-functional turf removal. Tempeâ€™s residents, businesses and neighborhoods have voluntarily converted more than 6.5 million square feet of turf into desert landscapes through its numerous rebate and grant programs, including the Residential Landscape Conversion, Non-Residential Landscape Conversion, and the Neighborhood Grants Program.	We are confident that completing this program of turf removals over the two-year period identified in the grant terms is very feasible. The university has implemented similar landscape conversion projects in the past and so is familiar with the resources needed to complete this type of work.	Tempe has provided a turf conversion incentive for more than twenty years with more than 6.5 million square feet of turf converted since 1992. To date, this ongoing program conserves approximately 560 acre-feet each year.	The proposed project aligns with several Best Management Practices (BMP) identified in the 4th Management Plan of the Phoenix Active Management Area, which went into effect on January 1, 2023. The project assists in promoting BMP 6.7 Landscape Conversion Rebate or Incentive Program, BMP 6.16 Installing Xeriscapes in New Landscapes Rebate or Incentive Programs, BMP 6.17 Large Landscape Conversion Program, BMP 7.1 Participation in Industry or Regional Partnerships for Water Conservation, and BMP 7.6 Analyzing a BMP for Actual Water Savings.
5	Clarkdale Town of	Clarkdale Cellular Water Meter Upgrades Program	Programs or projects to improve groundwater conservation and surface water flows.	Program	This program will continue on indefinitely following initial implementation. The cellular water meter upgrades allow Clarkdale to fully establish a water conservation program designed to assist residents in lowering their water use. The cellular meter data can be accessed by the customers but will also be evaluated daily by staff and any abnormalities in usage can be addressed immediately. Town staff will continually educate customers on how to access their information, set up leak alerts, and assist customers in evaluating data and troubleshooting water consumption issues.	Clarkdale	Yavapai	2	1	The Towns wells penetrate the Verde, Mississippian Redwall Limestone, Devonian Martin, and Cambrian Tapeats Formations.	N/A	N/A	$562,500.00	$187,500.00	$750,000.00	5	0.000006666666667	The Town estimates at least five (5) acre-feet savings per year, with greater savings in the first couple of years. Typically, there are one or two major residential leaks per year that result in 0.5 acre-feet loss or more each. Additionally, portions of Town are over 100 years old and continually have smaller losses due to minor leaks which are difficult to detect and resolve with our current meters. In December 2022 alone, software reported 140 leaks. Without cellular upgrades, it can take several months before the leak is noticed by the property owner and many man-hours and on-site visits to assist residents in identifying each leak and verifying repair. To date, staff helped residents resolve 30 of these detected leaks for just that one month. While the small number of cellular meters and leak identifications we currently have are likely not the only contributors, Clarkdaleâ€™s water usage has decreased by over 3 acre-feet for the past two months as compared to a year prior. With the cellular technology, customers will also be able view to usage data in 15-minute increments which could lead to individual conservation efforts as customers identify how much water is being used by individual components of their property, such as irrigation.	If grant funding is made available, implementation is expected to take one year. Without grant funding, implementation is expected to take 11 years or longer depending on available funding. This program will provide water conservation benefits throughout the life of the meters and software (15+ years). The Town will budget annually to create a replacement schedule, which will extend the program indefinitely.	The Cellular Water Meter Upgrades Program allows purchase and installation of upgraded water meter technology for all customers on the Town of Clarkdale water system. To date, the Town has purchased 380 replacement meters and cellular upgrades through FY 22-23 Capital Improvements and Operations and Maintenance budget totaling over $190,000. This amounts to a quarter of our customers. Approximately three quarters of the connections still require meter upgrades to fully implement the program. Our current meters are read once a month and require individual manual data retrieval by staff for hourly consumption data. The cellular meters update usage and alert information to the cloud every 15 minutes and the software integration allows customers as well as staff to view information and set leak alert criteria without a site visit. The grant will allow for purchase and installation of the additional meters.	The Townâ€™s wells penetrate the Verde, Mississippian Redwall Limestone, Devonian Martin, and Cambrian Tapeats Formations.	The Town of Clarkdale was founded in 1912 as a company smelter town by William A. Clark, for his copper mine in nearby Jerome. The mine and smelter closed in 1953. The Townâ€™s water system has approximately 2,250 connections, including portions of the Yavapai Apache Nation, a Community College and the only railway service in the Verde Valley. The current population is estimated at 4,600 and water use is approximately 485 acre-feet per year.	value1 value2 value3	1. This program will allow customers to better understand and evaluate their water use as well as identify and repair leaks that could go unnoticed for extended periods of time. These efforts will result in a long-term reduction of water use for the Town as whole. 2.This reduction will improve efficiency as a great deal of money and manpower is wasted identifing leaks. This work can be reassigned to other projects that can improve efficiency, such as using cameras to detect leaks in lines so proactive maintenance can prevent a major leak. 3.Any reduction in water use (loss) in our community increases water reliability as we are preserving our future water source and decreasing the wear on our arsenic treatment plant, which has limited capacity.	Water supply shortages Reliance on non-renewable water supplies Groundwater depletion Water quality issues	1. This program could be used to assist in enforcing water strategy restrictions during water supply shortages. 2. Decreasing water use/loss decreases our reliance on non-renewable water supplies. 3. Any water loss ultimately affects groundwater as all of our supply is from wells that draw upon groundwater. 4. Our arsenic plant has limited treatment capacity. By decreasing use, we are better able to meet the demand and ensure water quality.	This plan aligns with local plans in that it is a conservation activity and encourage the limitation of water consumption and early detection of leaks.	Initial costs of the program are related to meter replacement parts and labor. The Town will also incur a small monthly software fee for each cellular meter added to the network that will become part of our annual budget. The benefits are many, including saving of water due to identifying leaks early on; saving of water as residents can better monitor their own use; conserving staff time to respond to lead calls that can be repurposed for a beneficial use. There are no known environmental impacts other than the decreased water usage that is a positive impact.	Effectiveness can be measured easily through decreased meter leak detect warning flags, duration of leaks, monthly billed consumption, and monthly abnormal consumption alerts. With the initial units installed, we are seeing significant savings in overall water use.	The Cellular Meter Upgrade program does not increase water supplies and therefore does not qualify for either of these funding sources.	The Townâ€™s approach without grant funding is to utilize cellular technology for all new and replacement meters. The Townâ€™s budget supports replacement of 125 meters each year. Purchases to date allow replacement of meters manufactured prior to 2011, and upgrade of meters manufactured after 2018. Full implementation under the replacement program format would be complete in 2034 if funding and political support remained available . If funded, all meters in the Town would be upgraded this year, ultimately saving at least 55 acre-feet of water.	The program will be implemented using revenues from the water system as match to the Water Conservation Grant funding.	The Town retains ownership of all water meters and infrastructure and has not allowed cost-sharing with customers, though offers of this nature have been received.	Matching funds in the amount of $187,500 will be designated from the Townâ€™s water fund budget.	The Public Works Administration Manager, Virginia Smith, successfully implemented the updated meter reading software that allowed for the initial transition. To date, 84 meters have been successfully upgraded. Staff have demonstrated capacity to manage this program.	Estimated program implementation costs include funds for a contractor/labor to perform the necessary equipment installations. The current admin staff will manage the program and perform necessary software changes and public outreach.	This program creates a partnership with our customers in that we will all work together to better identify leaks in our water system.	Research and feasibility for this program began through stakeholder (customer) inquiries. Stakeholders assisted in testing various methods in achieving our goals and provided feedback regarding various technologies.	After each meter is upgraded and has been updated in the software, Town staff sends a letter to the account holder with information about the meterâ€™s capabilities and how to register to view their usage and set leak detection alerts. If grant funding becomes available, additional public outreach would be made through the Town website, social media outlets and the monthly Town newsletter and weekly E-newsletter. A public education meeting could be scheduled if inquires warranted it.	While the program has not yet been widely advertised, most community members that we have had contact with are highly supportive. The community is conscious of water conservation as reflected by current GPCD of 62, well below national, state and nearby city GPCDs.	This program has already begun and has proven results. The Town did identify and resolve some obstacles during the initial implementation of the program. Metal meter box lids do not allow for cellular transmissions and older meters require replacement rather than upgrade due to incompatible connectors. Non-metallic replacement lids were purchased with Town funding of approximately $25,000 through a FY 22-23 Capital Improvement Project. Staff identified that upgrades could be applied to meters manufactured after 2018. The estimated cost for the program allows for meter replacements for the remaining meters. The only remaining hinderance this program is expected to face are the few residents that may not desire the use of this type of technology. Education and outreach will be key to overcoming this obstacle.	This idea for this program began with a 6â€� industrial meter. Within 6 months of upgrade, the property had a leak during non-business hours that could have gone undetected through the weekend and possibly until the billing cycle ended. The customer received an alert from the meter and was able to isolate and prevent further water loss within a couple hours. Similarly, our local community college previously had a substantial leak resulting in a loss of over two million gallons due to equipment malfunction. Cellular meter upgrades were performed on this meter, which has allowed their staff to receive notifications and make necessary equipment repairs to prevent any further losses. More recently, a residential customer had a leak that lasted through several months since the leak was not detected by our billing software as abnormal consumption initially. During the course of the leak, the customer lost over 150,000 gallons of water. The upgrade was performed on their meter in the month following this event and the new meter detected a leak, alerted the customer who was able to shut off the water until repairs could be made.	This project is not related to pollution of water sources, but rather preservation of the sources so is not by definition a best management practice. However, utilization of meters that allow immediate identification of leaks should be a best practice.
6	Pima County Facilities Management	Pima County Water Conservation Initiative: Efficient Fixture Replacement Program	Programs or projects to reduce structural water overuse issues.	Program	Pima County Facility Managementâ€™s proposes the Pima County Resilient with Water Initiative to provide immediate water savings from fixture replacement project while also creating a long-term water conservation program. This program will replace antiquated fixtures and start a series of assessment initiatives aimed at long-term, comprehensive water conservation. The assessments will be completed to Energy Star Facility Energy Management standards. Assessments consist of: identifying the onsite facilities team; establishing a usage baseline; creating an action plan for fixture replacement and identifying future conservation opportunities; and beginning the process to make each County facility Energy Star certified. The immediate reduction in water consumption and energy needs will substantially impact water supplies. A longer-term goal for this program is to use the experience gained and the infrastructure set up during this project as a steppingstone for future conservation efforts. For instance, the facilities management team, once trained and equipped for this project, will prioritize and implement further initiatives in the future. An example of a future conservation opportunity could be installing efficient cooling technologies, which could significantly reduce water usage in our arid environment. Another example is rainwater harvesting systems, which can collect and store rainwater for use in irrigation, toilet flushing, and other non-potable uses. This will not only conserve potable water but also help mitigate flooding issues.	various municipalities and unincorporated areas	Pima	6 7	16 17 18 19 20 21 23	Lower Colorado River Basin Watershed	Tucson Active Management Area	n/a	$2,054,017.00	$583,153.00	$2,637,170.00	18	0.000006825498546	Toilets: Existing: 3.0 gpf New: 1.2 gpf Reduction: 3.0 gpf - 1.2 gpf = 1.8 gpf Uses per day: 4 (low average) Days per year: 365 Water savings per toilet per year: 1.8 gpf * 4 uses/day * 365 days/year = 2,628 gallons Number of toilets replaced: 1725 Total water savings for toilets: 2,628 gallons/toilet * 1725 toilets = 4,532,500 gallons/year Urinals: Existing: 1.2 gpf New: 0 gpf (waterless) Reduction: 1.2 gpf - 0 gpf = 1.2 gpf Uses per day: 4 (average) Days per year: 365 Water savings per urinal per year: 1.2 gpf * 4 uses/day * 365 days/year = 1,752 gallons Number of urinals replaced: 674 Total water savings for urinals: 1,752 gallons/urinal * 674 urinals = 1,180,848 gallons/year Total water savings in gallons: 4,532,500 gallons/year (toilets) + 1,180,848 gallons/year (urinals) = 5,713,348 gallons/year Conversion to acre-feet: 5,713,348 gallons/year / 325,851 (gallons in an acre-foot) = ~17.53 acre-feet/year	Pima County Facilities Management proposes a comprehensive program to make every county facility more water efficient while also analyzing each facility for future efficiency improvements. This includes offices, libraries, parks, and service centers - each varying in size, usage and water needs. This program will replace old, inefficient toilet and urinal fixtures with newer, water-saving models. Given the sheer volume and variety of county sites, we estimate the implementation phase to require 5500 labor hours. Each installation will include site assessments, preparation, removal of old fixtures, and necessary adjustments to existing plumbing systems to install new fixtures. Time estimates incorporate the inevitable variability in existing plumbing details across different facilities, each with unique configurations and potential challenges. We anticipate the active implementation phase of the project to span over the course of two years. Benefits of the fixture replacement will extend beyond the implementation phase. The effects of the water-saving fixtures and the accompanying conservation practices are ongoing. Once installed, these fixtures will continue conserving water for their operational lifespan, potentially up to 20 years or more. Knowledge and experience gained by our team during site assessments will enable Pima County to identify additional future water and energy-saving opportunities for the next phases of this program.	Pima County proposes to use the grant funds to undertake a multi-phase water conservation initiative that focuses on three primary components: fixture replacement, facility assessments, and training of facilities management personnel. â€¢ Fixture Replacement: The heart of our proposed activity is the large-scale replacement of older, inefficient toilets, urinals, and sinks across all county facilities with more water-efficient models. We plan to replace 2,874 toilets, 1,036 urinals, and 2,460 sinks, which are currently using up to 3.0 gallons per flush (gpf) for toilets and 1.2 gpf for urinals. The new fixtures, which comply with EPA's WaterSense standards, will significantly reduce water consumption. The proposed toilets use a maximum of 1.28 gpf, urinals are waterless, and the sinks will be equipped with low-flow faucets. Due to small government cost saving measures there is no inventory of exactly how many toilets, urinals, and sinks are in any facility or in all County facilities combined. So we created an estimate using the maximum occupancy of each facility and the Pima County guidelines for restrooms and restroom fixtures per occupancy levels. See attached Pima County Fixture Estimate Document for estimation details. â€¢ System Assessments: Simultaneously, we will perform thorough assessments of current water usage systems at each facility location. This will involve a detailed audit of each facility's water usage, identifying areas of excessive water use, potential leaks, and opportunities for further water conservation measures. As part of these assessments, we will also evaluate opportunities for implementing water-saving technologies, such as rainwater collection systems and efficient cooling technologies. â€¢ Training of Facilities Management Personnel: During both the processes of installing the new fixtures and creating Energy Star facility assessments Pima County plumbing staff will gain continuous training. Staff will receive training in new bathroom fixture maintenance schedules and regimes. This new maintenance regimen is an industry best practice for water efficient fixtures. This regimen requires more maintenance instances but is proven to overall save time and save water by catching leaks sooner and preventing more leaks from starting. The Program Manager will also work with the installation teams to improve their Energy Star facility assessments in an iterative fashion to capture the right amount of detail and more and better future conservation opportunities. This on the job training will create important career development opportunities for the installation staff since Energy Star certification status is becoming a criteria for many new facility related jobs. Since this training occurs during the course of fixture replacement and facility assessment grant activities it is not called out as a separate line item in the budget. The proposed activities will achieve considerable water savings through fixture replacement and further augment these savings through increased maintenance. We estimate that the fixture replacement alone could save approximately 3 to 5 gallons of water per use, equating to substantial water savings when extrapolated across all county facilities and daily uses. Additionally, a key facet of our project involves conducting in-depth system assessments and focused training sessions. These are designed not only to ensure successful implementation of the current initiative but also to uncover additional potential avenues for water conservation. As we work on replacing fixtures, we anticipate discovering further opportunities to reduce water consumption directly or indirectly through energy-saving measures or on-site supply implementations. This first phase will not act on the assessment results of further conservation opportunities but will propel this program into subsequent phases and continuous conservation achievements. Our holistic approach to water conservation underpins our dedication to optimizing water usage across all our facilities. This program underscores our commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainable water management practices. Through this initiative, we aim to preserve Pima Countyâ€™s status as a leader in water resources conservation and contribute towards a sustainable future for Pima County in anticipation of decreases in Colorado River allotments.	The primary source of water that our proposed water conservation activity aims to conserve is groundwater supplied by the Tucson Water utility. Tucson Water serves the majority of Pima County, including County facilities. This groundwater is replenished in part by Colorado River water delivered through the Central Arizona Project (CAP). The CAP is a 336-mile-long system of aqueducts, tunnels, pumping plants, and pipelines that brings water from the Colorado River to Central and Southern Arizona. This water is used to recharge the region's aquifers, supplementing the groundwater supply. By implementing water conservation measures in our facilities, we are effectively reducing the demand on local groundwater resources, which in turn reduces the reliance on CAP water to replenish it. While exact details are yet to be determined, all participating jurisdictions in the West are expected to have their Colorado River water allotments cut due to long-term drought and climate change. Reduced Colorado River water delivered through CAP will increase stresses on local groundwater resources. This will require more water efficiency to maintain sustainability of current water resources. The Pima County Resilient with Water Initiative plans to get ahead of impending water allotment reductions.	Pima County is located in the south-central region of Arizona and is home to over one million residents, making it the second most populous county in the state. The county covers a large and diverse geographical area, stretching from the Mexico border in the south to the outskirts of Phoenix in the north. The county's largest city, Tucson, is a vibrant urban center with a population of around 550,000. However, the majority of Pima Countyâ€™s geographical area is rural. The demographics of Pima County are diverse, with a mix of ethnicities and cultures. The U.S. Census Bureau reports that as of 2021, the county was approximately 55% non-Hispanic white, 35% Hispanic or Latino, 4% African American, and 3% Native American, with the remainder being of other or mixed races. The economy of Pima County is broad-based and diverse, with principal economic activities spanning government, education, healthcare, tourism, and manufacturing. Pima County residents require about 83 gallons of water per capital daily, which is considered low consumption but is still ripe for reduction considering the current strains on local groundwater and Colorado River water. Pima County spent $3.829 Million purchasing water over the last year. By conserving water, we support the sustainability of these economic activities by ensuring the ongoing availability of this vital resource. Regardless of whether water used in cooling systems at the University of Arizona, water is served to patrons at local restaurants, or water is used to maintain the beautiful landscapes that attract tourists, every drop counts. Our proposed water conservation activities will ensure that our community can continue to thrive economically while protecting our precious water resources for future generations.	value1 value2 value3	Our proposed water conservation activity is designed to achieve all three of these objectives: long-term reductions in water use, improvements in water use efficiency, and enhancements in water reliability. â€¢ By replacing outdated, high water usage fixtures with water-efficient models, we will significantly reduce our daily water consumption. For example, replacing a traditional 3.0 gallons per flush (gpf) toilet with a 1.28 gpf model can save up to 1.72 gallons of water per flush. Multiply that by the estimated average daily uses per fixture, and the savings quickly become substantial. Over time, these savings compound, leading to a significant long-term reduction in water use. â€¢ The fixtures we plan to install are not only designed to use less water but to use it more efficiently. For example, modern toilets and urinals are designed to maximize the cleaning power of the water they use, meaning they can achieve the same or better results with less water. Similarly, water-efficient sinks can deliver a comfortable, effective flow of water for handwashing while using significantly less water than traditional models. This is a clear example of improving water use efficiency. â€¢ By reducing our demand for water, we decrease the strain on our water supply, making it more reliable, especially during long-term droughts, heat waves which might affect power grids, or other disasters which could cause water shortages. Furthermore, by reducing our reliance on mainstem Colorado River water and the Central Arizona Project, we increase our resilience to potential disruptions in those supplies. Additionally, the types of expected upgrades such as cooling system improvements which will be implemented in subsequent phases due to assessments in this phase will further enhance our water reliability by diversifying our water sources and protecting our water infrastructure from damage.	Water supply shortages Reliance on non-renewable water supplies Groundwater depletion Water quality issues Natural disasters that may impact water supply infrastructure	â€¢ Water supply shortages: By substantially reducing water consumption through the installation of water-efficient fixtures, we will alleviate pressures on our water supply and mitigate potential water shortages. The water we save with each toilet flush, urinal use, or faucet operation allows the same amount of water supply to serve a larger population or last longer in times of drought. In a desert environment like ours, where water scarcity is a known issue, this direct reduction in water use can play a pivotal role in preventing shortages. A good example of this are casinos in Las Vegas which have implemented significant water saving projects and touted their results publicly. â€¢ Reliance on non-renewable water supplies: Our initiative actively seeks to reduce our reliance on non-renewable water supplies, particularly water drawn from the Colorado River via the Central Arizona Project. By lowering our overall water demand, we decrease the necessity for these supplies, thus contributing to their conservation for future generations. We also expect that site assessments will lead to future opportunities such as rainwater collection systems. This renewable source of water could further decrease our reliance on non-renewable supplies, promoting a more sustainable system of conservation instead of individual conservation activities. â€¢ Groundwater depletion: Reducing our overall water consumption also eases the demand on local groundwater resources. This is particularly vital in our region, where groundwater supplies are under significant pressure. Impending water allotment decreases from Colorado River water will further strain current groundwater resources. Lowering our demand on this critical resource will contribute to its long-term sustainability, help prevent further depletion, and allow natural processes to replenish these aquifers over time. â€¢ Water quality issues: While our proposed activities don't directly address water quality issues, they indirectly contribute to maintaining water quality. Overstressed water systems can lead to a variety of water quality issues, including increased concentration of pollutants and inadequate treatment. By reducing the strain on our water systems through our conservation efforts, we help to maintain the high quality of our water. â€¢ Natural disasters and water supply infrastructure: Our project enhances the resilience of our water supply infrastructure in the face of potential natural disasters. By lessening the demand on our water systems, we decrease the likelihood of system failures during events like floods, extreme droughts, or power brown/black outs caused by severe heat waves. Moreover, the proposed fixture upgrades and plumbing modifications will be carried out with the latest standards and best practices in mind, thereby ensuring our infrastructure is robust and capable of withstanding severe conditions.	The proposed Pima County Resilient with Water Initiative directly aligns with the mission and objectives of the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority (WIFA) of Arizona. Both our short-term objectives and longer-term goals show our commitment to improving water quality, conserving water, and ensuring the reliable access to safe drinking water for our community. We seek to achieve this through a holistic, multidisciplinary approach, leveraging input and consultation from other county departments. The Pima County Office of Sustainability has been a longstanding advocate for environmental stewardship and the sustainable use of resources. Our project complements their mission by prospecting significant reductions in water usage in county facilities, thereby contributing to a more sustainable and resource-efficient community. Similarly, the Pima County Regional Flood Control District's directive to safeguard our community from the effects of flood damage align well with our project. By enacting a water conservation program and completing Energy Star facility assessments we are indirectly contributing to efforts to manage and reduce flood risks by including this risk management in facility assessments. This program also aligns with the objectives of the Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department (RWRD) and the Pima Association of Governments. The Pima County Resilient with Water Initiative supports RWRD's efforts to protect public health and the environment by providing effective wastewater management and the Pima Association of Governments' goal to develop a regional plan to address water quality. In addition to aligning with these local and regional plans, this program also aligns with the goals of the granting organization, WIFA. This program strives to address the critical issues that WIFA seeks to mitigate, including water conservation and the improvement of water infrastructure. Through the implementation of this project, we aim to make indirectly enhance the quality of life in Southern Arizona, maintaining and improving water quality, and conserving water to invest in our state's future.	The water conservation activity we propose has both direct and indirect costs and benefits, along with substantial positive environmental impacts. Costs: The primary cost for this program is the large upfront cost of purchasing and installing new bathroom fixtures. There will also be ongoing maintenance costs for the new fixtures. However, maintenance costs would exist regardless of whether we maintain new or old fixtures; and the maintenance costs should be partially offset by wasting less water in leaks. Benefits: This program has many benefits. We anticipate significant reduction in water usage, translating into cost savings on water bills for Pima County. This is not only beneficial from a financial standpoint but also aligns with the broader objectives of water conservation and sustainable resource management. Improved water efficiency can lead to energy savings, as less energy is needed to pump, heat, and treat water. These energy savings also result in lower greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to the broader goal of climate change mitigation. Standardized site assessments will identify more water and energy conservation opportunities to create a program of continuous improvement. It will help foster a culture of sustainability within the County's operations, serving as a model for other departments. It will also provide an opportunity for public outreach and education about water conservation, promoting community engagement and participation. The environmental impacts of this project are overwhelmingly positive. Water conservation reduces the pressure on local water sources, contributing to the sustainability of the region's water supply. This is particularly crucial for Pima County, which is located in an arid region with limited water resources. The continuous improvement from near term conservation and long-term improvements will create positive compounding effect on environmental resources in Southern Arizona. By reducing the demand for water the Pima County Resilient with Water Initiative will indirectly support the health of local ecosystems which rely on the same water sources. This is beneficial for biodiversity and overall ecological health Moreover, the energy savings from reduced water pumping, heating, and treatment contribute to lower carbon emissions. This is a significant environmental benefit given the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the impacts of climate change. While there are significant upfront costs for this program, the financial, environmental, and societal benefits far outweigh them.	â€¢ Utility Bill Tracking: Continue using the EnergyCAP program to track all utility bills. Facilities Management currently tracks utility usage for every facility and each metered system like a streetlight. Tracking this level of detail will allow the program manager to measure large and small changes from the initial bathroom fixture replacement to future to-be-identified conservation implementations to show accurate conservation results. This will help Pima County monitor changes in energy consumption and costs over time. This will also become a tool for presenting future conservation opportunities to Pima County leadership for implementation. â€¢ Water Consumption Tracking: Monitor changes in water consumption at sites through billings. Keep track of any significant changes or reductions in water usage, which may be attributed to conservation activities implemented. â€¢ Facility Data Collection: Continue collecting monthly data on consumption at Pima County facilities. By comparing consumption data before and after implementing conservation measures, you can quantify the impact of your efforts and identify any areas of improvement. â€¢ On-Site Feedback: Encourage staff members to provide qualitative feedback regarding the conservation program. This can include reporting any issues, suggesting improvements, or sharing their satisfaction with the program. This feedback can serve as valuable insight into the effectiveness of the conservation activities and help identify areas for further optimization. â€¢ Employee Satisfaction Measurement: Implement surveys and other feedback mechanisms to measure employee satisfaction with the conservation program. This can qualitatively measure engagement and satisfaction levels, providing insights into the overall effectiveness and reception of the initiative. Higher employee satisfaction is often indicative of successful conservation efforts. Remember, engagement can also be measured through various metrics, such as employee participation in site assessments, creating request lists for new fixtures to show demand, and adoption of sustainable behaviors. Measuring participation in using new fixtures through partial building fixture installations is unnecessary since this has been done many times in multiple professional settings with consistent results that show employees preferentially use new more efficient fixtures. A close proxy to measure participation is to allow personnel to request priority status on their replacements, helping to guide installations so that the most motivated users -- likely the most concerned users â€” often get new fixtures first.	Our water conservation initiative, while robust and impactful, primarily targets demand-side measures to alleviate supply pressures. The nature of our project makes it more suitable for funding through WIFAâ€™s Water Conservation Grant Fund, rather than the Long-Term Water Augmentation Fund or Water Supply Development Fund. The Long-Term Water Augmentation Fund (LTWAF) is designed to finance water supply development projects that directly increase water supplies for the state of Arizona. While we recognize the importance of augmenting water supply, our initiative is more concerned with maximizing the efficiency of current water use, reducing overall demand, and enhancing the longevity of our existing water resources. Our approach is more in line with the ethos of demand management as opposed to supply augmentation. Similarly, while the Water Supply Development Fund also plays a crucial role in securing Arizona's water future, it tends to emphasize projects that establish or expand water supplies. Our project, on the other hand, focuses on the judicious use of existing water supplies by mitigating wasteful practices and implementing efficient plumbing fixtures. Therefore, while the goals of the LTWAF and Water Supply Development Fund are commendable and necessary for Arizona's water future, the specific nature of our water conservation activity â€“ which focuses on demand reduction rather than supply increase â€“ makes funding from those funds impractical for our project. Instead, we firmly believe that our project aligns seamlessly with the objectives of the Water Conservation Grant Fund, which prioritizes the reduction of water use and the improvement of water use efficiency.	While Pima County is deeply committed to water conservation and has made significant strides in environmental sustainability, the scale of the proposed Pima County Resilient with Water Initiative would be significantly constrained without this grant funding. The high upfront cost of replacing existing plumbing fixtures across such an extensive county network is substantial. Without grant funding, we would be limited to replacing fixtures on a much smaller scale, most likely prioritizing only those in dire need of replacement. This will significantly slow the pace of water conservation and reduce the overall impact of this program, and reducing or obscuring the overall conservation benefit of the program and possibly negatively affecting Pima County leadership buy in of next steps. Crucial in allowing us to implement a comprehensive approach, funding includes not only fixture replacement, but also a shift in maintenance protocols and a commitment to water conservation programming across our sites, and the ability to take time and focus on these issues while developing new solutions and installing new fixtures. Changing maintenance routines to more frequently, but less rigorous activities is a well-established best practice which has been shown to both save maintenance labor and water. Without the grant, we would likely be able to address only one aspect of this multifaceted approach. This limited piecemeal approach would likely yield limited positive results which could dissuade leadership from undertaking the remaining short and longer-term activities in this program. Funding provides us with the ability to leverage additional funds for water conservation. The commitment from WIFA would send a strong signal to other potential funding sources, such as the Department of Energy's Energy Efficiency Block Grant and other local, state, or federal programs, that our project is viable and worthy of investment. Without the grant, securing additional funding would be significantly more difficult. While we would continue to pursue water conservation efforts to the best of our ability without this grant, the scope, speed, and overall impact of our efforts would be considerably diminished. The grant funding is therefore not just beneficial, but crucial for the full and effective implementation of our proposed water conservation activity.	The Pima County Resilient with Water Initiative we propose is designed to leverage a diverse range of funding sources. This approach will create multiple opportunities for follow-on funding which will propel next steps such as implementing the additional conservation opportunities identified and scoped out during facility assessments under Water Conservation Grant Fund funding. This injection of funds will fuel our initial drive to replace outdated fixtures across Pima County facilities and begin the Energy Start certification process which will create a process for continuous conservation improvements across Pima County. Pima County is currently planning for future applications to the FEMA Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program. The water conservation measures proposed here align with BRIC's emphasis on infrastructure projects that increase a community's resilience to disasters. Our plan is to begin this program through fixture replacement and identification of future opportunities. Then, we will apply for BRIC funding to realize the next phases of this program we identify under the Water Conservation Grant Fund. We also plan to apply for the Department of Energy's Energy Efficiency Block Grant, a resource that can help us extend our conservation work into energy efficiency areas which directly impact water usage. By updating our cooling systems to more water-efficient models, we can achieve further reductions in water usage, thus optimizing the value of the grant. We are also committed to exploring other state and federal funding opportunities that match our water conservation goals. This includes initiatives related to water reclamation, rainwater collection systems, and flood protection measures. Each of these facet's dovetails with our fixture replacement program, deepening the impact of our overall water conservation initiative. Moreover, we see potential in public-private partnerships as a viable funding option. The results-driven nature of our water conservation project, buoyed by the commitment of WIFA, presents an appealing opportunity for private entities with a focus on environmental sustainability. Partnerships with Energy Service Companies like Ameresco and McKinstry, two multi-billion-dollar contractors, which work with Pima county to further its energy goals, provide services, and long-term financing solutions. Pima County and these ESCOS use established master agreements and contracts to supply clean energy and technical and commissioning services for our facilities. These companies and others like them are competitive, massive, forward-thinking entities that seek to leverage their tax savings with public projects that meet their corporate stewardship values. In synthesizing these diverse funding sources, we not only secure the financial means to execute our water conservation activities, but also foster a collaborative approach among various stakeholders. Our plan is that this dynamic, multi-phased funding strategy will ensure that our conservation efforts remain both effective and sustainable.	Our project, as currently designed, does not directly involve cost-sharing opportunities with other applicants or parties. This initiative is a county-specific effort, driven by Pima County's Facilities Management department's mission to enhance water conservation within our own operations. While we always remain open to potential partnerships and collaborative efforts that could further enhance water conservation, at this time, we don't foresee the implementation of this project involving cost-sharing arrangements. However, we are actively pursuing multiple funding sources to maximize the project's reach and impact. Our focus remains on ensuring that the benefits of this project â€“ reduced water use, cost savings, and environmental sustainability â€“ are fully realized for the people of Pima County.	Pima Countyâ€™s match commitment comes from the labor and associated fringe benefits to install new water conserving bathroom fixtures in all 360 County facilities. Our matching commitment comes from direct services to the grant, not in-kind contributions. Pima County meets its minimum match commitment ($513,504) by contributing $425,659 in fixture installation labor and $157,494 in associated fringe benefits, for a total of $583,153.	Pima County's Facilities Management department has extensive experience managing large-scale capital improvement projects across Pima County, including complex infrastructure upgrades and installations. Facilities is managing the Teatro Carmen restoration project which is a five-million-dollar project to restore a historic theater to become a cultural destination. The department completed a $220,000 EPA grant to construct a monitoring site for air quality data collection. The department also operates the January 8â€™th Memorial (Representative Gabby Giffords shooting) which combines sculpture, art, and gardens and was funded by grants, donations, and Pima County general funds. The Pima County Resilient with Water Initiative is led by Energy Program Manager Eric Wilson. Wilson has both a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and a Bachelor of Arts in Energy Policy and Management. Prior to joining Pima County, Wilson accumulated three years of experience managing solar construction projects, further deepening his understanding of sustainability and resource management. The program team will also include experienced plumbing personnel from the Facilities Management department, all of whom possess a broad range of skills, knowledge, and certifications in facilities operations and maintenance, project management, and environmental best practices. The Grants Management and Innovation Department within Pima County will support the award management activities, including developing subaward agreements, convening monthly implementation status meetings, and submitting financial reports. The Grants Management and Innovation Finance Division evaluates and processes all financial transactions including accounting entries, cash flow reporting, and expense monitoring, reimbursement requests, fiscal records, and audit assistance. The Finance Division also coordinates the Countyâ€™s annual Single Audit process with the Arizona Office of the Auditor General. Pima County government reported a total of $138 million in federal awards in Fiscal Year 2021, had no audit findings, and was determined to be a low-risk auditee. Pima County uses CGI Advantage to track and manage all financial and budget activities.	Updating toilets and urinals and evaluating associated facilities for future conservation opportunities will require significant management responsibilities, which is why a .75FTE Program Manager has been selected for this project. This water conservation project will not only involve the identification of locations and installation of water-efficient fixtures, coordination between procuring the new fixtures and the Pima County Facilities Management plumbing team, but also training staff to complete comprehensive facilities assessment, and compiling data and preparing reports to multiple internal and external partners. On each site visit for fixture replacement our team members will also perform a comprehensive site assessment. At each fixture replacement location project staff will identify and evaluate opportunities for further water savings, whether by improving existing systems, implementing new water-saving measures, or promoting water conserving best practices for County employees tailored for their specific workplace. Additionally, program staff will engage with facility employees to provide education about water conservation and elicit feedback to foster a culture of sustainability within the county's operations. This approach works toward continual water conservation improvements. This approach also tasks the Program Manager with conducting cost benefit analyses to measure and prioritize future conservation opportunities. This is not a burden on project capacity, but a feature which will further strengthen Pima Countyâ€™s commitment to environmental stewardship. Water availability and use changes are coming for all jurisdictions in Arizona. While the exact reduction proportions and amounts have not been determined yet, Pima County leadership intends to stay at the forefront of water efficiency through this program.	This water conservation project is designed to benefit from existing water partnerships. Collaboration with Tucson Water and other local water related organizations is one of the cornerstones of this initiative. As we adopt water-saving fixtures across county facilities, we reinforce Tucson Water's mission of efficient water use and resource management. Tucson Water and Pima County meet regularly to coordinate water projects, solve local problems, and transfer best practices. Tucson Water will be part of a team of external partners which will participate in periodic status meetings for the Pima County Resilient with Water Initiative on which it will continue with its coordinating and advisory role. The project's alignment with different Pima County departments further underscores its collaborative essence. For instance, the water conservation goals for this program come from guidance and consultation with the Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department (RWRD). As we decrease water demand, we indirectly assist RWRD in managing and treating wastewater efficiently. The proposed conservation activity also has a strong public-facing aspect. Most Pima County facilities are open to the public. The public will use the restrooms in these facilities and see the fixture company provided stickers or Tucson Water provided QR codes which attest to the new fixture performance. We believe that this exposure to more efficient fixture performance will inspire the public to enact similar changes in their businesses and homes. The project, therefore, represents an important opportunity to build and strengthen collaborative partnerships. Through these partnerships, we can work together to create a more sustainable and water-conscious community in Pima County.	The Pima County Water Conservation Action Group has been instrumental in shaping our plan. The Pima County Water Conservation Action Group consists of water utilities, academic partners, and municipal governments including the University of Arizona Water Research Center, City of Tucson, Metro Water District, Arizona State University Management Center for Water Policy, Central Arizona Project (CAP), Arizona Department of Water Resources, Bureau of Reclamation, Tohono Oâ€™Odham Nation, and other partners. This working group provided invaluable feedback and guidance to plan this program. Their consensus on the necessity and effectiveness of fixture replacements was a key factor in Pima County prioritizing this replacement project as we begin the longer process of Energy Star certification and associated site assessments. The Pima County Resilient with Water Initiative continues to include stakeholders by engaging facility managers and personnel at county buildings. These individuals are the direct users and beneficiaries of the new fixtures. Their insights on practical usage and potential issues are crucial for successful implementation. Regular site visits by our team will facilitate ongoing dialogue with these stakeholders, allowing us to tailor solutions as necessary. In addition, we will also be involving the broader public as stakeholders in this project. Pima County conducted electronic vehicle station surveys at County libraries to gain pinpoint feedback which is helping the County set up strategically placed charging stations. This program will use similar surveys as well as informational placards from the water efficient fixture manufacturers to educate, inform, and elicit opinions from the public which will inform future conservation opportunity prioritization and implementation.	Yes, public outreach and education are integral parts of our water conservation project. As a county government, it's our responsibility not just to implement conservation measures, but also to engage with our community and spread awareness about the importance of water conservation. The visible nature of the fixture replacements in public buildings serves as a powerful, tangible demonstration of water conservation in action. Informational placards will be attached to the walls adjacent to each new fixture. This informational signage about the water savings associated with these fixtures will educate individuals on how they can adapt industrial conservation projects to their private homes or businesses to achieve water savings.	There is significant community and sector support for the proposed conservation activity. The project aligns with the priorities of various local and regional entities that have demonstrated their commitment to water conservation and sustainability. Our initiative is backed by the Pima County Water Conservation Action Group, which comprises key stakeholders from various sectors of the county government, water utilities, and environmental organizations. This group has been instrumental in shaping our project, endorsing the focus on fixture replacements as a clear, effective, and broadly supported strategy for water conservation. We also have support from various county departments who understand the critical nature of water conservation in our region. These departments include the Office of Sustainability and Conservation, the Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department, and the Facilities Management, all of whom have expressed their commitment to our project and its goals. The wider Pima County community has shown consistent support for water conservation efforts. Residents and businesses have a high awareness of the importance of water conservation, given our location in a water-stressed region. This awareness has translated into broad support for practical, cost-effective conservation measures like the ones we are proposing. We intend that this project will continue to lead by example and inspire businesses and individuals to make similar upgrades.	Like many organizations during the pandemic, Pima Countyâ€™s plumbing staff had a staffing shortage during 2021. However, staff levels are now approaching full and should be further invigorated by a County-wide pay initiative that offers substantial long-term job security and advancement opportunities. We plan for multiple installation teams to execute installations simultaneously. Additionally, as we learn more about the installations the Program Manager will coordinate installations to further optimize schedule and minimize bathroom closures for County employees and the public. Choosing a two-year implementation schedule instead of one year also creates room in the schedule for accommodating old plumbing configuration challenges and the day to day operational needs of facility staff. Thus, the program will be fully staffed from day one. We developed a plan with our partners from the Pima County Water Conservation Action Group to learn and optimize scheduling as we progress. We also built potential implementation changes into our schedule. We plan to include our water partners in periodic program status meetings to help speed the pace of implementing new best practices and mitigating programmatic issues as they arise.	Replacing old toilets and urinals with new water efficient fixtures is not a continuation of ongoing activities but represents a new program within Pima County's broader sustainability mission. However, our proposed strategies, technologies, and techniques have a proven track record of effectiveness published both in academia and through industry literature. The installation of high-efficiency toilets, urinals, and sinks is a well-established water conservation practice. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), replacing an old, inefficient toilet with a Water Sense-labeled model can reduce water use by 20 to 60 percent, saving around 13,000 gallons of water and $110 per year for the average family. With 7,000 employees and a large number of facilities, Pima County's water savings should be substantial. Furthermore, these high-efficiency fixtures are not experimental or untested; they have been successfully implemented in various settings, from residential homes to large public facilities, and have consistently delivered significant water savings. They also require no significant changes in user behavior, minimizing the barrier to adoption. Our project draws from these proven methods and applies them systematically across Pima County's facilities. By doing so, we anticipate substantial reductions in our water use, contributing to the region's water conservation goals and helping to ensure the sustainability of our water resources.	The proposed water conservation fixture replacement will implement established Best Management Practices (BMPs) in accordance with Energy Star guidelines, which take a holistic view of resource conservation, integrating both water and energy efficiency. Energy Star is a joint program of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy. Its mission is to help consumers, businesses, and industry save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices. Our first BMP is the replacement of outdated plumbing fixtures with high-efficiency models. These fixtures, complying with Energy Star standards, are designed to reduce the volume of water consumed in buildings, while also decreasing energy usage associated with water heating or cooling from electricity production and from on-site heating technologies. We will also enact Energy Star's BMP of regular maintenance and prompt repair of all plumbing fixtures. Regular maintenance prevents leaks and other issues that can lead to significant water and energy waste. Similarly, prompt repairs ensure that accidental water waste and the associated energy costs are minimized. Moreover, we are committed to Energy Star's comprehensive approach to continuous improvement and optimization by canvassing fixture replacement locations for additional water and energy-saving opportunities. This might include the optimization of HVAC systems, the implementation of energy-efficient lighting, or the adoption of advanced energy management systems, all of which indirectly contribute to water conservation by reducing the demand for water-intensive energy production. Additionally, we aim to bolster our water conservation efforts with a conscious focus on reducing electrical demand. This stems from the understanding that saving energy indirectly bolsters water supply since significant volumes of water are used in the production of electricity, particularly in thermal power plants where water is used to generate steam. By implementing these Energy Star-endorsed BMPs, we aim to significantly reduce water and energy consumption in Pima County facilities, aligning with a broader vision of environmental sustainability and resource conservation. This comprehensive approach ensures we're not just saving water, but also contributing to wider resource efficiency and sustainability goals.
7	Phoenix City of	Multifamily Water Efficiency Checkups - WERF	Education and research programs on how to reduce water consumption, increase water efficiency or increase water reuse.	Program	PROGRAM: Multifamily Water Efficiency Checkups â€“ WERF constitutes a PROGRAM because it includes both education to, and research on, water use at multifamily properties in multiple locations (municipalities) with multiple deliverables, over a period of time. MULTIPLE LOCATIONS INCLUDE: The cities of Avondale, Glendale, Goodyear, Phoenix, and Tempe; as well as Salt River Project service areas. MULTIPLE DELIVERABLES INCLUDE: performance of water efficiency checkups on 50 multifamily properties throughout the Metro-Phoenix area; education of multifamily residential sector property managers, tenants, and third party maintenance vendors on water conservation; influencing multifamily properties to implement water efficient infrastructure and practices; completion of critical research and a multifamily sector water use model; development of multifamily water use data, reports, and presentations relevant to stakeholders. OVER A PERIOD OF TIME: The program is expected to extend over a period of at least five years including one year to plan and develop contacts, two years to perform water efficiency checkups, water conservation education, and acquire data; and two years to analyze data, develop models, publish reports, and make presentations to stakeholders.	Phoenix	AZ	1 3 4 8	2 3 4 5 11 22 23 24 25 26 29	Middle Gila	Phoenix AMA		$3,000,000.00	$750,000.00	$3,750,000.00	32	0.000008533333333	The program is estimated to save between 32.20 to 198.55 acre-feet per year. Multifamily Water Savings Estimates spreadsheet is attached. INDOOR water use savings is based on a savings of 11 gpd per water efficiency checkup referenced on page 100 of the AWE-Tracking-Tool User-Guide-V4.2021.09.15.pdf. The minimum INDOOR water savings of 30.80 acre-feet per year was calculated by multiplying 11 gpd times 365 days times 25% achievement rate of the 10,000 multifamily units selected for Water Efficiency Checkups. The maximum INDOOR water savings of 170.80 acre-feet per year was calculated by multiplying 11 gpd times 365 days times 10% achievement rate of the 138,620 estimated multifamily units within the five municipalities participating in Water Efficiency Checkups over time. OUTDOOR water use savings is based on a savings of 18,250 gallons per year per 500 square feet of turf removed determined using AWE-Tracking-Tool User-Guide-V4.2021.09.15.pdf and the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association (AMWUA) Landscape Watering Calculator which considers seasonal evapotranspiration. The minimum OUTDOOR water savings of 1.40 acre-feet per year was calculated by multiplying 0.1 gpd per square foot times 500 square feet times 365 days per year equaling 18,250 gallons per year per 500 square feet of turf removed per property times 50% achievement rate of the 50 multifamily properties selected for Water Efficiency Checkups. The maximum OUTDOOR water savings of 27.75 acre-feet per year was calculated by multiplying 0.1 gpd per square foot times 500 square feet times 365 days per year equaling 18,250 gallons per year per 500 square feet of turf removed per property times 10% achievement rate of 61% of the 8,123 estimated multifamily properties having some turf within the five municipalities participating in Water Efficiency Checkups over time. The 2019 Phoenix Metropolitan Area Multi-City Water Use Study: Single-Family Residential Sector Executive Report found that at least 61% of properties have some turf; whereas, 39% of properties have no turf.	The program is expected to extend over a period of at least five years. This includes one year to plan and develop contacts, two years to perform water efficiency checkups, water conservation education, and acquire data; and two years to analyze data, develop models, publish reports, and make presentations to stakeholders. Grant funds would be expended no later than December 31, 2026.	This program consists of: 1. Developing a list of multifamily property contacts through the use of two unpaid Phoenix interns and partnering with Salt River Project (SRP) Strategic Energy Managers (SEMs) to leverage their existing relationships with multifamily property managers to obtain contacts. 2. Either Phoenix or a vendor administering grant funds would advertise for Requests for Qualifications (RFQu) to contract with 50 multifamily properties as service vendors providing their access, time and expertise to Phoenix staff during onsite water efficiency checkups. Multifamily properties would receive $300 per housing unit for their services and guidance on becoming certified as Green Business Leaders by implementing recommended water efficiency infrastructure and practices. 3. Performing water use checkups on approximately 50 multifamily properties totaling 10,000 housing units over a two-year period through the use of two Phoenix Water Resource Specialists. The purpose of the water efficiency checkups is twofold: 1.) to acquire detailed water use data on various ages, types, and sizes of multifamily properties, both On-Project and Off-Project SRP water delivery areas, within five different municipalities 2.) to educate property managers, third party maintenance vendors, and tenants about water conservation. 4. Developing map layers for each municipality and for SRP by dissolving parcels into single multifamily properties made up of multiple parcels for the purpose of associating all relevant water meters to a property and to show housing density within On-Project and Off-Project lands. Work will be performed by one part-time Phoenix and one full-time Phoenix Quantitative Analyst. 5. Merging acquired water efficiency checkup data with other sources including remote aerial landscape imagery, Maricopa County assessor data, climate data, municipal water use data, and dissolved multifamily parcel map layers. 6. Summarizing data and developing multifamily water use forecasting models to provide stakeholders (ADWR, SRP, Metro-Phoenix municipalities, and multifamily property managers) with critical information needed for water demand forecasting, drought management, conservation policy, land-use and infrastructure planning, and development decisions. Work will be performed by one Phoenix Water Planner II. 7. Delivering data, reports, and presentations to relevant stakeholders.	Source waters conserved include Colorado River water delivered through the Central Arizona Project, Verde River, Salt River, Groundwater	The cities of Phoenix, Tempe, Glendale, Avondale, and Goodyear having a combined population of 2,257,374 will be impacted by the conserved water. Phoenix including Anthem has a population of 1,631,329, a population density of 3,135 persons per square mile, and 2.71 persons per household. Demographic Median age is 34 years old. Racial makeup is White 49.7% (42.2% non-Hispanic), Black or African American: 7.8%, Native American: 2.6%, Asian: 4.1%, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander: 0.2%, Other race: 20.1%... make up its demographics. The median household income is $64, 927 and a 15% poverty rate. Phoenix principal economic activities and drivers include residential and commercial development, commercial shipping and logistics, manufacturing, technology industry, service industry, and tourism. It has a non-agricultural labor force of 1,674,800. Avondale has a population of 90,562, a population density of 1,902 persons per square mile, and 3.14 persons per household. Median age is 30 years old. Racial makeup is White (non-Hispanic) 26.5%, Hispanic 56.3%, Black or African American: 9.9%, Native American: 1.9%, Asian: 2.9%, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander: 0.4%. The median household income is $ 49,153 and a 13.8% poverty rate. Avondaleâ€™s principal economic activities and drivers include healthcare, finance-insurance-real estate, manufacturing, and information technology. It has a non-agricultural labor force of 46,429. Tempe has a population of 184,109, a population density of 4,610 persons per square mile, and 2.27 persons per household. Median age is 30 years old. Racial makeup is White (non-Hispanic) 54.0%, Hispanic 23.1%, Black or African American: 7.4%, Native American: 2.4%, Asian: 8.7%, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander: 0.4%. The median household income is $ 64,080 and a 18.2% poverty rate. Tempeâ€™s principal economic activities and drivers include residential and commercial development, commercial shipping and logistics, manufacturing, technology industry, service industry, and tourism. It has a non-agricultural labor force of 90,791. Glendale has a population of 249,630, a population density of 3,859 persons per square mile, and 2.88 persons per household. Median age is 34 years old. Racial makeup is White (non-Hispanic) 43.6%, Hispanic 40.2%, Black or African American: 7.2%, Native American: 1.8%, Asian: 4.2%, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander: 0.2%. The median household income is $ 60,499 and a 17.3% poverty rate. Glendaleâ€™s principal economic activities and drivers include retail, healthcare, construction, education, service industry, and tourism. It has a non-agricultural labor force of 116,000. Goodyear has a population of 101,744, a population density of 532 persons per square mile, and 2.84 persons per household. Median age is 39 years old. Racial makeup is White (non-Hispanic) 54.0%, Hispanic 31.1%, Black or African American: 6.0%, Native American: 1.9%, Asian: 3.7%, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander: 0.2%. The median household income is $ 91,073 and a 6.4% poverty rate. Goodyearâ€™s principal economic activities and drivers include aviation/aerospace, distribution/logistics, manufacturing, higher education, healthcare, retail/entertainment, and technology. It has a non-agricultural labor force of 59,113.	value1 value2	LONG-TERM REDUCTIONS IN WATER USE Following a multifamily water efficiency checkup which includes the installation of one showerhead, one toilet, and faucet aerator; the AWE-Tracking-Tool User-Guide-V4.2021.09.15.pdf Appendix A 21- MFR WATER USE AUDITS beginning on page 100, estimates a 5-year savings period of 11 gpd per multifamily unit with 20% decay. Over a period of 5-years with 20% per year decay, 2,500 multifamily residential units would reduce water indoor use by 33,742,060 gallons or 103.55 acre-feet. Long-term reductions in indoor water use will increase as more multifamily properties agree to water efficiency checkups including installation of one showerhead, toilet, and faucet aerator. Following turf replacement, the AWE-Tracking-Tool User-Guide-V4.2021.09.15.pdf Appendix A 33- MFR TURF REPLACEMENT, which references 14 - SFR TURF REPLACEMENT beginning on page 84, estimates a 10-year water savings period of 0.1 gpd per square foot with 0% decay. Over a period of 10-years with 0% per year decay, 25 multifamily residential properties each removing 500 square feet of turf would reduce outdoor water use by 4,562,500 gallons or 14.00 acre-feet. Long-term reductions in outdoor water use will increase as more multifamily properties remove at least 500 square-feet of turf. IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER USE EFFICIENCY Improvements in water efficiency would be achieved through replacement of indoor fixtures meeting WaterSense Indoor Efficiency Criteria. That is: _showerheads with flow rate 2.0 gpm and/or a total allowable flow rate of 2.5 gpm per shower compartment from all showerheads flowing at any given time (a shower compartment as an area no larger than 2,500 square inches). _toilets with 1.28 gallons per flush _faucet aerators with a flow rate 1.5 maximum and 0.8 gpm minimum at 20 psi	Water supply shortages Reliance on non-renewable water supplies Groundwater depletion	The Multifamily Water Efficiency Checkup program would address water supply shortages, and reliance on non-renewable groundwater supplies by reducing overall water demand by an estimated 32.20 to 198.55 acre-feet per year. Avondaleâ€™s water demand is met with approximately 70 percent surface water from the Colorado, Salt and Verde Rivers and roughly 30 percent are met with reclaimed water. Glendaleâ€™s water portfolio consists of 77 percent SRP and CAP surface water, 7 percent groundwater, and 6 percent reclaimed water. Goodyearâ€™s water supply portfolio consists of roughly 82percent CAP water and percent reclaimed water. Phoenixâ€™s water portfolio consists of 90 percent surface water from the Colorado, Salt and Verde Rivers, 8 percent is reclaimed water, and 2 percent is met with groundwater. Tempeâ€™s water portfolio consists of 93 percent surface water SRP, CAP and other surface water; and 7 percent groundwater.	The program aligns with implementation of long-term efficiency improvements set out in each Cityâ€™s water resource plan, water master plan, and/or drought management plan. Implementation of long-term efficiency improvements, which the program includes, also aligns with ADWRâ€™s Fifth Management Plan to conserve and manage groundwater resources in the Phoenix AMA.	The benefits of the Multifamily Water Efficiency Checkup program are reduction of water used, therefore reducing the depletion of surface and groundwater sources in the southwest; education of multifamily residential sector property managers, tenants, and third party maintenance vendors on water conservation; influencing multifamily properties to install and implement water efficient infrastructure and practices; completion of critical research and a multifamily sector water use model; development of multifamily water use data, reports, and presentations relevant to stakeholders. The costs of the program consist of staff time to administer the program, vendor procurement, perform efficiency checkups, develop GIS layers, analyze data, develop a multifamily water use forecasting model, present findings to stakeholders and vehicle usage.	The effectiveness of the program will be measured using a Multifamily Property Database. Metrics will include completion of a water efficiency checkup date, fixture upgrades, turf removal, historic and baseline water usage for the property, historic and baseline water usage per unit, and monthly water usage metrics over the period of the program. Additionally, the education aspect can be measured by repeated annual short surveys of each multifamily property manager and third party maintenance provider that was initially educated. A side benefit of the repeated annual short survey is continued water conservation education. The effectiveness of the multifamily research and water model cannot be directly measured; however, indirectly it can be measured through improvements to water conservation policies, drought management, infrastructure planning, and overall municipal water use.	Yes, those funds are for construction projects and water supply development projects to either would increase water supplies for the state of Arizona or aimed to help area of Arizona lacking access to sufficient supplies. The Multifamily Water Efficiency Checkup program is not a water supply development or construction project.	The Multifamily Water Efficiency Checkup program would partially be implemented without grant funding, but it would be, and has been difficult: Phoenix has attempted to do in-depth water use research on the multifamily sector recently and in 2014. Due to staffing constraints and the difficulty obtaining agreement from multifamily properties to participate in water efficiency checkups, research and the detailed data acquisition has not progressed. The grant funding would enable Phoenix to more readily obtain agreement to participate by contracting with properties as service vendors to provide access, time, and expertise by way of detailed water efficiency checkups.	ADWR and Phoenix currently have a Intergovernmental Agreement providing Groundwater Advisory Council (GUAC) grant funds totaling $139,000 for multifamily water use research. No other funding source will be sought.	Yes, Phoenix and the other participating municipalities have a variety of water fixture and turf removal rebates available for which multifamily properties are eligible and will be encouraged to apply.	Phoenix Water Services Department will be the source of any matching funds, in the amount of at least 25% or more of the match requirement. The in-kind match amount will be between $758,521 or $858,521, depending on whether Phoenix administers, or a vendor is procured to administer the grant funds.	The Water Economics, Rates, and Forecasting (WERF) team is comprised of one Principal Planner, one Water Planner II, and one Water Quantitative Analyst. One Water Research Manager and two part-time GIS Technicians will be starting in the Fall of 2023. Additionally, two unpaid interns will be working on the program and WERF will leverage the use of two Water Resource Specialists (WRS) from the Water Planning Divisionâ€™s Water Conservation team for the program. Principal Planner, Krystal Drysdale will provide program oversight Planner II, Marji Dukowitz will be primary point person and program manager Quantitative Analyst, Darin Lisonbee will provide GIS mapping support SRP Strategic Energy Managers will leverage existing relationships with property managers to obtain contacts 2 unpaid interns will perform phone/media survey 2-3 WRS staff from Water Planning Division will assist WERF by performing onsite water efficiency checkups	There will be no significant management impacts; however, the WERF team anticipates â€œhiringâ€� two additional unpaid interns to assist with program. Significant time has already been spent and continues to be spent obtaining enough RAM and server space to process water demand queries and models using the big data software JMP. No other impacts are anticipated.	Yes. The cities of Avondale, Glendale, Goodyear, Phoenix, Tempe and the utility, Salt River Project (SRP) will be collaborating on this program.	ADWR is supporting the conservation activity with $139,00 in grant funds and will benefit from the outputs of the activity through water conservation policy planning and water use forecasting. SRP Strategic Energy Managers are involved by developing and performing short surveys on already existing multifamily property managers and third-party service providers. SRP also requested specific metrics related to multifamily residential land use density. SRP and the municipalities benefit from the activity outputs through water conservation policy planning, infrastructure planning, and water use forecasting. The municipalities of Avondale, Glendale, Goodyear, and Tempe are involved by providing historic water use data and development data and requested specific metrics related to water use by age of multifamily properties, number of housing units and water use per unit. The city of Phoenix is involved by administering the program, performing the water efficiency checkups, developing the GIS maps, analyzing the data, developing the MF water use model, writing reports, and presenting findings.	Yes: Public outreach opportunities will include an Executive Report, a Fact Sheet, a Report, and a PowerPoint presentation to the GUAC committee delivered at ADWR. Electronic documents will available upon request from the City of Phoenix and ADWR.	In the Phoenix City Councilâ€™s 2019 Water Conservation Ad Hoc Committee final report, certain opportunities were identified through community engagement and deliberation. Installation of water efficient fixtures such as toilets, showerheads, etc. have broad support from the community and are anticipated to have broad use amongst residents who have expressed interest. Additionally, there is a â€œpotential efficiencyâ€� in outdoor water use on residential properties, or a noted â€œinefficiencyâ€�. This presents an opportunity, and it will be the focus of the proposed program here. A proposed subcommittee goal: â€œexamine opportunities to assist property owners in improving efficiencies in landscaping/outdoor water use through voluntary programs.â€� Specifically, the Committee identified â€œauditsâ€� as a potential water savings opportunity.	The city is confident that is has ample staff and resources available for the program; the city anticipates relative ease in operating the program. Completion will depend on multifamily properties participation in the water efficiency checkups to enable staff to gather critical water use data, and in turf removal and fixture upgrades to realize projected water savings.	This conservation activity is a new activity for Metro-Phoenix municipalities; however, other municipalities and other multifamily property owners have implemented multifamily water conservation directed activities and realized both water and energy savings, and therefore revenue savings. Furthermore, the following webpage on U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUDâ€™s) site provides several references specific to multifamily water conservation actions and best management practices: https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/public_indian_housing/programs/ph/phecc/resources/watercons Specifically, City of Portland (Oregon), published a manual which focuses on helping multifamily facilities save water and money. It is primarily directed toward property managers and maintenance staff and discusses many of the water uses found in larger multifamily complexes.	Yes, the conservation activity will implement several established Best Management Practices outlined by ADWR in the Fourth Management Plan: Specifically, Category 1- Public Awareness/Public Relations, Category 2- Conservation Education and Training, Category 3- Outreach Activities.
8	Glendale City of Transportation Dept	City of Glendale Right Of Way Xeriscape Landscape Program	Programs and projects that reduce water use Per A.R.S. 49-1332(B)(2)	Program	The City of Glendale, Right of Way Xeriscape Landscape Program is a general water conservation program, since the water efficiency usage will be distributed citywide via the conversion of right of ways to xeriscape landscape and smart irrigation technology which will perpetually reduce the cityâ€™s water consumption. The water efficiency usage will be through two components that make-up the program: 1) conversion of right of ways to xeriscape landscape, and 2) smart irrigation technology. These components will perpetually reduce the cityâ€™s water consumption and, if awarded, this grant will help maintain long-term sustainable xeriscape landscape infrastructure that will help meet Glendaleâ€™s water conservation goals and improve aesthetic appeal for residents. It is anticipated that approximately 55.65 AF or 30% reduction in irrigation needs will be accomplished through implementation of this program.	City of Glendale	Maricopa	3 8 9	22 24 25 26 27 29	Middle Gila	Phoenix Active Managment Area		$3,000,000.00	$3,259,290.00	$6,259,290.00	56	0.000008946701623	Xeriscaping (drought tolerant trees & shrubs) = 37AF; Water Harvesting Features = 6AF; Smart Irrigation Systems = 3AF; Install More Decorative Rock = --AF; Natural Turf Removal = 10AF; EX. Natural Grass water usage â€“ Per 1000 SF = 35,000 Gal/Yr Xeriscape water usage â€“ Per 1000 SF = 15,000 Gal/Yr Water savings of natural grass to xeriscape conversion (USGS) â€“ 50%-75% The City of Glendale currently has 158,400 SF of natural grass medians. Sample calc. in water savings for natural grass conversion: 158.4 x 20,000 = 3,168,000 Gal/Yr = 9.72 AF	The conservation activityâ€™s duration is perpetual. Funding will pay for half of the Cityâ€™s efforts in planting drought tolerant plant material that, in conjunction with water harvesting features and smart irrigation, reduce the water usage in the program area by approximately 55.65 AF per year, which is a 30% reduction in irrigation water use. In addition, the program will install decorative rock for dust control purposes. No water savings are attributed to this component due to smart irrigation watering plant material before sunrise/after sunset. However, there will be some reduction in evaporation that cannot be quantified. The program with this funding will be completed before December 31, 2026. However, the City is committed to funding the program in perpetuity with its own funding in order to maintain the long-term water conservation goals that is the central focus of this program and continue the stewardship efforts towards future drought conditions.	The proposed water conservation activity listed below will be funded with this grant program: Xeriscaping (drought tolerant trees & shrubs) 37.58 Acre-Feet $1,364,525 Water Harvesting Features 5.57 Acre-Feet $325,483 Smart Irrigation Systems 2.78 Acre-Feet $1,384,868 Natural Turf Removal 9.72 Acre-Feet $2,613,254 Install More Decorative Rock -- Acre-Feet $571,160 TOTAL WATER SAVINGS 55.65 Acre-Feet $6,259,290	The City of Glendale receives an allotment of water from the Salt River Project (SRP) and Central Arizona Project (CAP). This renewable surface water supply accounts for approximately 85-95% of the cityâ€™s total water supply. The Glendale Water Services Department cleans and transports an average of 13 billion gallons (41,000-acre feet) of drinking water, and over 6 billion gallons (18,400-acre feet) of wastewater per year. This includes water service delivery to over 61,000 connections and over 248,000 people within the community.	According to the U.S. Census, in 2020 the City of Glendale was the sixth largest city in Arizona with a population of 248,325. Due to continued growth in both population and land area, the city has become a hub for healthcare and entertainment with numerous national and regional firms calling the city home along with Luke Airforce Base (Luke AFB), a major U.S. training base. It is also known for hosting major national events in the Glendale Sports and Entertainment District such as the Super Bowl LVII and various college championships. The city is comprised of a diverse community impacted by the conserved water such as 40.2 percent Hispanic or Latino of any race; 7.9 percent Black or African American; and 5.6 percent Asian (U.S. Census). On average, residents in Glendale use 9,000 gallons of water and generate 6,800 gallons of wastewater per month (2021 Water Quality Report). Current Right-Of-Way maintenance and landscape activities account for about 445.2 acre-feet of water with a potential of up to 556.5 acre-feet under standard conditions.	value1 value2 value3	The proposed water conservation activity will be a model program for other municipalities to emulate and realize long-term water savings and usage along their City owned and maintained rights-of way. The proposed water conservation activity will achieve long-term reductions in water use and serve a model program for other municipalities to emulate and realize long-term water savings and usage for their jurisdiction owned and maintained rights-of-way. Additionally, under general guidance from the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association, the conservation activity will lead to improvements in water use efficiency by planting highly drought tolerant species of trees, shrubs, and cacti along its city owned and maintained rights-of-way. This, coupled with diligent usage of water harvesting features, smart irrigation systems, and the installation of decorative rock, will lead to good water use efficiency and stewardship and further balance water conservation and aesthetic appeal. Implementation of this program will free up more water that will be available for other users in the City. This will improve the overall sustainability of the City's various water sources.	Water supply shortages	The proposed activity will reduce water use throughout the Glendale owned and maintained landscaping within the right-of-way, including the areas that are primarily served with CAP water. The program is expected to result in annual water savings of 55.65 acre-feet, which will diminish the need for Colorado River water.	The Glendale City Council approved the Cityâ€™s Water Conservation Program in 1985 in response to Arizonaâ€™s 1980 Groundwater Management Act. Under the Phoenix Active Management Area Fourth Management Plan, Glendale maintains a diversity of water conservation programs, ranging from audits to a landscape rebate program to a xeriscape demonstration garden. In 1986, Glendale City Council approved a landscape rebate program to incentivize the conversion of grass to xeriscape for non-residential customers, including homeownersâ€™ associations, businesses, and schools. This proposal also aligns with the â€œ2022 City of Glendaleâ€™s Integrated Water Master Planâ€� including the following bullet points: â€¢ Continue the Landscape Rebate Program as there are potentially thousands of homes, and hundreds of multi-family units, commercial, and City facilities that could achieve water savings through voluntary turf removal. â€¢ Seek additional new funding sources, such as U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to support water efficiency incentives. â€¢ City Council also provided their support for the new landscape standards in the right-of-way in an effort to conserve water and adapt to the new drought conditions.	This proposal will result in several benefits, including water and energy conservation, pollution reduction through the elimination of irrigation runoff, dust control, and reduced maintenance costs. Additionally, xeriscape benefits the local wildlife by providing habitat (especially for pollinating insects), whereas turfgrass provides minimal habitat to species.	City staff will conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the proposed activity that includes the following: 1) statistical analysis to measure the change in water use of sites two-years before and two-years after implementation of the program, and 2) GIS map to show landscape locations. A report describing the statistical methods and results will be submitted. These results will be used to make future program modifications. Results from the proposed activity will be shared with WIFA, Arizona Municipal Water Users Association members, and the Arizona Water Associationâ€™s Conservation Committee.	No, there are no known impacts of this potential WCGF funding to other known and potential funding sources for this program.	Yes, however, not at this scale and time. The program is currently partially funded, which will be used to match the WCGF grant funding, if secured.	The City is using state gas tax funds, City General funds, and state legislature funds. Other funding sources like federal funds will also be pursued.	No, this program is 100% in the public right-of-way. While not part of this program, commercial and homeowner associations responsible for right-of-way landscape along their street frontages will also be required to follow these new standards and encouraged to retrofit their existing landscaping to the new standards.	The Fiscal Year 2024-2033 Capital Improvement Plan for the City of Glendale includes $2,757,290 in General Fund budget toward this program in kind match from the Highway User Revenue Fund; will also serve as a match to the funding being sought through this grant toward this program.	Purab Adabala, City of Glendale, Deputy Director, Transportation Javier Gurrola PE, City of Glendale, Principal Engineer, Transportation Fred Sanchez, City of Glendale, Right of Way Supervisor, Transportation Joanne Toms, City of Glendale, Environmental Program Administrator, Water Services Anne Stahley, City of Glendale, Water Conservation Specialist, Water Services Over the past ten years, Glendale has been awarded grants for a variety of water-use efficiency projects, all of which have either been completed successfully or are in the process of being completed. 2014 National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, FedEx, Bank of America: Rain Garden at the Glendale Xeriscape Demonstration Garden-The 3,500 square foot Glendale Rain Garden features rainwater harvesting basins, native Sonoran Desert plants, and an interpretive sign on the benefits of rainwater harvesting. 2014 Water Infrastructure Finance Authority: Low Impact Development (LID) Toolkit-Assess Glendaleâ€™s storm waterâ€“related engineering standards. A consultant, funded through the grant, provided Glendale with a green infrastructure LID toolkit. 2017 Central Arizona Project: Rain Garden at the Glendale Community Center North-The 5,000 square foot Glendale Rain Garden features rainwater harvesting basins, native Sonoran Desert plants, and an interpretive sign on the benefits of rainwater harvesting. 2017 Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management: Glendale Food Forest at the Glendale Xeriscape Demonstration Garden-The 3,000 square foot Desert Food Forest features rainwater harvesting basins, Sonoran Desert edible plants, and an interpretive sign on how to create a food forest. 2017 Arizona Department of Water Resources: Multi-City Single Family Residential Water Use Study-A study with the municipalities of Gilbert and Phoenix to assess water use and landscape types in single-family residential properties. 2022 U.S. Bureau of Reclamation: Landscape Irrigation Technology Incentive Project for Municipal and Non-Residential Customers-Purchase and installation of landscape irrigation technology.	The City of Glendale plans to use existing staff to cover the additional responsibilities to coordinate the proposed activity.	Yes. This proposed conservation activity will complement the Cityâ€™s existing landscaping standards: Water harvesting features are highly encouraged along with innovative smart irrigation systems; a preferred drought tolerant palette of trees and shrubs/groundcover are provided for various City projects and private developers and as published by the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association. The new right-of-way landscape standard will also be applicable to HOAâ€™s and businesses currently operating in Glendale. This should help generate additional conservation opportunities in the City.	The City of Glendale has already presented the proposed conservation activity to the Citizens Transportation Oversight Commission to receive input on the proposed program. The Commission will have continuous input throughout the life of the program. Furthermore, this program was also presented to the City Council and received unanimous support.	Yes, the proposed conservation activity will include public outreach and opportunities for the public to learn about the conservation activity. This proposed program will be introduced during the various regularly held Council District meetings detailing the plan and emphasizing the many benefits of water conservation and maintaining the aesthetic appeal. Also considered are neighborhood meetings along the street frontages and any other ad hoc Council District Meetings.	Yes, Council is supportive of this program. Also, at various public meetings, staff has received supporting comments from residents. The Citizens Transportation Oversight Commission has also stated its support of this program. See letter of support in "Additional Supporting Documents".	The City of Glendale Transportation Right-Of-Way Division has dedicated staff and enough resources to manage and uphold the contractor obligations, such as contract management, compliance, and inspections.	No, this is a new program. However, the program components are consistent with water conservation activities and other programs in general, eg. City of Glendale Drought Management Plan 2022.	Yes, the proposed conservation activity will implement an established Best Management Practice. Low water use landscaping is a requirement for municipal providers under the Arizona Department of Water Resources' 4th Management Plan. The municipal provider or individual user shall serve or use groundwater for the purpose of watering landscaping plants planted on or after January 1st, 1987 within any publicly owned right-of-way of a highway, street, road, sidewalk, curb or shoulder which is used for traveling in any ordinary mode, including pedestrian travel, only if the plants are listed in ADWR's low water use drought tolerant plant list for the Phoenix Active Mangement Area. The program is also installing smart irrigation systems which is identified as a Best Management Practice. Source: https://new.azwater.gov/sites/default/files/media/FULL%20FINAL%20PHX%204MP_1.pdf See this document in "Additional Supporting Documents" for this grant application.
9	Snowflake Town of	Replace 3,500â€™ of leaking 2â€� galvanized waterline with new 6â€� PVC waterline.	Programs or projects to improve groundwater conservation and surface water flows.	Program	This is a multi-year/phase conservation activity to replace a large section of obsolete and leaking 2â€� galvanized steel watermain with new 6â€� PVC watermain. The program will also include installation of eight (8) new fire hydrants to provide crucial life safety enhancements to this residential neighborhood.	Town of Snowflake Arizona	Navajo	2	7	Little Colorado River	N/A	N/A	$600,450.00	$200,150.00	$800,600.00	8	0.000009992505621	A conservative estimate of the 3,500 feet of waterline is leakage of 5 gallons per minute. This translates into a daily loss of 7,200 gallons per day or 2,628,000 per year which equates to an annual water loss of eight (8.06) acre feet.	It is anticipated that this conservation activity will take place over two construction years	This water conservation activity encompasses the replacement of approximately three thousand five-hundred feet (3,500â€™) of obsolete and leaking two inch (2â€�) galvanized steel waterline with new, 6â€� PVC waterline. All individual water service lines (58) will be replaced to the meter box and new meter boxes and meter sets will be installed. Because the leaks on this existing waterline and service lines have become pervasive throughout its length it is no longer practical to continue patching new leaking sections. The program also includes the installation of eight (8) new fire hydrants which will not only provide fire protection to this area but will also give staff new sources to flush and sample the water.	The Town of Snowflake sources 100% of its potable water from groundwater wells.	The Town of Snowflake Arizona is a small (Population 6,104) rural community with a rich history and strong sense of faith and community. Like many rural, blue-collar municipalities, Snowflake has limited funds available for major capital improvement projects to provide adequate, sustainable water delivery in the varied climatic conditions they experience. The Town of Snowflake lies in a broad valley in east-central Arizona at an elevation of 5,686 feet with the Mogollon Rim to its west and the White Mountains to the south. The Town is in Navajo County and although small in population, its incorporated area covers Thirty (30) square miles which is indicative of a huge potential for growth. The GPS coordinates for Snowflake are 34Â°30'23.99''N l 110Â°04'35.40"W.	value1 value2 value3	Replacing this leaking water main and connected service lines will significantly reduce water loss by replacing this chronically problematic line. The individual services were constructed at the same time as this substandard main and are continually springing leaks. Water use efficiency will be enhanced by having a properly sized water line with multiple access points. Not having to continually repair this antiquated line will reduce disruptions to service and decrease the possibility of system contamination. Water reliability will be greatly improved by removing the 2â€� line from service which acts as a bottleneck in the distribution system and often causes additional water flow issues up and downstream from its location.	Water supply shortages Reliance on non-renewable water supplies Groundwater depletion Water quality issues Natural disasters that may impact water supply infrastructure	This conservation activity supports all these items: 1. A reduction in potable water use will directly relate to a decrease in water supply shortages. 2. While this activity does not directly address reliance on non-renewable water supply by reducing the amount withdrawn from the aquifer it will enhance the existing supply 3. Withdrawing less water from the aquifer is essential to slowing groundwater depletion. 4. Installation of a new 6â€� water line will allow for abandonment of the existing obsolete and deteriorating 2â€� line. The 2â€� line with its numerous repair shutdowns and interior corrosion which can harbor iron bacteria was a water quality issue. Because of the removal of this 2â€� bottleneck, distribution system hydraulics will improve and help overall system quality. 5. The existing 2â€� waterline is extremely fragile and offers no fire protection. An earthquake in this area could result in this 2â€� water line being shattered and out of service for an extended period. The new 6â€� water line would be constructed to current standards and the pipe material is much more suited to ground movement. A major fire in the area of this 2â€� line would reduce firefighting abilities due to the long hose lays required to reach an adequate hydrant of necessitate the use of water tenders to supply water.	The Town currently has both a conservation plan and water emergency and preparedness plan and this conservation activity aligns with components of each. Statewide this activity supports reducing unaccounted for water use by eliminating a major source of leakage.	Environmental impacts of the conservation activity should be negligible because the new water line will be installed in an area that has been previously excavated. Benefits to the Town will include reduced labor demand due to not having to continually repair the existing water line and improved water hydraulics because of the 2â€� line bottleneck being removed. There will be impacts to the residents in these two areas during construction however they will be notified of any impacts to their normal routines well in advance	The two measures the Town will track are a reduction in water loss and the overall number of leaks staff will have to repair.	Because this conservation activity will last two years there is not a need for long-term funding for this particular conservation activity.	Because of its small population, large service area and limited funds the Town would not be able to fund these improvements in a timely manner without funding assistance. At best, they could replace small sections of this obsolete waterline which would provide multiple disruptions to this area versus tackling the entire area over a two-year time frame. Doing smaller sections also significantly increases the cost of the program due to the multiple mobilizations and loss of the larger, more cost-effective contractorsâ€™ due to their reluctance to bid on smaller sections. It would also raise the chances of system contamination based on the dramatic increase in reconnections to the existing system versus two reconnections for each phase doing the larger sections.	The Town fully intends to take advantage of additional funding sources, both local and federal, to continue their quest to protect groundwater supplies. Successful completion of this activity will provide both residents and future funding sources proof of the Townâ€™s ability to manage and complete these types of activities.	Because the entirety of the potable water system in Snowflake is owned and operated by the Town it has not real opportunity to cost-share with other applicants.	Town of Snowflake fund balance	The Town has utility staff that are well trained in this type of water system upgrades, and they have been instrumental in identifying this section of water line as extremely problematic. The Town Manager is well versed with utility operation and has overseen numerous Town and Federally funded programs. The Town has retained Sustainable Water Operations whose founder, Dan Lueder, has over 45 years of utility and public works experience. Dan has written numerous grant and loan applications for a varied collection of utilities and throughout his career has been instrumental in the concept, design, construction, and operation of over one hundred million dollars in capital improvement projects.	This conservation activity should have some positive effects on management due to removing what has been a problematic and labor-intensive component of their infrastructure.	This conversation activity will be actively promoted to residents along with other conservation issues/recommendations to keep the process transparent and garner additional support for water conservation and water related issues.	The residents in the area of this waterline have long complained about its issues and bemoan their lack of fire protection. The Snowflake Town Council wholeheartedly supports the replacement of this waterline.	The Town will reach out to all residents, particularly those in the area of this conservation activity, to inform and keep them apprised of the progress of this activity. Because Snowflake is a tight knit community the residents welcome being informed, this is accomplished through postings, public meetings, and direct mailings.	Snowflake residents understand the importance of protecting the areaâ€™s finite potable water supply and have been supportive of conservation activities.	The Town has utility staff that are well trained in this type of water system upgrade, and they have been instrumental in identifying this section of water line as extremely problematic. The Town Manager is well versed with utility operation and has overseen numerous Town and Federally funded programs. The Town has retained Sustainable Water Operations whose founder, Dan Lueder, has over 45 years of utility and public works experience. Dan has written numerous grant and loan applications for a varied collection of utilities and throughout his career has been instrumental in the concept, design, construction, and operation of over one hundred million dollars in capital improvement projects. The Town has desired to make this improvement for many years and is well prepared for this work to progress. The design engineer, Painted Sky Engineering is local and has been involved as the Townâ€™s Engineer on several projects and is well versed in the operation and needs of this water system.	This conservation activity is a continuation of the Towns goal to actively locate and repair distribution system leaks. Because of funding issues, their previous repairs have been done on a small scale which is not cost-effective.	The conservation activity will be designed, bid, and constructed utilizing industry standards and best management practice.
10	Alpine Domestic Water Improvement District	water meter upgrade	Projects facilitating coordinated water management, including groundwater storage and recovery.	Project	The proposed program is designed to support the piping of irrigation ditches in the Verde Valley to improve water use efficiency and supply reliability. The program will work with ditch companies to prioritize piping areas based on th	Alpine	Apache	2	6	Upper Gila			$250,000.00	$62,500.00	$312,500.00	4	0.0000128	3 home water line breaks that totaled over 1 million gallons. There were more water line breaks that were not as large. 1 million gallons is 3+ acre feet.	We think we can get the meters installed within two years. After that the conservation activity will be on-going.	We want to replace our direct-read meters with radio read meters. This will allow us to "track" water usage through meters and identify home leaks quickly to greatly reduce water losses. In the winter of 2022/2023, we had numerous water line breaks in property owners homes that we could not identify due to not being able to read the meters because of the snow pack. Just 3 meters lost 1,000,000 gals of water and there were more broken water lines.	Ground water in the Alpine valley.	Alpine is a small community of about 200 households in the winter that swells to about 600 households in the spring, summer and fall. Tourism is the principal economic source. Most of the summer residents have homes that are shut down every winter. Our well levels have dropped in the last few years so we want to be conservative in our water usage.	value1 value2	We will be able to identify leaks so that water losses will be minimized. The more water we don't lose due to leaks, the more water there will be for future use. Home owners can also be made aware of extra water usage and we can help them find leaks.	Water supply shortages Groundwater depletion	We can stop some useless water waste. We can reduce draws from our wells.	Unknown	The costs are going to be in replacing the water meters. The benefits will be in our ground water supply not being depleted.	We already keep an eye on our well levels. We will continue to monitor them.	We are hoping to qualify for a grant - not a loan.	Eventually our DWID will be able to afford to replace all our meters. We think that might take about 10 years.	We are only asking to be considered for this Grant.	Not really. Our water system is separate from the smaller systems in the Alpine Valley. As of now, they want to remain separate from Alpine DWID.	Alpine DWID funds through our monthly billing. We can match the 25% over the course of two years. Both in dollars and in-kind. We will use our crew to install the meters and there will be administrative costs as in-kind.	Shawna Metzger - General Manager. Shawna managed the financial end of the San Francisco River Waterline Repair Project in 2016 as the District Clerk. We used WIFA grant funds for the preliminary engineering and NEPA study. We used USDA-RD funds for the construction with a 15% match of in-kind. David Goude - Operations Foreman. David has been with ADWID since 2015. Turner Harper - Operator. Turner has been with ADWID since 2018. David and Turner will be the crew to install the meters. Ronda Dorsey - District Clerk. Ronda will work closely with Shawna	We believe that our operating costs might decrease. We will have to buy the laptop and the software to read the meters, but once we have those items our costs should decrease as we won't need to use as much manpower to get the meter reads and enter them into our utility billing program.	No. Our water system is separate from the smaller systems in the Alpine Valley. As of now, they want to remain separate from Alpine DWID.	Our stakeholders won't actually be involved. We will send out a letter explaining what we are planning to do.	We plan to also explain in our letter about water conservation and how our stakeholders can reduce their water usage.	We don't know. We hope so. Anything that will allow us to more closely monitor our water usage should garner community support.	Very feasible. With this grant it will be done sooner rather than much later.	This would be new technology. These meters are commonly used in many communities.	Our goal is to always know how much water our community needs and how best to conserve and consume. As it is now, we have no idea until we read the meters once a month if anyone has a major leak or even a minor leak. We have no established Best Management Practice in place.
11	Gilbert Town of	Municipal Grass Removal Program	Programs and projects that reduce water use Per A.R.S. 49-1332(B)(2)	Program	The Town of Gilbert's Municipal Grass Removal Program is an ongoing program to identify and remove grass throughout the Town of Gilbert. The Town has currently identified areas at 8 parks or public facilities totaling 567,000 sq ft of grass to be removed and replaced with xeriscape and low-water-use/drought tolerant plants or artificial turf. Gilbert has been strategically removing grass form parks since 2013 and this program proposal is a continuation of that effort.	The conservation activity is located in the Town of Gilbert which is in the Phoenix Active Management Area.	Maricopa	5	14	Middle Gila	Phoenix AMA	N/A	$3,000,000.00	$750,000.00	$3,750,000.00	50	0.00001333333333	This is base on the water needs of over seeded grass compared to a desert landscape at 40% planting density at maturity and based on historical reference ET. This also takes into account acceptable industry standard uniformity for sprinklers and drip systems. Current planned grass to be removed = 567,000 sq ft; annual water use of over seeded grass = 19,783,000; Desert adapted plants at 40% density annual water use = 3,612,000; Difference is annual water savings = 16,171,000/326000 = 49.6 acre feet per year. Rounded up to 50 acre feet per year.	The expected duration of this conservation activity would be over the next two years. The Town of Gilbertâ€™s goal is to remove the 567,000 square feet of grass from parks and facilities already identified along with the potential for other areas managed by the Town during this period.	The water conservation activity proposed to fund with the grant monies is the Town of Gilbertâ€™s Municipal Grass Removal Program. The Town of Gilbert wants to set the example of removing mostly non-functional grass throughout the Town and replace it with xeriscape and drought-tolerant plants, along with replacing some functional areas with artificial turf, such as with Cosmo and Crossroads Park. Currently, the Town has begun this process by identifying 567,000 sq ft of grass to be removed at 8 different locations. The locations are: 1. Municipal Building 2 - front: 23,000 sq ft 2. Freestone Multiuse Path #1: 204,000 sq ft 3. Freestone Multiuse Path #2: 162,000 sq ft 4. Public Safety Building: 24,000 sq ft 5. Traffic Operations Building: 3,000 sq ft 6. Cosmo: 100,000 sq ft (engineering needed because of steep hill) 7. Cosmo Dog Park: 45,000 sq ft (replace with artificial turf) 8. Crossroads Park: 6,000 sq ft â€“ (replace with artificial turf) 9. Future areas still unidentified (Potential to remove more) The Municipal Grass Removal Program will be executed through the Town by contracting out the removal of the grass and the installation of the xeriscape, along with the engineering needed at Cosmo Park because of the steep hill. The program will be managed by the Parks & Recreation Manger, Parks Operation Superintendent, and the Parks Field Supervisors to ensure successful completion of the program goals within the desired timeframe. In addition to the above listed areas already identified to have grass removed, Water Conservation and the Parks and Recreation Departments believe there is potential to remove more grass at other parks and facilities throughout the Town of Gilbert. This will also increase the estimated annual water savings that the Town hopes to achieve from this program.	The source of water that will be conserved varies between the different parks and facilities and the location within Gilbert, but will consist of Salt and Verde River water, Colorado River water delivered through the Central Arizona Project, and reclaimed water. Conservation of all water supplies helps the Town be more flexible in its ability to meet demand and be resilient in times of shortage. For example, reductions in direct delivery of reclaimed water allow the Town to recharge that supply at one of our four reclaimed recharge facilities.	The Town of Gilbert has grown into one of the fastest growing communities and one of the largest Town in the United States. Encompassing 72.6 square miles, just southeast of Phoenix, Gilbert has transformed from an agricultural community to a thriving and economically-diverse suburban community. The population has increased from 5,700 in 1980 to currently nearly 280,000. The Townâ€™s demographics consists of a median age of 34.3 and 67% of the population is under the age of 45. In addition, â€œapproximately 70% of Gilbertâ€™s psychographic make-up contains Up and Coming Families, Boomburbs, and Workday Drive. These groups are characterized as younger families with median ages in the low to mid 30s focused on planting roots in suburban areas near larger cities. They are also well-educated with 70% receiving some college education, and over 50% obtaining a college degreeâ€� (http://www.gilbertedi.com/demographics/). Gilbertâ€™s principal economic activities focus in â€œthe Science, Technology, Engineering and Math industries. Gilbert is home to many companies with emphases in Advanced Manufacturing, Aerospace and Defense, Bio-Technology, Clean Technology and Renewable Energyâ€� (http://www.gilbertedi.com/demographics/).	value1 value2 value3	Long-term reductions in water use - The extent to which the Municipal Grass Removal Program will achieve long-term reductions in water use is significant and based on the calculation used in question #6. Currently, the Town of Gilbert has identified 567,000 sq ft of grass to be removed with the potential to save 16,171,000 gallons per year (49.6 acre-ft per year). This is a permanent reduction in water use for our parks and facilities. The Town of Gilbert also believes there are more areas within the parks and facilities managed to remove more grass and increase annual water savings. Improvements in water use efficiency â€“ the Municipal Grass Removal Program improves water use efficiency by reducing watering of non-functional grass which is an inefficient use of this resource. Improvements in water reliability â€“ the Municipal Grass Removal Program provides an improvement in water reliability by reducing demand, which provides the Town more flexibility with its supplies. As mentioned previously, reductions in direct delivery of reclaimed water allow the Town to recharge this supply for future use and to help offset needed groundwater pumping. In addition, reductions to demand of our Salt and Verde River or Colorado River supplies provide the Town more reliability in times when these supplies are shorted due to drought and reduce reliance on backup supplies (e.g. groundwater).	Water supply shortages	The Municipal Grass Removal Program addresses water supply shortages, reliance on non-renewable water supplies, and groundwater depletion. The grass removal program addresses these conditions primarily by reducing demand. When water supply shortages occur, either demand needs to be reduced or backup supplies are needed to continue meeting existing demand. The Municipal Grass Removal Program permanently reduces demand in our system and reduces the need to rely on backup supplies due to short term or long-term reductions in supply. Based on the current Colorado River conditions, the Town of Gilbert is preparing to rely on less of this supply being available. In the short-term, the Town will have to turn to its finite supply of groundwater to mitigate the impacts of Colorado River reductions. Although the Town has stored renewable supplies for many years and has reserves available, it is still a finite supply and without alternative supplies available to replenish the groundwater pumping this supply will be diminished. The grass removal program proposed will reduce demand and thereby lessen the reliance on non-renewable supplies and the amount of groundwater depletion due to the anticipated decreased availability of Colorado River supplies.	The conservation activity will support the implementation of the Town of Gilbertâ€™s Water Supply Reduction Management Plan, the Phoenix AMA Fourth Management Plan, the Lower Basin Drought Contingency Plan, and the ongoing negotiations on Colorado River operations including the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) and Post-2026 Colorado River operations. The Town of Gilbert has committed itself to implementing an effective response to water supply shortages and operating within these shortages. Gilbert entered Stage 1 of its local shortage plan in June of 2022. Since then, Gilbert has launched two new rebate programs and proposed an internal budget package to fund removal of grass from our parks and facilities. Gilbertâ€™s Water Supply Reduction Management Plan specifically calls the Town to lead by example for the community and removal of grass from our own parks and facilities demonstrates this leadership to the community as we continue to ask our citizens to reduce their outdoor water use. Water conservation programs are highly prioritized in Gilbert and a program funded by WIFA would help further meet the goals of our Water Supply Reduction Management Plan. The Municipal Grass Removal Program aligns with the intent of the Fourth Management Plan of the Phoenix Active Management Area (4MP). Although Gilbert is already in compliance with the 4MP through its existing conservation efforts, the grass removal program improves conservation in the municipal sector and reduces reliance on groundwater which aligns with the intent of the plan. Grass Removal programs have been listed in the ADWR Management Plans Municipal NPCCP BMP list. The Lower Basin Drought Contingency Plan and ongoing negotiations on Colorado River operations call for reduced reliance on the Colorado River. The Municipal Grass Removal Program aligns with these plans by reducing demand in Gilbert and helping us adapt to a future of less Colorado River water. In November 2022, Gilbert signed on to the Memorandum of Understanding by and among Colorado River Basin Municipal and Public Water Providers committing to additional actions to reduce demand and expand conservation programs. The proposed program for this grant aligns with these activities by reducing the quantity of non-functional grass.	The benefits from removing grass include cost savings from less water used, as well as less energy used from the irrigation systems running less frequently. This will also increase water security and resilience to climate change, along with reducing the need for the Town to rely on backup supplies in times of shortages. In addition, replacing grass with native landscaping will be a positive environmental impact to aid in supporting local wildlife, pollinators and the environment, while reflecting the natural landscapes around them. Furthermore, the decrease in routine maintenance, such as with the required mowing, weed whacking, etc., will play a role in reducing urban air pollution, along with less pesticides and fertilizers being used that could improve stormwater quality from potential runoff. In addition, costs associated with this program include internal staff hours committed to managing the program and ensuring the goals of the program are completed. Costs will also include the contractors hired out to complete the removal of the grass and the installation of the xeriscape or artificial turf, along with the engineering needed for specific areas already identified. The estimated costs for personnel, marketing, construction, and engineering are included in the breakdown of costs in the budget worksheet totaling $3,750,000. A 20% contingency has been included on the construction costs due to the inflationary pressures on current pricing for labor and materials. The Town of Gilbert has up to $750,000 to contribute to the cost of the program.	The effectiveness of the water conservation activity will be measured through pre and post data on water use. The Town of Gilbertâ€™s parks and facilities are part of our Waterfluence Water Budget program and allows for up-to-date data on water use throughout the year. We can use this data to verify how much water was used in the past with the current grass landscape and compare after the grass has been removed on how much water is now being used. This provides data on real water savings that justifies the removal of the grass and the overall effectiveness of this program.	The Municipal Grass Removal Program will not focus on water supply development projects and does not align with WIFAâ€™s Long-Term Water Augmentation Fund or the Water Supply Development Fund. The focal point of the conservation activity will be removing grass at parks and facilities managed by the Town of Gilbert to help in reducing outdoor irrigation use and in creating long-term water savings.	The conservation activity would be implemented without the grant funding but would not be at the same scale if the funding is provided, nor would the Town achieve the same success within a two-year time frame. The WCGF would allow the Town of Gilbert the ability to accelerate this program to remove the full 567,000 square feet of identified grass currently managed by the Town of Gilbert along with the potential to remove more. The Town would be able to remove approximately 212,000 square feet without the grant funding through funds allocated from its own budget.	The water conservation activity will maximize funding from internal sources which is $750,000 planned for the 25% match of this grant. No other federal funding or other sources are included at this time.	Currently, there are no cost-sharing opportunities with other applicants or parties because this program will focus solely on removing non-functional turf specifically for the Town of Gilbert at their parks and facilities.	The source of the match will include $750,000 from the Town of Gilbert to assist with the removal of grass.	The Town of Gilbert has the necessary qualifications and capacity for completing the proposed water conservation activity with evidence of this seen through the past success of removing grass at the Townâ€™s parks and facilities. Starting in 2013 through 2020, the Town has removed 126,600 sq ft of grass at 6 different areas through contracting out the work for engineering and construction, which is typical for the Parks and Facilities Department and is within its normal operations. The only past managerial deficiency noted from these activities was the delay in removing more grass due to the lack of funding to continue the program at the scale and timeline desired. The individuals who will be collaborating and managing this activity are Town of Gilbert staff, which includes Kylie Sorensen, Parks & Recreation Manager, Zachary Poweziak, Park Operation Superintendent, Scott Hesser, Parks Field Supervisor, and Richard Bay, Parks Field Supervisor.	At this time, there are no significant management impacts, or any technology associated from the proposed grass removal program. The Town of Gilbertâ€™s staff associated with this program are familiar with the expectations and requirements to successfully accomplish the goal of removing the Townâ€™s grass in the expected timeframe.	The Town of Gilbertâ€™s Municipal Grass Removal Program promotes collaborative partnerships within the Town and throughout the community. The Town of Gilbert Water Conservation, Parks, and Facilities departments have developed a strong collaborative partnership over the past decade. This partnership has already led to millions of gallons of water being saved through proper irrigation, water efficiency improvements and grass removal. This grant would further promote this partnership as Gilbert implements Stage 1 of its local Water Supply reduction management Plan with the goal of further reducing water use from our own facilities. This goal cannot be achieved by the Water Conservation Department alone and required continued collaboration amongst internal departments. In addition, this program will be an example to the community as Gilbert continues to ask residents and businesses to reduce their own use. Gilbert is also very involved in regional and statewide collaboration with organizations such as the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association (AMWUA) and the AZ Water Association where this program can be promoted as an example of inter-departmental collaboration within an organization to address water-related issues.	The stakeholderâ€™s involvement in the planning process for the Municipal Grass Removal Program will be throughout the life cycle of the program. Each specific park or facility worked on will have the involvement of the Parks & Recreation Manager, the Park Operation Superintendent and the Parks Field Supervisors, along with any contractors and/or engineers hired by the Town to assist with the overall goal of this program. These stakeholders will play a vital role throughout the different phases of this process, from identifying the areas that need grass removed, to help in creating the budget, to completing the work and in managing the work to ensure it is completed in the desired timeframe. Currently, the Town of Gilbert has already started the planning process and has identified 8 areas managed by the Town that will benefit from grass removed. In addition, the Parks & Recreation Manager and the Park Operation Superintendent have created a preliminary budget to capture how much funds would be needed in order for the Town to remove all grass currently identified for this program. The Water Conservation Department will work closely with Parks and Recreation to verify the water savings from the program and assist in desert plant selection. Water conservation will also assist in monitoring the progress of the grass removal program to ensure we are meeting the timeline and will also help in identifying other areas that could benefit from grass removal.	Yes, the conservation activity will include outreach at public facilities to learn more about the benefits of removing grass and replacing with native desert landscaping with low-water-use or drought tolerant plants. Furthermore, the Town will also utilize social media to inform the public about this program and the water savings achieved from making these landscape changes. Signage will also be installed at these specific areas to highlight the Town of Gilbertâ€™s efforts on conserving water and point residents to ways they can reduce their own use through landscape changes.	The Town of Gilbert has committed to becoming more water wise with municipal facilities and actively encourages its residents to follow suit. The community of Gilbert has adopted this water wise mindset to ensure water conservation is more attainable and effective. Examples of this support is seen from the collaboration and close working relationships between internal departments such as with Parks and Facilities who have committed to conserving water. Evidence of this is seen in our Waterfluence program and the achievement of 28 parks and facilities that received the recognition of Water Wise Gilbert for 2022. The Town of Gilbert is also in Stage 1 of the Water Supply Reduction Management Plan that supports this type of conservation activity. In addition, the Town has showed its support by the funding package to be approved by the Mayor and Council to assist with this program.	The feasibility of completing this water conservation activity is very high. Past success from removing grass within the Town of Gilbertâ€™s parks and facilities has provided the experience needed to accomplish the goal of this program. With the additional funding from this grant, the Town would be able to accelerate the timeline in removing the 567,000 sq ft of grass mentioned within the required two-year time frame. The estimated time commitment from Parks and Facilities staff is 15% over the duration of the program and this is reasonable given other time commitments. Time commitment for Water Conservation is estimated at 5% to assist in program completion.	The Town of Gilbertâ€™s Municipal Grass Removal program is a continuation of an ongoing activity dating back to 2013. The removal of grass has been shown to be extremely effective at reducing outdoor irrigation use. Pre and post water data from the parks and facilities that have already had grass removed show significant water and cost savings and why this is a heightened priority for the Town because of the huge potential in water savings. The 6 parks or facilities that have had grass removed totaled 126,600 sq ft, with a total estimated annual water use in gallons before grass removal of 4,417,000 gallons; estimated post removal total annual water use in gallons with desert adapted plants of 807,000 gallons. The annual water savings in gallons from these past conservation activities totals 3,610,000, with a total estimated water savings since the grass has been removed of 14,300,000 gallons.	Yes, the proposed conservation activity will implement an established Best Management Practice because this activity will result in reduced water used for outdoor irrigation. Grass Removal programs have been listed in the ADWR Management Plans Municipal NPCCP BMP list.
12	Williams Unified School District #2	Williams Athletic Fields Water Conservation Program	Programs and projects that reduce water use Per A.R.S. 49-1332(B)(2)	Program	The Williams Athletic Fields Water Conservation Program is a program because it encompasses multiple locations with multiple deliverables, over a three-year period of time. Arizona Revised Statue 49-1332 of the Water Conservation Grant fund describes (subsection A) the purpose of the monies is to facilitate voluntary water conservation programs that result long-term reductions in water use, including (2) installing drought-resistant landscaping and the removal of natural turf. The program will remove natural turf and resurface with synthetic turf on five athletic fields in the Williams City limits saving more than 11 million gallons of water a year over a minimum of 15 years, for a small community known for being the gateway to the Grand Canyon. Arizona Revised Statue 49-1334 describes the evaluation criteria including showing environmental costs and benefits, the ability to provide multiple benefits, leveraging multiple available funding sources, including federal funding. We believe our program meets all of these criteria and we look forward to hearing from the committee and/or board.	Williams	Coconino	1	7	Bill Williams Mountain Watershed	NA	NA	$2,158,500.00	$719,500.00	$2,878,000.00	39	0.00001355107714	5 (athletic fields) x 7.7 acre ft per year per field (approx. 2.5 million gallons per year per field) = 38.5 acre-feet per year	The process of installing a field is 6-12 weeks. In addition to the installation time, time and resources are needed to acquire quotes, have site visits from vendors, go through the accounts payable process, board approval for agreements, and receiving materials on-site. It is also important to time the installation around Northern Arizona weather and the specific sport seasons using the fields. With all of this in mind, we are looking at the following conservative schedule for the completion of the fields. However, the water conservation activity will last a minimum of 15 years using 15-year guaranteed turf. Below is a conservative estimate of a time frame we believe the district, our potential vendors, our partners, and greater community can accomplish. High School baseball field - conversion from full grass to synthetic turf - Complete project by the end of 2023 Local Softball field - conversion from full grass to synthetic turf - Complete project by the end of 2023 High School football field - conversion from full grass to synthetic turf - Complete project by the end of 2024 Middle School Soccer Pitch (and youth football field) - conversion from full grass to synthetic turf - Complete project by the end of 2025 Elementary practice baseball field - conversion from full grass area to synthetic turf - Complete project by May 2026	The Williams Unified School District will use this grant to convert one football field, two baseball fields (one youth and one high school), one soccer field (pitch), and a softball field, into multi-purpose synthetic turf fields in the City of Williams. All of the fields are currently grass and use an excessive amount of water to maintain (2-2.5 million gallons per year). In partnership with the City of Williams we have been seeking out ways to combat high level use of water. Williams has been in a water shortage for more than a decade. We estimate we can conserve 12 million gallons of water per year for 15 years by replacing the grass fields with synthetic turf. Converting our existing fields to synthetic turf will allow water reserves to increase as well as reducing the overall strain on the groundwater supply and watershed.	The City of Williams Water System is comprised of three wells- the two Dogtown wells and the Rodeo well. A fourth well, Santa Fe produces a minor amount of water for the city. These wells are tapped into the Redwall-Muav (RM) aquifer. The City of Williams 5 surface reservoirs, 3 (functioning) wells, 7 finished water storage tanks, approximately 36 miles of potable water lines, approximately 13 miles of raw water lines, and 5 booster pump stations. ï‚· Reservoirs o Dogtown o Cataract o Santa Fe o City Dam (Also referred to as Third Dam or Buckskinner) o Kaibab ï‚· Wells o Dogtown #1 o Dogtown #3 o Rodeo o Santa Fe (low to none producer) o Sweetwater (Not Developed) ï‚· Tanks o Water Treatment Plant #1 Tank (WT #1) o Water Treatment Plant #2 Tank (WT #2) o 3 rd Street Tank o One Million Gallon Tank (Also referred to as Cinder Hills #1) o Twin Tanks (Also referred to as Cinder Hill #2 and #3) o Taber Tank o Garland Prairie Fire Storage Tank ï‚· Booster Pump Stations o Cataract Pump Station o Taber Pump Station o One Million Gallon Tank Pump Station (Also referred to as Cinder Hills or Cemetery Pump Station) o Kaibab Lake Booster Pump Station (Inactive)	The City of Williams is located in Coconino County, Arizona, Latitude 35.25N; Longitude 112.19W. Williams was founded in 1882 and incorporated in 1901. The Cityâ€™s elevation is 6,770â€™ and is in the center of the Kaibab National Forest. Williams encompasses 44 square miles and has an estimated population of approximately 3,300 people. The economy is based primarily upon tourism. The City is collared on the south by an 18,500-acre watershed contributing to five surface reservoirs. The Cityâ€™s water supply is also supported by two major wells and two minor wells with respect to production rate. The Williams Unified School District was established in 1904 in the little town of Williams also known as the "Gateway to the Grand Canyon," Williams was the last town on Historic Route 66 to be bypassed by Interstate 40. The community, bypassed on Oct. 13, 1984, but continues to thrive on tourism. The district intends to use this grant to convert one football field, two baseball fields (one youth and one high school), one soccer pitch, and a softball field, into multi-purpose synthetic turf fields in the City of Williams. These fields support youth sports not only in the Williams Unified School District (population served as of 2016 censes 5,300 - 700 students as of 2022) but for much of the surrounding areas including Williams (population as of 2021 census 3,300), Ashfork (population as of 2020, 824), Valle (population 300), and Parks ( population 1400). The High School football field was built in the 1950â€™s, the baseball field in the 1960â€™s, the softball field in the 1990â€™s, the pitch in the 1970â€™s, and the practice baseball field in the 1980â€™s. The City of Williams Recreation Department has the only other fields in Williams, including a small baseball park that is 30 years old. Cureton Park (the city park) provides two small fields one for t-ball and one for minor league Little League teams. Little League Majors and Juniors teams use the high school baseball field. The Little League softball teams, high school teams, and adult softball teams use the high school softball field.	value1	The district will replace five athletic grass fields with artificial turf, conserving 2-2.5 million gallons of water per field per year that equates to 12 million gallons of water a year and nearly 170 million gallons of water over the 15 year minimum life expectancy of the fields. Our overall goal is to provide relief to our communities limited water resources while still providing our community with the athletic fields to support youth sports. In addition to significant water conservation synthetic turf also eliminates the use of potentially harmful pesticides and fertilizers being used on the fields and becoming part of run-off waters. This project is important to the community because we have very limited access to water. Most, if not all of the outlying areas must haul water from water stations.	Water supply shortages Groundwater depletion	An article in the Williams News in July of 2021 stated that our small water treatment plant had to treat 1.1 million gallons in one day to keep up with the demand over what the wells could produce. Our ground water from the Redwall-Muav (RM) aquifer is 3,500 feet below the surface making it difficult to access water easily and inexpensively. Just 30 minutes East of Williams ground water is available from the C-aquifer at 1,200 feet, in Flagstaff. During years of drought (which have been the past 10 years) the city often locks the districts irrigation boxes to conserve water for residential and commercial use. These conditions significantly reduce the use, maintenance, and life expectancy of our fields. In todayâ€™s newspaper there is an article concerning the Williamâ€™s City Council decision to implement a building moratorium due to water usage, water treatment (until a new water treatment plant can be built next to the existing one, all ground and watershed water must be treated) and sewer capacity. The townâ€™s Vice Mayor Frank McNelly stated that they must stop building anything that will have an impact on our cityâ€™s water and sewer systems. It is estimated it will be at least 3-4 years before new building permits will be approved. Williams Unified School District is one of the largest users of municipal water in the city. We had already been in council discussions and committee meetings as community partners trying to determine how to start converting our fields that use an exorbitant percentage of our communityâ€™s water. This grant will allow our community to conserve a significant amount of water and reduce the strain on our townâ€™s infrastructure. The water conserved in the program of moving to synthetic turf fields can supply that same water to 89 residential homes every week, per field.	Williams has coveted water resources from its inception in July 1901. The City of Williams has a Water Master Plan updated in 2018 and Coconino County has a Water Conservation Program as well. Northern Arizona has an arid climate with limited water resources. The depletion of groundwater is an especially critical issue. Of all the resources we use, water is one we truly cannot live without. The City of Williams provides essential municipal services for its residents. Among the services are water supply and wastewater treatment. Originally the City relied solely on surface water. Since surface water supplies were very low in dry years, the City developed a water conservation ordinance, standard operating procedures for hauling water, public education, and a wastewater reuse plan. Also, in 1996 they began a well drilling program. The first deep well was put into service in 2000. The City of Williams is presently experiencing a period of both commercial and residential growth. A combination of infill and new development will increase the water demands on the existing and future system. Anticipated Development for current approved subdivisions, and subdivisions and commercial projects that have been brought before the City for development review and permitting. The Cityâ€™s storage vulnerability is due to the amount of storage capacity of the potable water storage tanks. Currently the tanks have enough capacity to provide water to the City for 2.5 days, during average water use, if the tanks are starting from full. This would not include a fire flow event. The Plan proposes to be able to have storage for a minimum of 3 days considering a fire flow event. Again, the water conserved in the program of moving to synthetic turf fields can supply that same water to 89 residential homes every week. (https://www.recycledh2o.net/2016/05/24/mlb-recycled-water-mia-at-california-stadiums/). This water conservation program will have a great impact to our community. Williams is home insecure here there are more jobs then there are places to live. Our community canâ€™t afford a long building moratorium and this program will support our communityâ€™s efforts to meet the needs of its residents. Converting the majority of our communityâ€™s fields to synthetic turf will greatly support our State, County, a local water master plans and conservation efforts.	The program will significantly reduce water use and negative environmental impacts. The following is a cost analysis of annual costs after converting our five athletic fields from grass to synthetic turf. (see attached Cost Analysis spreadsheet) There are several benefits to our school district, our youth, our community, and our water resources. The financial burden of maintaining grass fields is significant for such a small rural school district. When outlining the financial differences between the annual maintenance for grass verses turf was shocking. As this grant has quickly developed we believed there would be a financial benefit in addition to the water conserved and the reduced strain on our communityâ€™s water/water treatment system. First, our fields are in use on a daily bases for about 40 weeks a year and we still struggle to provide all the needs of our community members. Synthetic turf will allow us to provide high quality athletic youth fields for longer seasons. Second, it takes approximately 62,500 gallons (dimensions and needs of each field varies so we have estimated as close to cost for each field) of water a week to water each field. Currently, we can make our grass fields available for approximately 40 weeks a year (weather permitting). That equates to over 11 million gallons of water saved per year. Over the 15-year life expectancy our water conservation program can boast a savings of more than 165 million gallons of potable water. In addition, we will see significant savings of volunteer hours and FTE maintenance hours. Currently, we have 2 volunteers that spend many hours grooming our fields as well as 2.5 FTE maintaining the five fields. It is estimated we will only need .5 FTE to manage our youth fields and our maintenance expenses will be reduced by more than 90% every year. Field Turf reported that the average cost per hour of use on a grass field is $91.20 and on a synthetic turf field it is $25.74. Next, financially water savings is significant. Each field will have a cost savings of $20,000 or more per year. Turf fields only use water for cleaning specific areas in need of attention so the water needed yearly is nominal. The district spends approximately $254,700 annually to maintain the five grass fields (see the rough break down below). Comparatively, five turf fields will have an annual maintenance of $36,000. This is a staggering annual savings of $218,700. Finally, synthetic turf does not require pesticide or fertilizer. Our community depends heavily on the Bill Williams watershed. The benefit of not needing to add $13,200 worth of poison into our water supply will have a significant financial and environmental effect on our water and wildlife. 5 GRASS FIELDS â€“ Seed $5,000.00 Salaries- 2.5 FTE $108,000.00 Maintenance $15,000.00 Pesticide Contract $12,000.00 Fertilizer $1,200.00 Plumbing $1,500.00 Water for HS Baseball Field (2.5 million gallons a year) $25,000.00 Water for Softball Field (2.2 million gallons a year) $22,000.00 Water for Soccer Pitch (2.5 million gallons a year) $25,000.00 Water for Practice Youth Field (2 million gallons a year) $20,000.00 Water for Football Field (2 million gallons a year) $20,000.00 Total $254,700.00 5 TURF FIELDS - Artificial Turf Replacement X 5 $7,000.00 Salaries- .5 FTE $21,500.00 Maintenance $1,200.00 Water for Football Field $1000.00 Water for HS Baseball Field $1500.00 Water for Softball Field $1200.00 Water for Soccer Pitch $1500.00 Water for Practice Field $1000.00 Total $36,000.00	We will measure the effectiveness of the program by monitoring time lines, budgets, and water usage compared to the same time periods from the year previous. We will also review water usage from the year prior (2021) as 2022-2023 was an unusually wet winter. We will also collaborate with the water treatment department to determine if we have a reduction in waste water, as well. In addition to water conservation we will monitor the dollars saved from the reduction in water use as well as the reduction in field maintenance. Lastly, we will track the success of including our students in the process of undertaking a large water conservation project. If we can acquire the data we will also track how much of an effect educating our students on water conservation has on behaviors at their individual homes.	Williams Unified School District is a K-12 educational institution, therefore we are not eligible of funding from either of the following funding sources. The Long-Term Water Augmentation Fund (LTWAF) was created to finance water supply development projects that would increase water supplies for the state of Arizona. To be eligible for Water Supply Development Fund (WSDF), your entity must be a water provider with an eligible project.	The district has been in talks with the city about resurfacing our practice field so it can be used by more organizations. It has been a yearlong conversation going back and forth. The short answer is no, at least not in the near future. While the city is desperate to support us in reducing our water consumption they are burdened with funding a new water treatment plant to treat our current water supply system and our sewer system. We do not foresee them being able to contribute financially in a significant way in the near future. However, we are reaching out to our other community partners asking for assistance as well as researching other funding opportunities. At the end of the day our school district has a nominal tax basis and our annual budget is small compared to most schools in Arizona. This grant will allow us to leverage the funds we do have to conserve the most water while also meeting the needs of our community in a significant way.	We will be using our federally funded Unrestricted Capital Outlay (UCO) 610 account to fund the portions of the program not covered by the grant. We currently have $100,000 available for fiscal year 2023. We are budgeting the balance of the cash matching funds across fiscal years 2024, 2025 and 2026. In addition to federal funding we will also be using the Arizona Tax Credit monies identified by sport to also supplement the program, approved by our site council. We will be reaching out to parents and our booster clubs to do fundraisers and encourage more people to invest in our athletic programs through donations and Tax Credit.	We will be reaching out to parents and our booster clubs to do fundraisers and encourage more people to invest in our athletic programs through donations and Tax Credit. The district also intends to write additional grants to support our Best Practices for water conservation and to support our community members. We are also reaching out to our current community partners for support of this program (City of Williams, City of Williams Recreation, Organization Region #257, Williams Little League, Arizona Youth Soccer Williams Youth Football & Cheer, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and the Flagstaff Ultimate Club. All of these existing partners utilize the fields for their activities.	The total amount for the Williams Athletic Fields Water Conservation Program is $2,878,000. 25% of the total is $719,500, the district will budget the match over the three fiscal years with a completion date of no later than June 1st, 2026. Salaries - $258,000 Maintenance & Operation (M&O) Capital Expenses $319,500 Unrestricted Capital Outlay (UCO) In-Kind $142,000 Volunteer hours, District administrative costs, and Prepping Equipment (Cost Share, Community Partnerships)	The Williams Unified School District has undertaken many large federally and state funded projects over its 119 years of existence. WUSD has existing accounting and personnel policies and procedures (P&P) that include the necessary controls to meet federal and state funding requirements.Our administrators, school board, athletic director, coaches, parents, and community is in full support of the program. The district will do its due diligence in selecting the best contractor for the synthetic turf. We have already been collecting recommendations from other Northern Arizona districts. Eric Evans â€“ Superintendent Brianne Ford â€“ Business Manager Joe Howe â€“ Maintenance Director Board President â€“ John Romero	For a program of this size we will hire a qualified Program manager for the 3 years of the grant to ensure all timelines are on schedule, contractors are meeting program goals, stakeholders are kept abreast of the progress of the program, district employees are available for the program when necessary, monitoring the program budgets, spearheading collaborations with community members, providing monthly board reports on the program, and ensuring any and all reporting deadlines are met.	The Williams Athletic Fields Water Conservation Program will promote more involvement from existing partnerships as well as having the potential of attracting new partners. Our partners are all local and struggle with water insecurities personally and professionally just as we do. One of the programs partnership goals is to encourage conversations and collaborations surrounding other public areas in the community where we can replace natural grass with turf to further reduce potable water use on landscaping. The second partnership goal is working with the City of Williams and other partners to write grants and fundraise to fund new projects and programs to further promote water conservation.	STAKEHOLDERS: School board- Approved entering into conversations with the City of Williams about cost sharing for synthetic turf fields and applying for this grant opportunity City of Williams-Agenda item to discuss financial support for water conservation efforts in the form of synthetic athletic fields Student Athletes- Ongoing discussions and education concerning field resurfacing options Coaches- Ongoing discussions with administration about the need for revitalize our fields that are 50-70 years old. Parents- invitations to parents to be a part of planning committee for the individual sites City Rec Center- Ongoing discussions concerning the impact to scheduling on synthetic fields. With turf the fields will be available more often to community members Williams Youth Football & Cheer- Invited to join planning committees Fellowship of Christian Athletes- Invited to join planning committees Flagstaff Ultimate Club- Invited to join planning committees Williams Little League- Invited to join planning committees Arizona Youth Soccer Organization- Invited to join planning committees	The district believes as an educational institution we should be leading the way in water conservation. Our high school science department offers environment science as a class to help our young people understand the importance of water conservation in hopes they will take home their new knowledge and we can compound the water savings. These fields will give our students tangible access to real water conservation. Our hope is to have our advanced math classes and science classes participate in collecting and monitoring our water conservation efforts. In addition to our students benefiting from our efforts, our program manager will work closely with educators and the City of Williams to involve community members in the program but also to encourage them to apply water conservation principles to their own life style choices.	The City of Williams is the gateway to the Grand Canyon and was the last stretch of Route 66 to be overtaken by the I-40. Williams High School has been in existence for nearly 120 years (est. 1904). The plaque on the gymnasium says it was built in 1953 along with our football field. The president of the school board at the time was a gentleman named Jack Dent, his son and grandson both attended Williams High School, and his great grand son and daughter are both current student athletes at the high school. Williams has a long history of generations of family member alumni. Why give this detail here? Because support for our water conservation program isnâ€™t an issue, we have buy-in from our community, we have been building it student by student for 120 years. Unfortunately, we have a small tax basis in a small community everyone loves to visit. With the financial support this grant will provide we could create a snowball effect of other water conservations projects and programs springing up throughout the area. We have an active boaster club, community organizations that provided $100,000 in academic scholarships to our high school seniors every year. Williams generally has the largest fan following home and away. We have support from our community partners and leadership. This program will spotlight the importance for all of us to take water conservation personally as well as demonstrating direct benefits of protecting our local water system by reducing use wherever possible.	We have the ability to have the fields surveyed and quotes obtained from contractors. We have reached out to other districts in Northern Arizona (Bradshaw Mountain High School and Flagstaff High School) to get recommendations for contractors to reach out to and to get verbal financial and time estimates for this grant proposal. Our initial study gives us confidence that we can complete this program prior to the end of fiscal year 2026.	The Williams Athletic Fields Water Conservation Program is a new activity for our community but has been used all over Arizona. School, municipalities, sports complexes, MLB teams, and other organizations have seen great success in water conservation efforts with each grass field replaced with turf. One of the greatest down sides to turf fields is how hot they get in the summer, turf can be 20-30 degrees hotter than grass. Fortunately for Williams, we have significantly cooler summers here in the mountains. Arizona High Schools with turf fields as of August 2019 (AZCentral article by Richard Obert called Turf vs. grass: Arizona's list of synthetic football fields at high schools on the rise): American Leadership Academy Gilbert North American Leadership Academy Queen Creek Buckeye Buckeye Youngker Chinle Cottonwood Mingus Fort Defiance Window Rock Ganado Gilbert Campo Verde Gilbert Christian Gilbert Higley Gilbert Williams Field Goodyear Estrella Foothills Kayenta Monument Valley Marana Maricopa Flagstaff Coconino Paradise Valley Phoenix Arcadia Phoenix North Canyon Phoenix Northwest Christian Phoenix Shadow Mountain Prescott Prescott Valley Bradshaw Mountain Sahuarita Scottsdale Chaparral Scottsdale Christian Academy Scottsdale Coronado Scottsdale Notre Dame Prep Scottsdale Saguaro Sedona Red Rock Tonopah Valley Tucson Tucson Salpointe Catholic Vail Cienega West Point Winslow Clark County Unified School District started converting athletic fields to synthetic turf in 2020 to fight the drought crisis plaguing Southern Nevada. At article published by KTNV in April of 2023 titled 2-million gallons of water saved for each grass field converted to turf shows the successes schools and communities are experiencing with low/no water surface alternatives. CCUSD was awarded a grant from the Bureau of Reclamation for part of their very large resurfacing project. https://youtu.be/G9K5NDq_F50	Yes, the program of removing natural grass and replacing it with synthetic turf will implement an established Best Management Practice for local athletic fields. The term 'Best Management Practices', or BMPs, was coined nearly 35 years ago as a way to describe acceptable practices that could be implemented to protect water quality and promote soil conservation during forestry activities. A BMP can be a structural "thing" that you actually install on-the-ground according to the Environment Protection Agency. The City of Williams is nestled at the foot of the Bill Williams Mountain. Seasonal run-off is used as our townâ€™s main water source along with a few very deep wells. Water scarcity is a real thing here. The City of Williams, the community, our athletic director, superintendent, and school board are looking at ways the district can curb its water use of field maintenance. As one of the largest users of potable water in Williams, the district and our local partners are committed to implementing an established best practice for conserving water with alternative surface material. This grant will allow us to start with these five. Once the City of Williams has overcome our Water Treatment Emergency that has caused a building moratorium we will also partner with them to work towards getting our local park and two other fields resurfaced for additional water conservation.
13	Campe Verde Town of	1. Water & Wastewater Conservation and Reuse Program â€“ Phase 2a	Programs or projects to promote groundwater recharge and improved aquifer health.	Program	The Town requests funding for our conservation activity, the â€œWater & Wastewater Conservation and Reuse Program â€“ Phase 2a". As defined in the WCGF guidance, programs "will occur in multiple phases over a longer timeframe, and likely include a single deliverable." The Town's Phase 2 program is part of a larger multi-phased conservation wastewater program to convert residents, commercial businesses, and property owners from septic systems to the Town's wastewater infrastructure for treatment, reclamation, and reuse. More detail on is phase is provided below of which Phase 2a information is included. As a key tributary to the Colorado River, the Verde River is deeply impacted by unrestricted groundwater pumping across the Verde Valley. In addition, the Colorado River and its tributaries like the Verde River provide 36% of Arizona's water supply. The recent Verde River report card gave the overall health of the Verde River watershed a "C+", citing drastic declines in base level flows for the past three decades. Further, drought conditions in Arizona are increasing in severity; and along with increasing temperatures, these ecosystem changes will impact water availability for the Town of Camp, the region, and state of Arizona. The Townâ€™s proposed conservation activity is integral to the regionâ€™s water conservation and public health. The Town of Camp Verdeâ€™s overall Water & Wastewater Conservation and Reuse Program is large in scale with many components. The purpose of the overall program is to manage and mitigate the need for septic systems through expanded wastewater collection and reclamation for the purposes of water conservation and reuse. The vision statement in the Townâ€™s 10-year General Plan for environmental planning is â€œCamp Verde will remain a community that values a high level of environmental quality. The Town will consider environmental impacts of new developments and promote practices that create and maintain a healthy, safe, and sustainable living environment.â€� Phase 1 was the acquisition of the water company, creation of the Utilities Department design, planning, and some upgrades. The total cost for Phase 1 was approximately $11,703,500. This program started in 2022 with the Townâ€™s purchase of the Camp Verde Water Company ($10,000,000) for the purpose of the long-term control of the Townâ€™s water supply to ensure water supply conservation and broader public health. Since that time, the Town has invested in the creation of a new Utilities Department with acquisition/creation of water company staff (upwards of $250,000 annually). Additionally, Phase 1 included design of Phase 2 ($1,200,000), a water system master plan ($183,500) and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) ($70,000). Phase 2 is for the Septic to Sewer program along Highway 260, wastewater master plan, mapping, and critical program upgrades. Phase 2 is located primarily in the 260 West Character Area which is a key part of the Town's 10-year General Plan as well as the Town's 5-year Community and Economic Development Strategic plan. The 260 West Character Area is approximately 7.47 square miles in size and located along Hwy 260 and west of I-17 adjacent to the Verde River. The Townâ€™s conversation program will span upwards of five miles and will serve upwards of 2000 acres of commercial, industrial, and residential properties and development. Most of the existing developed properties within this area are currently utilizing septic systems. Currently, there is a planned area development underway that will create both multi-family and single-family housing and some potential commercial development. This development may double the Townâ€™s overall wastewater capacity. Without wastewater program, this development may stall or utilize septic services. In addition to forthcoming planned development, the Townâ€™s wastewater program will include new service connections to existing properties along the sewer line frontage, with additional capacity to serve future development within the entire expansion area. Without the wastewater program, development will utilize septic systems thus minimizing the Townâ€™s ability to reclaim and reuse the treated wastewater. Additionally, Phase 2 includes a wastewater master plan, mapping, and critical system upgrades in the community. The Water & Wastewater Conservation and Reuse Program â€“ Phase 2 will occur in three smaller phases. Phase 2, including all three smaller phases, will result in the construction of a forced sewer main expanding upwards of five miles as well as the construction of Lift Station #3. Due to the significant total Phase 2 program cost, the Town plans to address approach it smaller phases. Below is a breakdown of the phases: â€¢ Phase 3a (*this is the specific phase the Town is seeking the grant funds for at this time) â€“ This stand-alone phase includes 6200LF of 18â€“21-inch diameter gravity sewer lines from West Horseshoe Bend Drive and Highway 260 intersection to the existing Lift Station #2 at the Verde Ranch Rv Resort near I-17 ($4,500,000). Additionally, Phase 3a includes a wastewater master plan ($250,000) mapping ($120,000) and improvements on a few critical projects that will help the overall program: Main Street sewer line and septic ($515,181), Dickison Circle drainage and waterline protection ($406,750), main repairs near I-17 ($24,522), Yaqui Circle ($40,490) Hauler Station upgrades ($235,508), and 3rd Street improvements ($52,396). The total cost for this Phase is $6,144,847. The Town will be using ARPA funding in the amount of $1,274,847 for the critical project completion. The Town will use $250,000 of wastewater fees for the wastewater master plan. The Town utilized county flood control funds for the $120,000 for the mapping. The Town intends to secure financing of $1,500,000 from the SRF loan. For the remaining program gap funding, the Town requests $3,000,000 of WCGF funds. â€¢ Phase 2b â€“ This phase will include the development of Lift Station #3 and a forced sewer main from Aultman Parkway back to Horseshoe Bend Drive. â€¢ Phase 2c â€“ This phase will include grant fed lines from Horseshoe Bend Drive up to Lift Station #3 at Aultman Parkway. Phase 3 of the Water & Wastewater Conservation and Reuse Program will include the reclamation of the and reuse of the wastewater as well as additional education and conservation programs and policies for water users. Reclaimed water will be used for Town landscaping and projects. The Utilities Department will develop water conservation policies and programs to encourage water users to conserve water. Policies will include things like increased fees for increased water usage. Education will be ongoing throughout all the phases. Through all the phases of the Water & Wastewater Conservation and Reuse Program, the Town will work to promote water conservation through education. This will be administered in a multitude of ways such as mailings, social media, presentations, and other community engagement opportunities. Further, water conservation will remain a priority for the Town as we continue to work with new development.	Camp Verde	Yavapai	2	1	Verde River	N/A	N/A	$3,000,000.00	$314,484,700.00	$6,144,847.00	90	0.00001464641837	The area contains about 254 households on septic. That figure multiplied by 110,000 gallons annually equates to 90 acre-feet per year. However, we envision this program to expand and mitigate the need for additional septic services as well as abandon and convert additional septic systems to the Town's wastewater program in the future.	All components of this program will be completed by end of October 2024. The conservation program will be for the life of our wastewater treatment program. Assuming upgrades and maintenance, this program will be in place in perpetuity. Water conservation education will be ongoing.	The Water & Wastewater Conservation and Reuse Program â€“ Phase 2 will occur in three smaller phases. Phase 2, including all three smaller phases, will result in the construction of a forced sewer main expanding upwards of five miles as well as the construction of Lift Station #3. Due to the significant total Phase 2 program cost, the Town plans to address approach it smaller phases. Below is a breakdown of the phases: â€¢ Phase 3a (*this is the specific phase the Town is seeking the grant funds for) â€“ This stand-alone phase includes 6200LF of 18-21-inch diameter gravity sewer lines from West Horseshoe Bend Drive and Highway 260 intersection to the existing Lift Station #2 at the Verde Ranch RV Resort near I-17 ($4,500,000). Additionally, Phase 3a includes a wastewater master plan ($250,000) mapping ($120,000) and improvements on a few critical projects that will help the overall program: Main Street sewer line and septic ($515,181), Dickison Circle drainage and waterline protection ($406,750), main repairs near I-17 ($24,522), Yaqui Circle ($40,490) Hauler Station upgrades ($235,508), and 3rd Street improvements ($52,396). The total cost for this Phase is $6,144,847. The Town will be using ARPA funding in the amount of $1,274,847 for the critical project completion. The Town will use $250,000 of wastewater fees for the wastewater master plan. The Town utilized county flood control funds for the $120,000 for the mapping. The Town intends to secure financing of $1,500,000 from the SRF loan. For the remaining program gap funding, the Town requests $3,000,000 of WCGF funds. â€¢ Phase 2b â€“ This phase will include the development of Lift Station #3 and a forced sewer main from Aultman Parkway back to Horseshoe Bend Drive. â€¢ Phase 2c â€“ This phase will include grant fed lines from Horseshoe Bend Drive up to Lift Station #3 at Aultman Parkway. This program addresses conservation and public heath for the community: Conservation â€“ Septic solutions will be mitigated by the Camp Verde wastewater treatment program. The sewage will be treated and the class A+ effluent will be recharged into the aquifer or used as reclaimed water for the Townâ€™s sports complex. Thus, saving water use. The Town is conserving water for the Town through reuse and protecting the Verde Water shed. Public Health â€“ Several of the septic systems are outdated and nearing the end of their use (if not already there). This can impact the quality of water for those residents utilizing well water which will have a negative impact on their health. A majority of the residents who will be impacted by this are more vulnerable and have a low-moderate income. Without this program, the Verde River water quality may be degraded.	The Verde River, which is a tributary of the Colorado River, will be conserved as a result of this program and ongoing efforts by the Town of Camp Verde. As a key tributary to the Colorado River, the Verde River is deeply impacted by unrestricted groundwater pumping across the Verde Valley. In addition, the Colorado River and its tributaries like the Verde River provide 36% of Arizona's water supply. The recent Verde River report card gave the overall health of the Verde River watershed a "C+", citing drastic declines in base level flows for the past three decades. Further, drought conditions in Arizona are increasing in severity; and along with increasing temperatures, these ecosystem changes will impact water availability for the Town of Camp, the region, and state of Arizona. The Townâ€™s proposed conservation activity is integral to the regionâ€™s water conservation and public health.	Camp Verde has a population of 13,163. The population grew by 1,143 over the last five years and is projected to grow by 1,131 over the next five years. State Route 260 West of I-17 provides access to approximately 2,0000 acres of commercial, industrial, and residential properties on both side of the highway. The area, located adjacent to one of the stateâ€™s main transportation corridors, is well situated for commercial, industrial, residential, and tourism growth. The southwest side of the SR 260 provides many services and opportunities such as Yavapai Countyâ€™s Justice Facility, sheriffâ€™s office substation, Out of Africa Wildlife Park, the recently announced FrameTec manufacturing property, and University of Arizonaâ€™s Meat Processing Facility. On the east side of SR 260, the Yavapai-Apache Nation maintains diverse commercial enterprises and as well as a residential community. The Yavapai-Apache Nation is located within the town limits. North of the Yavapai-Apache Nation exists many heavy commercial and industrial businesses including concrete, landscaping, winery, recreation vehicle parks, and recycling operations. The town and the Nation executed an Intergovernmental Agreement on July 8, 2022, regarding a Fee to Trust Land Agreement that sets out specifics of land acquisition by the Yavapai-Apache nation. This agreement recognizes the importance of partnership; preserving the Verde River watershed and managing the regionâ€™s water supply; and overall meeting the needs to serve Camp Verde citizens with economic opportunity and housing solutions. The Yavapai-Apache Nation is proceeding with the process to convert lands from fee to trust, and this will result in additional lands along HWY 260 for future development to meet the need for Tribal members and their families for housing, economic development, open space and cultural purposes. This project will expedite these developments. The Town of Camp Verdeâ€™s Vision as stated in its recent community and economic development plan is â€œWe successfully preserve our rich cultural history, agrarian heritage, and natural resources while fostering a strategically designed, resilient economy that supports a quality of life that enables our community to thrive.â€� The communityâ€™s prosperity is connected to the health of the Verde River and surrounding landscape; therefore, we balance community and economic development with the need to preserve such assets for current and future generations. The project is needed to facilitate business investment, job creation, workforce housing, elimination of septic systems, improved water quality, and preservation of the Verde River watershed. The poverty rate in Camp Verde in 2012 was 23.6%. An estimated 34% of children under 18 were below the poverty level, compared with 13% of people 65 years old and over. An estimated 25% of people 18-64 years were below the poverty level. Yavapai County and the State of Arizona have much lower poverty rates of 12.8% and 12.5% respectively. This means that Camp Verdeâ€™s poverty rate is 89% higher than the statewide average. This can be attributed to almost half of the community identifying Social Security as their primary source of income, and to the industry and occupation mix of jobs provided and currently filled in Camp Verde. If this project is not complete, development will be minimal resulting in less jobs and workforce housing. The development that does occur will likely utilize septic services impeding the Townâ€™s ability to improve water quality and the watershed. Grant funding for this project will expedite the construction by many years allowing the Town to continue development planning to ensure that development aligns with our communityâ€™s water conversation and sewer collection goals.	value1 value2	Long-term reductions in water use - The program will allow for treated wastewater effluent to be used for landscaping at Town parks, downtown, and other properties thus reducing overall water use. At a minimum, we anticipate reducing 90-acre feet annually which will continue to increase overtime development occurs along Hwy 260. Improvements in water use efficiency. - This will improve efficiency by eliminating outdated septic systems. This program will allow the Town to more efficiently treat, and measure wastewater use and recharge. Understanding usage will empower to Town better water conservation and long-term goals of safe yield.	Water supply shortages Groundwater depletion Water quality issues	Water supply shortages â€“ This program will allow us to capture wastewater to recharge back into the aquifer as well as reuse for Town purposes such as landscaping thus reducing the impact on our water supply. Groundwater depletion â€“ This program will allow us to capture wastewater to recharge back into the aquifer as well as reuse for Town purposes such as landscaping thus reducing the impact on our water supply. Water quality issues - This program will eliminate the need for septic systems thus putting waste into the Townâ€™s wastewater system for A+ water treatment of the effluent.	This project is supported in many of the local and regional planning efforts: â€¢ Town of Camp Verdeâ€™s 10-year General Plan (2016) â€“ The Townâ€™s General Plan has a vision to remain a community that values a high level of environmental quality with a strategy to promote conversation of water use through treated effluent and educational programs. Further, the 260 West Character Area was identified for commercial, industrial, recreational, and residential development. Link to plan, www.campverde.az.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/30/638005663542270000 â€¢ Townâ€™s 5-Year Community and Economic Development Plan (2022) â€“ This project is key for business development, workforce housing, and making the community a desired place to live and work. This project specifically is identified as the first strategic tactic to facilitate business attraction and expansion. This project supports the planâ€™s goals to leverage the Opportunity Zone (established in 2018) for quality business and housing development. Further, this project supports the planâ€™s goals to conserve and sustain the Verde River and its watershed. The following is a link to the plan, www.campverde.az.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/11875/638119863669100000 â€¢ 2020 Verde River Watershed Report Card â€“ This is a report card is a transparent assessment of Verde watershed health as of December 2019. The Report Card was produced by Friends of the Verde River, The Nature Conservancy, and the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. The Verde River flow is declining. The following is a link to the plan, verderiver.org/watershed-report-card/ â€¢ NACOG Community and Economic Development Strategy (2020-2025) â€“ This project aligns with goals to provide key infrastructure for business, housing, and workforce development. Further, the plan recognizes that water conservation is needed for future economic development and job creation for long-term fiscal sustainability of the Town and region. The following is a link to the plan, nacog.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/2020-2025-NACOG-CEDS.pdf â€¢ Verde Valley Regional Economic Organization (VVREO) Strategic Plan (2018-2023) â€“ This project aligns with regionâ€™s sustainability, talent attraction, and prosperous business pillars. Priority actions include attracting development thatâ€™s compatible with good stewardship of the environment; and supporting regional efforts to protect flows in Verde River and its tributaries to promote healthy aquifers. The following is a link to plan, vvreo.com/strategicplan.html	The long-term benefits are cleaner A+ wastewater effluent, ability to recharge aquifer, reuse of water for Town facilities and properties, protection of the Verde River watershed, and improved water quality. The cost of the project are straightforward, which is $4.5M and Townâ€™s staff time and future phased program costs and time.	This will be measured by the increased amount of flow to the Town wastewater treatment once the program is completed and septic systems have been abandoned. The Town will keep track of the number of septic systems abandoned and connect to the new sewer program. The Town will track gallons of wastewater reuse.	Those funding opportunities do not align with our program goals of expanding wastewater infrastructure; however, the current water supplies and augmentation need will be reduced by this project. Further the Town has WIFA loan for the design of this project and will likely be seeking more WIFA financing soon for additional program costs.	No, it would not. Without grant funding, the Town does not have the financial means to construct any phases of this program. The poverty rate in Camp Verde in 2012 was 23.6%. An estimated 34% of children under 18 were below the poverty level, compared with 13% of people 65 years old and over. An estimated 25% of people 18-64 years were below the poverty level. Yavapai County and the State of Arizona have much lower poverty rates of 12.8% and 12.5% respectively. This means that Camp Verdeâ€™s poverty rate is 89% higher than the statewide average. This can be attributed to almost half of the community identifying Social Security as their primary source of income, and to the industry and occupation mix of jobs provided and currently filled in Camp Verde. If this project is not complete, development will be minimal resulting in less jobs and workforce housing. The development that does occur will likely utilize septic services impeding the Townâ€™s ability to improve water quality and the watershed. Grant funding for this project will expedite the construction by many years allowing the Town to continue development planning to ensure that development aligns with our communityâ€™s water and sewer collection goals.	The overall Water & Wastewater Conservation and Reuse Program has the potential to leverage additional funding sources. The Town requested $5,000,000 of Congressionally Directed Spending funds for additional Phase 2 developments and is currently on the â€œrecommendedâ€� list for funding through Senator Sinemaâ€™s office (a final decision may be forthcoming in a few months). Town staff is currently working with the Arizona Department of Transportation on potential funding to help with additional portions of Phase 2. Town staff is also working on grant requests to further Phase 2 conservation activities through the Arizona Commerce Authority and the Economic Development Administration. Additionally, Town staff is working with developers and property owners about cost sharing components of future Phase 2 activities.	For future activities in Phase 2 such as Phase 2b and Phase 2c, there are opportunities for cost-sharing wastewater infrastructure with property owners and developers. Further, there are opportunities to partner with the Yavapai-Apache Nation on future activities. These conversations are currently taking place and are encouraged by the Town leadership.	The match consists of a few different sources. The match as indicated earlier in the application is $3,144,847. The Town will be using ARPA funding in the amount of $1,274,847 for the critical project completion (see below). The Town will use $250,000 of wastewater fees for the wastewater master plan. The Town utilized county flood control funds for the $120,000 for the mapping. The Town intends to secure financing of $1,500,000 from the SRF loan. For the remaining program gap funding, the Town requests $3,000,000 of WCGF funds. The following are the critical projects that will help the â€œWater & Wastewater Conservation and Reuse Program â€“ Phase 2a": Main Street sewer line and septic ($515,181), Dickison Circle drainage and waterline protection ($406,750), main repairs near I-17 ($24,522), Yaqui Circle ($40,490) Hauler Station upgrades ($235,508), and 3rd Street improvements ($52,396). To date, the Town invested $11,703,500 for Phase 1. This program started in 2022 with the Townâ€™s purchase of the Camp Verde Water Company ($10,000,000) for the purpose of the long-term control of the Townâ€™s water supply to ensure water supply conservation and broader public health. Since that time, the Town has invested in the creation of a new Utilities Department with acquisition/creation of water company staff (upwards of $250,000 annually). Additionally, Phase 1 included design of Phase 2 ($1,200,000), a water system master plan ($183,500) and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) ($70,000).	Jeff Low is the Utilities Director for the Town of Camp Verde with 25 years of water, wastewater, and stormwater experience including over 20 years of Arizona municipal work. Heâ€™s overseen large-scale infrastructure programs and routinely remained compliant with all state and federal funders. Additionally, his staff include the wastewater manager and Town Engineer. Further, the Town and our Utilities Director have good relationships with contractors implementing grant funded projects such as this. The Utilities Department team will work with other departments to implement and promote ongoing water conservation efforts.	Rick Engineering is completing the final design plans for all of Phase 2 and will be involved in the post-design management. The Town and Rick Engineering will bid the project out for construction. Additional costs will be associated with Rick Engineering post design services as well as additional staff time for construction management. No new Town staff is anticipated to be hired as a result of this funding request.	Yes, the Town has a great working relationship with the Yavapai Apache Nation, Friends of the Verde River, Yavapai County, and both the Prescott and Coconino National Forests.	There has been significant stakeholder involvement in this project. There was much community engagement in both the 10-year general planning process and the 5-year Community and Economic Development Strategic Planning process that both resulted in the water conservation and the Phase 2 water and wastewater infrastructures being a top priority for the community. In January 2023 ahead of the Townâ€™s budgeting process, citizens were engaged in a survey about how to prioritize the Townâ€™s budget. The need for water conservation and the Phase 2 program continues to be a top priority. Developers, property owners, and partner organizations are supportive of this project. Some of those include Yavapai County, Verde Valley Regional Economic Organization, Northern Arizona Council of Governments (NACOG), Arizona Public Service (APS), regional chambers of commerce, Friends of the Verde River, and new businesses like FrameTec.	Through all the phases of the Water & Wastewater Conservation and Reuse Program, the Town will work to promote water conservation through education. This will be administered in a multitude of ways such as mailings, social media, presentations, traditional media outlets, and other community engagement opportunities. Further, water conservation will remain a priority for the Town as we continue to work with new development.	Yes, there is. This program is key to the communityâ€™s long-term sustainability for housing, business development, and overall quality of life. It is supported by residents, businesses, developers, property owners, and partners. The need for water conservation and the Phase 2 program continues to be a top priority. Developers, property owners, and partner organizations are supportive of this project. Some of those include Yavapai County, Verde Valley Regional Economic Organization, Northern Arizona Council of Governments (NACOG), Arizona Public Service (APS), regional chambers of commerce, Friends of the Verde River, and new businesses like FrameTec.	It is highly feasible to have this completed by October of 2024. The design of all three phases of the program is almost finalized. The Town is actively engaged in acquiring easement land acquisitions necessary for the project. This project is a priority.	This is a tried-and-true activity for effective wastewater management. The Town of Camp Verde is behind when it comes to water conservation infrastructure. This project will allow us to better manage wastewater and conserve water. We routinely inform residents about our water conservation monthly and will continue to do so. We will incorporate educational signage at places such as the Sports Complex.	Yes, the Town will. The Town employs A+ wastewater treatment processes for our reuse water for the Sports Complex. The town is continuing to expand our sewer system to various areas which will further allow us to eliminate more septic systems thus continue to conserve water and promote wastewater efficiency and reuse.
14	Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and Power District	Beaver Creek Watershed and Wildlife Habitat Enhancement Project, Phase 1 & 2	Landscape watershed protection, restoration, rehabilitation to augment water supplies Per A.R.S. 49-1332(B)(5)	Project		Camp Verde	Yavapai	2	1 7	Beaver Creek and West Cleek Sub-watershed, Verde River Watershed			$250,000.00	$2,885,000.00	$3,135,000.00	46	0.00001467304625	Multiple studies conducted in forests in Northern Arizona conclude that the removal of forest cover and tree density increases water yields by decreasing evapotranspiration. To understand and quantify this beneficial relationship, SRP (Salt River Project) and Arizona State University created a hydrologic response model that quantifies the impacts of forest thinning treatments. SRP intends to run this model on the project area to determine a more precise water replenishment benefit estimate over the next ten years associated with juniper removal. Our estimated water savings are based on a similar watershed project water replenishment benefit. We did reduce the estimated benefits to account that less vegetation removal occurring on this project than the similar project. In addition, the water replenishment benefits decline over a ten-year period. The water savings/ per year assumes averaging the water replenishments over a ten-year period. Finally, water savings is derived from decreased evapotranspiration, which leads to increased soil moisture and potentially increased streamflow (if conditions are right).	The conservation activity will take approximately 2.5 years to complete. Then the water benefits will last for about 10 years. The wildfire risk reduction and land restoration benefits will last for about 20 years.	The project is a 3,135-acre area within the Beaver Creek watershed of the Coconino National Forest. The project is currently overgrown with juniper trees that are encroaching on grasslands and create fuel for large, high-severity wildfires. The project area has an exceedingly elevated risk of wildfire that could have devastating effects on U.S. Bureau of Reclamation owned water infrastructure and impair SRPâ€™s ability to provide reliable water supplies to the Phoenix Metropolitan area. The project goals are to move the forest on a positive trajectory by removing hazardous fuels, restoring forest structure, composition, and function. Restoring the forest will initiate the re-establishment of a fire-adapted, resilient, diverse, and sustainable forest ecosystem. The result will reduce the risk of uncharacteristic wildfire to municipal water supply watersheds in and adjacent to the project area. The major project activities include removal of invading woody species, primarily juniper, from grasslands and formerly healthy woodlands which will allow native grass, brush, and forb species to return. Phase 1 (Map Units A and F) will occur between October 2023 and October 2024 and will treat 1,916 acres. Phase 2 (Map Units C and E) will occur between October 2024 and October 2025 and will treat 1,219 acres. All phases and units in this project proposal (Phases 1-2; Units A, C, E, F) will be treated with hand thinning of invasive juniper across the unit. The resulting slash will be lopped and scattered.	The source of water that will be conserved is Verde River water that flows through the Salt River Project Reservoir system and delivered to approximately 2.5 million residents in the Phoenix Metropolitan area.	This project provides greater water supply reliability and infrastructure protection to the Verde River system. This system provides water supplies to Salt River Project's water service territory, which includes agricultural. irrigation, mining, and municipal water providers in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. The population of the SRP water service territory is 2.1 million people. The race/ ethnicity demographics of the SRP water service territory population are as follows: White 39.9% Pacific Islander 0.2% Black or African American 7.1% American Indian or Alaska Native 1.8% Asian 3.9% Hispanic 43.6% Two or more races 3.2% Other 0.2% Most industries need water supplies whether it is for creating a product, serving their workforce, or their customers. Ensuring reliable water supplies for the Phoenix Metropolitan area allows for greater economic development. SRP has seen a substantial growth in the following industries that will need reliable water supplies to succeed: Manufacturing, Data Centers, Warehouse/ Distribution, and Advanced/ Office, and Aerospace/ Aviation.	value3	One of the project goals is to apply large-scale nature-based solutions to increase the resilience of water supply for the Phoenix Metropolitan region. In addition, the project will increase water availability for the local ecosystem and reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire by removing hazardous fuels (small diameter trees), restoring forest structure, composition, and function. Restoring the forest will initiate the re-establishment of a fire-adapted, resilient, and diverse forest ecosystem. This work is essential to reduce wildfire risk and post-wildfire erosion and flooding to protect reservoir operations and sustain long-term water supply storage. The expected outcomes of this project include: -Increased water resiliency to benefit the Phoenix Metropolitan region and other downstream water users. -Increased regional water security through avoided wildfire and reduced risk to water supply infrastructure. -Reduced risk of sedimentation that significantly reduces long-term water storage capacity of regional reservoirs. -Reduced threats to water quality in key drinking water areas. -Restored forest resiliency. -Additional avoided wildfire emissions and delayed forest regeneration. -Enhanced habitat for Pronghorn antelope, mule deer, Loggerhead shrike, Ferruginous hawks, and other grassland-obligates habitat. -Community, infrastructure, and recreational opportunity protection.	Natural disasters that may impact water supply infrastructure	Avoided Wildfire and Restored Forest Resiliency The century-long exclusion of frequent, low-intensity wildfires has led to striking and rapid changes in the project areaâ€™s forested ecosystems. Baseline forest conditions have resulted in more trees, both alive and dead, increased susceptibility to insect and disease epidemics. The overgrowth of primarily juniper trees has changed forest/ grassland conditions causing frequent, low-intensity surface fires to increasingly larger contiguous fires. The project area consists of encroaching juniper and other woodland vegetation into grasslands, with tree densities ranging from 150 to 300 trees per acre on the project area. Desired conditions, which are the future conditions of a healthy forest, will have an average of 40-75 trees per acre. After implementation of removing these hazardous fuels by employing hand thinning treatments, a variety of forest/ grassland conditions would exist across the project area. The project area would be diverse with groups and patches of variable tree densities, including dense groups of trees and small areas of scattered individual trees. Large and old trees would be sustained over time across the landscape. The desired condition for the project area will allow for frequent low-severity surface fires that are natural to the project area. Overall, the project area would be resilient to disturbance, including insects, disease, wildfire, climate change, and would be sustainable through at least several generations of trees. Water Protection The Beaver Creek watershed is a tributary to the Verde River, which then flows downstream into the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation-owned and SRP-maintained reservoir system. High-severity wildfire is one the greatest threats to this unique environment and the Beaver Creek watershed. The potential threat of wildfire to the Verde River reservoir system as a domestic and municipal water supply is exemplified by the 2003 Hayman Fire in Colorado. This wildfire burned over 137,000 acres, impacting watersheds that provide domestic and municipal water to several cities, including Denver, along Coloradoâ€™s Front Range. Over a two-year period following the fire, water providers spent $25 million removing sediment from a water storage reservoir. This post-fire erosion response is typical of wildfire-impacted watersheds with reports of increases in sediment yield of over 1,400 times pre-fire conditions. In addition to sediment concentrations in surface waters, wildfires can result in an increase in nutrient (i.e., nitrogen and phosphorus) loading to water bodies resulting in an increase in algal growth and reduction in dissolved oxygen leading to fish kill. Runoff from wildfires contains heightened levels of nitrates, phosphates, heavy metals, total organics, and turbidity. For example, the 2002 Rodeo-Chediski fire produced significant post-wildfire increases in calcium, magnesium, potassium, sulfate, phosphorus, and nitrogen. â€œThe increased calcium and sulfur concentrations were about half of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencyâ€™s (EPA) drinking water quality standards, but the values for magnesium, potassium phosphorus, and nitrogen rose to 2 times, 5 times, 390 times, and 22 times, respectively, above EPA drinking water quality standards.â€� In addition, there were significant increases in lead, iron, copper, and arsenic levels post Rodeo-Chediski fire. â€œThe values [were] very high and dangerous, constituting of about 460%, 3000%, 300%, and 6850% of the U.S. EPA drinking water standards for lead, iron, copper, and arsenic, respectively.â€� Finally, â€œconductivity and turbidity levels increased by 422% and 1,020,000% above the U.S. EPA standards, respectively.â€� This type of water quality effects could be seen in the watershed if a catastrophic wildfire were to occur.	The proposed water conservation activity aligns to the Coconino National Forest Plan and Amendment 9; the Arizona Forest Action Planâ€™s Critical Forest Resource Issues of Ecosystem Health, Water, and Fire goals; the Arizona Wildlife Conservation Strategy; and the Decision Memo: Cedar Flat Wildlife Habitat and Watershed Enhancement Project, Red Rock District, Coconino National Forest, USDA-USFS. The project addresses multiple threats and actions addressed in several state and federal conservation plans. The project restores grassland habitat through removal of juniper species improving habitat for important wildlife and game species. Removal of invasive juniper enhances water availability in the watershed and decreases the threat of catastrophic fire. USFS Coconino National Forest Plan and Amendment 9 The project addresses the following objectives listed in the Coconino National Forest Plan and Amendment 9: 1) Manage habitat to maintain viable populations of wildlife and fish species and improve habitat for selected species, 2) Support the Arizona Game and Fish Department in meeting its objectives for the state, 3) Maintain, or where needed, enhance soil productivity and watershed condition, 4) Implement resource improvement projects that are cost-effective and/or are beneficial for maintaining and improving water quality, quantity, and soil productivity. and 5) Where seral grasslands are maintained in the pinyon-juniper woodland, eliminate invading vegetation through mechanical, chemical, or planned fire treatmentsâ€¦.â€� AZGFD Arizona Wildlife Conservation Strategy Shrub and woodland invasion into historic grasslands is identified as a threat in Arizonaâ€™s Wildlife Conservation Strategy (Strategy). The project area is also a part of the area covered within the Northern Arizona Grassland Initiative (NAGI) and the Northern Arizona Landscape Connectivity Alliance (NALCA). The Strategy identifies the threat as Problematic native species (8.2): Invasive and problematic species compete with native fauna, over-utilize native species, and cause habitat damageâ€¦resulting in increased woody debris, decrease in diversity of species, and increasing the potential for large and severe fires. Furthermore, the Strategy lists the associated Conservation Actions: 3.1) Management of specific species of concern and 3.2) Species recovery â€“ Manipulating, enhancing, or restoring specific plant and animal populations, vaccination programs. Department of Forestry and Fire Management (DFFM) â€“ Arizona Forest Action Plan (AZ FAP) The project addresses multiple Goals and Objectives within the AZ FAPâ€™s Critical Forest Resource Issues of Ecosystem Health (EH), Water, and Fire: EH Goal 1, Objective 1.1 to Continue to work with existing landscape scale collaborative efforts and develop strong collaborative support for focused management practices, such as forest restoration, fuel reduction, wildlife habitat and population management, urban community management, and treatments to control exotic pests and invasive plants, across integrated landscapes. Water Goal 1, Objective 3.2 Design fuels treatments strategically on the landscape to effectively reduce fire risk. Fire Goal 1, Objective 1.1 Use fuel reduction treatments to reduce excessive fuel loading to prepare fire-adapted landscapes for historic fire regimes through fuel treatment activities.	The on-the-ground implementation cost is $3,135,000. Additional staff resources and in-kind costs are not included in the budget of this proposal. SRP and the AZ Dept. of Forestry and Fire Management will incur these costs when implementing this project. There may be some temporary environmental impacts like soil erosion or track marks from equipment. The project has equipment and implementation requirements and best management practices that will be maintained by the contractors to lessen any temporary environmental impacts. The benefits of the project include water replenishment (outlined in question 6 and 11), water supply protection (outlined in question 12), restored forest resiliency (outlined in question 12) community and infrastructure protection, wildlife habitat improvement and recreation protection (outlined below). Community and Infrastructure Protection There are 7 Arizona Communities-At-Risk that are within 15 miles of the project area. The Beaver Creek watershed is a municipal water supply watershed that provides water supplies to downstream water users in Yavapai, Gila, and Maricopa County. A wildfire could damage long-term water storage infrastructure. In a 2018 study carried out by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) it was determined that the cost of repairing the damage from an uncharacteristic wildfire would be $293 million. Wildlife and Habitat Improvement The project area is a mix of grassland, juniper savanna, and juniper-pinyon woodland ecosystems and serves as winter season elk range and all-season habitat for pronghorn, antelope, and deer. Within the project area and common to Arizona, an estimated two-thirds of grasslands have been adversely impacted by disruption of natural fire regimes, invasions of woody vegetation and noxious weeds. The degraded status of grassland ecosystems within the project area impact species such as pronghorn, elk, mule deer, Loggerhead shrike, Ferruginous hawks, and other grassland-obligates. Ongoing drought and climate change are additional stressors to these arid ecosystems, reducing availability and function of natural water sources, which is placing additional demand on fabricated systems needed to sustain wildlife populations. Lack of water is a limiting factor for pronghorn in most remaining Arizona grasslands and limits several bat species, Northern leopard frogs, Chiricahua leopard frogs, Mexican Gartersnake, and other species of concern. The density of these species is at the point where overall watershed health is declining. Mechanical treatments that reduce the density of these tree species will help return the grasslands to a healthier state and make water more available (see water replenishment benefits).â€¯The desired forest conditions include better production of the understory vegetation including browse and herbaceous species that are important food sources for most of the wildlife species. Recreation Protection The Beaver and West Clear Creek Watershed contribute a substantial amount of water to the Verde River, which provides opportunities for a thriving economic sector. Based on estimates calculated by the National Audubon Society, $1 billion is generated annually from recreation on or along rivers, lakes, and streams in Yavapai County alone. Statewide, water-based recreation as an industry ranks above mining and golf in terms of total economic output to the state, contributing $7.1 billion to Arizonaâ€™s GDP. Additionally, 329,000 Arizona residents participate in outdoor recreation on or along waterways in Coconino County which generates 17,000 jobs. These recreation activities include boating, hiking, fishing, skiing, swimming, and camping. Not only are these activities beneficial to Arizonaâ€™s economy, but they are also fulfilling activities for the individuals participating in them, making them happier and healthier. Investing in the project provides the protection necessary to keep our waterways safe and continue attracting thousands of people to the area to enjoy recreational opportunities.	The effectiveness of the project is measured by the number of acres restored. Additional wildlife monitoring will be conducted by AZ Game and Fish and additional land management monitoring will be conducted by U.S. Forest Service.	This project is not eligible for LTWA or WSDA funding.	No, this is a large-scale and costly project that requires many partners to fund. The WIFA funding is a large part of the partner funding that is necessary to get the project off the ground.	Here is the breakdown of leveraged funding for this project: America the Beautiful Grant $1.5 million (requested, not secured federal funding) U.S. Forest Service $25,000 (secured federal funding) AZ Game and Fish Grant $485,300 (secured state funding) Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation $124,700 (secured non-profit funding) SRP Funding $750,000 (secured private funding)	Yes, we are cost sharing with federal and state agencies and a non-profit organization.	This project is not including in-kind match, only the costs to implement on-the-ground project activities. The following match sources include requested and secured funding. Federal match: $1,525,000 State match: $485,300 Non-profit match: $124,700 Private match $750,000 Total Match: $2,885,000	This project is being implemented by three main project partners: AZ Dept. of Forestry and Fire Management (DFFM), U.S. Forest Service (USFS), and SRP. USFS, DFFM and SRP have a unique partnership that allows the organizations to develop and implement forest restoration projects on National Forest System lands (NFS). This partnership utilizes two agreements. The first agreement is a Master Good Neighbor Authority agreement (GNA) between USFS and DFFM. This Master GNA allows USFS and DFFM to develop supplement project agreements (SPAs) to implement forest restoration projects for specific restoration projects. The second agreement, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between SRP and DFFM, allows SRP to help fund forest restoration projects being implemented by DFFM under the Master GNA. As an application of the MOU, SRP utilizes a consortium of funding such as grants, fundraising through private and public partnerships, and SRP matching funds. Then SRP pools the funding and provides a donation to DFFM to pay for the costs of implementing forest restoration projects. To date, this partnership has funded ten projects that are in various stages of implementation. The proposed project will utilize these partnership arrangements. Project Managers: Elvy Barton, Water and Forest Sustainability Manager for SRP has been leading SRPâ€™s forest restoration initiatives for the last 4 years. John Richardson, Deputy Forester for DFFM, currently oversees and administers all of the GNA forest restoration projects. Janie Agyagos, Wildlife Biologist for U.S. Forest Services, currently oversees wildlife enhancement projects.	There will not be significant management impacts or technology associated with this project. The project partners are well versed in implementing these types of projects with the existing staff and technology resources.	Yes, the project is a collaborative effort between SRP, USFS, DFFM, and AZ Game and Fish. The project partners have been working collaboratively for almost 1 year on this project. This includes project planning, funding, preparing, and hopefully implementation if all the funding is secured.	The USFS Cedar Flat Wildlife Habitat and Watershed Enhancement Project Decision Memo and the implementation strategy were both developed in a collaborative process including numerous stakeholder meetings and field trips and an opportunity for public comments. SRP has also engaged non-profit wildlife organizations to partner on the project.	Yes, USFS, DFFM, and SRP provide diverse types of communications to the public to learn about the restoration activities occurring. In addition, the partners invite interested stakeholders and partners to tour the project location to see the work taking place.	The project is supported by Federal and State government agencies, wildlife organizations and SRP. The project is also supported by the USFS who manages the multi-use land on the project area. Also, please see additional documents that outline partner support to secure additional grant funding for this project.	This project is 100% feasible if all of the funding is available to complete the work.	This project is a new project. No current activities are ongoing for the project.	No.
15	Ecoculture	Lower Salt River Restoration Program	Landscape watershed protection, restoration, rehabilitation to augment water supplies Per A.R.S. 49-1332(B)(5)	Program	The Lower Salt River Restoration Program (LSRRP) is a great example of a water conservation program due to the many benefits involved in this long term, multi-phase, collaborative effort. The LSRRP has implemented riparian restoration work on the Lower Salt River since 2018. This program implements landscape water protection activities by removing salt cedar trees and replanting with native species. This work creates a more biodiverse environment for flora and fauna in this area. A healthy riparian network can improve water quality and help replenish groundwater in the system. This program will consist of several projects, or phases, that will be completed by the end of 2026. The total area covered within this grant will encompass 150 acres and directly impact two heavily visited recreation sites on the Tonto National Forest. The result of this program will create a healthier watershed and promote a more reliable source of water, both at the groundwater and surface water levels. By removing invasive, monotypic stands of vegetation, this program reduces the chance of a catastrophic wildfire within the area. In addition, this program will educate the public on the importance of the Salt River through volunteer tree planting events, educational outreach, and community science activities, which help foster a deeper understanding of the importance of this program. Ecoculture is partnering with Scottsdale Community College on this grant proposal.	Approximately 30 miles east of Phoenix, Arizona and only a few miles outside of Mesa, Arizona within the Mesa Ranger District, Tonto National Forest.	Maricopa	4	23	Salt River Basin Watershed, HUC12 Unit Code 150601060302	Phoenix AMA	N/A	$1,247,933.35	$425,792.00	$1,673,725.35	27	0.00001613167895	Estimated water consumption by salt cedar has been heavily debated over the last two decades. Early estimates villainizing salt cedar as an invasive species that could consume up to 200 gallons of water per day have been largely disproven, with more recent estimates reflecting a consumption rate similar to native species. However, when considering the density at which salt cedar stands can grow, this tree-level daily use, at a landscape scale can become quite staggering. According to the Colorado River Basin Tamarisk and Russian Olive Assessment, water savings from the reduction of evapotranspiration through eradication of salt cedar amounts to one acre foot of water for every 1.85 acres of invasive plant removed, or .54AF/ac. treated. This program will treat 150 acres with salt cedar dispersed throughout the entire phase polygons. Based on the estimate of 0.54AF saved per acre of salt cedar removed, we estimate total water savings to equate to 27 acre feet of water conserved per year. This estimation assumes approximately â…“ of the total area is occupied by salt cedar. Contracted crews will cover the entire 150 acres during treatment to address all salt cedar present.	Treatment will begin January 2024 and extend through December 2026. A complete timeline detailing activities will be included as additional supporting documentation.	Salt Cedar Removal With funding from the WCGF, we propose to eradicate the invasive plant species salt cedar, also commonly known as tamarisk (Tamarix spp.), within 150 acres of the Lower Salt River Recreation Area, Mesa Ranger District, Tonto National Forest. With five consecutive years of experience managing this plant population on the Lower Salt River, we have developed unique management strategies to address salt cedar. Salt cedar will be treated with a cut stump spray method, which entails targeted application of herbicide to a freshly cut stump. Herbicide is then absorbed by the cambium or living tissue of the tree where it translocates to the root system, killing the plant. This targeted approach not only reduces the overall chemical footprint of management, it protects non-targeted vegetation such as native trees and shrubs. Ecoculture will contract hand crews from our long standing partner, GE Forestry, to complete this work. Fuels Reduction While living/standing salt cedar is extremely flammable in itself, treatment of dense populations of species such as salt cedar can result in excessive amounts of slash or woody debris, which represent fuel loads that can carry unintentional fire across the landscape. We have developed a novel management approach to mitigate the risk of wildfire related to treatment slash. As salt cedar populations are treated, crews will mulch all slash on site using a rubber tracked wood chipper. The compact design of the tracked wood chipper allows the equipment to access varying terrain with minimal ground disturbance. This management approach will drastically reduce fuel loads in the treatment areas, lowering the risk of catastrophic wildfire in this important riparian ecosystem. In addition to being safer, more economic, and less invasive than methods such as prescribed pile burning, chipping and spreading mulch on site will be used as a tool to suppress the establishment of other invasive plant species in the area. Together, these methods will safely and effectively reduce the presence of salt cedar in the area while minimizing the potential for negative impacts to the riparian ecosystem. Revegetation Efforts (Partnership with Northern Arizona University and Scottsdale Community College) Management objectives of the LSRRP do not end at the removal of invasive plant species. We utilize a unique approach known as assisted natural regeneration to promote the establishment and spread of native riparian plant populations following invasive species treatments. This approach utilizes two distinctive methods: First, by removing the competition factor associated with resources such as water, sunlight, and nutrients we promote natural regeneration by existing native plant populations. Second, we plant a diverse mix of native tree and pollinator species to promote establishment in areas where natural regeneration does not occur. All genetic material used to grow plants for the LSRRP is harvested either on site or from areas similar in elevation with slightly warmer temperatures. Five years into this effort, we have now sourced seeds from trees planted in earlier phases. This genetic material is then transferred to our partners at Northern Arizona University where trees are grown from time periods ranging from 10 weeks to one year depending on pot size. These efforts help to promote biodiversity of flora and fauna in the area and conserve one of the last remaining low-elevation desert riparian ecosystems in the state. Data Collection and Monitoring Over the last five years we have integrated a proven data collection monitoring protocol into the management of vegetation species on the Salt River. This method utilizes technology such as Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) or drones and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to mitigate the many challenges associated with traditional â€œboots on the groundâ€� monitoring. This approach significantly cuts the time, money, and personnel typically involved in monitoring while increasing efficiency and minimizing data collection error. Additionally, this protocol ensures data collection takes place biannually, providing a long term source for data analysis for a range of partners from the USDA Forest Service to local universities. We utilize UAS and GIS technology to map individual plant species within the restoration area on the Salt River. This data is used at every stage of our management process from planning of efficient treatment to monitoring the long term success of previous management actions. Community Outreach and Citizen Science Community outreach is core to our mission at Ecoculture. We believe fostering a culture of conservation in the local communities surrounding our restoration sites are key to the success of our conservation efforts. We offer multiple points of entry for the local community to become involved in our efforts on the Salt River. As part of this proposal we will continue to offer events such as volunteer tree planting and promotion of the conservation of the Salt River through our educational outreach program Green Drone AZ. Additionally, we will work with our partners at Scottsdale Community College to develop a citizen/community science effort related to work on the Salt River. We will plant a series of pollinator gardens within the restoration area. These areas will be fenced off to avoid herbivory. Together, the distribution of these plots will offer â€œpollinator islandsâ€� throughout the riparian habitat. Citizen scientists will be utilized to monitor these plots, collecting data on utilization by insects and wildlife species and long term distribution of seed sources from pollinator islands.	The source of the water to be conserved is the Salt and Verde Rivers. Delivered through the Salt River Project (SRP) canal system, these waters provide up to 60% of the drinking and irrigation water used in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area (PMA).	The 4.7 million residents of the PMA rely heavily on the water provided by the Salt River as a source for drinking and irrigation water. Demographically, populations within the PMA are 54% white, 32% Hispanic or Latino, 6% black or African American, 4% Asian, and 2% American Indian or Alaskan. The poverty rate of the PMA is 11.4%, with approximately 30% of the population representing low income families, or those that earn less than 200% of the federal poverty rate. The annualized unemployment rate is 4.9%. The PMA is one of the largest and fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the United States with a diverse economy driven by several key sectors: Real Estate and Construction Tourism and Hospitality Healthcare and Biotechnology Manufacturing Financial Services Education and Research Technology and Innovation Retail and Consumer Services	value1 value3	While water use is often studied at the point of cumsumption, less attention is paid to water loss at the source level. The Salt and Verde Rivers are the source of up to 60% of the drinking and irrigation water used by the 4.7 million residents of the PMA. Promoting and conserving healthy riparian ecosystems associated with these rivers is crucial to protecting this source of water. While daily tree-level water consumption of salt cedar is similar to that of native riparian trees in the southwest, the density of monotypic invasive plant populations can lead to significant water loss at the landscape level. Salt cedar populations have been mapped on the Lower Salt River in densities approaching 200 trees per acre. At this density, even conservative estimates of daily water use such as 32 gallons/day would result in over 2 million gallons of water loss/acre in a single year. Based on estimates of water savings related to the removal of invasive species such as salt cedar, this conservation activity will result in a reduction of water use of approximately 27 acre feet of water within the immediate watershed of the Salt River. This water in turn will be available to flow downstream and enter the canal system where it is distributed to the PMA as well as be used to bolster populations of native plant species improving the overall health and function of the riparian ecosystem. Together these actions will result in long term reductions in water use and improvements in water reliability related to the source of water crucial to residents of the PMA.	Water supply shortages Reliance on non-renewable water supplies Water quality issues Natural disasters that may impact water supply infrastructure	Healthy riparian ecosystems are natureâ€™s water conservation tool. Conserving and improving riparian ecosystems through the removal of salt cedar assists in addressing the following: Water Supply Shortages Aside from negatively impacting biodiversity and habitat value in riparian areas, water consumption and increased evapotranspiration of salt cedar is widely blamed for reduced water availability in waterways. By removing this nonnative vegetation, this conservation activity can assist in mitigating water supply shortages by increasing the overall water quantity available from the Salt River. Reliance of Non-Renewable Water Supplies and Groundwater Depletion Despite being located in the drought stricken southwest, Central Arizona is uniquely situated when it comes to sustainably sourcing water. The Salt and Verde Rivers are crucial to this scenario, providing a large percentage of the PMAâ€™s drinking and irrigation water. In turn this means the Phoenix Metro relies less on water from the Colorado River and wells or underground aquifers. While this conservation activity may not directly reduce the reliance on these non-renewable water supplies, conservation efforts in this riparian area can help to bolster water supply from the Salt River. By protecting this source, reliance on sources such as the Colorado River or underground aquifers can in fact be reduced. In addition, by slowing water runoff, healthy riparian areas increase infiltration and assist in the replenishment of underground aquifers. Water Quality Issues Riparian areas act as natural filtration systems, slowing runoff and filtering out sediments and pollutants that would otherwise enter a water way. Vegetation associated with riparian areas helps to stabilize stream banks and reduce erosion. Salt cedar can alter the natural hydrological patterns of waterways, with dense growth restricting water flow and causing channelization, creating narrower and deeper water channels. This can lead to increased velocity and erosion by impacting the stability of stream banks. By improving riparian health and function through the removal of salt cedar and establishment of native plant populations, the quality of water entering the waterway is improved by reducing sediment and pollutants from upland sources. Natural Disasters That may Impact Water Supply Infrastructure The Lower Salt River Recreation Area is one of the most heavily visited National Forest areas in the country, attracting over 1 million visitors annually. With this large human presence comes the increased risk of unintended wildfire. Wildfires can bring negative impacts to water supply by threatening infrastructure and increased rates of sedimentation in the form of ash entering the waterway. This conservation activity will decrease the risk of catastrophic wildfire in the area by reducing fuel loads and limiting connectivity of highly flammable populations of salt cedar. By mulching all slash resulting from treatment, the risk associated with increased fuel loads is mitigated entirely. Furthermore, healthy riparian areas reduce negative impacts associated with flooding. The Lower Salt River is a key component of the over 150 mile system which stores and delivers water from high elevation mountains to the residents of the PMA. Ensuring this ecosystem remains intact and healthy, protects a critical portion of this system.	The removal of salt cedar has become an increasingly popular aspect of Arizonaâ€™s statewide, regional and local water plans. Salt cedar is widely recognized as a highly water consumptive plant which has the potential to increase erosion and decrease water quality. Thus the treatment of this invasive plant has become an integral part of the state's water plan, and aligns with previous and current efforts summarized at local, regional and statewide scales below: In 2003, the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) launched the Salt Cedar Control Program. This program has removed over 1 million salt cedar trees from Arizona waterways, saving an estimated 100 million gallons of water each year. The city of Phoenix has a Salt Cedar Control Ordinance that requires property owners to remove salt cedar trees from their property. This ordinance has helped to reduce the amount of salt cedar in the city by over 50%. SRP has a Salt Cedar Control Program that removes salt cedar trees from SRP-owned property. This program has helped to reduce the amount of salt cedar in the SRP service area by over 75%. In 2022, Arizona Congress introduced the Drought Resiliency, Innovation, and Planning Act (DRIP), bipartisan legislation that has the potential to make a significant impact on water conservation and drought mitigation in Arizona. This bill directs the Department of Agriculture to establish a competitive grant program to (1) remove nonnative plant species in riparian areas that contribute to drought conditions, (2) replace those nonnative plant species with native plant species, and (3) maintain and monitor riparian areas in which nonnative plant species have been removed and replaced.	The costs associated with the proposed work is largely Ecoculture staff time and subcontractor fees. Ecoculture staff will work hand-in-hand with subcontractor crews to ensure proper treatment is achieved and Best Management Practices (BMPs) are followed. The benefits of this work and using the forestry crews we do is that we develop a great form of camaraderie. In addition to the teamwork component, Ecoculture learns why this work is so meaningful to the forestry crew members. The upfront benefit from this work is a reduction in salt cedar, increase in native vegetation, a more diverse habitat, and increased recreational experiences for visitors. By reducing salt cedar across the landscape, Ecoculture estimates 27 acre-feet of water per year to be conserved. Ecoculture does not anticipate any environmental impacts associated with this program. Ecoculture will supply a spill kit, eye rinsing station, and more to be prepared in case an incident does occur.	The shift from salt cedar dominant habitat to a more biodiverse and healthy ecosystem can be measured through biannual drone monitoring and community science data collection. Ecoculture has collected biannual multispectral drone imagery in previous phases of the LSRRP to determine salt cedar reduction and native tree composition. Acres of removed salt cedar will be calculated and over time, native species rigor can be evaluated based on tree canopy growth. Each phase of the LSRRP receives two retreatments to ensure salt cedar trees have been removed from the area. Our previous work has shown a salt cedar mortality rate of greater than 90% after initial treatment and two retreatments. Implementing a community science component to the LSRRP will also provide tangible data for unique analyses. In phases that have yet to be treated, plots will be established and community science members can record findings that include but are not limited to: bird species, plant species, pollinators observed, sounds heard, and more. Once these phases undergo treatment, we will have pre- and post-treatment data to confirm effectiveness based on an increase in biodiversity.	No, Ecoculture is not a water provider as required by the Water Supply Development Fund. Ecoculture is a a nonprofit or NGO, which is not supported under the Long-Term Water Augmentation Fund as this fund does not issue grants.	Ecoculture remains active by looking for other grants which support watershed health and restoration. If Ecoculture is not awarded funding through the Water Conservation Grant Fund, Ecoculture will apply to future grants to fund this work.	To date, over $1 million of non-federal funds have been invested into the LSRRP. Ecoculture currently has funding from the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management (AZDFFM), the US Forest Service - Tonto National Forest, and The Boeing Company. These funds are either currently allocated to Phase 4 of the LSRRP, or are being used to support our educational outreach program and drone monitoring of the LSRRP. As stated previously, Ecoculture remains active in seeking additional funding to support the LSRRP.	The US Forest Service - Tonto National Forest and AZDFFM have secured funding to support the LSRRP. In addition, the National Forest Foundation works to support the LSRRP by locating corporate funders to contribute to the cause. Our program match funds do exceed the minimum 25% required for this grant, which can be found within the budget.	Below is a list of match sources and their respective amounts. Volunteer hours through volunteer tree planting events: $38,160.00 One Tree Planted and Arbor Day Foundation: $40,000.00 Tonto National Forest: $100,000.00 AZDFFM Invasive Plant Grant Funding: $75,000.00 The Boeing Company: $75,000.00	Our team at Ecoculture has been leading reforestation and restoration programs for over a decade. We got our start leading small reforestation projects in the Southwestern United States testing genetic variation in plant tolerance to global warming. These projects ranged from 4,000 to 20,000 trees per site. We implemented over 100 projects in the Southwest and gained an appreciation of the logistic and technical efficiency needed to plant thousands of trees per day while maintaining scientific rigor. More recently, we have dramatically expanded the scale and distribution of these efforts. In 2022, our organization oversaw the planting of 250,000 trees in Arizona, California, Nevada, Colorado and Puerto Rico. We have been managing conservation efforts on the Salt River since 2018, treating over 300 acres for the removal of invasive plant species such as salt cedar. Over the last five years, as this effort has evolved, we have fine tuned treatment methods and mastered the art of adaptation and problem solving. In addition to treatment of invasive species, our assisted natural regeneration approach relies on varying methods to promote the establishment of abundant and diverse native vegetation communities following treatment. Ecoculture develops landscape restoration programs that promote a culture of conservation. The core of our process is scaling up landscape restoration in cooperation with local communities to achieve meaningful ecological and social benefits. In doing so, we develop regional networks that incubate green jobs and entrepreneurs, educational programs that foster the next generation of environmental thinkers and doers, and design new technologies that increase restoration effectiveness. Driven by broad community participation, our approach creates economic synergies and strengthens long-term sustainability of our programs. Ecoculture Personnel Dr. Kevin Grady: Director/Principal Investigator- Dr. Grady has over 20 years of experience managing and implementing ecological restoration programs in the United States and internationally. Christopher Updike: Operations Manager- Mr. Updike has over 10 years of experience managing and implementing restoration programs in the United States and internationally. Jacob Draper: Program Manager- Mr. Draper has eight years of experience in natural resource management. Mr. Draper holds a BS in Natural Resource Ecology and a Graduate Certificate in GIS. In addition, he has an active herbicide applicator license and FAA Part 107 UAS license. Mr. Draper has been managing conservation efforts, outreach programs, and UAS data collection on the Salt River since 2019. Justin Eddinger: Program Manager- Mr. Eddinger has eight years of experience in natural resource management. Mr. Eddinger holds a BS in Environmental Resource Management and a Masters of Advanced Study in GIS. Mr. Eddinger has been managing conservation efforts, outreach programs, and GIS data collection on the Salt River since 2018.	With over five years of experience managing vegetation populations on the Salt River, our team has utilized adaptive management procedures to minimize management impacts that challenge the completion of our objectives. From sourcing genetic material that will be best suited for changing temperatures, to utilizing best management practices for treatment of invasive species, and implementing novel monitoring techniques using cutting edge technology. Our team offers a one stop solution to landscape restoration of riparian areas in the southwest. The restoration work we perform is coupled with our data collection and educational outreach efforts, building long term sustainability in our programs by engaging a diverse variety of stakeholders and minimizing the need for additional costs or staffing requirements.	Collaborative partnerships are key to our mission at Ecoculture and to the success of our conservation efforts. We were recently awarded the Ponderosa Pine Partnership Award from AZDFFM for outstanding community partnerships related to our ongoing efforts on the Lower Salt River. Our work has united federal and state agencies, universities, local corporations, nonprofit organizations, and the local community with a common goal of conserving the public lands, watershed, and waterways that we so desperately depend on in Arizona. Our work has been supported by large corporations such as Intel who depend on Arizonaâ€™s water, and aim to reach net positive water use by 2030. For five years we have worked to build a community around conservation of the Salt River, one that ranges from the 5th grader to the CEO. These collaborative partnerships are crucial to the long term sustainability and success of this effort.	The Tonto National Forest provides archaeological clearances required before ground disturbance activities initiate. Biologists on the Mesa Ranger District also provide input on bald eagle nesting sites and areas to avoid during treatment. The Tonto National Forest also supplies staff to provide program support, whether this is through assistance on volunteer days, or completing required National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documentation. The Tonto National Forest supports the ongoing work along the Lower Salt River and has provided a letter of support to express their support.	The core methodology to Ecocultureâ€™s restoration work involves engaging the local community. The work proposed within the LSRRP will include several opportunities for the public to participate in tree planting events. Ecoculture has hosted as many as 200 volunteers at a single event. Not only do these volunteers get to plant trees within the restoration area, but they also get to learn more about the local area, where our water comes from, the importance of the river, and why restoration and conservation work in riparian areas are so important. In addition to tree planting events, Ecoculture has a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) program called Green Drone AZ. This program is used to educate youth in grades 6-12 on how technology is used to assist with natural resources management. Green Drone AZ provides students and teachers with educational resources related to drones, natural resource management, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology, and how all of these can be used to help address real-world environmental problems. To date we have engaged over 1,200 youth across the state in this program. This educational program will be incorporating more water sustainability and conservation material in the 2023/2024 school year. Green Drone AZ will serve as another public resource for the local community to engage in to learn about the LSRRP, and Ecocultureâ€™s work at a larger scale.	The local community is very supportive of the LSRRP. Companies such as Intel, Salt River Project, and The Boeing Company have contributed funding to support this work. Ecocultureâ€™s work on the Lower Salt River has won awards for community involvement, partner collaboration, and even an award from Arizona Forward for environmental excellence.	Ecoculture has managed restoration work on the Lower Salt River since 2018. We have an extensive group of partners, including contractors, with a plethora of experience to make a program like this a reality. The LSRRP operates in different phases which allows us to complete sound restoration work while remaining on track for program completion. To date, four phases have been completed totalling over 300 acres of riparian habitat.	Four phases have been completed on the Lower Salt River since 2018. The proposed LSRRP will build on our momentum and goal to treat salt cedar along the 14-mile stretch of the Lower Salt River. We have documented a mortality rate of greater than 90% with salt cedar in completed restoration areas. We use drones to collect imagery on a biannual basis, spring and fall. We can then use GIS technology to analyze ground cover, canopy growth, and expansion of native or desired species within each phase. This same protocol will be conducted for the proposed work, in addition to adding a community science component.	The Forest Service and the state of Arizona have established best management practices (BMPs) for treating salt cedar. These BMPs are designed to minimize the negative impacts of salt cedar treatment on the environment and human health. The following are some of the key BMPs for treating salt cedar in Arizona: Use the least amount of herbicide necessary to achieve the desired results. Apply herbicides only when environmental conditions are favorable for herbicide activity. Dispose of herbicide waste properly. Protect water quality by preventing herbicide runoff and drift. Avoid treating salt cedar near sensitive areas, such as wetlands, drinking water sources, and wildlife habitat. Notify the appropriate authorities before treating salt cedar. Four phases have been treated on the Lower Salt River using these BMPs. Ecoculture will continue to implement these BMPs while remaining in constant communication with the Tonto National Forest.
16	Snowflake Town of	System wide water meter replacement program with new meters and AMI radio read modules.	Programs or projects to improve groundwater conservation and surface water flows.	Program	This water conservation program is a multi-year system wide replacement of water meters and an upgrade to radio read meters. Because the goal is to ensure customers are charged for the total amount of water utilized and the upgrade to radio read technology which will lead to reduced manpower and equipment use to read and bill for water usage, this program is too large for the Town to complete quickly and encompasses a multi-year/phase time frame.	The Town of Snowflake Arizona is in Navajo County in east/central Arizona. Snowflake is in Federal legislative district #2 and Arizona legislative district #7. Snowflake is not currently in an active groundwater management area.	Navajo	2	7	Little Colorado River Basin	N/A	N/A	$732,418.50	$244,139.46	$976,557.96	18	0.00001843208569	Upon completion of Phase #3 of this conservation activity, the Town will have a better handle on the water savings. Using a conservative estimate of a 5% reduction in water pumped upon completion of this conservation activity the Town would realize a 5,916,000 gallon per year reduction or 18.14 acre feet per year.	Three years	1. Embark on Phase One (replacement of approximately 500 meters and installation of radio read modules along with purchase of an interrogator, base station, mapping module, software, etcâ€¦.) of a system wide, turnkey residential meter replacement program utilizing radio read meters and associated billing program. Many of the Townsâ€™ existing water meters are in excess if twenty (20) years old and have recorded over one million (1,000,000) gallons of flow. Once Phase One is complete the Town would be able to immediately begin billing with the new meters and program which would significantly increase revenues and greatly enhance their ability to track and reduce water loss. Using radio reads would also reduce the errors inherent in manually reading and recording the meter reads on paper along with reducing the labor, equipment, and other resources necessary to manually read meters. The laborious process of transferring the meter readings from paper into the billing computer would also be significantly shortened. The Town intends to continue this conservation activity in Phases 2 (replacement of approximately 500 meters and installation of radio read modules) and Phase 3 (conversion of approximately 1,000 previously installed meters to radio read technology) until all residential, multi-family and commercial meters 1â€� and below are replaced with new meters and radio read modules. 2. Install new radio read equipped water meters (approximately 10) on all Town owned buildings, parks, and irrigation lines to track water use. This component will not increase revenues as the Town does not charge itself for water usage, however for the first time, it will allow the Town to accurately track the amount of water used by these facilities. Being able to track water usage in these areas will also aid in locating leaks and in the case of the irrigation lines, ensure the vegetation is not being overwatered.	The Town of Snowflake sources 100% of its potable water from groundwater wells.	The Town of Snowflake Arizona is a small (Population 6,104) rural community with a rich history and strong sense of faith and community. Like many rural, blue-collar municipalities, Snowflake has limited funds available for major capital improvement projects to provide adequate, sustainable water delivery in the varied climatic conditions they experience. The Town of Snowflake lies in a broad valley in east-central Arizona at an elevation of 5,686 feet with the Mogollon Rim to its west and the White Mountains to the south. The Town is in Navajo County and although small in population, its incorporated area covers Thirty (30) square miles, which is indicative of a huge potential for growth. The GPS coordinates for Snowflake are 34Â°30'23.99''N l 110Â°04'35.40"W.	value1 value2 value3	Replacing obsolete and under recording water meters has proven to be one of the best options to reduce overall water use. Under recording water meters do not give customers a true picture of their actual water use so they tend to utilize more water than they should. Charging for all water passing through the water meter and using meters which have the ability to track daily and hourly water use are a tremendous tool for identifying small leaks of which a customer may not be aware. Even a small toilet leak (0.25 GPM) from the tank into the bowl can add up quickly. Over the course of a month this could literally waste 10,800 gallons per month. By giving the Town and its residents a tool to accurately track water use, it should significantly decrease overall water use throughout the system. Water efficiency will improve because once this conservation activity is complete the customers will normally voluntarily reduce their water use (especially if coupled with a conservation-based rate system) which gives the Town less water to pump reducing operational costs and withdrawing less from the aquifer. The cost and labor to read and bill the new meters will reduce dramatically. Instead of multiple meter readers fanning out across the Town with several vehicles which stop and start continually as they get out to read the meters, they will have one vehicle and meter reader driving the streets while the meter readings automatically download into the interrogator. Pumping less water from the aquifer and reducing overall water use will help ensure the Town has sufficient additional capacity for unexpected water emergencies and future generations.	Water supply shortages Reliance on non-renewable water supplies Groundwater depletion Water quality issues Natural disasters that may impact water supply infrastructure	The goal of this conservation activity is to reduce overall water pumpage and ensure customers are being charged for all water passing through their meter. Reduction in water pumped will directly result in additional water being available in the aquifer to counter any short or long-term water supply shortages. This coupled with the Towns drought and water shortage emergency plan will help blunt any water shortages. While this conservation activity may not directly address non-renewable water supplies, pumping less from the aquifer will extend the life of the water supply in this area. Limiting ground water depletion is a common theme for the Town as they continue to grow. By educating the residents on water conservation and installing new meters they will also get a much better understanding of how important it is not to waste water. The increase in revenue (Town of Taylor realized a 25% increase in billed water after installing 525 meters in Phase One of their conservation activity) will bolster the water fund and allow for other improvements to enhance their conservation goal. An increase in billed water means many customers are going to finally pay their fair share for water and the increased cost will lead them to repair small leaks and reduce usage, all of which help reduce groundwater depletion. The more water a system pumps the harder it can be to maintain water quality. By reducing pumpage, the treatment costs are less and by not putting a strain on the distribution system it helps to maintain consistent water quality. By reducing the overall pumpage, if a natural disaster did occur which damaged some infrastructure it would be easier to maintain operation. For example, if a water production well were damaged and had to be taken offline; with a reduction in overall pumpage itâ€™s likely other components of the system could make up the difference and keep the system compliant.	Reduction in overall pumpage and the presentation of conservation activity to residents is a goal of local, State and Federal agencies. The ADEQ mandated drought and water emergency preparedness plan along with the Townâ€™s conservation program tie directly into this conservation activity.	This conservation activity would benefit the own in several ways which include: â€¢ Being able to accurately read and bill all Town meters will increase revenue which the town intends to utilize for future capital improvements from their 5-year CIP. â€¢ An increase in reading accuracy translates into customers knowing exactly how much water they are using and has been proven to increase water conservation and awareness. â€¢ The switch to radio reading technology will decrease the time it takes to read the meters each month as a single meter reader would drive the meter routes and the interrogator would receive the readings automatically. This would negate all the vehicle starts and stops the meter readers currently make to walk the numerous routes. It will also reduce the fuel usage and maintenance costs for their vehicles. A similar program in Taylor, AZ has shown a reduction in meter reading costs of up to sixty percent (60%)	Measures the Town will track to determine the effectiveness of this conservation activity include: â€¢ Any increases to the billed water amount which should be apparent after Phase One and Two. â€¢ Reduction in costs to read and bill the meters which will include labor cost, fuel savings and less maintenance for the meter reader truck (s). (The Town of Taylor realized a 60% reduction in meter reading costs and a 65% in billing costs) â€¢ It may take a year or two for the customers to curtail their water use enough to significantly reduce the water pumped but itâ€™s anticipated that by the time Phase #3 is completed Snowflake should realize significant reduction in water pumped.	Because this is a three-year program the use of the long-term funding mechanisms is impractical.	Due to the cost of a system wide water meter replacement program the Town has only been replacing non-functioning and leaking water meters but not installing the costly remote read modules. The modules require expert installation and to be effective the meters must have the associated reading and billing hardware/software, none of which the Town can fund without grant assistance.	The Town fully intends to take advantage of additional funding sources, both local and federal, to continue their quest to protect groundwater supplies. Successful completion of this activity will provide both residents and future funding sources proof of the Townâ€™s ability to manage and complete these types of activities.	While there are not actually cost-sharing opportunities with other entities, the Town of Taylor has recently been awarded a Phase Two grant by the BOR for a continuation of their system-wide meter replacement and upgrade project. They have already gone through the procurement process for new meters, radio read modules and associated equipment and have agreed to let Snowflake piggy-back off their pricing which has also been agreed to by the meter supplier. This would save Snowflake the cost, labor, and time to solicit this pricing on their own.	Town of Snowflake fund balance	The Town has utility staff that are well trained in this type of water system upgrade and they have been instrumental in identifying obsolete, under reporting and leaking water meters. The Town Manager is well versed with utility operation and has overseen numerous Town and Federally funded programs. The Town has retained Sustainable Water Operations whose founder, Dan Lueder, has over 45 years of utility and public works experience. Dan has written numerous grant and loan applications for a varied collection of utilities and throughout his career has been instrumental in the concept, design, construction, and operation of over one hundred million dollars in capital improvement projects. Dan recently assisted the Town of Taylor write the applications for their two successful meter replacement and upgrades grants from the BOR.	This conservation activity will not have adverse impacts on management as it will reduce the labor, time and cost of reading and billing water usage which will lessen the staff impact and allow additional time to complete other operational tasks. The increased accuracy of the water reads will eliminate mis-reads and re-reads along with ensuring all water used is calculated, the type of meter being installed also allows for collection and print out of water use and identifies potential leaks in the customers plumbing. This will result in reduced customer complaints, which often times involves management reviewing the information and formulating a decision.	The neighboring Towns of Taylor and Snowflake collaborate on many issues and currently share public safety services. This conservation activity was chosen based on recommendations from Taylor and the success of their activity. This conversation activity will be actively promoted to residents along with other conservation issues/recommendations to keep the process transparent and garner additional support for water conservation and water related issues.	Town staff was instrumental in identifying water meters that were not working or under recording. Staff is fully supportive of the conservation activity as is the Snowflake Town Council who have passed resolutions in support of these activities.	The Town will reach out to all residents, particularly those in the area of this conservation activity, to inform and keep them apprised of the progress of this activity. Because Snowflake is a tight knit community the residents welcome being informed, this is accomplished through postings, public meetings, and direct mailings.	Snowflake residents understand the importance of protecting the areaâ€™s finite potable water supply and have been supportive of conservation activities. The Snowflake Town Council wholeheartedly supports this activity.	The Town has utility staff that are well trained in this type of water system upgrade, and they have been instrumental in identifying substandard and under-reporting water meters. The Town Manager is well versed with utility operation and has overseen numerous Town and Federally funded programs. The Town has retained Sustainable Water Operations whose founder, Dan Lueder, has over 45 years of utility and public works experience. Dan has written numerous grant and loan applications for a varied collection of utilities and throughout his career has been instrumental in the concept, design, construction, and operation of over one hundred million dollars in capital improvement projects. Dan recently assisted the Town of Taylor write the applications for their two successful meter replacement and upgrades grants from the BOR.	Snowflake shares common borders with the Town of Taylor who is about to embark on Phase #2 of the meter replacement conservation activity. Snowflake and Taylor share services and collaborate on numerous issues and when the Snowflake Town Manager reviewed the effectiveness of the Taylor project, he determined this would be a good fit for Snowflake. This type of conservation activity has been proven effective across the country and is recognized as being a tremendous tool for water conservation.	Yes, this conservation activity will be implemented using Best Management Practice, the meters are all AWWA approved, and the reading and billing equipment has been successfully utilized by thousands of utilities across the country.
17	Tempe City of	Nonfunctional Turf Removal at City Parks	Programs and projects that reduce water use Per A.R.S. 49-1332(B)(2)	Program	This is for a Water Conservation Program, consisting of at least three separate projects conducted over two years. Tempe proposes the conversion of non-functional turf into desert landscape at three of its City Parks, located in central, south and northern Tempe and to be completed by the end of the 2023-2024 fiscal year.	Tempe, Arizona	USA	4	8 9 12	Sources of water supporting Tempe stem from the Salt, Gila, Verde and Colorado River watersheds.	Phoenix AMA		$80,244.54	$26,748.18	$106,992.72	2	0.0000186928606	This water conversion program is estimated to save 2.37 acre-feet per year from projects implemented in 2023-2024, which will equate to 71.16 acre-feet over thirty years. The estimated water savings is based on the number of inches of water needed for turf landscapes as compared to a landscape featuring desert-adapted plants. Factors that contribute to water needs include weather and evapotranspiration, crop coefficient and irrigation efficiency. Tempe utilizes the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association (AMWUA) Landscape Water Budget calculator to create water budgets for landscapes. This project is estimated to remove 27,605.00 square feet of nonfunctional turf from three of its city parks. This calculator was developed by turf and irrigation specialists in Arizona, with input from the University of Arizona Turfgrass Management School and CAL Poly University. Tempe and other AMWUA members have utilized the calculator to generate water budgets since 2001. The total square feet of turf removed for the proposed water conservation activity was entered into the water budget as turf and as desert-landscape. The calculator resulted in an estimated 28 gallons of water saved for each square foot of turf removed and replaced with a desert landscape at about 45.5% density and at 80% distribution uniformity. It is important to note that the water savings provided is conservative. The original irrigation system is assumed to be watering at a suitable efficiency rate for a sprinkler system (70% efficiency) and assumed to have no leaks or runoff due to nonfunctional location. Actual water savings may be much higher.	The proposed conversions would be completed before the end of 2023.	Tempe proposes to remove 27,605.00 square feet of nonfunctional turf from three of its city parks, saving an estimated 772,940.00 gallons of water (2.37 acre-feet) annually. This nonfunctional turf are located in areas that are difficult to irrigate, such as against walls and on steep slopes.	The sources of water utilized at the proposed parks, Goodwin, Creamery and Dwight, include comingled potable water, which may be supported by several sources of water, including Salt River Project (SRP) member water, New Conservation Space water delivered by SRP and groundwater comingled with surface water.	The Tempe Water Services area spans 40 square miles and supports a diverse demographic of 192,687 residents who reside in the City of Tempe and Town of Guadalupe. Tempe is a unique provider in that non-residential water uses account for about half of the water used in the service area. As such, it is very important for Tempe to model water conservation best practices for its residential, commercial and industrial customers.	value1 value2 value3	Turf conversions permanently transform the water demands of a landscape, which lead to long-term reductions in water use. In 2020, the City of Tempe conducted an analysis of the landscape conversion program and found that the majority of private-side conversions (95.6%) were still converted to desert landscape 28 years later. As these are public facilities and the turf removed is nonfunctional and very difficult to water efficiently, these are almost certainly permanent transformations. Turf conversions of non-functional turf lead to greater water use efficiency for the remaining functional turf. The 12,605 square feet of nonfunctional turf identified for removal are located along the perimeter of the park, adjacent to nearby infrastructure, such as walls, or on top of steep slopes. These are areas are notoriously difficult to water and maintain without runoff or overspray into other areas. Turf conversions of non-functional turf maximize the usage of the water available to the City of Tempe, leading to long-term improvements in water reliability.	Water supply shortages	Tempe is determined to lead the way by setting an example for residents, businesses, institutions and neighborhoods in Tempe and Guadalupe. Maintaining non-functional turf is a waste of water, and Tempe intends to set an example for the entire service area by eliminating water waste. Setting a strong example for efficient and effective use of water in Tempe is especially important as 20% of Tempeâ€™s land is currently reliant on imported water from the Colorado River through the Central Arizona Project and groundwater. Additionally, the land areas most dependent on imported water are also the areas that are experiencing the most growth and development. Removing non-functional turf within visible locations in the service area, especially on City of Tempe property, sets a positive example for how Tempe water customers can maintain the quality of life they expect, while reducing unnecessary water usage. Additionally, maximizing the use of existing resources will increase Tempeâ€™s resiliency and preparedness for any water supply shortage scenario.	Tempeâ€™s proposed turf conversion water conservation activity is aligned with several water resource management plans, including the following: -The Arizona Department of Water Resources 4th Management Plan for the Phoenix Active Management Area Non-Per Capita Water Conservation Program -Tempeâ€™s Water Resources Plan -Tempeâ€™s General Plan 2040 -Tempeâ€™s Water Resources Plan and Utility Master Plan	The costs of the program include labor and supplies inclusive in the process of conversion, which includes: -Removing the turf -Converting and installing new irrigation systems -Installing decomposed granite -Installing shrubs, groundcover and plants Immediately after a conversion, the desert landscape may be warmer and drier than the turf that it replaced. It is important not to convert turf located in areas with established trees that may not be able to survive the transition. To protect tree assets, Tempeâ€™s Urban Forester evaluates every landscape conversion project and provides recommendations to ensure the conversions are properly conducted. The benefits of the conservation activity include the following: -Increased watering efficiency -Reduced water demand of the landscape -Replacement of high-water-use, exotic turf with desert-friendly plants -Reduced damage of nearby infrastructure from reduction of runoff -Promotion of desert-friendly plants -Promoting Tempeâ€™s water efficiency as an example for the service area	The primary measurement of effectiveness will be measuring pre- and post- water consumption utilizing water meters associated with the landscapes being converted.	No, the proposed water conservation activity is not eligible for WIFAâ€™s Long-Term Water Augmentation Fund.	Several Parks infrastructure improvement projects have been included in the Capital Improvement Project for the City of Tempe Parks Division. These projects include improvements and upgrades to aquatics, ballfields, community centers, community gardens, irrigation, lake improvements, landscape buffers and turf improvements, lighting, paths, playgrounds and more. However, the CIP budget is currently over-allocated, so the grant funding would ensure the removal of non-functional turf from at least three city parks that are slated for renovations. Incorporating the removal of non-functional turf during the course of a park improvement is not only a positive for water conservation, but it also makes financial sense, as construction activity and supplies are already on-site.	Tempe is seeking to combine at least four budget sources to make this conservation activity successful. The budgets sources include the following: -Water Conservation Program rebate funds (Enterprise Fund) -Parks Division operation funds (General Fund) -Capital Improvement Funds -Federal Funds through WIFA	Tempe Water Conservation, housed in the Municipal Utilities Department Water Utilities Division, and the Parks Division, located within the Community Services Department, are partnering to propose this water conservation activity.	The source of the match is from the Water Conservation Program rebate funds and Parks Division in-kind funds. The amount totals $23,391.28. The in-kind contribution from Parks includes staff time and investments in project management and overseeing, confirming and implementing aspects of the project. The list includes a list of staff, their titles and the total hours they anticipate investing in the success of this project. Dave McClure, Landscape Architect, 70 hours Cara Kamienski, Capital Improvements Coordinator, 80 hours Shane Mueller, Parks Maintenance Manager, 16 hours Noel Arce, Parks Irrigation Technician, 24 hours Rob Bartelme, Parks Maintenance Manager, 16 hours Derek Branscum, Parks Irrigation Technician, 16 hours	The City of Tempe Water Conservation has successfully supported the conversion of over 6.5 million square feet of turf into desert landscapes through its numerous rebate and grant programs, including the Residential Landscape Conversion, Non-Residential Landscape Conversion, and the Neighborhood Grants Program. The City of Tempe Parks Division is reinvesting more than $60 million into Tempe Parks over several years. Recently, Parks completed Capital Improvement Projects at 24 parks, inclusive of the following: Arrendondo, Benedict Sports Complex, Celaya, Corbell, Daley, Daumler, Dwight, Ehrhardt, Estrada, Hanger, Harelson, Hollis, Indian Bend, Kiwanis, Mitchell, Meyer, Palmer, Papago, Petersen, Redden, Scudder, Selleh, Svob and the Tempe Womenâ€™s Club Park. The turf conversion projects will be led by city staff, including two individuals as lead: -Cara Kamienski, Tempeâ€™s Capital Improvement Coordinator -David McClure, Tempe Parkâ€™s Landscape Architect Both Cara and David are landscape architects with additional experience in landscape construction and maintenance management. They will be supervising the work of contractors who hold commercial contractor license, general site engineering contracting license, and commercial landscape and irrigation licenses.	The proposed conservation activity will reduce cost of maintenance by reducing the water needs of the landscapes at a minimum of three parks. Additionally, the removal of nonfunctional turf located at the buffers adjacent to fencing will reduce overspray to infrastructure, thereby reducing maintenance and repair costs of infrastructure. Finally, the removal of nonfunctional turf from steep slopes will reduce runoff into other areas, which lead to flooding of nearby landscapes and hardscape, which will reduce maintenance and replacement costs for the affected landscape plants and hardscape.	The proposed program promotes collaborative partnerships between the Tempe Water Conservation Program and the Parks Division, which are part of different departments and both play important roles in inspiring water conservation and efficiency in the Tempe Water Service Area. Partnerships and ongoing collaboration between the two groups is very important. Water Conservation has been tasked with ensuring that water is used efficiently and effectively throughout the service area, including at city facilities. Simultaneously, Parks staff include experts, such as the Urban Forester, landscape architects and irrigation technicians, who can share information that Water Conservation can use to help educate external customers. Even more imperative, Tempe is home to more than 50 neighborhood and community parks, and each provides a live demonstration of landscape maintenance and care best practices. It is a frequent occurrence that Water Conservation will provide education on water conservation and then receive a question from the public inquiring if the very same practice is being utilized at a nearby city park. Unfortunately, it is not always possible for a city facility to immediately implement a water conservation best practice due to challenges including maintaining proper pressure, irrigating around event schedules and funding to make infrastructure improvements. This partnership will strengthen the collaboration between Parks and Water Conservation, making it possible for both entities to educate the public on best practices through highly visible and commonly utilized outdoor city facilities. Additionally, the proposed program will include continuing ongoing partnerships with Neighborhood Services, which is housed in the Community Development Department. This partnership is also very important because Neighborhood Services serve as liaisons between neighborhoods and the City of Tempe. Tempe has very active neighborhood associations and Homeowners Associations, and Water Conservation has found success in partnering with neighborhood groups and other engaged residents to help promote water conservation programs and best practices. Neighborhood Services leads public engagement and stakeholder involvement for all Parks renovations projects, and associated staff from Neighborhoods would be pivotal in helping to educate about the water conservation successes of this non-functional turf removal program.	Each Parks renovation process involves extensive neighborhood outreach lead by Tempeâ€™s Neighborhood Services team, which is housed in the Community Development Department. This outreach includes several rounds of surveys on overall improvements desired by the neighborhoods for their local park. Questions regarding water conservation or implementation of waterwise landscapes have been received favorably and ranked as a priority improvement by a majority of survey respondents.	Yes, after the completion of each renovation project, Tempe will hold a grand re-opening and/or provide a public announcement to include the creation of a dedicated webpage, MailChimp news article and social media. If a grand opening is held, Water Conservation will attend to provide outreach on the benefits of converting non-functional turf. Additionally, Tempe Water Conservation will work in partnership with the City Managerâ€™s Communications and Marketing Office to produce promotional material and post on social media to promote the collaboration amongst Parks, WIFA and Neighborhoods.	Tempe residents have demonstrated strong support for non-functional turf removal. Tempeâ€™s residents, businesses and neighborhoods have voluntarily removed more than 6.5 million square feet of turf into desert landscapes through its numerous rebate and grant programs, including the Residential Landscape Conversion, Non-Residential Landscape Conversion, and the Neighborhood Grants Program. Tempe City Council has set five strategic priorities for the community, including Safe and Secure Communities, Strong Community Connections, Quality of Life, Sustainable Growth and Development, and Financial Stability and Vitality. Each priority has performance measures that ensure that the actions of the city reflect these priorities. The proposed water conservation program contributes to several performance measures, including Performance Measure 4.03 Water Conservation and Efficiency.	The proposed water conservation program is feasible. The Parks Division has an existing CIP worth up to $60 million towards renovations and installations at city parks. The proposed turf conversions will be incorporated into the existing renovations projects, many of which include related elements, such as landscape improvements and new plantings. The projects will therefore utilize the same or similar contractors already on-site to construct improvements and enhance existing funding to ensure that water conservation conversion upgrades occur. The projects will be managed by City of Tempe Parks staff with the water conservation successes traced by City of Tempe Water Conservation staff. Neighborhood Services staff and Communication and Marketing staff will assist in engaging residents and promoting the successes of the program. This in-house leadership team will ensure not only the success of the program but also highlight the project as an example of the city doing its part to use water efficiently and effectively, inspiring others in the community to take advantage of rebate funds and grants available to help customers make permanent improvements on private properties throughout the Tempe Water Service Area.	Tempe has provided a turf conversion incentives for more than twenty years with more than 6.5 million square feet of turf converted since 1992. To date, this ongoing program conserves approximately 560 acre-feet each year.	The proposed project aligns with several Best Management Practices (BMP) identified in the 4th Management Plan of the Phoenix Active Management Area, which went into effect on January 1, 2023. The project assists in promoting BMP 6.7 Landscape Conversion Rebate or Incentive Program, BMP 6.16 Installing Xeriscapes in New Landscapes Rebate or Incentive Programs, BMP 6.17 Large Landscape Conversion Program, BMP 7.1 Participation in Industry or Regional Partnerships for Water Conservation, and BMP 7.6 Analyzing a BMP for Actual Water Savings.
18	Pima County	Pima County Arthur Pack Park Water Conversion Project	Programs or projects to improve groundwater conservation and surface water flows.	Project		Unincorporated Pima County	County	6	17	Canada Agua, Santa Cruz River Basin, Lower Colorado	Tucson Active Management Area	N/A	$250,000.00	$2,000,000.00	$2,250,000.00	45	0.00002	This Water Conservation Project to convert an existing irrigation system from groundwater to reclaimed water at the Arthur Pack Regional Parkâ€™s ballfields will save approximately 14,715,000 million gallons of groundwater per year, which is equivalent to 45.16 acre-feet of groundwater per year. The project will result in an estimated $123,000.00 in budgetary savings per year. These savings were calculated based upon the current irrigation systemâ€™s average annual water use in gallons of water and then converted to acre-feet using this formula: 326,000 gallons = 1-acre-feet.	The expected duration of this the project is between 90 days and 120 days. The project activity period will include planning and design, demolition, construction, and installation. Once completed, the result will be a permanent water conservation benefit to existing public infrastructure.	The City of Tucson Water Department (Tucson Water) provides systems to deliver both groundwater and reclaimed water to customers. Unlike the drinking water system, reclaimed water is not available in all parts of the Tucson Water service area. Tucson Waterâ€™s reclaimed water feeds recently reached the area where Arthur Pack Regional Park is located. The grant monies will be used at Arthur Pack Regional Park to convert an existing irrigation system from groundwater to reclaimed water. The conversion will require hiring a subcontractor and include planning and design, and infrastructure demolition and construction. The conversion process will include replacing the existing irrigation system components with components made specifically for use with reclaimed water, as well as connecting the overhauled system to the reclaimed water supply and water meter. This process might require site modifications or improvements, and will include backflow and plumbing inspections, installation of signage, and reporting requirements. Project tasks and completion dates 1. Design â€“ August 2023 2. Procurement â€“ January 2024 3. Construction â€“ March 2024 4. Substantial completion â€“ May 2025 5. Project closeout â€“ July 2025	The source of the water that will be conserved through this project includes a mix of groundwater and Colorado River water delivered through the Central Arizona Project. Historically, Tucson Water relied on groundwater to meet potable water demand. Starting in 2001, Tucson Water began transitioning from groundwater reliance to a renewable supply from the Colorado River. The majority of this water is delivered via the Central Arizona Project Canal to three recharge and recovery facilities: 1. Central Avra Valley Storage and Recovery Project (CAVSARP), which went into operation in 2001. 2. Pima Mine Road Recharge Project (PMRRP â€“ jointly owned by the City of Tucson and the Central Arizona Water Conservation District), which went into full-scale operation in 2001. 3. Southern Avra Valley Storage and Recovery Project (SAVSARP), which began operation in 2008. The recharged Colorado River water is then recovered through wells and delivered to customers. Tucson Water also operates and maintains its Central Well Field that was the communityâ€™s historical water supply. Today, it serves customers during peak demands, is used as a backup of other renewable supplies, and is our long-term â€œsavings accountâ€� for future drinking water.	Pima County covers 9,189 square miles and has a population of 1,043,433 residents, making it Arizona's second-most populous county. Most of Pima Countyâ€™s population is centered on the Tucson metropolitan region. Pima County contains both highly urbanized and remote rural areas, ranging from urban lofts in downtown to historic-preservation neighborhoods in midtown, and horse property-remainders of Tucsonâ€™s ranching past on the countyâ€™s outskirts. The Tohono Oâ€™odham Nation has approximately 28,000 members, 6,400 of whom live in Pima County (United States Census Bureau, 2020). The Pascua Yaqui Tribe consists of approximately 20,000 tribal members, with a land base of 202 acres (Pascua Yaqui Tribe, 2021). Pima County has 14.7% of persons living below the federal poverty level â€“ 16% higher than the state average and 28% higher than the nationwide rate (United States Census Bureau, 2021). Tucson is a major commercial and academic center. The major employers in Tucson include The University of Arizona (11,251), Raytheon (9,600), State of Arizona (8,580), Davis-Monthan Air Force Base (8,406), Pima County (7,060), Tucson Unified School District #1 (6,770), Banner Health (6,272), U.S. Customs/Border Patrol (5,739), and Freeport McMoRan Mine (5,530). 60% of the nationâ€™s copper comes from Southern Arizona. Major employers in the defense, aerospace and bio-medical industries require specialized response training. Pima County Wireless Integrated Network (PCWIN) members serve all metropolitan area utility, communication and transit systems, and their infrastructure. The Kinder Morgan East Line (approximately 400 miles of pipeline) supplies Tucson and Phoenix with gasoline from El Paso, Texas. Other critical infrastructure includes Central Arizona Project (Central and Southern Arizona water supply), Tucson International Airport and Marana Regional Airport, two major rail freight lines, two Interstates 10 and 19, 11 universities and colleges, 45 public and private high schools, and over 190 mostly public schools from kindergarten to grade 12, numerous medical facilities including a level-one trauma center and two level-four trauma centers, and the Arizona National Guard. PCWIN-member fire departments serve Saguaro National Park, Pinal County, and serve on the Pima County Hazardous Materials Response Team, and the Arizona Statewide Mutual Aid Response System for Region 5.	value1	Long-term reductions in groundwater use will be achieved by this Water Conservation Activity at Arthur Pack Regional Park. Up until only recently, Pima County was irrigating the parkâ€™s 10 ballfields with groundwater because that was the only water source available for that purpose. Irrigating the ballfieldsâ€™ 55 acres required use of 14,715,000 million gallons of water (equal to 45.16 acre-feet of water per year. Now that Tucson Waterâ€™s reclaimed water lines have reached the Arthur Pack Regional Park area, Pima County will convert from using groundwater to using reclaimed water to irrigate the ballfields. When the conversion is completed, the groundwater previously used for irrigating the ballfields will remain in the groundwater system. By reducing Pima Countyâ€™s water usage, the County contributes to long-term reductions in groundwater use and the sustainability of this vital resource. (A map of Tucson Waterâ€™s reclaimed water system may be found at https://www.tucsonaz.gov/water/map-of-the-reclaimed-water-system.)	Water supply shortages Reliance on non-renewable water supplies Groundwater depletion	Water reuse can provide alternatives to existing water supplies and can be used to enhance water security, sustainability, and resilience. Pima Countyâ€™s irrigation system conversion at Arthur Pack Regional Park address the following: â€¢ Water supply shortages â€“ by increasing reclaimed water use while reducing groundwater use, Pima County will lessen its long-term draw on groundwater. â€¢ Reliance on non-renewable water supplies â€“ in Pima County and other areas that experience extreme drought conditions, groundwater is effectively a non-renewable resource that is replenished and renewed extremely slowly and could run out in the near future. This project will lessen reliance on the local groundwater supply over the long-term. â€¢ Groundwater depletion â€“ reclaimed water is an effective alternative to using groundwater, especially when the water is not needed for drinking or cooking. Using more reclaimed water and less groundwater helps slow the depletion of groundwater reserves.	Pima County has implemented Smartscapes and other regional initiatives that support water conservation through low-water-use landscapes compatible with the Sonoran Desert climate. Recently, the Pima County Regional Flood Control District's commitment to water conservation included efforts to coordinate policy decisions about Low Impact Development (LID) and Green Infrastructure (GI) practices for stormwater in Pima County. Pima Countyâ€™s Sustainability Action Plan for County Operations (SAPCO) provides a comprehensive framework of sustainability goals to meet and exceed what is required of the Paris Agreement while strengthening the County's ability to address regional current and future climate risks. These goals are integrated into all facets of Pima County government operations - from the cars we drive, to the energy and water we consume, to the construction of our buildings, to the products we purchase, to the way in which we view and handle our "used" materials. The SAPCO Water Goal is to â€œImplement policies and programs that reduce the intensity of potable water use in County operations and continue allocating reclaimed water for groundwater recharge.â€� The County aims to fulfill this goal by focusing on the following core areas: â€¢ Facility water use includes all County operated areas. â€¢ Groundwater replenishment includes County allocations of reclaimed water for groundwater recharge. The benefits of implementation of SAPCO Water Goals: 1. Conserves water resources. 2. Saves money. 3. Conserves energy. 4. Restores aquifer. Source: Pima County Sustainable Action Plan for County Operations, 2018-2025, https://content.civicplus.com/api/assets/d4e07208-6cf4-45a8-90da-4cb8733d906d?cache=1800 Tucson Water is the second largest water utility in Arizona, serving over 730,000 customers over a 390 square mile service area. Tucson Water is recognized internationally as a leader in water conservation, sustainability, and service. After groundwater supplies were overdrawn and surface water was no longer perennial, Tucson Water became a pioneer in water conservation and reuse. In 2016, the utility met 100 percent of its potable water demand with recovered water. Tucson Water has operated a reclaimed water production, storage and delivery system since the mid-1980s, providing water to irrigation and other non-potable uses. Their use of renewable water sources minimizes reliance on groundwater, raising the aquifer to sustainable levels. Despite recent conservation efforts, water scarcity is still a risk as the climate gets hotter and drier. There is a need for increased investment in water systems. Environmental sustainability and conservation, transparency with customers, and infrastructure investment are central to Tucson Waterâ€™s 2020 Strategic Plan. In 2011, Pima County and the City of Tucson completed collaboration on a Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Supply and Planning Study to assure a sustainable community water source, given continuing pressure on water supply caused by population growth. Pima County has implemented Smartscapes and other regional initiatives that support water conservation through low-water-use landscapes compatible with the Sonoran Desert climate. Recently, the Pima County Regional Flood Control District's commitment to water conservation included efforts to coordinate policy decisions about Low Impact Development (LID) and Green Infrastructure (GI) practices for stormwater in Pima County.	The environmental benefits of this project to irrigate natural-grass ballfields with recycled/reclaimed water, instead of groundwater, include: â€¢ Reduced consumption of chemical fertilizers because nutrients, such as nitrogen, potassium and phosphorous, survive the water reclamation process, thus giving reclaimed water an added benefit when used to irrigate plants. Reduced money and time spent on using fertilizer. â€¢ Reduced long-term budgetary costs to the County because reclaimed water costs a fraction of the potable water currently being used at the park. Switching to reclaimed water will save $123,000 per year â€“ the difference in the cost of using reclaimed instead of groundwater. â€¢ Reduced groundwater extraction by ceasing to remove the nearly 15 million (14,715,000 gallons) per year previously used for irrigation. The cost of this project includes: Pima Countyâ€™s total investment in this water conservation activity will be $2,000,000.00. Even with WIFA support, it will take an estimated 16 years for Pima County to recover this investment. This lengthy investment â€œpaybackâ€� period is one reason why subsidies are needed to support Pima Countyâ€™s conservation plans. The 16-year â€œpaybackâ€� time for this project demonstrates Pima Countyâ€™s commitment to conserving groundwater and promoting sustainable practices.	Pima County will measure the effectiveness of this conservation activity through: â€¢ Comparative analysis of current and past water meter readings and irrigation expenses for Arthur Pack Park. â€¢ Testing soil samples to verify that turf is receiving sufficient amounts of nutrients and water. â€¢ Examining condition and appearance of the turf grass for signs that is it healthy. Analyzing expenditures and project reports to verify on-time, on-budget project delivery. An important consideration to ensure the projectâ€™s success will be to provide enough lead time and funding to accommodate design review and construction-related matters during the design review and construction approval processes.	The nature of this project, to target demand-side measures to alleviate supply pressures by converting an existing irrigation system from groundwater to reclaimed water, makes it more suitable for funding through WIFAâ€™s Water Conservation Grant Fund, rather than the Long-Term Water Augmentation Fund or Water Supply Development Fund. Pima County has prioritized this project and is making an investment of money by committing County General Funds to complete it. Additionally, Pima County will consider and pursue any other suitable funding opportunities or sources that could support this effort. Funding from the WIFA Water Conservation Grant Fund is practical because the project is continually relevant and not limited in applicability to a particular event or date. Water conservation at this park will not be optimal until the project is completed.	Partial funding for this project is included in Pima Countyâ€™s tentative budget adoption for the current 2022-2023 fiscal year. Funding for the balance of the project is not assured and would have to wait for next 2023-2024 fiscal year budgets process. Funding from the WIFA Water Conservation Grant funds would reduce the future year burden on Pima Countyâ€™s general fund and increase the likelihood of Board of Supervisors approval for the remaining cost balance.	No. There are no opportunities for cost-sharing with other parties. Pima County solely owns and operates Arthur Pack Regional Park.	This conservation activity, which fulfills identified performance goals in Pima Countyâ€™s Sustainability Action Plan for County Operations (SAPCO), may help to position Pima County to compete for additional funding for additional reclaimed-water conversion projects. It will also help to accelerate project implementation, based on Pima Countyâ€™s Paygo capital project funding model, which would otherwise need to wait for out-year budget allocations, thus potentially incurring higher costs due to inflation. The project will help to leverage a projected $2,000,000.00 in County General Funds. No other alternative funding sources have been identified for this activity.	Pima County has committed General Funds to match this request. A total of $1,250,000 is budgeted in Pima County's Fiscal Year 2023-24 Capital Improvement Program budget. Requested WIFA funds will be applied toward the remaining balance of project cost, with an additional $750,000 in County General Funds to be requested in Pima County's Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget.	Reclaimed water use has increased four-fold in the Tucson Active Management Area (AMA) since 1985. Despite nearly doubling in size, Tucson uses the same amount of water as it did in the 1990s. Pima County has a long history of adopting strong sustainability policies and practices, starting with the award-winning Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan in 2001 to adopting the first Sustainable Action Plan for County Operations (SAPCO) in 2007. The 2018 iteration of SAPCO extends the Countyâ€™s commitment by integrating the goals and targets of the Paris Agreement as required by two resolutions adopted by the Board of Supervisors in 2017. Pima Countyâ€™s qualifications for completing this proposed water conservation activity include decades of successfully using reclaimed water. Portions of the Chuck Huckelberry Loop linear park along the Rillito riverbed in the late 1990s first received reclaimed water to its drip irrigation system. Pima County uses its highly treated recycled, or reclaimed water, in many ways, including irrigation of County parks, golf courses and ballfields. Pima County Natural Resources and Recreation currently has six parks connected to reclaimed water for irrigation and is continually exploring opportunities to become less dependent on potable water. Tucson Water has one of the largest reclaimed water systems in the country. Reclaimed water uses include recharge, landscape irrigation, restoring aquatic and riparian habitat. The Tucson Water reclaimed water system is a model for other cities recognized globally as one of the earliest and most innovative approaches to making the best use of treated water. Since 1998, Tucson Water has taken collective actions to reduce dependency on pumping groundwater for our drinking water supply. Tucson Water has retooled and expanded facilities to recharge and deliver Colorado River water, expanded reclaimed facilities to recharge and store recycled treated wastewater, added rain/stormwater into the water supply mix, and implemented a long-running conservation and efficiency program.	No. There will be no significant management impacts as the result of Pima Countyâ€™s proposed Water Conservation Project to convert from groundwater to reclaimed water the existing ballfields at Arthur Pack Regional Park. The overall project will be managed by Shawn Tillson, Project Manager, Pima County Capital Program Office; project oversight will be provided by Robert Padilla, Deputy Director, Pima County Natural Resources and Parks and Recreation department; assistance with project oversight and operational feedback will be provided by Ron Odell, Operations Manager, Pima County Natural Resources and Parks and Recreation department.	No new collaborative partnerships are expected be formed as a result of this proposed project. However, in 2011, Pima County and the City of Tucson completed collaboration on a Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Supply and Planning Study to assure a sustainable community water source, given continuing pressure on water supply caused by population growth. Additionally, The University of Arizona collaborates with Pima County and the City of Tucson on water conservation and other regional issues of mutual concern. The University of Arizona Water Resources Research Center, in the College of Agriculture & Life Sciences Cooperative Extension, is a partner for key water policy and management issues and provides valuable research reports on this topic.	Pima Countyâ€™s Office of Sustainability and Conservation works closely with County departments and employees throughout the County to encourage and enhance sustainable practices that promote individual well-being and opportunity, sound resource conservation and stewardship, and a strong and diverse economy in our community and the region. The division partners with public agencies, educational institutions, businesses and organizations to: (1) develop innovative new programs and activities; and (2) incorporate collaborative, broad stakeholder, sustainable decision-making into planning and implementation efforts for the workplace, neighborhood, community and region.	No. This proposed conservation activity will not in itself include public outreach and opportunities for the public to learn about this conservation activity. But this activity is a part of Pima Countyâ€™s Sustainable Action Plan for County Operations (SAPCO), the larger plan and commitment to facilitate conservation activities in the areas of carbon, water, landscapes, materials, workforce. There are myriad informational resources and engagement opportunities available on the Pima County website, including the Water Conservation and the Communications sections. The County Office of Sustainability and Conservation works to promote a sustainable and livable community and the conservation of Pima Countyâ€™s natural and cultural resources through the implementation of Board-adopted policies that promote the environmental, social, and economic well-being of our region.	Yes, Pima Countyâ€™s varied conservation programs enjoy widespread support among the Countyâ€™s 54 departments and almost 7,000 employees, as well as among citizens in the community who express their support by voting for, participating in, and engaging with County programs.	It is highly feasible for Pima County Natural Resources, Parks and Recreations department to complete this water conservation activity. Pima County has a long history of adopting strong sustainability policies and practices. Pima Countyâ€™s qualifications for completing this proposed water conservation activity include decades of successfully using reclaimed water. Pima County Natural Resources and Recreation currently has six parks connected to reclaimed water for irrigation and is continually exploring opportunities to become less dependent on potable water. The Tucson Water reclaimed water system is a model for other cities recognized globally as one of the earliest and most innovative approaches to making the best use of treated water. Since 1998, Tucson Water has taken collective actions to reduce dependency on pumping groundwater for our drinking water supply. In 2016, the utility met 100 percent of its potable water demand with recovered water. Despite nearly doubling in size, Tucson uses the same amount of water as it did in the 1990s, thanks to conservation efforts.	This Water Conservation Project is a continuation of ongoing activities. Converting irrigation systems at County parks is a priority. Pima County effectively uses its highly treated recycled, or reclaimed water, in many ways, including irrigation of County parks, golf courses and ballfields. Pima County Natural Resources and Recreation (NRPR) currently has six parks connected to reclaimed water for irrigation and is continually exploring opportunities to become less dependent on potable water.	Yes, this proposed project to convert an existing irrigation system from groundwater to reclaimed water will implement an established Best Management Practice. First reclaimed water preferred method of irrigation for a large, landscaped municipal park. Using reclaimed water supports Pima Countyâ€™s sustainability goals by reducing use of groundwater, reducing use of fertilizer, and reducing amount of the budget spent on water (since groundwater costs more than reclaimed water). Additionally, all Pima County departments are responsible for following established procedures to successfully manage, develop, and deliver Capital Improvement Program projects. These procedures are outlined in the Exit Gate Process, the Countyâ€™s six-phased approach to successful project delivery.
19	Phoenix City of	Commercial and Residential Turf Conversion Rebates	Programs and projects that reduce water use Per A.R.S. 49-1332(B)(2)	Program	There will be multiple deliverables over a longer period of time.	Phoenix	Maricopa	1 3 4 8	2 3 8 11 12 22 24 26 27 28	This conservation activity will occur in the City of Phoenix, which covers the Middle Gila Watershed (Lower Salt sub watershed, Agua Fria sub watershed, and the Middle Gila sub watershed).	Phoenix AMA	N/A	$3,000,000.00	$2,500,000.00	$5,500,000.00	115	0.00002090909091	The estimated water savings is 115 acre-feet per year or 1,151 acre-feet over the lifetime of the program conversions. The City of Phoenix used a study by Southern Nevada Water Authority (2005) to determine water savings, which found 55.8 gallons per square foot per year was conserved by converting turf to xeriscape. The City of Phoenix bases its calculations on an estimated 1.5 million square feet converted over a 10 year lifetime with a conservative estimate of 50 gallons per square per year conserved that aligns with more municipalities in the region.	Two years	The City of Phoenix proposes implementing a Turf Conversion Rebate program serving both commercial businesses and residential households to remove turf grass in their landscape and replace it with xeriscape. The initial rebate amount given will be $2/square foot. This program will have long-term savings in water demand, as the average water savings for converting turf area to a landscape of low water use plants increases each year following conversion, saving on average, 50 gallons per square foot per year, leading to measurable water conservation with the potential to save an estimated 75 million gallons of water per year. The program will run until funds are depleted or the grant period expires, whichever comes first.Â	The source of the water that will be conserved could come from any part of the City of Phoenix's water supply portfolio. This includes the Colorado River (Central Arizona Project), the Salt and Verde Rivers (SRP), and groundwater from the Phoenix Active Management Area.	The City of Phoenix has a population of 1.6 million people approximately 41 % White, 7.3% Black or African American, 2.1% Native American, and 42% Hispanic or Latino. The median household income is $64,927 with a 15% rate of persons in poverty. Phoenix serves an average of 2 people per household. Phoenix is home to a large number of high-tech, IT, renewable energy and bioscience industries. The city's economic base also includes a viable financial and advanced business services enterprises as well as a robust health sciences sector. All of these households and businesses would benefit from increased water savings with long term impacts to the cityâ€™s water supply from reductions in demand. Reductions of discretionary residential outdoor water use and water waste (leaks, irrigation inefficiencies, etc) can lower a residentâ€™s water bill and can also have a positive impact upon the entire region. At a large scale, when water inefficiency is reduced, Phoenixâ€™s water supply portfolio would benefit from reduced demand. Demand reductions increase our ability to adapt to variable supply conditions and regional climatic shifts like aridification.	value1 value2 value3	â€¢ Long-term reductions in water use Turf removal programs have long been established as leading to significant long-term water savings. The average water savings for converting turf area to a landscape of low water use species in conjunction with drip irrigation incrementally increases each year following conversion, saving on average more than 50 gallons a square foot (Southern Nevada Water Authority, 2005), for a total of 115 acre-feet per year of the turf conversions. As the average Phoenix household uses up to 70% of its water outdoors and the landscape changes are permanent, this is a substantial savings in long term reductions. â€¢ Improvements in water use efficiency. Converting turf to low water use plants reduces the use of water necessary for irrigation, thereby increasing water efficiency. Drip irrigation systems typically replace sprinkler systems used for grass, greatly improving efficiency, or irrigation is eliminated entirely by planting native species that can survive on the regionâ€™s rainfall. â€¢ Improvements in water reliability By reducing outdoor water use, the turf conversion rebate program increases the cityâ€™s supply of water, leading to permanent increased reliability in deliveries over time.	Water supply shortages Reliance on non-renewable water supplies Groundwater depletion Water quality issues Natural disasters that may impact water supply infrastructure	â€¢ Water supply shortages By conserving water, the turf conversion rebate program increases the cityâ€™s supply of water, furthering its ability to handle times of shortages. â€¢ Reliance on non-renewable water supplies By conserving renewable supplies of water, the turf conversion rebate program increases the cityâ€™s supply of such water, thereby reducing the need for non-renewable supplies. â€¢ Groundwater depletion By conserving renewable supplies of water, the turf conversion increases the cityâ€™s supply of such water, thereby reducing the need for non-renewable supplies, leaving groundwater in the ground. â€¢ Water quality issues As all water used for irrigation is potable water, meeting current drinking water standards, regardless of what type of plant is used in the landscape, it is thought the turf conversion rebate program will have little effect on water quality issues. The main benefit will be in water quantity. â€¢ Natural disasters that may impact water supply infrastructure As a turf conversion program does not constitute water supply infrastructure, it is thought the turf conversion rebate program will have little effect on natural disasters. The main benefit will be in water savings.	The turf conversion rebate program aligns with the long-term efficiency improvements set out in the Cityâ€™s water resource plan. It also aligns with ADWRâ€™s Fifth Management Plan to conserve and manage groundwater resources in the Phoenix AMA. It is also fully supported by the mayor and city council.	The clear benefit of the turf conversion rebate program is the acre-feet of water saved, resulting in long term reductions in water use. We estimate this amount to be 230 acre-feet over the course of the program or 1,151 acre-feet of lifetime reductions. The program also will reduce the use of fertilizer used in landscapes, greatly benefitting the environment. The costs amount to the staff time to process the applications and issue the rebates and the actual dollar amount of the rebates themselves. The turf removal rebate programÂ will directly support the goals of efficient and responsible water use which are covered in the following plans: The Phoenix Active Management Area, Fifth Management Plan- the 1980 Groundwater Management Act of the State of Arizona; the City of Phoenix Water Resources Plan; the City of Phoenix Drought Management Plan and Water Use Reduction Guidelines; the Phoenix City Councilâ€™s 2019 Final Report from the Water Conservation Ad Hoc Committee.Â	The square footage of turf converted will be tracked by program staff to determine effectiveness. Each landscape conversion will be pre- and post-inspected for adherence to the program guidelines. For each new landscape project, the quantity of gallons saved will be determined by square footage converted to measure overall program effectiveness in conserving water.	The turf conversion rebate program is not eligible for funding from WIFAâ€™s Long-Term Water Augmentation Fund or Water Supply Development Fund.	Yes, the turf conversion rebate program would be implemented without the WIFA grant as it is fully supported by the mayor and city council, however it would be implemented at a much-reduced amount than as described in this document.	It is the intent of the City of Phoenix to apply for Bureau of Reclamation funds to maximize the dollar amount that can contribute to the program and increase the water savings. No other funding source will be sought by the city.	The city has not identified any cost sharing opportunities as of the time of this application.	The Phoenix Water Services Department will be the source of any matching funds, exceeding the match requirement of 25% in the amount of approximately 2.5 million dollars.	The Conservation Team at the City of Phoenix is comprised of 5 Water Resource Specialists and a Water Conservation Project Manager. The specific focus of managing the rebate program will be Water Resource Specialist Amy Garcia. The other 4 Water Resource Specialists will be brought in as needed to assist her: Elijah Tangenberg assisting in commercial rebates, Aaron Boydston who will be providing quantification of water savings, Ginny Svec and Emilie Brown will be providing outreach and promotion of the program and Water Conservation Project Manager Christian Delgado will be assisting in HOA rebates. All water conservation staff have at least a bachelorâ€™s degree and 3 of the 6 have masterâ€™s degrees with a fourth working on hers. The city also anticipates hiring two additional staff to assist with processing the rebates.	The city does anticipate hiring two additional staff to assist with processing the rebates. The city has already spent significant time with internal IT systems to get them ready to process the rebates. No other impacts are anticipated.	While not directly promoting partnerships with others, the program often leads to cross promotion of other cities conservation rebates as requests come in from non-residents seeking the rebates. The conservation team directs those people to their own cityâ€™s rebate programs, and vice versa when other cities receive requests for Phoenix residents.	The turf conversion rebate program is a direct result of a request from the mayor as part of the southwest cities agreement made in 2022 to further leverage conservation programs in the municipal sector. City council will be briefed on the turf conversion rebate program in a policy session later this June 2023.	The city will be promoting the program through various media (social, website, press releases) and will be featured over the course of the year at community events, giving the public ample opportunity to learn about the program.	As indicated by residents who have expressed interest, the program is anticipated to have high interest and support by the community of residents and businesses.	With ample staff and resources available to the program, the city anticipates relative ease in operating the program. Much will depend on demand, but the city is prepared to meet that demand.	The turf conversion rebate program is an entirely new program to the City of Phoenix and has not been implemented previously.	Turf conversion rebates are an established Best Management Practice as outlined by ADWR in the Fourth Management Plan and as required for large users under the Non-Per Capita Conservation Program.
20	Peoria City of	City of Peoria Parks and Recreation Water Conservation Program	Programs and projects that reduce water use Per A.R.S. 49-1332(B)(2)	Program	In 2019, the Parks and Recreation Department created a Capital Improvement Program aimed at identifying sustainable approaches to water conservation in its landscaped areas. The Water Conservation Program has many tenets, to include: a 2018 and 2023 turf and irrigation study conducted by Aqua Engineering, irrigation system designs, repairs, and improvements, and master valve improvements. Chief among these tenets are the departmentâ€™s turf reduction projects throughout the parks assets. The following types of projects all contain a measure of turf reduction and aid in the departmentâ€™s water conservation efforts: â€¢ Park Refreshes â€¢ Turf Reduction Projects â€¢ Stormwater Retention Basin Refreshes â€¢ Drainage Improvement Projects â€¢ Court Improvements	Peoria	Maricopa	8	27 28 29	Colorado River			$2,523,750.00	$841,250.00	$3,365,000.00	78	0.00002317979198	The department intends to remove 25.74 acres of turf, resulting in 25,394,826 gallons, or 77.93 acre-feet of water savings per year.	This conservation activity would be phased throughout the next three years, ending by December 2026.	Targeted turf reductions throughout the Parks and Recreation footprint. Proposed locations would include: Alta Vista Park, Apache Park, Calbrisa Park, Camino A Lago Park, Deer Village Park, Desert Amethyst Park, Fletcher Heights Park, Fletcher Heights Park North, Palo Verde Park, Paradise Lane Turf Area, Parkridge Park, Sonoran Mountain Ranch Park, Sunrise Park, Sunset Park, Terramar Park, Westland Park, and WestWing Park.	Colorado River surface water delivered through the Central Arizona Project.	Today, Peoria covers nearly 179 square miles and is home to over 200,000 residents making it Arizonaâ€™s ninth largest city in terms of population. Peoria is a rapidly-growing, modern city that offers a high quality of living in the natural beauty of the Sonoran Desert. It is the mission of the Parks and Recreation Department to meet the needs of the citizens of Peoria by developing, implementing and maintaining quality programs, services, events and facilities that are cost effective, creative and responsive to citizen input. Peoria seeks to provide parks and facilities that can be readily available and used by all ages. We accomplish this through our vigorous and continuous planning efforts. In 2019, the Parks and Recreation Department created a Capital Improvement Program aimed at identifying sustainable approaches to water conservation in its landscaped areas. The Water Conservation Program has many tenets, to include: targeted turf reductions, a 2018 and 2023 turf and irrigation study conducted by Aqua Engineering, irrigation system designs, repairs, and improvements, master valve improvements, and more. Although these plans each have their specific purposes, they do share common themes. Growth should be planned, attractive, and directed into appropriate areas at reasonable densities with particular sensitivity to the recreational resources, programs, and view sheds enjoyed by the community. The Parks and Recreation Department provides activities for the entire family such as recreational classes, youth programs, active adult activities, sports for youth and adults, and a variety of community events. The Recreation Division manages a wide variety of programs, activities, and classes for children, teens, adults, seniors and people with disabilities to promote healthy lifestyles. The City of Peoria takes pride in the relationships and partnerships it develops with multiple agencies and organizations. The Parks and Recreation Department has an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with the Peoria Unified School District for programming youth sports and the before/after school program. This partnership provides a diverse selection of amenities and programming at each location. Developed parks include both larger and smaller spaces, ranging from the large community parks with athletic fields, playgrounds and restroom facilities to the smaller parks tucked into neighborhoods. These smaller neighborhood parks include covered picnic areas, small playgrounds, and benches.	value1 value2	â€¢ Long-term reductions in water use The removal of non-programmable turf allows for the significant reduction of overhead sprinkler usage. This reduction calls for a 986,590 gallons of water saved per acre of turf removed. â€¢ Improvements in water use efficiency. Updates to the parksâ€™ irrigation systems will result in the more efficient use of water. Installations of master valves and flow sensors will allow for the improved detection of flow conditions and allow for shutdown of the system during failures without resulting in unnecessary water loss.	Water supply shortages Reliance on non-renewable water supplies	Targeted turf reductions will allow for the City to realize substantial water savings in areas that have been deemed as non-programmable. These turf reductions will help to reduce the reliance on water.	In June of 2017, the City of Peoriaâ€™s Environmental Resources Division created a Drought Management Plan that highlights the Cityâ€™s efforts to not only maintain a diverse water portfolio, but to also manage the Cityâ€™s response to continued or worsened drought conditions, via a Demand Reduction Matrix. The Department then solicited and completed a Turf and Irrigation Study in 2018, which identified several park assets that were ideal candidates for a targeted turf reduction. In March 2023, the Parks and Recreation Department created a Tier One Drought Management Plan to highlight proposed efforts at drought mitigation and water consumption reduction efforts.	The Department estimates that it will cost approximately $130,680 for every acre of turf that is removed. That cost also include the planting of xeriscape, which should result in a significant reduction in water consumption. Additionally, the planting of trees results in the reduction of air pollution, storm water runoff, heat island effect reduction, and other benefits.	By gallons of water saved. The department estimates 986,590 gallons of water saved a year per acre removed. Each turf removal project will allow for increased water savings.	None of the proposed projects would qualify for funding under the Augmentation or Supply Development Funds.	The funding requested would accelerate the scope and immediacy of the current water conservation program. The Department would utilize a current Capital Improvement Project to facilitate its drought mitigation efforts. The grant funding would serve as a force multiplier, allowing the City to leverage vendor relationships to achieve more favorable pricing for increased turf reduction opportunities.	The existing Capital Improvement Project (Water Conservation Program) is a mechanism that the Parks and Recreation Department uses to manage its drought mitigation efforts, to include turf reductions, the 2018 and 2023 Turf and Irrigation Studies, as well as several irrigation system repairs and improvements. The proposed grant will serve as an immediate fusion of funding to ensure that the projects listed in the parkâ€™s prioritization are achieved without the uncertainty of the Cityâ€™s â€œpay as you goâ€� general fund allocation.	While there may not be direct cost-sharing opportunities with other parties, there is the potential to leverage a relationship with the Peoria Unified School District to maximize turf reduction strategies in shared assets.	The entirety of the matching amount of $841,250 will be funded by the Cityâ€™s current Water Conservation Capital Improvement Program.	The Park and Recreation Department has a host of supervisory staff with a wealth of agronomic and project management experience. Nathan Branham â€“ Irrigation Coordinator Nathan is the Irrigation Coordinator for the City of Peoria and has extensive experience with multiple irrigation systems, to include reclaimed and potable water. Michael Elliott â€“ Park Operations Manager Michael currently serves as the Park Operations Manager for the City and has extensive experience with project management and grant execution. Zachary Matz â€“ Parks Superintendent Zach has over 15 years of professional parks and recreation experience, to include programming budgets, preventative maintenance operations and managing capital improvement projects. Zach also has experience writing and implementing federal, state, local, and private grants. Erik Ostlund â€“ Parks Superintendent Erik has over 30 years of agronomic, irrigation, turfgrass, and construction experience. He has a degree in Turfgrass Management and has overseen numerous irrigation, park, and golf course renovations. Brandon Putman â€“ Parks Superintendent Brandon has extensive experience managing and constructing athletics fields, to include the Cityâ€™s 80 acre community parks and Major League Baseball fields. Brandon also has a wealth of experience managing landscape and construction projects that are federally funded. Todd Wuellner â€“ Field Operations Manager Todd has an extensive background in turfgrass management and park construction. Todd has overseen agronomic practices across several municipalities and coordinated feedback and collaboration in the design and construction of several multi-million dollar regional park developments.	There are no additional costs or staffing requirements associated with the proposed conservation activity.	The Department plans to capitalize on its proactive approach to inter-departmental collaboration with regard to proposed improvement projects. Inter-departmental collaborations are planned between the Parks and Recreation Department, Water Services Department (best practices and water consumption reporting), Development and Engineering Department (drainage challenges), and the Neighborhood and Human Services Department (community engagement), among others.	The Parks and Recreation Department deliberately involves its constituency with regard to capital improvements. In addition to the actions outlined in the citizen-engaged Community Services Master Plan, parks staff frequently utilizes community engagement initiatives to garner citizen input for proposed projects. This conservation activity will be no exception.	The City already has a robust outreach program aimed at informing the public about the myriad of water conservation efforts that the City has undertaken in light of the recent drought challenge. The Parks and Recreation Department has also actively engaged in opportunities to inform the public about its efforts to mitigate water consumption in the parks.	Yes. The Departmentâ€™s efforts to conserve water align with the City Mayor and Councilâ€™s goals of increased drought management and mitigation.	Extremely. The Water Conservation Program is an ongoing program aimed at implementing water conservation strategies throughout the Department. Turf reductions are essential elements of any park refresh project and the proposed funding for this conservation activity would accelerate that program.	This is a current activity that has been extremely effective. The department has utilized several capital improvement projects to perform targeted turf reductions across the parks system. Recent examples include: â€¢ Murphy Park Refresh and Turf Reduction Project â€¢ Deer Village Park Turf Reduction Project â€¢ Alta Vista Park Refresh and Turf Reduction Project â€¢ Department Retention Basin Refresh Program â€¢ Terramar Park Drainage Improvement and Turf Reduction Project â€¢ Parkridge Park Drainage Improvement and Turf Reduction Project â€¢ Sweetwater Park Drainage Improvement and Turf Reduction Project â€¢ Court Replacement program eliminates overspray by removing the surrounding turf.	The Department currently employs a Best Management Practice, which are outlined in several internal and external standard operating procedures to include Sustainable Landscape Management, the Arizona Landscape Contractors Association, and the Departmentâ€™s internal Parks Facilities Maintenance Plan.
21	Yuma County of	Yuma County Water Conservation Program	Programs and projects that reduce water use Per A.R.S. 49-1332(B)(2)	Program	Yuma County intends to establish a Water Conservation Program to lead its facilities and communities to be mindful of water use and take responsibility for conservation in this historical multi-year drought. The Program will promote water conservation through educational materials and outreach and lead by example with water conservation at all County facilities. Yuma County plans to evaluate all its facilities and develop a program where they can conserve water in phases, starting with landscaping. The County has over 15 facilities that would benefit from converting current landscaping into xeriscape. Some of the components that will make this activity a Water Conservation Program are; providing education and research on how to reduce water consumption, removal of grass turf, and installation of drought-resistant landscaping in multiple Yuma County Facilities in phases This will result in a program that offers water conservation activities to multiple locations and will have multiple deliverables, over a period of time. Current water usage data and maps for some of these facilities are attached to the application.	Yuma and Somerton	Yuma County	7	23	Colorado-Lower Gila Watershed	N/A	N/A	$1,500,000.00	$375,000.00	$1,875,000.00	46	0.00002453333333	The estimated water savings Yuma County will have after the incorporation of the water conservation program will be approximately 46.90216 acre-feet of water per year. It is estimated that the current water usage in landscaping on the proposed Yuma County Facilities is 2,121,829 gallons per month, times twelve we are looking at 25,461,943 gallons per year. We are projecting a savings of at least 60% in landscaping water use in the facilities which translates to 15,277,166 gallons saved or 46.90216 acre-feet.	The Water Conservation Program is expected to become a long-term staple for Yuma County and we will continue to seek new and innovative ways to enhance the conservation of water. The current phases of the Program propose replacing turf with drought-resistant landscaping at nine Yuma County facilities; however, we plan to continue water conservation activities with other facilities that are in need of the replacement, as well as continue using the design and fundamentals of xeriscape on future Yuma County facilities. Once the Program activities take place, Yuma County will continue to benefit from the water savings and prevention of future waste of water.	The purpose of Yuma Countyâ€™s water conservation activity is to promote the importance of conserving our most precious resource, water, within our facilities. With grant funds, we will establish a Program that will promote water-efficient landscaping in Yuma County facilities through the removal of grass turf and replacing it with drought-resistant landscaping, including native plants, rocks, and the fundamentals of xeriscape. In addition, water conservation education material will be provided to county staff and the public to educate them on the importance of water conservation. The grant funds will be used for the following; â€¢ Hire a Consultant to create a Water Conservation Plan for Yuma County facilities. o Develop a strategy to convert high water consumption facilities to drought-resistant landscaping in phases o Assist with the planning and development of a water conservation program o Identify the first few facilities that will be converted in the first phase of the program â€¢ Hire a Design Firm to create a landscaping design for all the identified facilities o Design plans showing removal of high water consumption grass areas and converting the landscaping to xeriscape o Identify grass turf removal at various facilities o Identify areas for premium landscape fabric and rock o Identify locations for drought-tolerant plants o Identify new efficient irrigation/drip systems o Create specifications and assist with the bidding process o Develop a bid schedule with line items and provide an Engineer's Opinion of Probable Costs. â€¢ Advertise a Request for Proposal to hire a licensed contractor to start on the first phase of the program o Implement the first phase of the program â€¢ Create educational materials o Obtain printing and distribution costs of educational materials o Create a page on Yuma Countyâ€™s website dedicated to the water conservation effort. The program will be implemented in various phases, we will begin by conducting a complete study to determine the usage of water due to landscaping in our facilities. This program will allow for a set of design plans to be drawn up for the transformation of landscaping at all the County facilities that have high water usage. The results of the study will identify the high water usage facilities and the first few will be incorporated in the first phase of the landscaping replacement. As part of the Program, we will incorporate an education strategy for our facilities, personnel, and the Yuma County community as a whole. We will provide public education on water conservation by creating and distributing flyers and providing resources. We will establish a dedicated webpage on our Yuma County website on the importance of water conservation in Yuma County and provide the resources currently available and water conservation tips. As the program grows, we hope to extend the benefits of water conservation to all County residents.	Yuma County facilities currently receive their water from the Colorado Riverâ€™s City of Yuma and the City of Somerton treated water.	Yuma County is in the southwestern corner of Arizona, as of the 2020 census, its population was 203,881. Known as one of the sunniest places on Earth, Yuma offers residents a year-round vista of surrounding mountains and valleys with lush agricultural fields. Yuma County is known for its agriculture industry, in fact, it represents an annual gross economic return of $3.2 billion, or more than one-third of Arizonaâ€™s annual total of $9.2 billion. More than 91% of the leafy greens produced in the winter in North America come from farms around Yuma. For this reason, sustainability and preservation of water resources are critical issues for Yuma County agriculture, which relies on the over-allocated Colorado River that faces imminent severe cutbacks from climate change-induced drought. The Yuma County local government has approximately 30 facilities and is one of the top employers within Yuma County employing over 1,000 employees. Water consumption within our facilities is high and comes at a high cost to taxpayersâ€™ dollars. The Yuma County Facilities Water Conservation Program will not only reduce water consumption within our facilities and, therefore, reduce the facilityâ€™s impact on local water supplies, but will also achieve savings in water costs and landscaping maintenance costs for the facilities, Yuma County, and taxpayers.	value1	Yuma Countyâ€™s Water Conservation Program will assist in the long-term reduction of water use within our facilities and improve water use efficiency. Yuma County currently has 30 operational facilities, some of them with very high water usage due to large areas of grass turf. Many of the grassy areas are unused by patrons and consume a lot of water. The conservation activity will replace the grassy areas with drought-resistant landscaping, which will result in a long-term reduction of water used in sprinkler systems. The drought-resistant landscape will use approximately 60% less water.	Water supply shortages	In 2021, the Bureau of Reclamation declared its first ever water shortage, cutting more than 500,000 acre-feet of water going to Arizona. Current research confirms the Southwest is in the midst of a historic multi-year drought placing tremendous strain on Yumaâ€™s Primary water supply, the Colorado River. Yuma County is very concerned about the drought conditions on the Colorado River and we are mindful of our responsibility to protect its water supply. Yuma Countyâ€™s water conservation activity will address this water supply shortage and will assist in advocating efficient and responsible use of water at our facilities.	According to the Arizona Department of Water Resources practicing a low water-use lifestyle is a way everyone can help ensure a long-term, sustainable water supply. Reducing water usage helps meet future needs, results in cost savings, decreases energy use, and helps preserve the environment. Yuma Countyâ€™s Water Conservation Program aligns with the Yuma County 2030 Comprehensive Planâ€˜s Citizen Advisory Group recommendations to institute water conservation practices. In addition, Yuma Countyâ€™s Water Conservation Program will assist the City of Yuma to succeed in meeting its long-term water supply goals, by embracing and practicing a conservation ethic and adopting water conservation as part of our facilities. By implementing water conservation measures, the City may be able to reduce the projected water demands, potentially minimizing the need to obtain an additional allocation of Colorado River water in the future.	The estimated cost of the Yuma County Facilities water conservation program is $1,875,000: the benefits include the reduction of water consumption within our facilities and long-term savings to the County of approximately 60% of its current expenditures on water and landscaping maintenance. The reduction and elimination of grass and opting for sustainable landscaping can ultimately be more affordable, manageable, and better for the environment. The areas that we will be working on have been previously disturbed and there should be no negative environmental impacts with this program.	The effectiveness of Yuma Countyâ€™s Water Conservation Program will be measured by comparing pre-Program County landscaping water use and maintenance costs versus post-Program water use and costs. The savings in water use and costs will show the effectiveness of the program. Yuma County will incorporate monthly monitoring of facility water use to measure the effectiveness of the conservation activity and to find additional opportunities to conserve water.	Yuma Countyâ€™s Water Conservation program is not eligible for either WIFAâ€™s Long-Term Water Augmentation Fund or the Water Supply Development Fund.	Yuma County is very concerned about the drought condition on the Colorado River and is serious about implementing water conservation programs, and projects and activities; however, relying on limited local resources, the implementation of these activities could take longer. If awarded, the Yuma County Water Conservation Program would expedite Yuma Countyâ€™s ability to pursue landscape renovation projects and community outreach. Yuma County will reduce its footprint and have a noticeable impact on important water conservation efforts.	The Program will maximize available funding sources by ensuring that conservation activities are taking place at the most needed facilities. In addition, to the requested Water Conservation Grant Funds, Yuma County will use general funds and provide in-kind support towards the program. We also intend to research and apply for other funding opportunities that would enable us to continue the work of water conservation within our facilities and provide educational support to staff and the public.	Cost-sharing opportunities available for this conservation program are in-kind departmental staff support. The Yuma County Facilities and Housing Departments will provide one staff member each to manage the programâ€™s progress. In addition, the Grants Division will be providing staff support for grant implementation and reporting.	The 25% match required for this grant will come from an in-kind match and Yuma Countyâ€™s general fund. Yuma County staff and volunteers will provide part of the work to perform the conservation activities.	The Yuma Countyâ€™s Facilities Department has vast experience in the development and maintenance of landscaping projects. Yuma County implemented drought-resistant landscaping in one of its newer facilities, the Yuma County Department of Public Works, a few years ago. The department has seen the potential cost savings gained by incorporating the landscaping with xeriscape, native plants, and rocks. In addition, Yuma County Project Manager, Dave Hylland, has incorporated a drought-resistant landscaping design on the soon to be built Yuma County Administration Services Building. The Grants Division has years of experience in implementing and managing grant funds, including ARPA funding procurement and reporting requirements. The staff is familiar with following all the federal rules and regulations that are required.	The program will not have any significant management impacts on Yuma County. There is sufficient staff to implement and manage the program.	The proposed conservation activity will promote partnerships to address water-related issues. The collaboration will start within our local government, the Grants Administration staff will collaborate with the various Yuma County Directors to implement the activities within their facilities. Many of the directors are already on board with this program and have provided letters of support to this water conservation activity in their facilities, as well as providing in-kind support with their staff time. In addition, we plan on partnering with the University of Arizona Yuma County Cooperative Extension -Yuma County Master Gardeners program to receive guidance, support, and suggestions for the different drought-tolerant plants that can be incorporated into our designs.	Yuma County is the primary stakeholder in this activity and we will be involved 100% in the planning and implementation process.	Yes, Yuma County plans to designate a webpage for the public to be informed of the conservation activities taking place as well as to include educational materials on water conservation for Yuma County staff and the public as a whole. One of the facilities that are in dire need of this conservation activity is the Yuma County Housing Department, which houses not only has its own facility but also manages Public Housing Apartments. We plan in incorporating public outreach to its residents to promote water conservation within their households.	Yes, Yuma County has full support from the Yuma County Board of Supervisors, the City of Yuma, and the City of San Luis on this water conservation activity. In addition, many Yuma County division heads are in full support of the program and have agreed to provide in-kind support. Support letters are attached to the grant proposal. The University of Arizona Master Gardeners program is also in support of this conservation activity and has agreed to assist us in the process.	With the Water Conservation Grant Funds, the Yuma County conservation activity is very feasible and funds can be spent prior to December 2026. Yuma County has the staff available to implement the Program as soon as funds are available.	Yuma County Facilities Water Conservation Program is a new program for the County but has previously implemented drought-resistant landscaping techniques in the Yuma County Public Works Facilities, constructed in 2005. Public Works was constructed and landscaped with grass, bushes, and trees. They soon recognized the water consumption in the area was high and researched alternatives. The opportunity for water savings was developed and in 2020 they completed a project to remove the grass and water lines and replace them with rocks and drought-resistant plants. Since then they have experienced a 65% decrease in water use as well as savings in water costs and maintenance. Their average annual landscaping water expenditures prior to the landscape renovations were $9,300 and now they are only average to $3,300 a year. For this reason, we would like to distribute this activity throughout Yuma County facilities and include all of our high water use facilities as well as implement the water conservation activity at our new facilities. Currently, Yuma County is in the process of building a new Yuma County Administration Services facility that will incorporate a drought-tolerant landscaping design and follow water saving best practices.	Yes, Yuma County will implement Best Management Practices of water conservation throughout its facilities. This will be done by providing educational material to staff in regard to best practices to minimize water consumption in our facilities. Apart from the use of water smart landscaping and irrigation, we will incorporate metering and measuring of the facilitiesâ€™ water use to help analyze saving opportunities. This will also help to ensure the equipment is run correctly and maintained properly to help prevent water waste from leaks or malfunctioning mechanical equipment. In addition, we will encourage facilities to optimize cooling towers by recovering air handler condensate water from cooling coils to use as cooling tower make up water and replace restroom fixtures to low flow fixtures as needed to reduce water waste. Yuma County will incorporate these water efficiency best management practices to help our facilities staff understand and manage their water use, help establish an efficient water management program, and identify projects and practices that can reduce facility water use, which aligns with EPAâ€™s Water Sense at Work: Best Management Practices for Commercial and Institutional Facilities.
22	Prescott City of	Water Meter Replacement Program	Programs and projects that reduce water use Per A.R.S. 49-1332(B)(2)	Program	The City of Prescott (City) Water Utility consists of nearly 27,000 water service connections, most of the water meters currently installed are between 10 - 15 years old. Between FY24 - FY29 the City will be phasing in all new water meters. The City understands the need to advance its conservation efforts by phasing in Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI). The specific components of the program include: 1. Replacing existing Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) that is past or nearing its operational lifespan 2. Adding AMI network 3. City Billing Department interface and training 4. Customer interface, outreach, and support 5. Integration of the Cityâ€™s upcoming general plan update and to support the Cityâ€™s efforts to meet or exceed Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) conservation requirements 6. To support the Cityâ€™s efforts to meet or exceed ADWR conservation requirements	Prescott	Yavapai County	2	1	Verde River Basin	Prescott	N/A	$3,000,000.00	$750,000.00	$12,500,000.00	405	0.0000324	Based on American Water Works Association report titled "Increasing Consumer Benefits & Engagement in AMI-based Conservation Programs" dated January 2022, it states, â€œWe found that signing up for an AMI portal led to an average decrease in daily water usage in the range of 6.3 to 12.1%.â€� Applying this calculation to the Cityâ€™s 2022 water production of 6,431 acre-feet (AF), results to an estimated range of potential water savings between 405 AF/yr and 778 AF/yr. The Cityâ€™s citizens are very active in efficient water use, with this type of community interest and with deliberate education and outreach, the City anticipates water savings to be on the higher end of the range.	The newly installed meters last between 10 and 12 years. Electronic communication devices can last up to 20 years. As the meters and electronic communication devices reach the end of their life span, they will be replaced with updated technology.	The grant monies will be used to begin the first phase of the Cityâ€™s five-year Water Meter Replacement Program (WMRP). This program will replace every water meter with an AMI, a robust form of water metering technology that allows direct transmission of water use data, to the utility company. AMI improves the ability to collect accurate water usage data to improve billing, leak detection, and water resource management. The technology has now reached competencies that allow for communities, with terrain similar to the City's, to participate within more acceptable cost levels. AMI allows real time reads, using cellular technology, to transmit to the database. With this type of communication, the customer can download a cellular application to access their live usage reads. The advanced equipment will alert the customer and the City alike of any unusual activity that may occur within their household piping system. The new transmitting devices would allow leaks to be detected up to 30 days sooner than current equipment permits. The software that accompanies this program would instruct customers where and how to look for leaks and provide other techniques for reducing water loss. Customers will be able to access their water usage on a daily basis and avoid potentially losing thousands of gallons of water per incident. Since this data is available to the homeowner and the City, leak alerts will be transmitted within 6 hours of a high-flow incident, allowing correction of the water loss.	The City resides within the State defined Prescott Active Management Area (AMA). This area consists of two groundwater sub-basins, the Little Chino Sub-Basin and Agua Fria Sub-Basin. The Cityâ€™s wellfields water source is produced from the Little Chino Sub-basin aquifer system.	Known as â€œEverybodyâ€™s Hometownâ€� Prescott is home to the downtown Courthouse Plaza, famous Whiskey Row, World's Oldest Rodeo, Prescott Fine Arts Association, Sharlot Hall Museum, Phippen Art Museum, Folk Arts Fair, Frontier Days, and Territorial Days. It has been officially designated as â€œArizonaâ€™s Christmas Cityâ€� by the State of Arizona. The Courthouse Plaza, located in the center of downtown and framed by towering elms, is the focal point for a myriad of activities, including crafts fairs, antique shows and art shows. The plaza and Yavapai County Courthouse are well-known throughout Arizona as symbolizing the quintessential mid-western downtown square. The City was founded in 1863 and incorporated in 1883. During the late 1800s, Prescott twice served as the territorial capital, and the Governorâ€™s Mansion is now preserved at the Sharlot Hall Museum. The current municipal boundaries of Prescott encompass an area of approximately 45.6 square miles with a population of 45,827 as of the 2020 decennial census. The City is the base of Yavapai County government operations. Located in the mountains of north central Arizona approximately 95 miles northwest of Phoenix (the State capitol) and 90 miles southwest of Flagstaff, the City borders the Prescott National Forest to the south and west. The average elevation is 5,400 feet. The council-manager form of government was adopted in 1958. The Mayor is elected on a nonpartisan ballot to represent the entire City for a two-year term. The six members of the Council are elected at large for four-year terms on a nonpartisan ballot. Three of the six positions and the Mayorâ€™s position are up for reelection at the same time. Under the provisions of the City Charter, the Mayor and City Council are responsible for appointing the City Manager, City Attorney, City Clerk, and City Magistrate. The City Manager is responsible for carrying out its established policies, appointing department heads, and administering operations. A staff of 518 full-time equivalent City employees working within fourteen City departments provides a full range of municipal services. The municipal government provides police, fire, library, recreation, parks, trails, golf, wastewater, water, street improvements and maintenance, solid waste, municipal airport, planning and building, economic development, and general administration services. The annual budget serves as the foundation for the Cityâ€™s financial planning and control. The Mayor and City Council set the Cityâ€™s long-term strategic direction and the goals that guide the departments in their budget preparation. A proposed balanced budget is presented to the City Council for review and discussion in mid spring with the final adoption in June. The fiscal year begins on July 1st. Legal control over the budget derives from State statutes and City Charter which prohibit the City from exceeding its adopted budget on the fund and department level. The residents of Prescott approved a Home Rule exemption, the latest in August 2021, to the State of Arizonaâ€™s expenditure limitation requirement. With this exemption, which is in effect for four consecutive years, the City can determine the budget level as long as the City can identify resources to cover expenditures. The budget appropriated by the City Council consists of all planned expenditures and the resources to cover them. Although small in population, Prescott is the center for trade in the region, and as a result has grown into a community with a robust, diverse economy, which includes government, education, health care, manufacturing, and tourism. As of the census of 2020, the population density was 1,019 people per square mile (353.5/kmÂ²). The racial makeup of the city was 84.4% White, 0.4% Black or African American, 0.6% Native American, 2.0% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 4.2% from two or more races and 8.6% of the population were Hispanic or Latino. In the city, the population was spread out with 20.12% under the age of 24, 13.8% from 25 to 44, 27.31% from 45 to 64, and 38.77% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 59 years. Females make up 51.08% of the population and males are 48.92%. The median income for a household in the city was $58,562, and the median income for a family was $61,090. The per capita income for the city was $41,225. About 11.2% of the population were below the poverty line. The City currently maintains approximately 26,185 service connections. The estimated population served by the City Water Utility is 58,000 people. The citizens are a mix of full-time and part-time residents. The City promotes water conservation rebate incentives such as turf removal, ultra-efficient washing machines, toilet replacements and more. The citizens of Prescott are very invested in finding ways to help conserve water.	value1 value2 value3	The City expects long-term reductions in water use in all existing billing categories (Single Family, Multi-Family, Industrial, Commercial, Government, Construction, and Turf â€“ both over and under 10 acres). The Cityâ€™s water use is predominately residential, in 2022, the City served approximately 4,300 acre-feet to this category. With the range estimate referenced in Question 6, The City anticipates between 405 and 778 acre-feet of water savings in the long-term. Due to the majority of the supplies being served to this category, the City is preparing its outreach plans to help customers achieve possible long-term reductions and improved efficiencies. The City knows that outreach planning is critical to this and other customer sectors to maximize the benefits of an AMI system. Since the new meters and software system will be able to provide near-real time water usage rates, this increases the likelihood that a leak, in the customer's system, would be identified and mitigated in less than a day. Additionally, the new software will allow customers to view their daily water usage and adjust their usage to fit their needs. With reductions in water use and improvements in water use efficiency, along with faster detection of leaks and water loss, this will in turn set forth improvements in water reliability. The less pumping needed leaves the water supply in storage and extends the supply in the local aquifer/groundwater systems.	Water supply shortages Reliance on non-renewable water supplies Groundwater depletion Water quality issues	The City is located in the Prescott AMA, with an assured water supply that is continually being over pumped. This conservation activity will affect potential water supply shortages, groundwater depletions, and water quality issues. The Prescott AMA has been defined as out of safe yield, therefore any conservation activity will reduce the load on current supplies. Significant outreach and education will provide customers with access to a cellular application providing near-real time data to determine their water usage. Smart technology alerts users to abnormal activity, providing the ability to detect and fix leaks before they become larger. Once this program is completely implemented, the City should see the per capita usage continue to decrease.	The AMA that the City is in is subject to decadal management plans. Currently, the fourth management plan is in effect, however, the fifth management plan will commence in 2025, with additional water conservation requirements. The City sees AMI as one of the leading efforts to advance the communityâ€™s conservation and protect the local groundwater supplies. The City is pursuing its General Plan update which includes a water resources element, specifically working to not only produce a plan but have ongoing implementation efforts. This program will also be flexible enough to add water quality monitors that can collect real-time data for water quality parameters such as chlorine concentration, pH, and turbidity. The new system encourages the population to reduce their water usage by providing more data for their consideration.	The costs of the AMI system include the meter cost, installation, commissioning, routine maintenance, and the cost to maintain the program such as internal training, planning, and data extraction. The benefits of this conservation activity include reduced operations cost, by not having employees physically reading meters. In addition, the installation of the AMI system can save customers money if a leak is detected and alerts the customer before the bill. The sooner a leak is fixed, the less a customer will be billed for the excess water usage. The benefit seen in the reduction of water use is projected in multiple ways: 1. Water conservation will not only reduce the amount of water being used which conserves water for future use but also means less water is brought back through the effluent system which requires treatment before discharge. 2. Reduction in treatment cost is comprised through reduced use of electricity, fuel, and chemicals during the treatment process. Energy saving can be made through better understanding of water consumption patterns that allow timing and optimization for pump stations and water tank filling to lower energy price tiers. 3. The overall water infrastructure will benefit from reduced water usage which will extend the lifespan of these systems. 4. The environmental impact is through less pumping of groundwater which is retained in the aquifer. With the recent droughts and water shortages throughout the state, all water saving activities benefit preserving water supplies.	The effectiveness of the AMI system can be measured directly from the large amount of data that will be collected from the system which will allow data-driven decision making. The data derived from the smart meters will provide direct indication of customer water usage during drought conditions, at different times of the day and year. The evaluation of this data will benefit water conservation strategies by showing direct indicators of water usage. The metric of water saved, after implementation, is the most obvious indicator of program effectiveness but not the only one. Once the AMI system is installed, a Utility Billing customer has the option to download, in electronic format, an application to see their data. The City anticipates that conservation will be gained by allowing a customer to see their monthly water usage. During summer months, there is a spike in irrigation water, which is expensive potable water; the typical customer may be unaware of how much extra water is being used. The customer will also be able to detect leaks quickly, reducing waste, and letting the customer know when corrective actions need to be taken. Providing customers with this tool and information will allow them to gauge their own water usage and make choices that provide the most benefit. The Cityâ€™s Gallons per Capita per Day (GPCD), a measurement of how much water each customer uses each day, is a direct measurement of the Cityâ€™s water conservation efforts. It is projected that GPCD will decrease as customers recognize and try to reduce their usage.	The City recognizes that there is a link between this grant opportunity and the Water Supply Development Fund, yet at this time, is only seeking this grant to help get the AMI program started. The City does not meet the current qualifications for the Long-Term Water Augmentation Fund.	AMI is a significant investment for the City and will take many years to fund it, in its entirety. The City has committed to completing this program regardless of outside funding; this grant assistance will help the City reach important milestones sooner to ensure this investment comes to fruition system-wide in the shortest timeline possible.	Prior to the grant opportunity, the City added the WMRP to the annual Capital Improvement budget for the next five fiscal years. The program is currently only using water users' rates and fees for funding; however, during the duration of the program, the City will continue to look for any grant assistance possible.	This program does not include any cost-sharing opportunities as the program only affects the customers of the water utility. If other funding opportunities come to light, the City will aggressively pursue those options.	The source of the match comes from the Cityâ€™s water users' rates and fees. The City is requesting a $3,000,000 grant, with a match of $750,000 or 25%, to implement phase 1 of the WMRP. The program in its entirety has a cost estimate of $12,500,000.	The project manager is Steven Olfers, the Cityâ€™s Utilities Manager BS, MPA (Resume is attached). Mr. Olfers began with the City in June 2022, prior to his move, he was the Water/Wastewater System Superintendent for the City of Mesa for 4 years. Mr. Olfers will be assisted by Nathan Graham, the Cityâ€™s Water Division Superintendent. Mr. Graham has worked for the Cityâ€™s Water Division for 8 years. External vendors including the meter manufacture and installation services will lead the field efforts.	The management impacts will be minimal; the new system will reduce the amount of labor hours employees are currently needing to manually read water meters each month. Technology will be self-contained. Communication devices installed with the meters will send data through the cell phone system to a central server. The server will evaluate the data using proprietary software and identify the change of state of all readings. Any measurements that are outside of the set parameters will be sent through email to be evaluated by the project management team. The only technology that will require maintenance will be the endpoints associated with the individual meters, which have a 10-year battery life. The software from the vendor will then communicate with the customer portal, providing near real-time data.	The WMRP will promote collaborative partnerships with the new AMI equipment. The implementation of the AMI system goes seamlessly into the continuous efforts of the City to promote and educate the community on water conservation practices. Partnerships with local organizations that promote water conservation and water quality for the health of the local streams, lakes, and aquifer are perfect collaborative partners to promote the use of smart meter technology for the benefit of the water system. The City's General Plan provides the overarching goals of strengthening water conservation, water quality, and water supply to the community through development of a long-term water plan. The implementation of the long-term water plan requires collaboration with community stakeholders, the AMI system is one of key components that brings this collaboration together. It is anticipated that outreach efforts will be put in place to bring in many more organizations, groups, and stakeholders.	In 2019, the City of Tempe was the first metropolitan community to introduce and install AMI it to their community. Earlier this year, the City contacted them to learn both their successes and challenges in stakeholder involvement. The Cityâ€™s water service area includes not only those in City limits, but also Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribe, portions of the Town of Chino Valley, and portions of Yavapai County. A comprehensive outreach plan will be implemented to achieve the possible efficiencies the City described in Question 6. The Cityâ€™s plan will include 3 stages and several communication tools to reach various types of customers and stakeholders. The first stage will be to train in-house staff to assist customers with this technology. Secondly, the City will be informing water customers about the AMI user-interface, generating excitement about the use, and how it could save them money. Lastly, the City will publish the registration/sign-up procedures for the user-interface.	The City launched a new website in Spring 2023, prescottwater.com, devoted entirely to water conservation. It includes information on how to save water indoors (kitchen, bathroom, laundry) and outdoors (primarily irrigation). In just over a month, almost 1,000 users have signed into the website, this shows just how much the citizens are invested in water conservation. This website will be one of many forms of communication methods the City will be using. The City will also be utilizing press releases, local newspapers, billing leaflet, multiple social media platforms, advertising in selected publications, and public events. The City has several local water conservation groups that will be contacted for public outreach. City Council Study Sessions will take place to educate the public and the City Council.	The City has great support by community groups interested in heightened conservation practices in both indoor and outdoor water use. Attached with this application are letters of support from some of our community partners.	The City has made the financial commitment to ensure the completion and success of this program, meaning this program will move forward to completion as a part of the 5-year Capital Improvement Program. Throughout the country many communities have implemented AMI systems to promote water conservation, extend the life of water infrastructure, and optimize water supplies. The City, through a request for proposals process, will collaborate with a strong AMI vendor that has experience with installation and commissioning of the meters as well as software components. The vendor will provide the support and training to create a successful program.	This is a new program the City is undertaking. Nearby towns have had success in the implementation of this program as well as those across the country. There has not been a smart meter program in the City previously, however, with the evolution of communication technology this program will advance the smart city ideals allowing customers and utility staff to work together to find solutions for water loss and water quality issues that continue to challenge the utility system.	This program is a Best Management Practice (BMP) within the ADWR Prescott AMA Fifth Management Plan (see Question 13). The City recognizes, from case studies, that AMI is the next step in water conservation. Under the regulation of ADWR and the Cityâ€™s adoption of other BMPs, the City has seen the communityâ€™s GPCD drop significantly (attached chart Fig. 7).
23	Chandler City of	Water Efficient Technology Rebate Program (Commercial, Industrial, HOA, Multi-family)	Programs and projects that reduce water use Per A.R.S. 49-1332(B)(2)	Program	This program will be implemented over a multi-year timeframe and will include multiple locations. City of Chandler has identified opportunities for the installation of water efficient technologies that include high resolution data and notification capabilities for non-residential and large-scale multi-family customers including (but not limited to) multi-family, homeowners associations, commercial, industrial, and institutional properties throughout the City such as apartments, schools, hospitals, manufacturing, restaurants, shopping centers, etc.	City of Chandler	Maricopa	4 5	12 13 14	City of Chandler is part of the service area for the Salt & Verde watershed and also receives water from the Colorado River watershed via Central Arizona Project.	Phoenix AMA		$1,500,000.00	$943,750.00	$2,443,750.00	112	0.00004583120205	Water savings is calculated by estimating 150 sites will participate in the program and reduce annual water use by approximately 30%. Average annual water use for multi-family and commercial customers is 2.5 AF/year. [(1502.5)30% ]=112 AF/year	Each site installation will have a different begin and end date, depending on the time needed to research the technology, approve the installation, and receive bids from contractors. Installation applications will be accepted as soon as grant funding is awarded, and site installations will be completed by November 2026. This program will result in a permanent reduction in water use at each site selected for the program.	The conservation activity proposed is for the installation of water efficient technologies that provide high-resolution data with notifications at large multi-family and non-residential properties, including (but not limited to), apartments, HOAâ€™s, commercial, industrial, and institutional sites. This water conservation activity will provide site with water using equipment to better monitor and correct operational malfunctions and leaks as soon as they happen. Thereby increasing over water efficiency and reducing water losses due to leaks and/or malfunctions. Cooling tower control systems is an example of a water efficiency technology to better monitors flows, chemicals, and water quality. This equipment will notify the operator if a change in settings is needed to improve water efficiency. This technology can reduce cooling tower water use by as much as 50%. Each of these water efficient technology installations, will include the following components: â€¢ An application processes. â€¢ Research and evaluation of the technology for the expected water savings and to ensure the high-resolution data and notification requirements are met. â€¢ Notification to proceed if all requirements are met. â€¢ Selection of a contractor to perform the work. â€¢ Installation plans and permit reviews and approval. â€¢ A final inspection of the installation. â€¢ The processing of the rebate and incentive funds to the applicant	City of Chandler serves customers using a combination of different water sources and the water conserved will include Colorado River water, Salt & Verde River water, groundwater and reclaimed water. The specific source conserved can not be known until each specific site is selected for the program. However, in general we expect to see water savings across all of our different sources of supply, including Colorado River water delivered through the Central Arizona Project.	Chandler is an incorporated city located in Maricopa County, Arizona, on the southeast side of the Phoenix Metropolitan area. Approximate population is 276,000. Chandler believes in cultivating a water conservation ethic within our community and removal of functional and non-functional grass from public property helps to signal the value of water and demonstrate how beautiful desert adapted landscaping is within our community.	value1 value2	The installation of water efficient technology with high resolution data and notifications will provide a permanent long-term reduction in water use and also achieves high water efficiency standards by ensuring equipment malfunctions and leaks that impact water use are found and fixed as soon as they occur thereby producing ongoing water savings.	Water supply shortages Reliance on non-renewable water supplies Groundwater depletion	Installing water efficient technology with high resolution data and notifications will assist when any of our surface water supplies experience water shortages. By permanently reducing our total outdoor water use, we are able create long-term durable reductions in demand for Colorado River water, Salt & Verde River water and groundwater.	Installation of water efficient technologies with high resolution data and notifications aligns with local, regional and statewide water plans by addressing the need for reductions in Colorado River demand, and also aligns with the Phoenix AMA goal of reducing groundwater pumping.	The costs associated with this water conservation activity include program administration, research time, labor associated with device installations and the cost of purchasing the devices. The benefits include better water and water using systems management. One example of a water efficient technology that could be installed for this water conservation activity is a cooling tower controlling system that monitors flows, chemicals, and water quality. This equipment can then notify the operator when any factors are out of specifications which informs them to possible setting or leak issues. This equipment can reduce cooling tower water use by as much as 50%.	Program effectiveness will be measured in terms of long-term water demand reductions. Water savings will be calculated by comparing the total site water use before and after conversion.	The proposed conservation activity is not eligible for funding from WIFAâ€™s Long-Term Water Augmentation Fund or Water Supply Development Fund.	No, there is not currently a budget identified to implement this program without grant funding.	This is yet to be determined. The City of Chandler is still researching the Bureau of Reclamation Water Smart Grants that are available to support the installation of water savings technologies.	The City of Chandler will be working with the program applicants who will be expected to participate with some if not all cost sharing/matching. Additionally, Chandler will provide in-kind services.	$1,500,000 - Funds from participating conversion sites for the conversion work $104,000 - In-kind, Chandler staff time to coordinate, measure, and consult pre-conversion, permitting costs, plans review and approval process, staff field work and construction management, final inspections, processing, and grant administration.	Chandler Water Conservation staff has administered multiple rebate and incentive programs since the early 1990s, issuing well over 10,000 rebates. Chandler is well suited to manage this activity, however, due to the increased workload additional staff will be needed to administer this conservation activity.	Chandler will hire temporary staff to assist with the increased workload of this program. Water Conservation Staff will cost $45,000 to $65,000 annually.	The proposed conservation activity represents a collaborative partnership with water saving technology experts and consultants. Chandler will also be working with collaboratively with multi-family, HOAâ€™s, commercial, institutional, and industrial entities and technical associations and organizations to address local water conservation objectives. Participants will also be encouraged to participate in additional water conservation programs offered by the City of Chandler.	Chandler has surveyed residents about water conservation to find over 83% support the establishment of water-saving incentives and rebates.	The City of Chandler will conduct public outreach by promoting this program on our website, posting information on social media and distributing a press release. We will also provide opportunities for the public to learn more about our conservation programs at a series of community events and offer detailed program information materials at all of our in-person education workshops.	Based on an initial survey conducted in April/May 2023, there is community support for this conservation activity.	There is wide support for this program within the City of Chandler. Water conservation staff has already developed a proposal for the staffing requirements to administer the program and determined the program is feasible.	Chandler does not currently administer a program targeting the installation of water efficient technology within multi-family, HOAâ€™s, commercial, institutional, and industrial properties. However, Chandler has successfully administered several other types of residential rebate programs, including a smart controller installation program for single family residential customers and has been able to demonstrate water savings through smart technology rebate programs for single family residential customers.	The installation of water efficient technology achieves two Best Management Practices found in the Phoenix Active Management Area Non-Per Capita Conservation Program, 7.2 Research of a New Technology or Technique and 7.4 Piloting a New Technology. This water conservation activity requires the research of new technologies, and many will be newer to Chandlerâ€™s water service area, therefore we will be piloting their overall effectiveness.
24	Arizona Board of Regents, University of Arizona	Arizona County and Community Level Water Conservation Factsheets	Education and research programs on how to reduce water consumption, increase water efficiency or increase water reuse.	Project		Statewide focusing on rural communities lacking conservation resources.	All	All districts	All districts	Multiple watersheds based on a prioritization of communities and counties where conservation resources are needed.	While this project largely focuses on rural areas lacking the conservation resources available within AMAs, the project draws upon lessons learned through engaging with communities within AMAs and INAs, and will not exclude communities that need conservation resources but are located within an AMA or INA.	See AMA response.	$175,069.00	$43,767.00	$218,836.00	12	0.00005483558464	Water savings can be estimated based on past experiences of water utilities that have demonstrated the effectiveness of public water conservation education. Savings have been difficult to quantify given the many factors that contribute to water use and total water consumption, but a significant proportion of the reductions in per capita water demand has been attributed to water conservation education best practices where they have been implemented. In addition, water conservation education and engagement can be identified as a catalyst for community and regional projects, such as stormwater recharge or reclaimed water use. A brief literature review was performed to assess water savings from conservation education efforts. A key and persistent conclusion across the articles reviewed is the difficulty in disaggregating the water savings of educational efforts from the comprehensive outreach campaigns used to address water shortages. Studies that aggregate all outreach and education, including key elements like persistent outreach, demand-information, and conservation measures, demonstrate a 1% to 8% decrease in water consumption with some estimates of education-only interventions ranging from 1% to 4% in the short term. Therefore, in combination with the proposed outreach and publicity campaigns, the development and distribution of these factsheets can have a substantial effect on increasing water conservation. The average domestic per capita water use of the target counties is between 112-137 gallons per day (1985-2015) (USGS). Only a 5-10% reduction in per capita water use through domestic conservation and demand management strategies could spur up to four million gallons of water savings per year, reducing groundwater dependence and supporting long-term health of connected natural systems. This low-end estimate discounts the potential saving from greater municipal, industrial, and agricultural conservation activities achieved through this educational project.	Once produced, the factsheets will serve as a baseline conservation education resource, the conservation benefits of which may extend for years. The proposed project itself is 18 months. The factsheet development and distribution process has led to follow-on conservation education actions, such as community forums and webinars, and distribution of the factsheets continues well beyond their publication date.	Through this project, the WRRC proposes to develop water conservation factsheets targeting populations throughout the state that are underserved in terms of existing conservation education resources. Using an established process of factsheet development, the WRRC will engage groups and individuals with knowledge of water uses for which conservation education is likely to produce water savings, including residential, industrial, landscaping, and farming uses. Targeted populations may include small and mid-size utility customers, small industries, landscapers, gardeners, small and mid-size municipalities, and regional wastewater utilities. The focus of each factsheet will be determined through consultation with a Technical Advisory Committee consisting of experts and water resources management and conservation professionals with knowledge of the target populationâ€™s conservation needs. The conservation factsheet development will extend the content consultation with a case study and interview process that systematically explores conservation options for relevant sectors, such as local government (policies and mandates), utilities, homeowners, commercial, industrial, etc. This process of arriving at factsheet form and content is based on the WRRC's experience developing county-level water information factsheets, a program that has developed and is actively developing factsheets for each of Arizona's 15 counties. Once a factsheet is published, a robust outreach strategy is employed to distribute the factsheets to the public. The outreach strategy includes distribution by the engaged groups and individuals, Arizona Cooperative Extension, and the WRRC's established outreach networks. We estimate that six to ten individual factsheets will be completed and released during this 18-month project, along with the associated outreach activities. In addition to developing, releasing, and conducting outreach around the final factsheet products, the flexible factsheet templates will also be adaptable for different communities and counties to undertake this process after the project is over. In this way, the final factsheet products will serve as a roadmap for additional factsheets to be developed, updated, or easily modified to meet the needs of different regions and water use sectors in Arizona. The project will potentially seed extended conservation education after the project is over, with the WRRC available as a trusted resource to provide guidance on the process. Objectives: â€¢ Clearly connect the water conservation policy goals and strategies of counties and individual communities with tangible data and examples to develop tailored outreach tools in the form of 2- to 8-page factsheets. â€¢ Build local capacity within communities and specific water use sectors to educate the public about water conservation and demand management programs and provide templates for conservation education. â€¢ Increase public awareness about the multiple benefits of water conservation for human and environmental uses. â€¢ Share lessons and examples among rural counties and communities about innovative and effective water conservation strategies and policies outside of AMAs, advancing water conservation knowledge in Arizona.	Most of the water conserved will likely be groundwater, as the targeted population will be rural and/or outside the CAP service area. Some surface water and Colorado River water use may be reduced. Some surface waters including those in the Gila, Salt, and Verde River Watersheds may be reduced, depending on the specific communities engaged.	The conservation factsheets will be prepared to address local issues throughout the state, and so the communities that will be impacted by the conserved water will reflect the demographic and economic diversity of the state. The factsheets will focus on small- to midsize rural or semi-rural communities with water-intensive economic bases, like agriculture, mining, water-based recreation, and/or the military. Factsheet development will focus on underserved communities without existing conservation education programs or guidance to help ensure the conservation benefits are maximized.	value1 value2 value3	The conservation education factsheets will reduce long-term water use by enabling and motivating community conservation projects and/or individual water use behavior changes that could have a substantial impact. These kinds of conservation actions have consistently reduced per capita water consumption where implemented. Conservation literature suggests that information-based conservation programs are highly effective in promoting long-term conservation behavior changes, especially when coupled with supporting policy structures. Our conservation factsheet project will fill a gap by providing conservation education development services to communities impacted by water scarcity challenges but lacking sufficient conservation education resources.	Water supply shortages Reliance on non-renewable water supplies Groundwater depletion Water quality issues Natural disasters that may impact water supply infrastructure	A water conservation education program of targeted factsheets reduces water use and potentially leads to projects that augment supplies, mostly in groundwater-dependent areas, thus addressing drought-related shortages, reliance on non-renewable supplies, and groundwater depletion. The factsheets will use publicly available data and the input of a local Technical Advisory Committee to identify the areas where water conservation would be most appropriate to forestall negative consequences related to shortages and/or use of finite groundwater supplies, including water quality degradation. The water conserved would benefit the conserving communities by restraining cost increases, avoiding draconian drought restriction and moratoria, preserving environmental amenities and recreational opportunities, and/or providing other local benefits.	The targeted water conservation education program of factsheets will align and integrate with local plans through the participation of groups and individuals involved in developing plans. Factsheet development specifically considers water and integrated resource management plans where they exist or are in process by discussing all known ongoing water-related activities as part of engagement with the Technical Advisory Committee. In addition, the WRRC is knowledgeable of water planning resources available from Arizona Department of Water Resources and regularly distributes this information to the public and applies relevant policy information to specific projects (e.g. water conservation and management recommendations for the Town of Clarkdale, Town of Florence, Town of Patagonia, etc.).	No external costs are expected because this development and printing of the educational factsheets are comprehensively documented in our budget. Many entities located throughout the state (e.g., small water providers, rural well owners) lack sufficient resources to develop conservation education tools. The water conservation factsheets will provide conservation education in support of community- and individual-level actions. A literature review of conservation education effectiveness shows that increased knowledge and engagement contribute to reduction in consumptive water use. Steep water reductions can reduce water utility revenues, heightening concerns for utilities with high fixed costs. Although utilities may increase rates temporarily to compensate, conservation can mitigate these revenue issues by offsetting cost over the long-term by forestalling system upgrades and expansion (e.g., deepening wells, drilling new wells, expanding treatment capacity). No direct environmental impacts are anticipated, but local water conservation can have indirect environmental benefits. For example, reducing residential water demand can decrease the amount of groundwater pumping, further reducing water table elevation decline. Higher water tables facilitate healthy riparian areas, providing an indirect environmental benefit.	A literature review of the water saving resulting from water conservation education revealed two key conclusions: 1. It is virtually impossible to disaggregate the savings from conservation education without integrated planning with other conservation activities 2. Water savings are dependent on the breadth and duration of publicity campaigns Since there is no coordinating authority for all water conservation activities in the state, isolating the effects of the conservation factsheets via design of a comprehensive water conservation campaign is not feasible. Therefore, the WRRC will use standard outreach metrics to measure the effectiveness of the water conservation factsheets. Our metrics include: â€¢ Social media and website access â€¢ Attendance for associated presentations (in-person or online) â€¢ Distributions through partner organizations and outreach events â€¢ Distribution demographics (e.g., geographic regions for hardcopy distribution)	No, water conservation education is not listed among those programsâ€™ fundable projects.	No. The necessary funding has yet been identified to create a program of targeted water conservation factsheets.	This factsheet project, if funded, will leverage existing funding streams supporting the WRRCâ€™s Arizona Water Factsheet Initiative, enabling the team to build from past successes to create effective water conservation factsheets. The proposed budget includes cost-share sourced from private donations and from the Technology Research Initiative Fund(TRIF)/Water, Environmental and Energy Solutions Initiative administered by the University of Arizona Office for Research, Innovation and Impact, funded under Proposition 301, the Arizona Sales Tax for Education Act, in 2000. Though not cost-shared in this budget, this project will also build from work supported by Water Resources Research Act, Section 104b funding administered by the US Geological Survey. WIFA Conservation Grant funding will enable the WRRC to leverage existing funding to expand the established factsheet program by producing targeted conservation education resources for underserved and rural communities with insufficient local informational capacity.	Yes, our proposal includes an in-kind match of volunteer hours from our Technical Advisory Committees, organized to inform the creation of the conservation factsheets.	The University of Arizona will provide a total of $16,767 in matching funds as detailed below: Personnel â€“ cash cost match committed $12,702 PI Dr Sharon B Megdal, Director Water Resources Research Center, will serve as the PI for this project and oversee all aspects of the proposal. Dr Megdal will devote 1.0 % FTE academic effort, or 24 hours over the course of the project for a total of $8,832.45. Dr. Megdalâ€™s compensation is calculated using a base salary of $178,568.55 for a 9 month academic year appointment, or $111.61/hr Amanda Trakas - Manager, Statewide Water Information will assist the program coordinator in an advisory capacity, drawing from experience managing the WRRCâ€™s ongoing Arizona Water Factsheet initiative. She will also assist in facilitating input from key stakeholders through engagement with the Technical Advisory Committees. Ms Trakas will devote 303.56 hours over the course of the project for a total of $7,373 Ms Trakasâ€™ compensation is calculated using a base salary of $50,715 for a 12 month fiscal appointment, or $24.29/hr John Polle â€“ Multimedia Specialist III will establish the primary template for the Factsheets and assist with the completion and QA of the final factsheets. John will devote 80 hours over the course of the project for a total of $2,650 Mr Polleâ€™s compensation is calculated using a base salary of $69,174 for a 12 month fiscal appointment, or $33.13/hr Fringe Benefits â€“ cash cost match committed $3,861 As per federally negotiated rates https://www.fso.arizona.edu/financial-management/ere-rates 32% Faculty ERE Dr Megdal = $858 32% Staff ERE A Trakas = $3,003 32% Staff ERE J Polle = $848 In addition, the stakeholder process engaged to produce these resources involve a commitment from a local Technical Advisory Committee for each target community. The Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) will provide in-kind contributions to the project, which will be used as cost-share for the requested funding. Our budget includes a total of $27,000 in-kind match from these volunteer hours, based on a six-member TAC for each of Arizonaâ€™s 15 counties, each committing to six hours of volunteer time at a rate of $50/hour. This rate is based on yearly earnings provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates (BLS 2022). Many of our stakeholders and participants fall under the occupation category of â€œEngineersâ€� (Occupation Code 17-2000), which average $44.18 hourly wages. This rate is rounded to $50/hour to account for necessary travel by our volunteer TAC members.	Since 2021, the WRRC has partnered with a range of stakeholders to produce water factsheets at the county level. Through this experience, we have developed a robust process that includes local stakeholder involvement to produce quality informational resources. Our staff builds upon the institutional experience of the WRRC working with the public and water stakeholders on water research, outreach, and educational efforts. Technical capacity - The WRRC maintains the technical capacity to support the creation of the factsheets including locating, interpreting, and effectively utilizing water resources and conservation data from a variety of sources. In-house capabilities include the use of GIS data to communicate salient information and make visible the broader connections of water supplies and demands locally, regionally, and across the state. These technical capabilities are demonstrated in the creation of the Arizona Water Map that serves as a statewide resource along with the Arizona Water Factsheet Initiative that highlights the unique conditions, priorities, and values of each county through text, figures, and original maps. Outreach capacity - The WRRC maintains a robust outreach program that includes a weekly newsletter sent to a network of nearly 4,000 subscribers, a well-attended virtual webinar series featuring speakers from a range of disciplines speaking on important water resource topics and other targeted outreach activities utilizing networks developed over decades of WRRC operations. The WRRC provides content to local media about general and topical water resources issues, as well as specific projects and events. Engagement capacity - The WRRC is well-known for its research and practice in engaging water stakeholders in projects, events, and dialogues relating to water management and policy. With a history of engagement going back more than 40 years, the WRRC has been a leader in building relationships and partnerships both within communities of shared interests and across sectors, disciplines, and locations. Referenced WRRC publications and projects: Arizona Water Factsheets - These county-level factsheets are designed to answer common questions about water resources, tailored to every county in Arizona so as to foster understanding of the local nature of Arizona water resource challenges and solutions. This succinct and visual approach to summarizing the most recent information about water has proved effective in communicating the basics of conservation along with other relevant water issues. https://wrrc.arizona.edu/resources/arizona-water-factsheets Arizona Water Map - The Arizona Water Map was created through a committee process involving state and federal agencies and experts who advised on the work of WRRC staff and creative designers to produce an informative representation of Arizonaâ€™s water resources, uses, and contextual features. https://wrrc.arizona.edu/resources/arizona-water-map-poster Arroyo - The Arroyo publication has been used as a reference and policy information document in various forums and classrooms. In the process of creating the 2023 Arroyo, agricultural factsheets were developed including topics of water conservation and efficiency. (The 2023 Arroyo will be published in June 2023.) https://wrrc.arizona.edu/publications/arroyo Weekly Wave - The Weekly Wave is an electronic newsletter produced throughout the year by the WRRC and distributed to a subscription list of almost 4,000 individuals and organizations. https://wrrc.arizona.edu/publications/weekly-wave	No significant management impacts are anticipated.	The WRRC is a trusted source for water information and connects with a statewide network that will be utilized in the production of conservation factsheets. This collaborative process of engaging partners and activating a statewide network of Cooperative Extension offices and other experts has proven highly effective for the established Arizona Water Factsheets program. Promoting collaborative partnerships is a key component of the factsheet development process. The engaged individuals and groups for past county-level spreadsheet efforts have reported that their increased understanding and knowledge of the positions and activities of others has been an important side benefit. Connections are made that facilitate working together on follow-up or related actions. The development of Arizona Water Factsheets has proven an effective tool for spearheading more in-depth water education and outreach activities such as regionally relevant seminars.	Each factsheet is co-produced with local stakeholders through an iterative process that includes consultation with a local Technical Advisory Committee (TAC). The TACs will consist of experts and water resources management and conservation professionals with knowledge of the target populationâ€™s conservation needs. These individuals will come from local governments, environmental organizations, state and federal agencies, irrigation districts, county cooperative extension, and other stakeholder groups and represent the diverse perspectives and values of the local communities. Content review and comment will be critical to ensure that current conservation plans and programs are represented in the factsheet and that the appropriate areas and methods for water conservation are identified. Furthermore, after an extensive outreach effort that includes wide distribution through the Weekly Wave newsletter, the WRRC is well-versed in co-leading virtual and in-person presentations for general audiences by partnering with local water expert(s) through the TAC or other network avenues. Planned activities: â€¢ Connect with Cooperative County statewide county offices to gauge interest and request partners. â€¢ Conduct stakeholder mapping with County representatives to inform process and identify local water use sector experts and stakeholders to invite to Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) and interviews. â€¢ Coordinate 1-3 working meetings or interviews to collect information, determine factsheet content, and collaboratively resolve topical issues as they may arise. â€¢ Coordinate the review of products drafted by the WRRC and request feedback from TAC and external partners, including the WRRCâ€™s External Advisory Committee. â€¢ Request assistance from TAC connecting to other topic experts as needed. â€¢ Partner outreach and dissemination of the final product to reach a wide net of stakeholders - statewide and local - including but not limited to contributing to or creating website pages, listservs, newspapers, social media, presentations (online and in-person), etc.	Yes, the purpose of the proposed targeted water conservation factsheet program is outreach to the public among other groups. As an educational program, it provides the public with opportunities to learn about how individuals can conserve water and how their communities and neighbors can implement conservation projects and practices. While the target audience of the proposed factsheets is the public, a range of other organizations would benefit also. Through the experience of producing the Arizona Water Factsheets, the WRRC has seen local governments (Pima and Maricopa Counties, for example) utilize the factsheet for their own public information campaigns and to inform their staffs. The WRRC has also worked closely with Arizona Project WET for many years and will make the factsheets available for curricula development and distribution at water festivals around the state, along with WRRC staff distributions at conferences and other outreach events. The WRRC hosts online seminar series that attract a growing audience, with an average of 150 attendees per seminar, from across a broad range of knowledge from the interested general public to experts and includes water managers, consultants, students, environmental advocates, and policy makers. The factsheets will be the basis of 3-5 webinars hosted by the WRRC and co-presented with local expert stakeholders, with the potential for hosting additional webinars depending on interest. Since the onset of the COVID pandemic, forms of electronic communication have become commonplace for most people, including those in rural and semi-rural communities. Most WRRC resources are requested in an electronic format. Thus, we expect printing costs to remain low for this project, because most access to the factsheets are expected to be online.	Past water information efforts, tailored to serve individual counties, communities, or water use sectors, have received the support of the communities they serve because the need is recognized. The specific need for visually impactful and factually reliable factsheets, in particular, has been identified and recognized as important sources of vital public information. The WRRC is experienced in engaging communities and those representing a range of water use sectors in projects through intersecting networks. We expect continued successful community and/or sector engagement in meeting the recognized need for targeted water conservation education factsheets. The WRRC conducted interviews of three county planning departments (Mohave, Yavapai, and Cochise) in 2021 that identified distinct needs for water conservation assistance, primarily science communication and public outreach. County representatives discussed their lack of capacity to drive public education about water, which in turn limits public support for advanced water conservation and management. Every community and county has a unique set of water supplies, demands, and issues to manage, so a one-size-fits-all approach to outreach and resource development is not effective. The need for public education and increased awareness about water resources was a top recommendation of public officials in order to build support for more innovative water conservation practices.	The WRRC has decades of experience producing water information resources for the public. We are recognized statewide as a trusted resource for accurate and locally relevant water resource information. The WRRCâ€™s experience producing the Arizona Water Factsheets has demonstrated an effective process of engagement and consultation to produce these kinds of resources. With WRRC facilitation and technical staff support, this activity is feasible, given the requested funding and matching funds. The WRRCâ€™s current Arizona Water Factsheet Initiative provides a framework to complete this water conservation initiative. The initiative is currently underway with several successfully released factsheets and additional factsheets under development. The process, which includes reviewing and compiling information, coordinating draft reviews, holding meetings, and integrating comments, supports dynamic factsheet development that can be accomplished in the designated time.	Although the Water Conservation Factsheets effort would be a new activity, it builds on the success of the county-level water information factsheet initiative. Effectiveness has been demonstrated by stakeholder satisfaction, continued interest in participation and follow-up actions, and broad distribution through multiple avenues. The current Arizona Water Factsheet initiative has produced six county-focused factsheets, each unique to the water resources conditions, priorities, and values of its county.	Best Management Practices for water conservation, for example the municipal and industrial conservation program for Active Management Areas, generally include education and training in the how and why of water conservation actions. Visual impact and clear, concise language are best practices in communicating important information. Best water management practices are embedded in conservation education that is informed by local and regional experts.
25	Peoria City of	Sunrise Mountain High School Multi-Purpose Field Turf Reduction Project	Programs and projects that reduce water use Per A.R.S. 49-1332(B)(2)	Project		Peoria	Maricopa	8	27 28 29	Colorado River			$250,000.00	$62,500.00	$312,500.00	19	0.0000608	The department intends to remove 6.25 acres of turf, resulting in 6,166,187 gallons, or 18.92 acre-feet of water savings per year.	This conservation activity would be phased throughout the next three years, ending by December 2026.	Targeted turf reductions is proposed at Sunrise Mountain High School.	Colorado River surface water delivered through the Central Arizona Project.	Today, Peoria covers nearly 179 square miles and is home to over 200,000 residents making it Arizonaâ€™s ninth largest city in terms of population. Peoria is a rapidly-growing, modern city that offers a high quality of living in the natural beauty of the Sonoran Desert. It is the mission of the Parks and Recreation Department to meet the needs of the citizens of Peoria by developing, implementing and maintaining quality programs, services, events and facilities that are cost effective, creative and responsive to citizen input. Peoria seeks to provide parks and facilities that can be readily available and used by all ages. We accomplish this through our vigorous and continuous planning efforts. In 2019, the Parks and Recreation Department created a Capital Improvement Program aimed at identifying sustainable approaches to water conservation in its landscaped areas. The Water Conservation Program has many tenets, to include: targeted turf reductions, a 2018 and 2023 turf and irrigation study conducted by Aqua Engineering, irrigation system designs, repairs, and improvements, master valve improvements, and more. Although these plans each have their specific purposes, they do share common themes. Growth should be planned, attractive, and directed into appropriate areas at reasonable densities with particular sensitivity to the recreational resources, programs, and view sheds enjoyed by the community. The Parks and Recreation Department provides activities for the entire family such as recreational classes, youth programs, active adult activities, sports for youth and adults, and a variety of community events. The Recreation Division manages a wide variety of programs, activities, and classes for children, teens, adults, seniors and people with disabilities to promote healthy lifestyles. The City of Peoria takes pride in the relationships and partnerships it develops with multiple agencies and organizations. The Parks and Recreation Department has an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with the Peoria Unified School District for programming youth sports and the before/after school program. This partnership provides a diverse selection of amenities and programming at each location. Developed parks include both larger and smaller spaces, ranging from the large community parks with athletic fields, playgrounds and restroom facilities to the smaller parks tucked into neighborhoods. These smaller neighborhood parks include covered picnic areas, small playgrounds, and benches.	value1 value2	â€¢ Long-term reductions in water use The removal of non-programmable turf allows for the significant reduction of overhead sprinkler usage. This reduction calls for a 986,590 gallons of water saved per acre of turf removed. â€¢ Improvements in water use efficiency. Updates to the parksâ€™ irrigation systems will result in the more efficient use of water. Installations of master valves and flow sensors will allow for the improved detection of flow conditions and allow for shutdown of the system during failures without resulting in unnecessary water loss.	Water supply shortages	Targeted turf reductions will allow for the City and the school district to realize substantial water savings in areas deemed as non-programmable. These turf reductions will help to reduce the reliance on water.	In June of 2017, the City of Peoriaâ€™s Environmental Resources Division created a Drought Management Plan that highlights the Cityâ€™s efforts to not only maintain a diverse water portfolio, but to also manage the Cityâ€™s response to continued or worsened drought conditions, via a Demand Reduction Matrix. In March 2023, the Parks and Recreation Department created a Tier One Drought Management Plan to highlight proposed efforts a drought mitigation and water consumption reduction efforts.	The Department estimates that it will cost approximately $50,000 for every acre of turf removed. That cost also includes the planting of xeriscape, which should result in a significant reduction in water consumption. Additionally, the planting of trees results in the reduction of air pollution, storm water runoff, and other benefits.	By gallons of water saved. The department estimates 986,590 gallons of water saved a year per acre removed. Each turf removal project will allow for increased water savings.	The proposed project would not qualify for funding under the Augmentation or Supply Development Funds.	No, this project would not occur without approved grant funding.	The school district will work with the Cityâ€™s Parks and Recreation Department to leverage its existing Water Conservation Program.	While there may not be direct cost-sharing opportunities with other parties, there is the potential to leverage a relationship with the Peoria Unified School District to maximize turf reduction strategies in shared assets.	The entirety of the matching amount of $62,500 will be funded by the school district.	The Park and Recreation Department has a host of supervisory staff with a wealth of agronomic and project management experience. Nathan Branham â€“ Irrigation Coordinator Nathan is the Irrigation Coordinator for the City of Peoria and has extensive experience with multiple irrigation systems, to include reclaimed and potable water. Michael Elliott â€“ Park Operations Manager Michael currently serves as the Park Operations Manager for the City and has extensive experience with project management and grant execution. Zachary Matz â€“ Parks Superintendent Zach has over 15 years of professional parks and recreation experience, to include programming budgets, preventative maintenance operations and managing capital improvement projects. Zach also has experience writing and implementing federal, state, local, and private grants. Erik Ostlund â€“ Parks Superintendent Erik has over 30 years of agronomic, irrigation, turfgrass, and construction experience. He has a degree in Turfgrass Management and has overseen numerous irrigation, park, and golf course renovations. Brandon Putman â€“ Parks Superintendent Brandon has extensive experience managing and constructing athletics fields, to include the Cityâ€™s 80 acre community parks and Major League Baseball fields. Brandon also has a wealth of experience managing landscape and construction projects that are federally funded. Todd Wuellner â€“ Field Operations Manager Todd has an extensive background in turfgrass management and park construction. Todd has overseen agronomic practices across several municipalities and coordinated feedback and collaboration in the design and construction of several multi-million dollar regional park developments.	There are no additional costs or staffing requirements associated with the proposed conservation activity.	The Department and the school district plan to capitalize on its proactive approach to collaboration with regard to proposed improvement projects. Collaboration efforts are planned between the Cityâ€™s Water Services Department (best practices and water consumption reporting), Development and Engineering Department (drainage challenges), and the Neighborhood and Human Services Department (community engagement), among others.	The school district and Parks and Recreation Department deliberately involves its constituency with regard to improvements. In addition to the actions outlined in the citizen-engaged Community Services Master Plan, parks staff frequently utilizes community engagement initiatives to garner citizen input for proposed projects. This conservation activity will be no exception.	The City and school district already have a robust outreach program aimed at informing the public about the myriad of water conservation efforts that the City and school district have undertaken in light of the recent drought challenge. The Parks and Recreation Department has also actively engaged in opportunities to inform the public about its efforts to mitigate water consumption in the parks.	Yes. The Departmentâ€™s efforts to conserve water align with the school districtâ€™s goals of increased drought management and mitigation efforts.	Extremely. The Water Conservation Program is an ongoing program aimed at implementing water conservation strategies throughout the City.	This is a current activity that has been extremely effective. The department has utilized several capital improvement projects to perform targeted turf reductions across the parks system. Recent examples include: â€¢ Murphy Park Refresh and Turf Reduction Project â€¢ Deer Village Park Turf Reduction Project â€¢ Alta Vista Park Refresh and Turf Reduction Project â€¢ Department Retention Basin Refresh Program â€¢ Terramar Park Drainage Improvement and Turf Reduction Project â€¢ Parkridge Park Drainage Improvement and Turf Reduction Project â€¢ Sweetwater Park Drainage Improvement and Turf Reduction Project â€¢ Court Replacement program eliminates overspray by removing the surrounding turf.	The Department currently employs a Best Management Practice, through an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with the school district, outlining conservation efforts that better the community.
26	Watershed Management Group	Private Groundwater User Water Conservation Program	Programs and projects that reduce water use Per A.R.S. 49-1332(B)(2)	Program	The funding is for a new Water Conservation Program that will engage and serve private groundwater users across the Tucson basin who do not otherwise have access to conservation incentive programs over the funding period of time. The Water Conservation Program is a comprehensive program that includes outreach and education, water savings assessments, and incentives for water conservation actions all offered to target groundwater users in Pima Countyâ€™s portion of the Santa Cruz watershed area. The specific components that make it a program includes: 1) water conservation education classes/activities, 2) water conservation assessments, 3) a wide range of indoor and outdoor conservation incentives, and 4) monitoring and tracking on water conservation savings. The Water Conservation Program will build on WMGâ€™s existing River Run Network program, engaging people in the greater Tucson area in groundwater recharge and water conservation educational activities, community science, and river restoration projects. The Water Conservation Program will enable us to help hundreds of people already engaged through the River Run Network as well as many other people that utilize groundwater.	Tucson	Pima	6 7	17 18 19 20 21	Santa Cruz River Watershed including the Rillito and tributaries	Tucson		$2,582,093.00	$1,341,420.00	$3,923,513.00	250	0.00006371840746	This savings will be within the Tucson Active Management Area. To give context, a 10% reduction in pumping in the Upper Rillito-Tanque Verde SGWA alone is 400 AF/Y; Winterhaven Water Development Company residents has the potential to reduce water use more than 20% (26 AF/Y) of their total water use based on a neighborhood water study. Additionally, there are additional conservation opportunities for private groundwater use across other Pima County shallow groundwater areas. An initial estimate of potential savings across these areas includes: 1000 toilets = 27 af/y 500 showerheads = 9 af/y 1000 sink aerators = 37 af/y 8 acres of grass = 64 af/y 5 Pool removals = 0.5 af/y 1 Lakes at Castle Rock pond transition = 20 af/y 500 Smart irrigation controllers = 12 af/y 200 Passive & Active rainwater harvesting = 5 af/y 20 Laundry greywater = 0.1 af/y 1000 smart home monitors = 75 af/y	The conservation program will be completed by December 2026, a total of 2.5 years if we are able to start by July 2023.	The Private Groundwater User Water Conservation Program will increase the resilience of shared groundwater supplies for all users in the Tucson basin. Currently, private individual and small utility groundwater users do not have access to water conservation or incentive programs as offered through larger public water utilities. These users make up half or more of the volume of groundwater pumped along and near productive shallow groundwater areas which also support the few remaining riparian habitats. The riparian habitat supported by the shallow groundwater areas and the range of groundwater users are vulnerable during local drought periods as groundwater can be quickly depleted. The four elements of the Water Conservation program include: 1) Water Conservation Education 2) On-site Water Conservation Assessments 3) Indoor and Outdoor Water Conservation Incentives 4) Water Use Monitoring Water Conservation Education WMG will offer free informational presentations on water conservation to neighborhoods and HOAs in targeted areas and/or who are private groundwater users. The presentations will provide an overview of the local hydrologic cycle focusing on groundwater use, replenishment, and long-term trends tailored for the audienceâ€™s area of interest. Information about the Private Groundwater User Water Conservation Program will be shared including how to get started, what it offers, and most importantly why one should participate. Free classes will be offered monthly at WMGâ€™s Living Lab and Learning Center on water conservation practices for indoors and outdoors including rainwater harvesting strategies. WMGâ€™s Living Lab and Learning Center is entirely on rainwater for all water use by modeling water conservation strategies both inside and outside including low flow fixtures, greywater reuse, active and passive rainwater harvesting systems, and composting toilets. WMG will include in its monthly River Run Network e-bulletin information about the program and how to get involved as well as monthly social media posts related to the program and how to conserve groundwater. Water Conservation Assessments WMG will engage private groundwater well users across the Pima County portion of the greater Santa Cruz River watershed who do not otherwise have access to water conservation incentives and resources. WMG will utilize its own network of over 5000 individuals, HOAs and neighborhood associations, and businesses who reside in heavy groundwater pumping areas. WMG will also partner with County departments and other associations to reach and connect to groundwater users. The program will provide free on-site water conservation assessments to identify leaks and potential water savings through indoor efficiencies and outdoor strategies. Assessments will be offered to both residential and commercial entities and include a written summary report. The groundwater user will share up to 2-years of recent pumpage to understand usage patterns and help estimate water savings. If historic water use data is not available, WMG staff will survey indoor and outdoor demands using locally averaged demands to estimate use. Indoor and Outdoor Water Conservation Incentives Based on the assessment, the private groundwater user will select one or more strategies and receive a subsidy for up to half of the eligible costs or pre-fixed cap. Limited income residents, income equal to or less than 100% of the Federal Poverty Level, may apply for additional grants to offset upfront costs associated with conservation strategies. Private groundwater users range from single family homes and lots to larger housing developments and commercial businesses which use groundwater for non-potable landscape amenities to small agricultural and ranch use. Incentives provided will be informed by the water conservation assessment. Incentives will generally be aligned with existing incentives provided by Tucson Water Conservation program and structured to provide up to half of the project/fixture cost with certain rebate caps by strategy. Indoor incentives will include helping with low-flow toilets and low-flow fixtures and appliances. Outdoor incentives will include irrigated grass removal, passive and active rainwater harvesting, smart irrigation controllers, pool removals, and laundry greywater systems. Additionally, smart home monitoring systems can be included to identify leaks and reduce potential for major leaks. Following is an initial list of incentives to be offered. Indoor incentives - Toilet, 1.2gpf or better, $100 rebate - Showerhead, 2.5gpm or better, $15 rebate - Sink aerator, 0.5gpm for hand sinks, 1gpm for kitchen sink, free - HE laundry machine, $200 rebate Outdoor conservation - Irrigated grass removal, $2 per sq.ft - Pool/pond removal, up to $1000 - Smart Irrigation controller, $250 - Passive or active rainwater harvesting, up to $2,000 - Laundry greywater, up to $500 Other - Smart home water monitor, $125 Water Conservation Monitoring WMG will work with each participating groundwater user to establish a monthly water use monitoring plan. Winterhaven Water Development Company and Lakes at Castle Rock have agreed to share at least 2 years of monthly historic data and share monthly water use for each well or residential participant to assess conservation savings. If a participating groundwater user does not have a water meter in place, WMG will work with the water user to contract a plumber to install a meter. A smart water monitoring device will be provided with the meter to help monitor usage and share data with both the user and WMG for at least two years following implementation of selected strategies. All private water use data received will be kept confidential by WMG. WMG will provide participant surveys following each class to assess participant motivation and learning. WMG will also conduct an immediate and 1-month follow up post-survey of all participants of the free water conservation assessment and a 2-week and 6-month follow up survey following implementation of conservation strategies. For non-exempt participating groundwater wells, WMG will also review historic and ongoing annual pumpage reported to Arizona Department of Water Resources to assess trends and estimate water savings.	Groundwater in the Tucson basin, including shallow groundwater aquifers within 50 feet of the surface.	The greater Tucson basin population and range of residential and municipal water users which includes the City of Tucson, neighboring jurisdictions, and unincorporated Pima County will benefit from conserved groundwater in a shared aquifer. Within the larger aquifer, the conservation program will target private, exempt wells which are largely in portions of unincorporated Pima County in low density peri-urban areas. Private wells often serve 1-3 private lots. Non-exempt wells range from private water utilities serving residential developments in suburban neighborhoods to use for commercial ranch operations. Based on census.gov, Pima County has a population of 1,057,600 (2022 estimate) with the majority of the population residing in or near the metropolitan area which coincides with the area of interest to engage private groundwater users who are part of the larger regional shared aquifer network of water providers. The population is made up of 50.3% White, 38.5% Latino, 4.5% American Indian, and the remaining of other race. 14.7% of persons are considered in poverty with the median household income (2021 dollars) at $59,215. Private exempt well users and residential HOA non-exempt groundwater users tend to be more affluent and white as these are often grandfathered wells from prior agricultural use.	value1 value2 value3	The long-term reductions in water use are estimated to be at least 200 acre-feet per year and expected to be greater with time as engagement and awareness grows through the education and outreach efforts associated with the program. Water use monitoring will help to evaluate and document actual savings. This program provides improvements in water use efficiency for both indoor (appliance upgrades and low-flow fixtures) and outdoor (smart irrigation, irrigated turf removal, etc) water use. This program is aimed to increase water reliability across all groundwater users by reducing groundwater drawdown during dry years and long-term droughts. WMGâ€™s Flow365 surface flow community science monitoring and the City of Tucsonâ€™s and Pima Countyâ€™s groundwater monitoring wells will help to evaluate impact over time.	Water supply shortages Reliance on non-renewable water supplies Groundwater depletion Water quality issues	Water Supply Shortages: Reduced groundwater demand provides greater resilience during seasonal and annual drought years locally to prevent or reduce the impact of local and Colorado River water supply shortages. Reliance on non-renewable water supplies: With coming Colorado River shortages the goal of this program is to reduce local groundwater pumping to ensure non-renewable groundwater supplies are not depleted. Groundwater depletion: The localized groundwater drawdown associated with the target groundwater uses is the result. This drawdown threatened riparian and shallow groundwater areas and increases the risk of water supply issues for these same users. This program targets many of the areas to help reduce depletion, and protect riparian and shallow groundwater issues. Water quality issues: When outdoor strategies are proposed, these treatments can have water quality benefits. By capturing the first flush runoff from impervious surfaces, pollutants which can include coliform and e. coli from pet waste, to metals and VOCs from parking lots can be prevented from entering into protected waters.	Our proposed conservation activity aligns with the 5th Management Plan for the Tucson Active Management Area for achieving and sustaining safe-yield and specifically in Chapter 3 with primary objectives to â€œImprove or maintain groundwater conditions in areas of the TAMA experiencing or projected to experience impacts due to water level declines.â€�, and â€œExplore options for managing local aquifer areas.â€� This activity supports Pima Countyâ€™s General Plan â€œPima Prospersâ€� under Section 4.2 Goal 1 to help achieve water sustainability to protect groundwater-dependent ecosystems and Goal 3 to support efficient water demand management practices and strategies. This activity also supports Pima County Regional Flood Control Districtâ€™s (RFCD) Floodplain Management Plan which includes preservation and restoration of groundwater levels to support riparian habitat along alluvial aquifers and shallow groundwater areas to reduce downstream flood impacts. RFCD actively works to preserve, protect, and enhance riparian floodplains. This also aligns with Tucson Waterâ€™s 2100 One Water long range water planning effort supports local groundwater conservation strategies to provide local water source resilience and environmental health. Tucson Water itself has had a policy of â€œlast on, first offâ€� for its groundwater pumps in shallow groundwater areas since 1999. The Santa Cruz Watershed Collaborativeâ€™s Watershed Restoration Plan supports and aligns stated conservation activities specifically as part of the Planâ€™s focus on shallow groundwater area restoration. Lastly, the Bureau of Reclamationâ€™s Lower Santa Cruz River Basin Study highlights the need for groundwater demand management specifically in shallow groundwater areas to protect riparian health and water resilience for groundwater wells with future climate and population growth scenarios.	Benefits include: - Resilience to local and regional droughts exacerbated by climate change. - Regional water security by reducing demand from upstream sources which provide clean renewable water to the regional aquifer - Riparian healthy by stabilizing groundwater levels overall and especially during drought years - Recreational benefits (i.e. birding, hiking, cycling, horse riding) through riparian restoration - Implementation of outdoor measures reduces runoff, which if implemented widely and consistently supports the Flood Control Districts efforts to reduce flood frequency and severity. Costs and impacts are financial only	WMG will assess prior water use and monitor water use after the implementation of the conservation activity for two years of participating groundwater users. The pre-assessment estimated savings will be compared with actual water savings with the user and will be reported in aggregate (user info will be kept confidential) to WIFA. Additionally, WMG will conduct participant follow up surveys of educational trainings to assess information gained and motivation(s) to conserve water. WMG will coordinate with Pima County RFCD on annual shallow groundwater area monitoring and Tucson Waterâ€™s annual groundwater well level monitoring and will track annual pumpage trends of reporting private, non-exempt wells as provided by ADWR.	The proposed conservation activity targets water users who would not be eligible to apply for the Long-Term Water Augmentation Fund or Water Supply Development Fund. Because it is a shared aquifer, this conservation activity will assist both the private water user and public water provider with greater water security and help ameliorate the need for future large augmentation needs.	No. The large public water utility, Tucson Water, is not interested in or able to offer conservation programming beyond their rate payers. While Watershed Management Group provides some watershed restoration and water conservation programs to the intended audience, our limited donation and grant resources cannot fund a large-scale water conservation education and incentives program. The WIFA grant funding is needed to cover the cost of water conservation incentives and the cost of existing and additional staff to do the water conservation audits and provide consistent education to the target audience.	The conservation incentives will be offered with at least a 50% cost share match by the groundwater user unless the user qualifies as low-income.	WMG will coordinate with Tucson Water conservation staff to share lessons learned and resources for their incentives program. This may include shared learning of staff, sharing educational resources, sharing resources for bulk ordering for water efficiency supplies, and sharing recommended contractors. Pima County Regional Flood Control District staff will assist with outreach and engagement of landowners in targeted areas to participate in the groundwater conservation incentive program. District staff lead the Local Drought Impact Group and will help to coordinate regional efforts and share information through this group with WMG. Additionally, District staff conduct and report annually on the health of shallow groundwater areas supported which will help to inform target areas of this program and monitor to assess conservation impacts.	Amount: $1,341,420.00 Source: private groundwater users contributing at least half in direct cash match for implementing conservation incentives unless they qualify as low-income; County in-kind staff time, and WMG program staff time to help with program outreach	Educational Facility and Demonstration Site WMG has a Living Lab and Learning Center, a 0.5 acre facility that is supplied entirely by rainwater for indoor and outdoor use. This is built on and informed by a monthly water budget model developed by Catlow Shipek, Sr. Program Director. Our ability to be supplied entirely by rainwater is provided by implementing a suite of water conservation strategies from indoor efficiencies to passive rainwater harvesting and greywater re-use. In addition to the Living Lab, WMG has planned and built hundreds of residential water harvesting projects and dozens of commercial and neighborhood green stormwater infrastructure demonstration sites. Key Staff Catlow Shipek, Sr. Program Director, has over 15 years of experience in water conservation and served 8 years on Tucson Waterâ€™s Citizens Water Advisory Committee with over 4 years as chair of the Conservation Subcommittee. He conducted a water conservation assessment of the Winterhaven neighborhood and water utility which included over 200 homes to estimate potential water savings and inform neighborhood policy. Catlow also serves as an instructional facilitator on the topic of water conservation for Local First Arizonaâ€™s Scale-Up program to help businesses assess, plan, and implement water conservation strategies. Lauren Monheim, River Run Network Program Manager, has a B.S. in Watershed Hydrology and Management from the University of Arizona. Lauren manages the outreach, communications, educational activities, and community science initiatives under WMGâ€™s River Run Network program. Lauren will assist with engagement of groundwater users and coordinate educational programming related to groundwater conservation. Charlie Alcorn, Program Manager and Educator, designs and installs community green infrastructure projects, provides residential and commercial water conservation consultation services, and teaches a range of water conservation related classes. Charlie will provide water conservation assessment services to groundwater users and assist with follow up and monitoring of participating groundwater users. Water Conservation Program Experience WMG has designed and run water conservation and water harvesting educational programs for 15 years. From 2008 to 2022, WMG ran a Water Harvesting Co-op, offering 463 educational water harvesting build workshops to the community. Currently WMG offers a free Build Your Own Basin workshop, where people learn how to build a simple rain garden and take home a rain garden kit to install at home. We serve over 300 households a year through this program including limited income households and underserved neighborhoods. WMG offers free Hydrate classesâ€“two hour hands-on educational workshops on topics ranging from water harvesting to native plants to composting and soil stewardship. 854 people participated in our free classes in Southern AZ in 2022. WMGâ€™s Water Harvesting Certification was launched in 2009, and we have run 36 courses, teaching over 500 professionals. The 45 curriculum is the greatest depth of integrative water harvesting training offered nationally. The River Run Network is a program WMG launched in 2016 with the goal of restoring Tucsonâ€™s heritage of flowing creeks and rivers. Becoming a member is free, and has attracted about 500 new members annually, now with over 3,000 people. Members participate in river restoration workshops, community science flow monitoring, creek walks and clean-ups, conservation projects, and invasive species removal.	Yes, we will need to hire a program director dedicated to administering the water conservation program along with an additional conservation specialist to conduct the water conservation assessments. WMG will be able to roll out program outreach, advertising, and initial groundwater user engagement with existing staff while onboarding new program staff to scale up efforts. Additionally, a local water efficiency business, EcoBlue, has capacity to be contracted in the near term to enable a quicker start to conducting water conservation assessments and implementing indoor efficiencies. This will give WMG staff time to meet initial demand while onboarding and training new program staff in the first 3-4 months. EcoBlue is skilled in conducting indoor water audits and has plumbers on staff to help upgrade indoor efficiencies.	Yes, in addition to our partner, the Pima County Regional Flood Control District, we will share updates and communications with the Santa Cruz Watershed Collaborative as well as closely collaborate with other County departments (i.e. Conservation and Sustainability, Community Development, Streets, etc), Local Drought Impact Group, City of Tucsonâ€™s Water Conservation programming, Metro Water Utility, and a range of other large and small water utilities.	WMG has reviewed proposed conservation programming with Winterhaven Water Development Companyâ€™s board and residents and Lakes at Castle Rock HOA along with Tucson Water, and Pima County staff to help inform the structure and approach. We will continue to hold stakeholder meetings and forums to proactively adapt the approach with programming deployment.	Yes, we will leverage existing free water conservation and water harvesting programming offered at WMGâ€™s Living Lab and Learning Center and through WMGâ€™s River Run Network program out in the community. In addition, we will expand free, public educational offerings to reach targeted groundwater users in conservation areas. Our partner, the Pima County Regional Flood Control District will assist with outreach and public engagement, including by sending direct mailers to targeted areas.	Yes, please see letters of support from Pima County Regional Flood Control District, several private groundwater users including Winterhaven Water Development Company, Lakes at Castle Rock HOA, and the Rustand Family as well as outreach support from Tanque Verde Valley Association.	We are confident that based on our community connections through our River Run Network, connections with private groundwater utilities and HOA boards, and in collaboration with the County we can engage and implement proposed conservation strategies to conserve groundwater for the long-term. Starting a conservation program targeted at groundwater users will take time and resources to build. We are confident we can do this, however, we see the WIFA grant as the launch of a long-term effort that will require continued funding after the grant to keep the program going.	The conservation strategies we will be deploying are based on scaling-up WMGâ€™s water conservation activities as well as successful local programming provided by public water utilities such as Tucson Water. Our program will extend education and incentives to private groundwater users who do not have access to such programming.	Yes, the conservation activity will deploy water efficiency best practices for indoor and outdoor demand management strategies as well as offer rainwater harvesting strategies to offset or replace use of groundwater resources. Taking a holistic site approach which includes an audit, monitoring, and education will help to influence additional water savings through behavior adjustments and reduced potential for leaks.
27	Chandler City of	Non-Functional Grass Removal Program (Public Property)	Programs and projects that reduce water use Per A.R.S. 49-1332(B)(2)	Program	This program will be implemented over a multi-year timeframe and will include multiple locations. City of Chandler has identified opportunities for non-functional grass removal within multiple different types of public property. Examples of specific sites include several types of municipal facilities, such as fire stations, police stations, libraries, recreation facilities, storm water retention basins, parks and schools.	City of Chandler	Maricopa	4 5	12 13 14	City of Chandler is part of the service area for the Salt & Verde watershed and also receives water from the Colorado River watershed via Central Arizona Project.	Phoenix AMA		$3,000,000.00	$750,000.00	$3,750,000.00	245	0.00006533333333	[(2,000,000 sq. ft. * 40 gal per sq ft)/325,851]=245 acre feet per year. Our goal for this program is to remove approximately 2 million square feet of grass. Our residential turf removal programs typically yield a savings of 60 gallons per square foot. However, our municipal facilities are already watered fairly efficiently and we expect to see a savings of 40 gallons per square foot.	Each site conversion will have a different begin and end date, depending on the time needed to develop a site plan and receive bids by contractors. Site selections will begin as soon as grant funding is awarded and site conversions will be completed by November 2026. This program will result in a permanent reduction in water use at each site selected for the program.	The conservation activity proposed is removal of non-functional grass from public property, including (but not limited to), fire stations, police stations, libraries, recreation facilities, storm water retention basins, parks and schools. These grass areas will be replaced with low water use landscapes that utilize drip irrigation techniques to ensure long-term durable water savings through an overall reduction in water demand and increased irrigation efficiency. Each of these conversions from non-functional grass to low water use landscapes, will include the following components: â€¢ An evaluation of the site to ensure it meets the definition of non-functional grass. â€¢ A low water use landscape and irrigation design to replace the grass once it is removed. â€¢ Plans review and approval to proceed. â€¢ Selection of a contractor to perform the work. â€¢ A final inspection and consultation to ensure the planting requirements have been met. Non-functional grass is typically an area of grass that does not serve a functional purpose or is installed in a way that makes it very difficult to water efficiently and is defined as follows: â€¢ Any narrow strips of grass especially areas with any single dimension of ten (10) feet or less. â€¢ Grass areas exceeding a 4:1, or twenty-five percent (25%), slope. â€¢ Grass areas that are not accessible by paved pathways and/or are restricted by physical barriers that prohibit accessibility. â€¢ Grass areas installed closer than ten (10) feet to a street and/or in front entryways to residential neighborhoods or subdivisions where other recreational amenities do not exist. â€¢ Grass areas that are dedicated to drainage conveyances, storm basins, erosion control, or operational discharge and are not historically utilized for active programmed recreational purposes. â€¢ Any grass area not historically used for recreational purposes and are primarily aesthetic or ornamental.	City of Chandler serves customers using a combination of different water sources and the water conserved will include Colorado River water, Salt & Verde River water, groundwater and reclaimed water. The specific source conserved can not be known until each specific site is selected for the program. However, in general we expect to see water savings across all of our different sources of supply, including Colorado River water delivered through the Central Arizona Project.	Chandler is an incorporated city located in Maricopa County, Arizona, on the southeast side of the Phoenix Metropolitan area. Approximate population is 276,000. Chandler believes in cultivating a water conservation ethic within our community and removal of non-functional grass from public property helps to signal the value of water and demonstrate how beautiful desert adapted landscaping is within our community.	value1 value2	Removal of non-functional grass represents a permanent long-term reduction in water use and also achieves high water efficiency standards by ensuring that drip irrigation waters more efficiently be reducing evaporative losses.	Water supply shortages Reliance on non-renewable water supplies Groundwater depletion	Removing non-functional grass will assist when any of our surface water supplies experience water shortages. By permanently reducing our total outdoor water use, we are able create long-term durable reductions in demand for Colorado River water, Salt & Verde River water and groundwater.	Removal of non-functional grass aligns with local, regional and statewide water plans by addressing the need for reductions in Colorado River demand, and also aligns with the Phoenix AMA goal of reducing unreplenished groundwater pumping. Last year Chandler signed a memorandum of understanding among more than thirty municipal water providers, across the seven Colorado River Basin States, showing a commitment to reduce non-functional grass by 30%. This conservation program achieves not just state and regional goals, but also the specific municipal conservation goals outlined by water providers in all seven Colorado River Basin States.	The costs associated with this water conservation activity include program administration, design services, labor associated with grass removal and the cost of purchasing replacement materials including low water use plants. The benefits include reduced water use and reductions in maintenance costs associated with mowing grass and repairing irrigation systems. Additionally, the low water use plant and tree requirements will mitigate any increased heat from the grass removal.	Program effectiveness will be measured in terms of long-term water demand reductions. Water savings will be calculated by comparing the total site water use before and after conversion.	The proposed conservation activity is not eligible for funding from WIFAâ€™s Long-Term Water Augmentation Fund or Water Supply Development Fund.	No, there is not currently a budget identified to implement this program without grant funding.	This is yet to be determined. The City of Chandler is still researching the Bureau of Reclamation Water Smart Grants that are available to support non-functional grass removal.	The City of Chandler will be working with Chandler Unified, Mesa Unified, and Kyrene school districts and any other public entities interested to determine if there are opportunities for cost-sharing.	$500,000 - Funds from participating conversion sites for the conversion work $250,000 - In-kind, Chandler staff time to coordinate, measure, and consult pre-conversion, permitting costs, plans review and approval process, staff field work and construction management, final inspections, processing, and grant administration.	Chandler Water Conservation staff has administered multiple rebate and incentive programs since the early 1990s, issuing well over 10,000 rebates. Chandler is well suited to manage this activity, however, due to the increased workload additional staff will be needed to administer this conservation activity.	Chandler will hire temporary staff to assist with the increased workload of this program. Water Conservation Staff will cost $45,000 to $65,000 annually.	The proposed conservation activity represents a collaborative partnership among more than 30 municipal water providers across the Colorado River Basin who collectively signed a memorandum of understanding and made a commitment to reduce non-functional grass by 30%. Chandler's water conservation staff also works collaboratively with other City departments, school districts and other public entities to address local water conservation objectives.	Water Resources and Conservation staff have established a drought management team to work with department stakeholders to determine what conservation activities might have the most success. Additionally, Chandler has surveyed residents about water conservation to find over 83% support the establishment of water-saving incentives and rebates.	The City of Chandler will conduct public outreach by promoting this program on our website, posting information on social media and distributing a press release. We will also provide opportunities for the public to learn more about our conservation programs at a series of community events and offer detailed program information materials at all of our in-person education workshops.	Based on an initial survey conducted in April/May 2023, there is community support for this conservation activity. Also, important is the internal stakeholder process conducted and by Chandler's internal city drought team. Leadership across the City of Chandler expressed wide support for implementing this conservation activity across multiple different municipal programs.	This program has been proposed to the internal City Drought Team and several other stakeholders. There is wide support for this program within the City of Chandler. Water conservation staff has already developed a proposal for the staffing requirements to administer the program and determined the program is feasible.	Administering a program specifically targeting non-functional turf within municipal programs and public property is a new conservation activity. However, Chandler has successfully administered several residential rebate programs, including a residential grass removal program and has been able to demonstrate water savings through those programs.	The replacement of grass with low water use landscape has been a Best Management Practice in the Phoenix Active Management Area for decades. This water conservation activity is included in the Phoenix Active Management Area Non-Per Capita Conservation Program Best Management Practice 6.15 Landscape Conversion Rebate or Incentive Program.
28	Surprise City of	Enhanced Water Conservation Rebate Program	Programs and projects that reduce water use Per A.R.S. 49-1332(B)(2)	Program	The City of Surprise (CoS) is applying for WIFA funding to expand and enhance its water conservation rebate program. We consider our proposal a program because it has distinct measurable activities with a long term outlook. We anticipate using WIFA funding to support this program over the City's 2024 and 2025 Fiscal Years. The current water conservation program was initiated in 2018 and presently includes rebates for the following: 1) WaterSense labeled Smart Irrigation Controllers; 2) Residential Turf Removal with Xeriscape Replacement Landscaping; 3) Single Family New Home Xeriscape Landscape Installation; and 4) HOA, Commercial, & Multifamily Turf Removal with Xeriscape Replacement Landscaping. The primary goals for this application are to 1) expand water conservation rebates to ALL residents in the City of Surprise, and to 2) increase the turf rebate cash amount to entice more people to apply because turf removal offers the greatest volume of water savings. The city intends to use WIFA funding to support its water conservation rebate program for the Fiscal Years 2024 and 2025 with expenditures complete by June 30, 2026; well before the December 2026 expenditure deadline.	Surprise	Maricopa	8	28	New River and Aqua Fria watershed	Phoenix Active Management Area	N/A	$159,100.00	$40,042.00	$199,142.00	14	0.00007030159384	Smart Irrigation controllers:120 controllers x 15,680 gallons/yr = 1,881,600 gallons or 5.77 acre feet. Xeriscaping at New Homes: 22.2 gals/ sq ft X 9.000 sq. ft = 199,800 gallons or 0.61 acre feet. SFR Turf Removal: 23.1 gals/sq ft X 18,000 sq, ft = 416,316 gallons or 1.28 acre feet. HOA/Commercial/Multifamily Turf Removal: 37 gals X 54,000 sq ft = 1,988,000 gallons or 6.13 acre feet. Combined savings = 13.79 acre feet.	The City of Surprise intends to implement this grant over Fiscal Years 2024 and 2025. Our Fiscal Year starts on July 1st and ends on June 30. This coincides nicely with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds Obligation Deadline of June 2024 and the Expenditure Deadline of December 2026. All WIFA water conservation grant funds should be submitted for reimbursement by June 30, 2026, well in advance of the expenditure deadline.	The City of Surprise's current Water Conservation Rebate program will be expanded to include ALL city residents, which the Census Bureau estimates to be 149,191 people as of 2021. It may be helpful to note that Surprise is one of the fastest growing cities in Arizona. Expanding this program to all residents will greatly enhance customer service and provide a more consistent and equitable message on water conservation. Currently, the city experiences communications challenges among Surprise residents who don't understand why the city does not provide water conservation rebates for all its residents. The communications challenge is exacerbated by the fact that it is in the rather unique position of having 12 different water providers within city limits. These providers range in size from small community wells to large, multinational private utilities. Currently, Surprise water conservation rebates are limited to customers in the city's water service areas, since funds from those customer accounts fund the rebate program. The City's water department currently serves about one-third of the city's population. Approximately two-thirds of the city's population are served by one large, multinational private utility which does not offer water conservation rebates for turf removal or smart controllers. Upon full build out, the city of Surprise will become the largest water provider. Receiving WIFA funding for our conservation program will allow us to expand the program to all Surprise residents for the next two years as well as increase our rebate amounts for turf removal, making it a more enticing to customers while simultaneously increasing our water savings. Specifically, we are projecting to enhance and expand our Water Conservation Rebate program to meet these goals: 1. Distribute and Inspect installation of 120 WaterSense Smart Irrigation Controllers. 2. Confirm and Inspect the installation of Xeriscape Landscapes at 9 New Home Purchase locations. 3. Process and inspect Turf Removal activities at 18 Single Family Residences 4. Process and inspect Turf Removal activities at 9 HOA, Commercial, or Multi-family properties.	The City of Surprise pumps approximately 9,000 acre-feet of groundwater each year. We also have an allocation of 10,249 acre-feet of Colorado River water delivered via the Central Arizona Project. Both groundwater and Colorado River water will be conserved using funds from the Water Conservation Grant.	The City of Surprise is currently the tenth largest city in Arizona with a Census Bureau estimated population of 149,191 (2021). According to our Development Department data, Surprise increased its population 22% between 2010 and 2020. The U.S. Census Bureau lists the city's demographics as follows: A. White alone, not Hispanic or Latino - 67.8% B. Hispanic or Latino - 20.7% (Census Bureau note: Hispanics may be of any race, so also are included in applicable race categories.) C. Two or more races - 7.3% D. Black or African American, alone 5.3% E. Asian, alone - 2.4% F. American Indian and Alaska Native, alone - 0.4% G. Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander, alone - 0.1% H. White, alone - 80.4% The 2021 American Community Survey (ACS) estimated a five-year rate of "persons in poverty" at 7.5% within the city of Surprise. In terms of economic activities, Educational services, and health care and social assistance comprise 24% of Surpriseâ€™s civilian employment. Followed by Retail trade at 15.2%, Finance and insurance, and real estate and rental and leasing at 10.5%, Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services at 9.0%. Rounding out the top five categories is Arts, entertainment, and recreation, and accommodation and food service at 8.7%. Other categories include: Construction â€“ 6.3%; Manufacturing â€“ 6.4%; Public administration â€“ 5.4%; Wholesale Trade - 1.9%; Transportation and warehousing, and utilities â€“ 5.5%; Information â€“ 1.8%; Other service, except public administration â€“ 4.8%; and Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting, and Mining - 0.5%.	value1 value2	Surprise's Enhanced Water Conservation Rebate program will produce long-term reductions in water use. Multiple sources state Smart Irrigation Controllers are expected to last 5-10 years, or longer, with proper maintenance. Therefore, water savings from Smart Irrigation Controller rebates can reasonably be assumed for that duration. The City ensures proper controller installation and operation by hiring a third party contractor who inspects the system. The contractor confirms that the controller functions correctly and shows the homeowner how to operate and program the system. The inspector also ensures the controller's app has been downloaded to the homeowner's cellphone for ease of use. Based upon feedback from our contractor, most residents have the app downloaded and are aware of how to use their new controller before the inspector arrives. These actions help assure long term reductions in water use will be achieved. In addition, the Smart Irrigation Controller Rebate component of the Enhanced Water Conservation Rebate program will improve water efficiency by replacing worn out or older controller models with state of the art technology that is easier to use and manage than conventional controllers. Customers can easily change their watering schedule using their cell phone, thereby eliminating the need to go out to the controller box to manually adjust their watering programs. To support changes in watering schedules, the city plans on using it's utility billing software platform to remind homeowners to change their irrigation programs on a regular basis. Ideally controllers should be reprogrammed on a monthly basis, or at least seasonal basis. Turf reductions with replacement xeriscape installation at Single Family Residences (SFRs) or HOAs, Commercial, or Multifamily homes will also lead to a long term reduction in water use. The University of Arizona estimates that a 15' by 15' section (225 square feet) of Bermuda grass will use 5,000 gallons of water per year, or 22.2 gallons per square foot per year. However, this figure reflects the quantity of water Bermuda grass needs and not the actual volume most homeowners use to irrigate turf. The Water Use it Wisely (WUIW) Regional Partnership in the Metropolitan Phoenix area, promotes warm season (Bermuda) grass watering guidelines of once every 3-6 days in the summer months and once every 15-30 days in the winter months. More often than not, our Surprise water resource personnel and others (e.g. resident complaints) have observed homeowners, HOA's, and other entities needlessly watering their turf daily, or even multiple times per day, which is a complete waste of water. Turf sprinkler systems put out varying quantities of water in units of gallons per minute (GPM). In contrast, replacement xeriscape landscaping requires minimal or no water use after the native or desert adapted plants are established. The City of Surprise supports the WUIW landscape watering guidelines which encourages drip irrigation for xeriscape gardens. WUIW promotes landscape watering of only once every 7 to 21 days for desert adapted plants and once every 14-30 days for cactus during the hottest time of the year. Drip irrigation delivers water to plants in units of gallons per hour (GPH.), as opposed to gallons per minute for turf. This fact alone will result in a substantial reduction of water use. Similarly, supporting new home buyers with the purchase and subsequent installation of xeriscape gardening will minimize any remaining yard space for turf and therefore reduce outdoor water use. The beautiful aesthetics and low maintenance features of xeriscape gardens may also influence new homeowners and deter them from adding turf. Installation of a xeriscape garden readily lends itself to an improvement in water efficiency by limiting the amount of yard space available to grow high water use plants. Please see Question 28 for more complete details on projected water savings for this program.	Water supply shortages Reliance on non-renewable water supplies Groundwater depletion	As previously stated, the City of Surprise has 12 different water services providers. The three largest providers, EPCOR Utilities, Liberty Utilities, and the City of Surprise all have Colorado River allocations from the Central Arizona Project (CAP). In August, 2021, the federal government issued the first-ever Tier 1 water shortage for the Colorado River. This prompted mandatory water cuts in Arizona which are being felt by Central Arizona Project (CAP) water users. All three of the largest water provider's within the City of Surprise use groundwater as their primary source. Continued reductions in Colorado River water will only increase reliance on groundwater, adding more stress to the groundwater system. Arizona groundwater, when viewed on a macro scale, can be considered a non-renewable water supply. The 1980 Groundwater Management Act was established to prevent continued depletion of groundwater in several Active Management Areas (AMAs) within the state. The City of Surprise is within the boundaries of the Phoenix Active Management Area and is required to meet provisions within the Fourth Management Plan to help achieve safe yield for our aquifers. Expanding and enhancing the existing water conservation rebate program to include all residents of Surprise will lessen the water utility reliance on the Colorado River and therefore reduce water supply shortages. The rebate program is intended to curb outdoor water use. This is â€œone-time-useâ€� water from the utilityâ€™s perspective, because it is water that once applied cannot be recaptured in the sewer system and the effluent treated and reclaimed for further use.	The Surprise Enhanced Water Conservation Rebate program aligns with several local, county, regional and statewide water plans. Locally, the City of El Mirage, EPCOR Utilities, and Liberty Utilities have all offered to support and collaborate on this water conservation rebate program by marketing the program to Surprise residents within their water service areas. (Please see attached Letters of Support.) We have built a solid partnership with the Maricopa County Master Gardener program. Their West Valley location meets in our Water Education Center (WEC) at City Hall to offer free advice on plants. They also support our WEC programs by offering occasional presentations on desert adapted plants and landscaping and other niche topics supportive of water efficient irrigation practices. We have also recently started a â€œtrain the trainer programâ€� with the Master Gardeners, teaching them how to lead a professionally developed Xeriscape Garden Tours. The first Master Gardener Xeriscape Tour was delivered on April 29th and had 18 participants from a local gardening club. The goal is to offer Xeriscape Tours monthly, weather permitting. Regionally, Surprise is a relative newcomer to water conservation efforts. The City has only had one full time water conservation specialist since 2019. We are grateful our conservation program has continued to be supported and encouraged by many other municipalities whom weâ€™ve borrowed heavily from to build a formal conservation program. We are a member of Arizona Water Association which has a water conservation subcommittee which meets on a monthly basis. The Arizona Water Conservation Subcommittee supports municipal and private water providers by encouraging them to share ideas and information on water conservation, water waste code enforcement, as well as discuss other new initiatives and ideas to save water. We are hoping that we will be able to share data from our Enhanced Water Conservation Rebate program with our regional colleagues at the next annual Arizona Water Association Annual Conference. Being part of this organization makes our efforts regional and statewide in nature.	The costs and benefits of our water conservation rebate for the two-year period are: Costs (all figures are rounded): â€¢ Cost of controllers: $15,000. 120 rebates will be allocated for Smart Irrigation Controller at $125 price point. â€¢ Cost of Single Family Residential Turf Removal Rebates: $36,000. 18 rebates will be allocated for up to 1,000 square feet of turf at $2/ square foot removed â€¢ Cost of HOA/Commercial/Multifamily Turf Removal Rebates: $108,000. 9 rebates of up to 6,000 square feet of turf at $2/ square foot removed â€¢ Cost of New Home Xeriscape Installation Rebates: $3,600. 9 rebates will be allocated for $400 for up to 1,000 square feet of xeriscaping â€¢ Water Conservation staff: 500 hours @ $30/hr = $14,990 plus fringe benefits of $5,241 â€¢ Communication Team Support (marketing & outreach): 28 hours @ $36/hr = $1,010 plus fringe benefit of $215 â€¢ Cost of Aiqueous rebate software subscription = $9,296 annually â€¢ Cost of Controller Inspections: 120 inspections @ $40/controller = $4,800 Benefits: â€¢ Long term reduction in water use of an estimated 14 acre feet/year â€¢ Improvements in water use efficiency using state of the art Smart Irrigation Controllers â€¢ Positive customer perception â€¢ More equitable approach to rebate process â€¢ Enhanced community service â€“ servicing whole community vs only water service area Environmental impacts: â€¢ Lower costs to pump water out of the aquifer. Our Operations Department Lead estimates that the cost to pump water out of the ground is roughly $600 per acre feet. These rebates should save the city $600 x 14 acre/feet = $8,400 per year. Note: The pumping cost assumption looked at only the five largest costs for the water treatment division. These included: water resource department labor, cost of electricity, the cost of treatment chemicals, cost of fuel and the cost of equipment/asset replacement. â€¢ Less water waste via evapotranspiration - water which will not be captured and reclaimed by the city's waste water treatment plant. â€¢ Less water wasted overall â€¢ More consistent approach to water use reduction across the City of Surprise	The Water Conservation Specialist (WCS) will measure the effectiveness of the Enhanced Water Conservation Rebate Program by performing a rebate analysis. The City of Surprise uses Advanced Metering Infrastructure (aka Smart Meters) and can directly quantify how much water has been saved by water conservation program participants. A recent Smart Controller rebate analysis looking at before and after water consumption data on rebates issued between 2018 to early 2022 quantified the average water savings at over 15,680 gallon per household per year. The WCS plans to continue to monitor water consumption over time. The City's current turf removal program was started in 2022 and only three turf removals were completed in FY2023. We attribute the low response to ineffective/limited marketing, very low turf rebate payout, and confusion over the inclusion of a shade requirement using native or desert-adapted plants to help mitigate the heat island effect. Several turf applications received were dismissed by homeowners or rejected by the city. One common concern from applicants was that the low rebate amount per square foot wasn't worth the hassle of adding the shade plants, so applicants simply dismissed their application. By researching other municipality's turf rebate programs, listening to feedback from homeowners, and collaborating with other WCS colleagues, the city strongly believes the turf removal and replacement component of our proposed Enhanced Water Conservation Rebate Program will be highly effective, primarily due to the much higher payout amount which will greatly offset the turf removal costs, making it more appealing to all applicants. As with the smart controller rebates, the city will be able to track success of the turf removal components of the Enhanced Water Conservation Rebate Program by researching before and after water consumption values using its Smart Meter technology. The city will also coordinate with its supporting utility partners and hopes to gather water consumption data applicable to rebate applicants from those water service areas. As with the Smart Controller rebate component, the WCS plans to continue to monitor water consumption over time.	The Enhanced Water Conservation Rebate Program activities do not meet the criteria for the Long-Term Water Augmentation Fund or the Water Supply Development Fund. The intention of the rebate program is to promote long-term reductions in water use and to increase efficiency in existing water supplies, not to augment or develop new supplies.	Without this grant funding, the city would only be able to maintain the existing level of support for residents in its water service areas, which only covers roughly one-third of the city, and also maintain the same level of low funding for the turf removal rebate component. Offering rebates for a small subset of specific residents has created a perception of inconsistency and unfairness with residents outside of the city's water service area. Having the additional resources to increase turf rebate amounts and expand the program to all city residents, supports greater equity among all residents and dramatically increases the likelihood that a larger amount of turf will be removed which will result in a definite reduction in water consumption, not only in our water service area, but in those of other water providers as well. This is a win-win-win scenario for residents, water providers, and the environment.	The costs related to the Enhanced Water Conservation Rebate Program are relatively small in comparison to water conservation infrastructure projects which the city has embarked upon in the past. The city has enough internal resources to meet the in-kind matching criteria for this proposed two-year program. In fact, we think our actual cost share will be greater than 25% and closer to 35%. At this point, the city's main goal is to increase equity among its citizens by expanding the water conservation rebate program to all city residents and provide a larger incentive to remove turf. Additional funding from other sources, such at the Bureau of Reclamation's WaterSmart program has been looked into. Water Conservation staff scheduled a webinar with the WaterSmart representatives in February and they suggested another source of funding might be a better fit. This Water Conservation Grant Fund is expressly for grants to governmental and non-governmental organizations for projects that promote conservation and decrease water use. This is exactly what the Enhanced Water Conservation Rebate program is meant to do.	Early discussions on this rebate program were held with other water providers and it was quickly determined that it made more sense for the city to administer the program since it has an overarching interest in the equity and well-being of all its citizens, and it already has a Smart Controller, Xeriscape, and Turf Removal rebate program that can be scaled up. As previously stated, the scale of the rebate project and the matching criteria for funding allowed the city to move forward without securing additional external funding. In addition, the wide-ranging regional footprint of the other water providers would have made it extremely difficult for them to participate in a more functional manner. The city considers the proposed Enhanced Water Conservation Rebate program the second stage of expanding its water conservation presence throughout the city. If this program is successful, the city may once again seek mutual collaboration and funding support from other state or federal agencies or possibly further enlist the larger water service providers with customers within city limits.	The City is contributing a both a monetary and in-kind combined match of 25%, as required. The total cost share contribution is $40,042 as previously stated in Question 5. The in-kind match includes staff time and fringe benefits for approximately one-quarter of the Water Conservation Specialist's time for program administration and oversight as well as approximately 2-3 hours per month of staff time and benefits from our communications team for marketing and outreach. Included in the in-kind match are the annual subscription fee for our Water Rebate Software Platform and the cost of Smart Controller inspections by our third part contractor, Outdoor Systems Management. Also included is a small amount for pre and post inspection travel. The monetary match is $3,500. The source of the funding is the City of Surprise Water Utility Enterprise Fund. Based upon preliminary calculations, the city's actual match to run this rebate program is really closer to 35%, which would allow for a higher Water Conservation Fund award. However, funding at that higher level was not needed for the program and therefore not requested.	The Enhanced Water Conservation Rebate Program will be administered by the City's Water Conservation Specialist, Sandra Hurlbut. Ms. Hurlbut has been with the city for less than a year, but has brought a wealth of water and natural resources experience with her. She has multiple degrees in science and one in public affairs and has enabled her former employer to receive grants from the Arizona Department of Water Resources, Water Management Assistance Program and the Environmental Protection Agency's Environmental Education Grant Program. She most recently served a Senior Program Coordinator for Arizona Project WET, Arizona's premier K-12 water education program offered through the University of Arizona. Prior to that she was a Senior Instructional Specialist with the Water Wise program at the Cochise County Cooperative Extension. Water Wise provided water conservation education and support for the cities of Sierra Vista, Bisbee, and Cochise County as a whole. Ms. Hurlbut activities and performance will be overseen by Amy Peterson, Water Resource Analyst and former Water Conservation Specialist for the city. Amy Peterson has been a Water Resource Analyst for the City of Surprise since 2021. Prior to her current role, she served as the Water Conservation Specialist for two years. Over the last four years, she has been directly involved in coordinating the Cityâ€™s water conservation programs, including the construction of a new, 2-acre Xeriscape demonstration garden. She is also responsible for maintaining the cityâ€™s water resource portfolio, preparing annual water use reports for compliance with Arizonaâ€™s groundwater code, managing groundwater withdrawal and recharge permits, and long-range planning activities related to the cityâ€™s Designation of Assured Water Supply. Amy also participates in the cityâ€™s land development and entitlement process and finds value in applying a water conservation mindset to design review in order to encourage water-efficient development practices. Michael Boule is the Director of the Water Resource Management Department for the City of Surprise. Mr. Boule will offer higher level oversight for this program, if needed. Andrea Davis is the Director of Finance for the City of Surprise and will offer financial oversight and support for this program, as needed.	There will not be significant management impacts as a result of the proposed conservation activity. The Water Conservation Specialist will be running the program and minimal oversight is expected. The increase in staff time dedicated to processing and tracking the additional water conservation rebates and for enhanced marketing and outreach have been estimated and accounted for in the attached budget.	The Enhanced Water Conservation Rebate Program will be administered in collaboration with three other water service providers: EPCOR Utilities, the City of El Mirage, and Liberty Utilities. Of the three, EPCOR is currently the largest water provider in the city and services approximately two-thirds of all Surprise residents. EPCOR does not have an active smart irrigation controller or turf removal rebate program. The City of El Mirage services a minority of residents but they are an important part of this program as they service the area in Surprise known as the "old homestead" or "ole town". Liberty Utilities recently purchased another water provider within the city limits and the actual number of Surprise residents they serve is not known at this time.	All three water service providers have agreed to support this program by providing outreach and communication to Surprise residents in their water service areas. (Please see attached Letters of Support.)	The Enhanced Water Conservation Rebate Program will include opportunities for the public to learn about all the different types of rebates. The City of Surprise has multiple mechanisms for outreach: a. New Home Builders: We plan on offering a $400 rebate to residents who have purchased a brand new home and choose to install xeriscape landscaping. We already collaborate with all the new home builders in Surprise to get new residents a â€œWelcome Kitâ€� which includes information on water conservation rebates. The kit includes a welcome letter from the Water Resources Department, a listing of upcoming water conservation classes, a Watering by the Numbers booklet, general water conservation information, and some swag from the water department. The new home builders have been including our â€œWelcome Kitsâ€� in with their house closing materials. b. Surprise Regional Library: Once per month we support an outreach table at the Surprise Regional Library. The main goal of this table is to have an opportunity for additional one-on-one connections with Surprise residents. The objective is to tell residents about our rebates and the free classes we hold on water efficient landscaping, proper irrigation techniques, and other water conservation related topics. This approach has been very rewarding and fosters a lot of goodwill with our residents. c. Water Education Center: Surprise has a Water Education Center (WEC) located adjacent to our xeriscape demonstration garden. Our Water Conservation Specialist holds regular office hours in WEC to answer any rebate or water conservation questions citizens may have. We also hold many of our regular water conservation education classes in the center. d. Progress Magazine & Social Media: The Water Resources Department has a great relationship with our Cityâ€™s Communication Team. The Communication Team regularly features the Water Resources Department activities in a beautifully crafted, one to two page section in its Progress Magazine. They also generate regular social media posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the conservation program. This partnership has helped foster much more interest in rebates and classes offered by the conservation program. e. Class/Event Surveys: The Communications Team has also supported the water conservation program by creating online surveys for every class and event held. Surveys are sent out to participants after every event and the results are viewed and used to plan future events or make modifications to programs. f. Utility Billing Emails: A newer initiative has been to do outreach via our WaterSmart billing system. Although we have just started using this system for outreach, weâ€™ve already reaped the rewards of additional participation from residents who were unaware of some of our offerings. We experienced a 20-25% increase in class participation after residents were notified about our conservation program offerings. We expect to experience a similar uptick when we begin rebate outreach.	Based upon our history of offering rebates for the last 5 years, there is definitely community support for continuing this program. In fact, the water conservation program is regularly questioned as to why the rebates are not offered to all City of Surprise residents. Also, customers from other water providers have tried to apply for the program only to have their application rejected. This grant funding will allow the City of Surprise to make our rebate program more equitable by expanding it to all the residents within the city.	It is very feasible to expand our rebate program to all city residents, provided we have enough funding. The city already has a water conservation rebate program and a formal rebate system already exists. WIFA Water Conservation Grant Funding will enable the city to scale up the rebate program and allow many more residents and qualified entities to participate. Increasing the number of rebates received and processed will also support the growth of the overall water conservation program and possibly provide justification for increasing staffing in the future.	The proposed Enhanced Water Conservation Rebate program is an expansion and enhancement of ongoing activities. A recent analysis of smart irrigation controller rebates issued in the first four years of the program indicted an overall average savings of 15,680 gallons per year per rebate. To determine these savings, we researched the volume of water used at each household a year prior to controller installation and a year after controller installation. The results were double our assumption of 7,500 gallons per year for each rebate. We consider this conservation activity be very effective. For this program, the Smart Irrigation Controller component should offer water savings of: 120 controllers X 15,680 gallons/year = 1,881,600 gallons saved or 5.77 acre feet per year. It is more challenging to quantify the water savings from xeriscape installation. The few applications we received were rejected because applicants did not fully follow the rebate requirements. However, if we assume that the installed xeriscape landscape will replace warm season grass, we can use the University of Arizona Bermuda grass watering needs as a basis for calculating annual water savings. As stated previously, assuming 5,000 gallons of water are needed for a 15' x 15' (225 square feet) Bermuda grass lawn, xeriscape landscape installation will save a minimum of 22.2 gallons per square foot. Using the 22.2 gallon/square foot figure, the projected minimum water savings would be 9,000 square feet x 22.2 gallons = 199,800 gallons, or 0.61 acre feet saved every year for xeriscape landscaping installation. Again, this figure is likely to be very low due to overwatering. However, avoiding turf installation using xeriscape is an effective means of continuing water conservation, especially when considering the low cost to support this rebate. We do not have any actual water savings data for the Single Family Residential turf removal program as we only recently started that type of rebate. As it stands now, only three turf removal rebates were issued in 2023. Not enough time as gone by to fully analyze the water consumption result. However, using residential data from our WaterSmart system reveals residents with small outdoor areas (3,001 - 4,000 square feet) use an average of 221.8 GPD of water or 80,950 gallons per year. This equals a usage of 23.1 gallons per square foot per year. If we multiply that value by the projected rebate turf removal value of 18,000 square feet, we get a water savings of 416,316 gallons per year or 1.28 acre feet. Diving deeper into some of our water use data for the HOA, Commercial, and Multifamily rebates water savings values, we know the city assigns an irrigation demand per commercial account of 5,231 gallons per day (GPD) future commercial development purposes. Looking at the irrigation account data from our WaterSmart system for last year, 82% of commercial irrigators were above the city's irrigation daily demand value of 5,231 GPD. Forty-seven percent had more than double the daily demand and twenty percent had more than quadruple the daily demand. The highest demand was 20 times the daily irrigation demand estimation! The average daily demand for all irrigators is 12,538 GPD. Looking at this data it is clear irrigators are significantly overwatering their turf areas. Looking at a subset of data from our WaterFluence system, exclusively for HOA large turf facilities, the average area of turf at these facilities is 560,000 square feet and the average GPD per square foot of turf is 37 gallons. If this figure is representative of our HOA/Commercial/Multifamily turf rebate recipients then, our projected water savings would be 37 GPD x 54,000 square feet = 1,998,000 gallons = 6.13 acre feet/year. If results results consistent with these assumptions are correct, the HOA, Commercial and Multifamily rebate may prove to be our most productive conservation technique of the four proposed. The combined rebate program is projected to save 13.79 acre feet of water per year.	Water conservation rebate programs are an established Best Management Practices required by the Arizona Department of Water Resources in the Fourth Management Plan for the Phoenix Active Management Area. Specifically, Best Management Practices are found in Section 5.3: Municipal Conservation Program Description, Subsection 5.3.1.6 Best Management Practices (BMP), Appendix 5C, Category 6: Rebates/Incentives. Rebate programs included under Appendix 5C, Category 6 are: For Residents: 6.3 Smart Irrigation Technology Rebate or Incentive Program, 6.7 Landscape Conversion Rebate or Incentive Program, 6.8 Installing Xeriscapes in New Landscapes Rebate or Incentive Program ADWR 4th Management Plan Link: https://new.azwater.gov/sites/default/files/media/FULL%20FINAL%20PHX%204MP_1.pdf
29	Scottsdale City of	Expansion of residential grass removal landscape conversion REBATE activity	Programs and projects that reduce water use Per A.R.S. 49-1332(B)(2)	Project		Scottsdale	Maricopa	6	3 4 8	Salt River Basin	Phoenix		$250,000.00	$62,500.00	$312,500.00	22	0.0000704	The estimated water savings from our grass removal landscape conversion incentive program just using these funds are significant: 22 acre-feet. The Scottsdale Water Conservation Office has performed a statistical analysis on water savings for grass to xeriscape conversions completed in previous fiscal years. Based on sample sizes that were determined to be statistically significant (eliminated anomalies) it was calculated that on average, water saved equated to 50 gallons per square foot of grass removed for residential customers. Based on the amount of square feet removed in fiscal year 22/23 (FY23) (the fiscal year is July 1 to June 30), and dollars spent for both residential and commercial applications, $0.04 per gallon saved was spent. For the funds Scottsdale is requesting it would equate to: ($250,000)/($0.04)=7,019,209 gallons or 22 acre-feet This is significant, ongoing savings. While many water conservation activities can be more challenging to measure than most people are aware of, non-functional grass removal can significantly reduce water demand, with measurable and long-term benefits. Many conservation efforts are meaningful and should be a part of any good overall conservation program, non-functional grass removal is one of the higher measurable water savings activities. The total for the entire program would be the $250,000 of these funds plus the $62,500 in matching cost share. There is also $187,500 available from the city for a total of $437,500 for the activity which equate to 10,937,500 gallons or 33.5 acre-feet.	The funding being requested as a part of this application is intended to be used in Fiscal Year 23/24 (FY24). Scottsdale intends to apply during the additional grant cycles and for a more robust program amounts, this particular activity can be made beneficial this fiscal year with expected funds expended and water saved.	Scottsdale has a number of incentive rebates both for commercial and residential water customers. In the last several years, new rebates have been created and existing programs updated based on customer need and feedback. Since the enactment of Stage 1 of Scottsdaleâ€™s Drought Management Plan, customer participation has increased drastically by over 200 to 300 percent depending on which activities in the conservation program. The demand has outstripped the available funding which has exhausted conservation funds. To continue at this level and enhance the program, the city is looking for opportunities to keep up with the demand. Turf to xeriscape landscape residential conversion rebates represent the majority of dollars spent FY23. Due to customer demand, Scottsdale is accepting early applications for FY24. Currently there are dozens of residents who requested and early launch of the application process. These early applications will be paid in FY24 (starts July 1, 2023).	The City of Scottsdale has several sources available to supply water to customers. These sources include Salt and Verde water through the SRP system, Scottsdaleâ€™s groundwater allocation as outlined in the current Arizona Department of Water Resources Allocation (ADWR) Assured Water Designation updated in 2014, Long Term Storage Credits from both Colorado River water and recharge effluent, and Colorado River water through the Central Arizona Project (CAP). However, these supplies are not in equal amounts and Scottsdale relies heavily on CAP water as it makes up 70-75% of water deliveries. So, while water conserved under this program will include all sources as our system is a co-mingled system, the majority of conserved water will be Colorado River water. Itâ€™s important to note that customers donâ€™t see and canâ€™t really know what supply or portions of our supplies comes to their tap. Conservation efforts include building a culture around conservation. An example outside of the turf removal rebate is water features. Scottsdale has an ordinance that limits water feature size and location and will make this ordinance more restrictive in FY24. Water features proposed by developers may not always be large water users, however they do not demonstrate water conservation. Regardless of the amount of water used, water features are denied if they do not meet the ordinance requirements. While one may argue that it's not a lot of water, it still a visual that water is plentiful and can be used in abundance. We do not want an attitude of abundance to translate to other water uses. Building a water conservation culture regardless of the water source indirectly amplifies conservation in all areas, including the Colorado River water.	The City of Scottsdale has several sources available to supply water to customers. These sources include Salt and Verde water through the SRP system, Scottsdaleâ€™s groundwater allocation as outlined in the current Arizona Department of Water Resources Allocation (ADWR) Assured Water Designation updated in 2014, Long Term Storage Credits from both Colorado River water and recharge effluent, and Colorado River water through the Central Arizona Project (CAP). However, these supplies are not in equal amounts and Scottsdale relies heavily on CAP water as it makes up 70-75% of water deliveries. So, while water conserved under this program will include all sources as our system is a co-mingled system, the majority of conserved water will be Colorado River water. Itâ€™s important to note that customers donâ€™t see and canâ€™t really know what supply or portions of our supplies comes to their tap. Conservation efforts include building a culture around conservation. An example outside of the turf removal rebate is water features. Scottsdale has an ordinance that limits water feature size and location and will make this ordinance more restrictive in FY24. Water features proposed by developers may not always be large water users, however they do not demonstrate water conservation. Regardless of the amount of water used, water features are denied if they do not meet the ordinance requirements. While one may argue that it's not a lot of water, it still a visual that water is plentiful and can be used in abundance. We do not want an attitude of abundance to translate to other water uses. Building a water conservation culture regardless of the water source indirectly amplifies conservation in all areas, including the Colorado River water.	value1	Grass removal and conversion to xeriscape landscaping has proven to be an effective long-term water reduction conservation method. Incentivizing removal of high-water use landscapes is a priority way to permanently reduce water use.	Groundwater depletion	With the possibility of further restrictions on Scottsdaleâ€™s allocation of Colorado River water, long-term conservation efforts such as turf removal reduce the potential need to tap groundwater sources.	In 2023 Scottsdale along with many other Colorado River Basin providers signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to address the need for a heightened collaborative approach to reduce demand and commit to water efficiency practices across all providers within the seven Colorado River basin states. The purpose of the MOU was to identify opportunities and commit to reducing water consumption within the providersâ€™ service areas, pledging to be part of the solution to the Colorado River decline. One element of that MOU was to implement a number of best management practices including, â€œTransforming outdoor landscapes and urban environments in a manner that improves climate resilience and promotes an ethic of wise water use â€¦, incentivized turf removalâ€�. Increasing dollars to incentivize removal on non-functional turf is paramount to this commitment.	Scottsdaleâ€™s turf conversion program has proven to have a high return on the investment. Reducing the use of non-functional grass has been among the most cost-effective ways to reduce overall water use and reduce the cityâ€™s reliance on water deliveries from the Colorado River (70% of the current water deliveries to Scottsdale Waterâ€™s customers is made up of Colorado River water). Having knowledgeable staff work with homeowners and landscapers on the turf conversions also helps ensure that the new landscape benefits biodiversity (by better matching the surrounding Sonoran Desert ecosystem) and reduces extreme heat (through consideration of the radiant properties of the turf alternatives).	Grass to xeriscape landscape conversions are measured as part of the rebate program. The grass removal measurements (in square feet) occur during on-site inspections and/or by using GIS aerial imagery. The grass removal measurements and historic water data for each property are used to calculate water savings. Over the last several fiscal years, statistically significant data was obtained pre- and post-removals and an average of 50 gallons per square foot was found to have been saved by residential customers.	Water Conservation incentive rebates are included in the Cityâ€™s Water Enterprise fund and are limited to the amount of funding requested through the annual budget process, which is approved by City Council. Increased interest in financial incentives by customers grew by 200-300%, straining the available city funds. Debt funding this program (through loans with an interest component) is not a financial viable activity for the City and instead would delay implementation and curtail future opportunity and potential program growth.	No â€“ This grant funding would give the ability to meet the drastically increased demand. Without this grant funding the activity will be limited and capped as dictated by the already approved FY24 budget.	Scottsdale has several incentives that make up the rebate portion of the conservation program, 12 in total between both residential and commercial. For many years the entire budgeted amount for all rebates has been $250,000. With the declaration of the Tier I shortage in 2022, Scottsdale triggered Stage 1 of its updated Drought Management Plan. Since then, a larger push to increase awareness and participation in rebates was initiated. In FY23 funding was increase by $50,000 (for a total of $300,000) and an increase in the per square foot dollars for the residential grass removal program was adopted to further incentivize the removal of non-functional grass in landscapes, from $1 to $2 per square foot. In FY23, Scottsdale saw an above the expected growth participation rate in the residential sector for the enhanced grass removal incentive, to the point it overwhelmed funding to a degree that was almost unmanageable. The drastic customer response to the increase in rebate per square feet dollars awarded was unexpected and halfway through the fiscal year, participation exceeded all available funding. A temporary funding redirection was able to keep the incentives continuing in the end of FY23, which is unlikely to be available in future fiscal years. To assist in the increase in interest and keep all rebate programs viable and healthy in FY24, a total budget amount of $450,000 was approved. However, even this increase would not have been sufficient to cover the demand for this particular program in the current fiscal year, FY23. Then adding all the other rebates, the city offers puts this activity in a large deficit should this activity continue with even a fraction of the participation interest that occurred in FY23. This fiscal year (FY23) the general allocation for residential grass removal rebates was approximately $136,000, however, expenditures were over $600,000. For the next fiscal year, the funds for this activity, in taking consideration of other rebates and utility funding needs, is not enough. Therefore, Scottsdale is looking to procure grant financing, or this particular rebate will end prematurely. To note, there are also 23 customers who started their grass removal projects in FY23 that could not finish their project and upon project completion will be paid in FY24. If all 23 customers take out the average square footage of 1,500, this equates to $69,000. This will be on top of the demand that is expected to heighten as outreach continues to target customers who have non-functional residential grass to remove. Of the FY24 budget amount for all rebates dollars of $450,000, $187,500 of that is earmarks to the residential grass removal activity. The additional dollars of $250,000 would bring that total to $437,500 of pure rebate dollars that would be available to award to residents, which would allow the activity to stay viable longer through the fiscal year.	While this particular application is for sole use by Scottsdale, it should be noted that many other communities are looking to build their program from the framework that Scottsdale has built for its grass removal rebates. Scottsdaleâ€™s 200% â€“ 300% increase in programmatic success assists in building broader buy-in for others looking to establish their own grass removal incentive program. In addition, the rebates do not cover the entire cost of the turf replacement, so the property owners provide a â€˜cost share.â€™	There are current rebate incentive dollars programed into the water conservation budget and those funds will be used to match. There are dollars currently programed for this activity but once those funds are depleted the activity will be capped until the next fiscal year budget funds are available. These funds if awarded, would allow for program funding continuity, reducing the likelihood of depleted funding and of loss of momentum in attracting new applicants for the rebate program. Total sources of matching funds include Personnel cost including fringe benefits, equipment used, and rebate dollars (as seen in the budget excel file).	The increase in rebate transactions has stressed workload for staff, but steps have been taken to ensure that the capacity exists for an expanded program. Although staff has been able to manage the rebate processing workload at this increased level, additional administrative staff will be transitioning some of their availability to assist conservation staff. Furthermore, last fiscal year, additional contract/temporary field assistance was provided as the workload increased to assist with pre- and post-site inspections for grass removal applications. There is one Coordinator Supervisor who administers the rebates as well as four specialists and one contracted consultant currently working on rebate processing. (The fourth specialist was added FY21 to assist with increase workload with conservation increase in response to the extended drought on the Colorado River).	For this round of proposed funding dollars, no additional needs of managerial impacts or technology are anticipated. This proposal will be purely for rebate funds.	At its roots, the grass removal program is a partnership between the city and individual residents. The city has worked to lead in this area, by removing non-functional grass in multiple areas. Our leadership also extends to dedicating funds to assist others in doing the same, as a way to highlight the importance of conserving water and of the other benefits of desert adapted and native plants.	We view the increased demand for this rebate program as the most visible sign that our stakeholders value this conservation activity. We have a regular presence at community events and always receive inquiries about the best ways for individuals to conserve water. In response to feedback over the life of the program, we have	Outreach associated with these funds will be the current programed messaging. As stated earlier, due to the current level of outreach with the stage 1 of Scottsdaleâ€™s Drought Management Plan, there has already been a drastic increase in interest. Additional outreach will need additional resources and will be addressed in a subsequent application. This application is to ensure that this rebate program can continue without disruption in FY24. Current levels of public outreach include social media, water bill inserts, postcards mailed to residents, and prominent placement on the cityâ€™s website.	The level of demand for the turf conversion rebates â€“ and the recent dramatic increase in that demand â€“ clearly shows the community support. We also see evidence that new stakeholders are interested in these types of programs with the increase in speaking engagement requests.	The resident grass removal rebate program has a history of success, and Scottsdale Water is committed to dedicating sufficient staff and outreach resources to ensure that it continues to be a priority. As stated in question 18, the residential grass removal rebate fund expenditures increased FY23 by almost five times what was budgeted. It is very feasible that the added funds of $250,000 of this grant to the FY24 budget amount of $187,500 could be expended by the end of the fiscal year.	This is an ongoing activity for Scottsdaleâ€™s Conservation office. This activity has been in existence since 1992 and has evolved and expanded since then. Since 2016, 1.23 million square feet of grass has been removed. Using the per square foot water savings of 50 gal/sq. ft. metric, that equates to 188 acre-feet of water. This is a permanent reduction in water use.	This activity is one of Scottsdale's 4MP NPCCP BMP's (6.9)
30	Chandler City of	Grass Removal Rebate Program (Multi-family, HOA and Commercial Property)	Programs and projects that reduce water use Per A.R.S. 49-1332(B)(2)	Program	This is a new rebate program targeting grass removal in larger properties such as HOAs, multi-family residential, commercial and industrial properties. These projects represent much larger areas of grass removal than a typical single family residential landscape conversion. Chandler does not currently have a rebate program designed for grass removal in large landscapes. This new program will be implemented over a multi-year timeframe and include multiple locations. City of Chandler has identified opportunities for both functional and non-functional grass removal within multi-family, homeowners associations, commercial, industrial, and institutional properties.	City of Chandler	Maricopa	4 5	12 13 14	City of Chandler is part of the service area for the Salt & Verde watershed and also receives water from the Colorado River watershed via Central Arizona Project.	Phoenix AMA		$975,000.00	$243,750.00	$1,218,750.00	92	0.00007548717949	Water Savings is calculated by estimated gallons of water saved per square foot and converting to acre feet (AF) [(500,000 sq. ft. * 60 gal per sq ft)/325,851]=92 AF/year. Our goal for this program is to remove approximately 500,000 square feet of grass. Our residential turf removal programs typically yield a savings of 60 gallons per square foot and would expect the same to hold true for multi-family, HOA, commercial, institutional, and industrial. This program does include an incentive for the removal of non-functional grass which will likely yield even higher water savings due to existing watering inefficiencies found in many cases with non-functional grass installations.	Each site conversion will have a different begin and end date, depending on the time needed to develop a site plan and receive bids by contractors. Site applications will be accepted as soon as grant funding is awarded and site conversions will be completed by November 2026. This program will result in a permanent reduction in water use at each site selected for the program.	The conservation activity proposed is removal of functional and non-functional grass from non-residential properties, including (but not limited to), multi-family, HOAâ€™s, commercial, industrial, and institutional sites. These grass areas will be replaced with low water use landscapes that utilize drip irrigation techniques to ensure long-term durable water savings through an overall reduction in water demand and increased irrigation efficiency. Each of these conversions from functional and non-functional grass to low water use landscapes, will include the following components: â€¢ An application processes. â€¢ An evaluation of the site to ensure it meets the definition of non-functional grass. â€¢ A low water use landscape and irrigation design to replace the grass once it is removed. â€¢ Plans review and approval to proceed. â€¢ Selection of a contractor to perform the work. â€¢ A final inspection and consultation to ensure the planting requirements have been met. â€¢ The processing of the rebate and incentive funds to the applicant Non-functional grass is typically an area of grass that does not serve a functional purpose or is installed in a way that makes it very difficult to water efficiently and is defined as follows: â€¢ Any narrow strips of grass especially areas with any single dimension of ten (10) feet or less. â€¢ Grass areas exceeding a 4:1, or twenty-five percent (25%), slope. â€¢ Grass areas that are not accessible by paved pathways and/or are restricted by physical barriers that prohibit accessibility. â€¢ Grass areas installed closer than ten (10) feet to a street and/or in front entryways to residential neighborhoods or subdivisions where other recreational amenities do not exist. â€¢ Grass areas that are dedicated to drainage conveyances, storm basins, erosion control, or operational discharge and are not historically utilized for active programmed recreational purposes. â€¢ Any grass area not historically used for recreational purposes and are primarily aesthetic or ornamental.	City of Chandler serves customers using a combination of different water sources and the water conserved will include Colorado River water, Salt & Verde River water, groundwater and reclaimed water. The specific source conserved can not be known until each specific site is selected for the program. However, in general we expect to see water savings across all of our different sources of supply, including Colorado River water delivered through the Central Arizona Project.	Chandler is an incorporated city located in Maricopa County, Arizona, on the southeast side of the Phoenix Metropolitan area. Approximate population is 276,000. Chandler believes in cultivating a water conservation ethic within our community and removal of functional and non-functional grass from public property helps to signal the value of water and demonstrate how beautiful desert adapted landscaping is within our community.	value1 value2	Removal of functional and non-functional grass represents a permanent long-term reduction in water use and also achieves high water efficiency standards by ensuring that drip irrigation waters more efficiently by reducing evaporative losses.	Water supply shortages Reliance on non-renewable water supplies Groundwater depletion	Removing functional and non-functional grass will assist when any of our surface water supplies experience water shortages. By permanently reducing our total outdoor water use, we are able create long-term durable reductions in demand for Colorado River water, Salt & Verde River water and groundwater.	This program targets removal of both functional and non-functional grass, which aligns with local, regional and statewide water plans by addressing the need for reductions in Colorado River demand, and also aligns with the Phoenix AMA goal of reducing groundwater pumping. Last year Chandler signed a memorandum of understanding among more than thirty municipal water providers, across the seven Colorado River Basin States, showing a commitment to reduce non-functional grass by 30%. This conservation program achieves not just state and regional goals, but also the specific municipal conservation goals outlined by water providers in all seven Colorado River Basin States.	The costs associated with this water conservation activity include program administration, design services, labor associated with grass removal and the cost of purchasing replacement materials including low water use plants. The benefits include reduced water use and reductions in maintenance costs associated with mowing grass and repairing irrigation systems. Additionally, the low water use plant and tree requirements will mitigate any increased heat from the grass removal.	Program effectiveness will be measured in terms of long-term water demand reductions. Water savings will be calculated by comparing the total site water use before and after conversion.	The proposed conservation activity is not eligible for funding from WIFAâ€™s Long-Term Water Augmentation Fund or Water Supply Development Fund.	No, there is not currently a budget identified to implement this program without grant funding.	This is yet to be determined. The City of Chandler is still researching the Bureau of Reclamation Water Smart Grants that are available to support non-functional grass removal.	The City of Chandler will be working with the program applicants who will be expected to contribute a portion of the matching funds. Additionally, Chandler will provide in-kind services.	$243,750 - Funds from participating conversion sites for the conversion work $104,000 - In-kind, Chandler staff time to coordinate, measure, and consult pre-conversion, permitting costs, plans review and approval process, staff field work and construction management, final inspections, processing, and grant administration.	Chandler Water Conservation staff has administered multiple rebate and incentive programs since the early 1990s, issuing well over 10,000 rebates. Chandler is well suited to manage this activity, however, due to the increased workload additional staff will be needed to administer this conservation activity.	Chandler will hire temporary staff to assist with the increased workload of this program. Water Conservation Staff will cost $45,000 to $65,000 annually.	The proposed new program will further Chandler's grass removal goals and the portion of the program aimed at non-functional grass removal also represents a collaborative partnership among more than 30 municipal water providers across the Colorado River Basin who collectively signed a memorandum of understanding agreeing to reduce non-functional grass by 30%. Chandler's water conservation staff also works collaboratively with other multi-family, HOAâ€™s, commercial, institutional, and industrial entities to address local water conservation objectives. Participants will also be encouraged to participate in additional water conservation programs offered by the City of Chandler.	Chandler has established a drought management team to work with both internal and external stakeholders to develop new programs that aimed at reducing demand for outdoor water use. Additionally, Chandler has surveyed residents about water conservation to find over 83% support the establishment of water-saving incentives and rebates.	The City of Chandler will conduct public outreach by promoting this program on our website, posting information on social media and distributing a press release. We will also provide opportunities for the public to learn more about our conservation programs at a series of community events and offer detailed program information materials at all of our in-person education workshops.	Based on an initial survey conducted in April/May 2023, there is community support for this conservation activity.	There is wide support for this program within the City of Chandler. Water conservation staff has already developed a proposal for the staffing requirements to administer the program and determined the program is feasible.	Administering a program specifically targeting functional and non-functional grass within multi-family, HOAâ€™s, commercial, institutional, and industrial properties is a new conservation activity. However, Chandler has successfully administered several residential rebate programs, including a single family residential grass removal program. These other programs have been able to demonstrate significant water savings through grass removal incentives.	The replacement of grass with low water use landscape has been a Best Management Practice in the Phoenix Active Management Area for decades. This water conservation activity is included in the Phoenix Active Management Area Non-Per Capita Conservation Program Best Management Practice 6.15 Landscape Conversion Rebate or Incentive Program.
31	El Mirage City of	Water Production Facility Conservation Project	Programs or projects to promote groundwater recharge and improved aquifer health.	Project		El Mirage	Maricopa	9	29	N/A	El Mirage is in the Phoenix AMA	N/A	$250,000.00	$62,500.00	$312,500.00	24	0.0000768	Well flow, 830 GPM x Well starts per day, 3 x 10 minutes pump to recharge x 365 days = 9,088,500 gallons	This is a permanent solution to the current discharge system at the Canterbury well site. The activity will exist in perpetuity.	Currently the well site discharges excess supply to the Agua Fria wash. This project will install a system to capture this discharge and send it to the Cityâ€™s collection system. This will enable the City to recharge the previously lost and unaccounted for water at its Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) in its designated recharge basins.	The source is the Agua Fria aquifer. All water conserved is groundwater.	El Mirage is located 10 miles Northwest of downtown Phoenix and has grown from a small town, dependent on agriculture, to a diverse urban community with a 2021 Census population of 36,016. The Cityâ€™s mission is to protect and enhance the quality of life through leadership, partnerships, and the efficient delivery of outstanding service to our community. City leaders are committed to keeping the pace of continued growth through fiscal stewardship and sound financial management. There are approximately 20 neighborhoods within the City representing a culturally diverse community. The Cityâ€™s affordable housing, small-town feel, and proximity to Phoenix have attracted young working families looking for community cohesion and a less hurried pace. Incorporated in 1951, El Mirage was primarily a compact residential community; the 2010 Census revealed a 318% population increase (1990-2010) that was directly impacted by the housing bubble and long-term recession. El Mirage has a poverty rate of 14.6% (3.3% more than Maricopa County) and a 65.4% minority rate (18.8%) higher than the County (US Census, 2021).	value1 value2 value3	Through this water conservation activity, we anticipate the long-term reductions in water use to be: 1 Year = 23.89 Acre-foot 5 Years = 119.45 Acre-foot 10 Years = 238.90 Acre-foot 30 Years = 716.70 Acre-foot This conservation activity would result in improvements of water use efficiency and water reliability, as the City would no longer discharge to the Agua Fria wash area. This is a more efficient use of previously lost and unaccounted for water. In addition, this project will enable the City to recharge more water through its Water Reclamation Facility (WRF), further contributing to the local aquifer and increase the reliability of groundwater for future use.	Water supply shortages Groundwater depletion	This project will address recharging the local aquifer, which will have a positive impact on the long-term water supply for El Mirage. It also directly addresses groundwater depletion by taking lost and unaccounted for groundwater and recharging it into the local aquifer though the City's WRF.	The project will align with the management goal of the Phoenix Active Management Area by increasing the amount of groundwater that is replaced annually.	The benefits of the activity are improved aquifer health and increased groundwater recharge while costs may include decreased water availability to any established vegetation relying on the current discharges.	The effectiveness of the well site water reclamation improvements will be measured in acre-feet of recharged groundwater over time.	N/A	Yes, this project would be added to the City's Capital Improvement Project's roster for evaluation and implementation when examined through a future rate study.	This project will use City funding from the El Mirage water utility and if awarded, grant funding from WIFA.	N/A	The source of the cash match in the amount of $62,500 for this project would be from the City's water fund; an enterprise fund.	Nick Russo, Public Works Director, has 18 years Public Works experience, 10 years utilities management experience including water portfolio management and long term water planning for municipalities. He has Masters in Public Administration from NAU, and a Bachelors in Finance and Economics from NAU, Nick is a current member of West Valley Water board of directors. Scott Ketchmark, Utilities Superintendent has over 30 years in municipal utilities operations and maintenance. His experience includes capital planning and system operations for municipalities ranging from 35,000 residents to over 200,000 residents. Scott current holds level 4 certifications from ADEQ in water distribution and treatment as well as level 4 certifications in wastewater collections and treatment. Derek Castaneda, Water Resource Manager has 12 years in municipal environmental compliance and management in the areas of land, water and air. He has Bachelors degree in Environmental Science and a Masters in Public Administration with a focus on government and policy. Dr. Autumn Grooms, Community Services Manager has been with the City of El Mirage 6 years. She has experience managing local, state, and federal grants as well as projects and programs for municipalities, public school districts and nonprofit organizations in Arizona and Wisconsin. Autumn has a Doctorate in Public Administration from West Chester University of Pennsylvania. Her dissertation, Federal Grant Sustainability in Rural Public School Districts, explores grant program sustainability and the impacts on programs and projects within school districts. She also holds a Master of Science in Cultural Foundations of Education from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and a Bachelor of Science in Human Services Leadership from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Autumn is the current El Mirage representative on the MAG Human Services Technical Committee and MAG Elderly and Persons with Disability Transportation Ad-Hoc Committee. She is also on the Valley Metro Transit Managers Committee Martina Longoria is the Grants Program Coordinator and has 23 years municipal government experience. Prior to joining the City of El Mirage in 2021, she worked for the City of Glendale, Arizona serving in multiple departments including Office of the Mayor and City Council, City Manager and Deputy City Manager offices. The last six years with her previous employer, Martina worked in the Transportation Department, where she was responsible for writing and managing grants and programs for the Transit Division, working with various stakeholders. She served as the Cityâ€™s representative at MAGâ€™s Transportation Ambassador Program meetings. Martina holds a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies in Organizational Studies from Arizona State University, an AAS in Public Administration from Rio Salado Community College, and is a Certified Public Manager.	No significant additional management or staff costs are anticipated after completion of this conservation activity.	N/A	This project will be part of the City's capital improvement plan (CIP). The CIP is discussed and decided each year by the City Council during the budget process and is open to stakeholder input.	A Request for Council Action was included on the agenda for the El Mirage Council meeting of May 16, for Council to approve submission of the grant application for this project. Council meetings are open to the public for comments. This project will be advertised on the City's website and social media platforms, as well as print newsletter and weekly reports. The City of El Mirage also provides educational material to the residents on the importance of conserving water.	Yes. The City and its residents and businesses understand the importance of conserving water. This project directly conserves water and will contribute to the health of the Agua Fria aquifer.	This is a typical construction project and completely feasible to design and complete within a year of beginning the project.	This project is a continuation of existing best practices of capturing excess supply water for direct recharge. The process is already successfully in use at other sites in El Mirage.	Yes. It is a best practice for a City to limit its lost and unaccounted for water to the highest degree. This project is a step in the right direction for El Mirage to continue working towards minimizing its lost and unaccounted for water
32	Friends of the Verde River	River Friendly Living - Camp Verde	Programs and projects that reduce water use Per A.R.S. 49-1332(B)(2)	Project		Camp Verde	Yavapai	2	1	Verde River	N/A	N/A	$250,000.00	$62,500.00	$312,500.00	25	0.00008	This was based on the following: 14.25 inches annual rainfall in Camp Verde. Camp Verde Community Library - 0.27 ac-ft/year. 50 home projects, each with average 2,000 square foot roof and other impermeable surface, plus 10 acre ft water offset credits purchased. 10 business projects, each with an average of 5,000 square foot roof and other impermeable surfaces, plus 10-acre ft water offset credits purchased. Undetermined amount of water savings from the education program. We will work with the Camp Verde Utilities Department on quantifying water savings. This is a conservative estimate, based on our projection of a low number of implemented projects.	The duration of the conservation activity ranges from 15 to 30 years. Rainwater harvesting systems are designed to last for 15 â€“ 30 years. We expect that people who are trained will use their knowledge to maintain and repair their systems for an even longer period of time.	Friends of the Verde River established River Friendly Living, a voluntary river conservation program, in 2021 to support and recognize those who strive to protect the Verde River in their homes, businesses, and communities. The proposed project would expand the River Friendly Living program in Camp Verde through increased education and outreach efforts in the community and installation of measures to reduce dependency on groundwater. Examples of projects include water conservation education, rainwater harvesting, stormwater capture, and greywater reuse. The project will also increase the amount of water saved to flow in the Verde River through continuation and expansion of Verde River Exchange water offset credits. There are three major components to this project. First, we are partnering with the Camp Verde Community Library to expand its planned rooftop rainwater harvesting system, including installation of demonstration gardens, and provide community education. Second, we are expanding River Friendly Living in Camp Verde to educate its residents (population ~12,244) to undertake measures to reduce water use, harvest rain, detain stormwater, reuse greywater, and expand Verde River Exchange offset credits for homes. Third, we will provide grant awards as incentives for a subset of homes and businesses to add rainwater harvesting systems to their properties. (1) The Camp Verde Community Library is installing a rainwater harvesting system and will serve as a demonstration project for the program. FVR staff will partner with the library to develop education programs to share with interested community members and businesses through workshops at the Camp Verde Community Library. (2) FVR staff will develop and distribute educational materials about how people can be river friendly in their homes and businesses. We have found that this brand is very effective in motivating people to change their habits. We reward people and businesses with certification once they have achieved a set list of benchmark. Since we launched the program in October 2021, we have certified X homes, X businesses, and X farms/ranches. We have completed large scale projects in Camp Verde and Cottonwood. (describe them). Rio Verde Plaza, TinyCamp Cottonwood, Mingus Union High School. As part of the partnership with Camp Verde, the Town of Camp Verde Utilities Department staff to distribute educational information to utility customers to inform them of the River Friendly Living certification program, the River Friendly Grants program, and available assistance to install water-saving measures. The proposed project would focus efforts on Camp Verde residential and commercial properties to install rainwater harvesting systems, irrigation upgrades, gray water systems, low-water use landscaping, and other practices to reduce water use. Some people will install rainwater harvesting systems on their own. For those who need financial assistance, we will expand our River Friendly Grants program to incentivize improvements to homes and businesses that are certified through the River Friendly Living Program. In this way we will also be able to assist community members who would otherwise be unable to install these improvements without financial assistance. In particular, we will work with the Yavapai-Apache Nation to identify homes and businesses that would benefit from financial incentives. 3. For the last 9 years, Friends of the Verde River has been awarding small grants to communities and organizations for projects that benefit the river out of a pool of $10,000 to $15,000 annually. In 2022 we changed the grant program to focus on rainwater harvesting and water conservation projects, awarding nine small grants â€“ to five individuals, one business, one municipality, and two organizations. As part of this project, we will increase the grant funds, earmarking $150,000 for Camp Verde residents and businesses. This funding will allow us to provide grants to about 50 homes and 10 businesses (exact numbers will vary). We will means test the grant funds to ensure we are reaching people who would greatly benefit but could not otherwise afford to harvest the rain.	The source of the water that will be conserved is the Verde River.	Camp Verde is in central Arizona 86 miles north of Phoenix in Yavapai County. The 2021 population of the town based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau is 12,244. The town occupies 43.1 square miles. Camp Verde has grown 29% since 2000, moderately quickly and faster than 78% of similarly sized cities during that time. In Camp Verde, 25.1% of residents have an income below the poverty line and 21.8% of families are below the poverty line. Racial demographics of the town are 79.4% white, 9.3% American Indian, 7.2% other, 3.4% two or more races, 0.5% Black, and 0.2% Asian. In addition, 24.8% of the population identifies as Hispanic. The Verde River is a major water supply of water for the Phoenix metropolitan area. The Salt and Verde River watersheds provide about 60% of the water for approximately three million people in the Phoenix area. With the insecurity of Colorado River water, the Verde River is increasingly important.	value1 value2 value3	The proposed conservation activity would result in long-term reductions in water use in the Camp Verde area by educating people, including business owners, and increasing water conservation and rainwater harvesting at residential and commercial buildings. The net effect would be a reduction in groundwater use, which would also improve water reliability for Camp Verde area residents and the Phoenix Metropolitan area.	Water supply shortages Groundwater depletion	Our water conservation activity addresses water groundwater depletion and water supply shortages. Educating people about the need to use less water, keep water from running off properties, and how they can install water capture systems will reduce the use of groundwater within the Verde Valley and increase the water supply that flows to the Phoenix metro area. As an additional benefit, capturing and detaining rain and stormwater flows improves water quality in the Verde River and ultimately helps with the drinking water supply in Phoenix.	This project supports the Town of Camp Verdeâ€™s 2016 General Plan, which prioritized preserving the Verde River and tributaries. One of the goals of the plan is to maintain a high level of water quality. Implementing this project would work toward this goal by reducing stormwater through improved infiltration and collection, improving water quality in washes and the Verde River. The plan also includes a goal to promote conservation within the town and includes a strategy to improve water conservation through education and the use of gray water systems when appropriate. The proposed project would include education and funding assistance to install treated effluent, gray water systems where appropriate. The 2016 General Plan also identified potential additional water supplies including stormwater capture, rainwater harvesting, treated effluent reuse, and conservation, which align with the proposed project and River Friendly Living principles.	The costs of the River Friendly Living program and grants are primarily direct costs â€“ FVR staff time and fringe benefits to manage the project, conduct outreach, and work with community members to install conservation measures. Additional project costs include advertising and marketing costs to reach larger audiences, and material costs for rainwater harvesting systems, irrigation improvements, gray water systems, and similar measures. Additional costs include workshop development, design, and printing of educational materials, and FVR staff travel. Benefits of the project include: â€¢ Increasing community resilience to climate change by reducing dependence on groundwater pumping. â€¢ Increasing the sustainable water supply. â€¢ Promoting voluntary river conservation at homes and businesses in Camp Verde. â€¢ Increasing the amount of river flow to Bartlett Dam for use as drinking water supply in the Phoenix Metropolitan area. â€¢ Raising awareness about the importance of water conservation and the benefits of rainwater harvesting.	Effectiveness will be measured through measurement of water savings of installed conservation measures, follow-up surveys with area residents to measure increased awareness of water conservation and the benefits of rainwater harvesting, and the increase in the sustainable water supply (gallons per year).	Friends of the Verde River is not eligible for funding from WIFAâ€™s Long-Term Water Augmentation Fund or Water Supply Development Fund.	FVR currently assists homeowners, businesses, and organizations through the River Friendly Grants Program on a very small scale, with a pool of $10,000 in annual funding to implement River Friendly projects, such as rainwater harvesting, flow meters, and river education. In 2022, funding supported five homeowners, one business, one municipal building, and two organizations. We have been piloting River Friendly Living since launch in October 2022 and are now ready to expand the program. Without this grant funding, we will be unable to expand the conservation activity to have a large-scale impact on water use and conservation.	Funding for River Friendly Living is current provided by three sources: businesses make donations to FVR to support the small grant program; a foundation has provided start-up funding to develop the program; and we charge fees to those who want to become certified. Grant funding provided by the foundation over the past three years to develop the River Friendly Living Program has allowed us to take it through the pilot phase. At this point, we need to obtain additional funding to for expansion. We intend for this program to be partially self-funded through fees paid by participants, but expansion requires funding. But we have experienced a much larger demand for assistance to install systems that reduce water use than the current funding FVR has available. In addition, the Town of Camp Verde has only recently purchased its community water system. This funding will allow us to expand the partnership with Camp Verde to reach its residents and water users.	There are multiple cost-sharing opportunities. Through the River Friendly Grants Program, awardees cover part of the costs of purchasing and installing the systems. For example, homeownersâ€™ cost-sharing may include in-kind labor to install gutters and rainwater harvesting systems. Through the Camp Verde Utilities Department, we will partner on the development and distribution of educational information on water saving concepts. We are also partnering with the Camp Verde Community Library, which has received partial funding for its rainwater harvesting system.	The Camp Verde Community Library has secured $20,460 in matching funds for this project in the development of the library pollinator/learning garden and rainwater catchment system. The library will also assist with educational events and provide meeting space for FVR presentations on the River Friendly Living program to homeowners, businesses, and other interested community members. The remaining $42,040 match is from funding for FVR staff time from a previous grant funding from The Nature Conservancy for development of the River Friendly Living Program. This includes developing certification standards through a multi-stakeholder process, developing branding and informational materials, and community outreach by FVR staff.	This project will be managed by: Nancy Steele â€“ Executive Director: Nancy is an executive manager with over twenty-five years of environmental management and research experience. Prior to joining Friends of the Verde River, Nancy was the Executive Director of the Council for Watershed Health in Los Angeles. She has served on several environmental, research, and community boards. Nancy earned her doctorate in Environmental Science and Engineering from University of California, Los Angeles, where her dissertation involved research on the environmental impacts of recycling electric vehicle batteries. She received her M.S. in zoology from Arizona State University; and her A.B. in biology from Occidental College. Tracy Stephens â€“ Program Director: Tracy manages the Sustaining Flows and Restoring Habitat Programs and feels fortunate to have the opportunity to work with partners to protect and restore the Verde River watershed through on-the-ground projects. Her previous experience includes working as a fisheries biologist with state agencies in Wyoming and Arizona. Tracy holds an M.S. in Natural Resources and B.S. degrees in Biology and Water Resources from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Isaac Dudley â€“ Sustaining Flows Project Manager: A Verde Valley local, with a degree in Spanish and Journalism from Northern Arizona University, Isaac is an avid lover of the outdoors. After finding rock climbing as a sophomore in high school, Isaac immersed himself in the wild places of Arizona. Passionate about conservation and the sustainable growth of the Verde Valley, Isaac hopes to use his voice as a storyteller to help his community grow like every healthy community should. Isaac is a Watershed Management Group Certified Water Harvesting Practitioner. Vacant â€“ River Friendly Living Coordinator: This position assists the Flows Project Manager and Program Manager in community outreach to grow the River Friendly Living program. Susan Van Norman â€“ Stewardship Director: Susan offers over ten years of comprehensive experience in marketing and communications management. An innovative visionary, Susan is recognized for successfully leading multiple fundraising projects from start to finish while effectively steering and coaching team members. She specializes in portrait painting, and is working on a Masters degree in Illustration and has a BFA in graphic design. Katherine Sirimarco â€“ Fundraising and Communications Coordinator: Katherine is a data marketer with fifteen years of experience working with schools, nonprofits, and start-up companies. Her passion is helping her community through education. She has taught classes for the U.S. Small Business Administration, Yavapai County and was a high school science teacher. Her educational background is in engineering and mathematics. She enjoys combining numbers with creativity to reverse-engineer business goals, making projects come to life. Grace Filson â€“ Fundraising and Outreach Coordinator: Grace is an Arizona local. With a passion for working with others and serving her community. Studying art education at Arizona State University she moved back home to the Verde Valley just to be closer to the river and the surrounding nature. Grace has been working with local small businesses across Arizona for the past 10 years.	Minimal management impacts are expected as part of the proposed conservation activity. Minimal technology is necessary for the implementation of the proposed work. We do not anticipate any additional staffing requirements.	The River Friendly Living program is centered around working with partners and community members to address water conservation. Program development was completed with multiple stakeholders and work today continues to involve community partners. Holding community workshops, working with local businesses, and presenting at community events will allow FVR to continue to grow the River Friendly Living program to include additional partnerships.	The River Friendly Living program was developed over the course of two years through a multi-stakeholder process. Meetings were held with local businesses, homeowners, developers, municipalities, agricultural producers, agencies, non-profit organizations, and others to develop a set of certifications for homes, businesses, agricultural producers, and developments. Through this process, FVR and our partners developed an agreed upon program to inspire voluntary conservation, raise awareness, and increase capacity for water conservation efforts. As of April 2023, we have partnered with 63 entities through the River Friendly Living program including homeowners, businesses, agricultural producers, and housing developers.	Yes, there will be ample public outreach for the public to learn about conservation. Community outreach will include workshops at the Camp Verde Community Library, flyers, emails sent out by the Town of Camp Verde Utility Department, radio spots on local community and NPR stations. And tables at community events. FVR staff will also visit businesses and attend community meetings to share information on the program and available funding to implement water conservation measures.	Yes, there is community support for the conservation activity. Based on our 2022 River Friendly Grant cycle and through discussions with community members and leaders in Camp Verde, water conservation measures are a high priority. The current Camp Verde General Plan also includes support for implementation of these strategies.	We have carefully and deliberatively developed River Friendly Living, beginning in 2020 with work on the program and brand, and spending 2021-2022 holding a series of virtual meetings with stakeholders. Professionals and community leaders dedicated 100â€™s of hours of voluntary time in assisting us in developing the program. Since 2022, we have pilot tested the program and certified 26 homes, 13 businesses, and three farms/ranches. We have worked with four developers, completing Rio Verde Plaza in Camp Verde (rainwater detention basins), TinyCamp Cottonwood (greywater harvesting, rain gardens), and Mingus Union High School (erosion control through stormwater detention and infiltration). The total amount of water saved so far has been over three million gallons per year. FVR has an exemplary history of completing projects. We have designed and implemented stormwater management projects and worked with homeowners and developers to install rainwater harvesting systems, irrigation improvements, and infiltration basins. There is interest in the Camp Verde community to implement these measures on a broader scale. Based on staff experience and community interest, project implementation is very feasible. We are also a trusted partner with many agencies and organizations including the US Forest Service, Arizona DFFM, Arizona Water Protection Fund, Forever Our Rivers, Arizona State Parks and Trails, and National Forest Foundation on invasive plant removal and uplands erosion control projects.	The funding will be used to expand the impact of an existing FVR program called River Friendly Living that works with diverse stakeholders to complete water efficiency projects. The River Friendly Living program funded nine projects in 2022, including six rainwater harvesting projects. This funding was raised through a network of local businesses and granted to homeowners, businesses, organizations, and a local library. The business network has distributed over $100,000 since 2014 toward implementation of conservation projects. Through April of 2023, we have partnered with 63 entities through the River Friendly Living program including homeowners, businesses, agricultural producers, and developments. The proposed project would allow the existing River Friendly Living program and grant funding to expand and focus on the Camp Verde area, providing access to funding for installation of water conservation measures at local homes and businesses.	Yes. Rainwater harvesting and infiltration basins are considered best management practices for reducing water use in landscaping. The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension has developed Best Practices for rainwater harvesting and infiltration basins. Other agencies and organizations, including Water Use it Wisely as part of the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association, have developed additional guidance. The River Friendly Living program will continue to implement water conservation measures, including rainwater harvesting systems, irrigation improvements, graywater systems, and others, on properties in Camp Verde. Rainwater harvesting is a sustainable way to augment or offset water for landscape irrigation and mitigate stormwater impacts. Techniques used to implement these projects will be based on existing best practices.
33	Phoenix City of	High Efficiency Toilet Replacement and Smart Irrigation Controller Rebate	Programs and projects that reduce water use Per A.R.S. 49-1332(B)(2)	Program	There will be multiple deliverables over a longer period of time.	Phoenix	Maricopa	1 3 4 8	2 3 8 11 12 22 24 26 27 28	This conservation activity will occur in the City of Phoenix, which covers the Middle Gila Watershed (Lower Salt sub watershed, Agua Fria sub watershed, and the Middle Gila sub watershed).	Phoenix AMA	N/A	$105,000.00	$120,000.00	$225,000.00	21	0.00009333333333	The estimated water savings is 21 acre-feet per year for both toilets and irrigation controller replacements. That results in a savings of 376 acre-feet over the lifetime of the products. The City of Phoenix used the Alliance for Water Efficiency calculator to determine water savings. The toilet methodology is based on a study by M.Cubed and A&N Technical Services (2018a and 2018b) reporting an average savings of 27.8 gallons per day per toilet of low-efficiency toilets rated at least 3.5 gallons per flush. The smart irrigation controller methodology is based on a study by Mayer, et al. (2015), in their review of irrigation controller evaluation studies, finding a savings of 26.1 gpd for smart irrigation controllers.	2 years	The City of Phoenix proposes instituting a high-efficiency toilet (HET) incentive program serving residential households to replace their low-efficiency toilets (gallons per flush 3.5 or greater) with new HETs. The initial rebate amount given to all residents will be $75.00. The city will also develop additional opportunities to assist low-income communities with obtaining HETs. This program will have long-term savings in water demand, leading to measurable water conservation with the potential to save an estimated 7 million gallons of water over the two-year period. The city also proposes a Smart Irrigation Controller program serving residential households to replace their non-smart irrigation controllers. The initial rebate amount given to all residents will be $75.00. This program will have long-term savings in water demand, with the potential to save an estimated 6.6 million gallons of water over the course of the program. Both programs will be run concurrently until funds are depleted or the grant period expires, whichever comes first.	The source of the water that will be conserved could come from any part of the City of Phoenix's water supply portfolio. This includes the Colorado River (Central Arizona Project), the Salt and Verde Rivers (SRP), and groundwater from the Phoenix Active Management Area.	The City of Phoenix has a population of 1.6 million people; the demographic composition is approximately 41 % White, 7.3% Black or African American, 2.1% Native American, and 42% Hispanic or Latino. The median household income is $64, 927, and the City has a 15% rate of persons in poverty. Phoenix serves an average of two people per household. Phoenix is home to many high-tech, IT, renewable energy, and bioscience industries. The city's economic base also includes financial and advanced business services enterprises as well as a robust health sciences sector. All households and businesses would benefit from increased water savings with long term impacts to the cityâ€™s water supply from reductions in demand. Reductions of discretionary residential outdoor water use and water waste (leaks, irrigation inefficiencies, etc) can lower a residentâ€™s water bill and can also have a positive impact upon the entire region. At a large scale, when water inefficiency is reduced, Phoenixâ€™s water supply portfolio would benefit from reduced demand. Demand reductions increase our ability to adapt to variable supply conditions and regional climatic shifts like aridification.	value1 value2 value3	â€¢ Long-term reductions in water use As toilet use is the largest proportion of indoor water use, (EPA, 2000) the toilet rebate program will have high, permanent long-term reductions in water use. Every single flush of a replaced toilet will save at least 2.22 gallons of water equating to 4,015 gallons per household per year, a substantial savings in long term use. An improvement in only 300 households a year yields a 3 million-gallon reduction over time. Smart irrigation controllers have been proven to reduce outdoor household water use 10% annually over regular controllers. Â As the average Phoenix household uses up to 70% of its water outdoors, and the typical controller has an average lifespan of 10 years, this is a substantial savings in long term reductions. â€¢ Improvements in water use efficiency. The toilet replacement rebate will drastically improve water efficiency as the new model of EPA WaterSense toilets required by the program shift from using flushwater volume to increasing flushwater velocity to remove wastes, thus reducing water use. The EPA standard for high-efficiency toilets the program will requires is 1.28 gallons per flush (gpf). The program will require the old model of toilet to be replaced to be at least a 3.5 gpf toilet, resulting in at least 254,000 gallons per household over the life of the toilet, estimated to be 25 years, and the number could be higher if older model of toilets are replaced. We anticipate reaching 700 households over the two years for a total savings of 44 acre-feet of reductions in improved efficiency. Smart irrigation controllers vastly improve efficiency in landscape watering over regular controllers by using weather or soil moisture data to determine the appropriate amount of irrigation for the landscape, not just a user-determined fixed schedule. The improvements in efficiency for smart irrigation controllers will result in conserving 6.6 million gallons of water over the 2 year period. â€¢ Improvements in water reliability By conserving water, the toilet replacement and smart irrigation controller rebate programs increases the cityâ€™s supply of water, leading to permanent increased reliability in deliveries over time.Â	Water supply shortages Reliance on non-renewable water supplies Groundwater depletion Water quality issues Natural disasters that may impact water supply infrastructure	â€¢ Water supply shortages By conserving water, the toilet replacement and smart irrigation controller rebate programs increases the cityâ€™s supply of water, furthering its ability to handle times of shortages. â€¢ Reliance on non-renewable water supplies By conserving renewable supplies of water, the toilet replacement program and smart irrigation controller rebate programs increases the cityâ€™s supply of such water, thereby reducing the need for non-renewable supplies. â€¢ Groundwater depletion By conserving renewable supplies of water, the toilet replacement program and smart irrigation controller rebate programs increases the cityâ€™s supply of such water, thereby reducing the need for non-renewable supplies, leaving groundwater in the ground. â€¢ Water quality issues As all water used in toilet flushing and irrigation is potable water, meeting current drinking water standards, regardless of what type of toilet is used, it is thought the toilet replacement program will have little effect on water quality issues. The main benefit will be in water quantity. â€¢ Natural disasters that may impact water supply infrastructure The toilet rebate program will lead to newer toilets being installed in households, and in that way, lead to greater resiliency in infrastructure to withstand natural disasters. As smart irrigation controllers do not constitute water supply infrastructure, it is thought the smart irrigation controller program will have little effect on natural disasters. The main benefit will be in water quantity.	The toilet rebate and smart irrigation controller rebate programs aligns with the long-term efficiency improvements set out in the Cityâ€™s water resource plan and is a major recommendation of the Water Conservation Ad Hoc Committeeâ€™s 2019 Final Report. It also aligns with ADWRâ€™s Fifth Management Plan to conserve and manage groundwater resources in the Phoenix AMA.	The clear benefit of the toilet rebate program is in gallons of water saved that otherwise would literally be â€œflushed down the toiletâ€�. We estimate this amount to be 7.1 million gallons or 22 acre-feet over the course of the program. The clear benefit of the smart irrigation controller program is the gallons of water saved, resulting in long term reductions in water use. The smart irrigation controller program also leads to environmental benefits of reducing runoff from yards, lessening the chance of fertilizer and other chemicals running off, creating stormwater pollution. The costs of the programs amount to the staff time to process the applications and issue the rebates and the actual dollar amount of the rebates themselves. The rebate programs will directly support the goals of efficient and responsible water use which are covered in the following plans: The Phoenix Active Management Area, Fifth Management Plan- the 1980 Groundwater Management Act of the State of Arizona; the City of Phoenix Water Resources Plan; the City of Phoenix Drought Management Plan and Water Use Reduction Guidelines; the Phoenix City Councilâ€™s 2019 Final Report from the Water Conservation Ad Hoc Committee.	The installation and number of toilets replaced will be tracked by program staff to determine effectiveness. Each toilet replaced will require photos of the old toilet and the new toilet installed. For each approved new toilet installed, the quantity of gallons saved will be determined to measure overall program effectiveness in conserving water. The installation and number of smart irrigation controllers installed will be tracked by program staff to determine effectiveness. Each installation will require photos of the old controller and the new controller installed. For each new controller installed, the quantity of gallons saved will be determined to measure overall program effectiveness in conserving water.	The toilet rebate program and smart irrigation controller rebate program are not eligible for funding from WIFAâ€™s Long-Term Water Augmentation Fund or Water Supply Development Fund.	Yes, the toilet and smart irrigation controller rebate programs would be implemented without the WIFA grant as it is a key component of the Water Conservation Ad Hocâ€™s Committeeâ€™s recommendation of programs to implement as decided by City Council. However, it would be implemented at a much-reduced amount than as described in this document.	It is the intent of the City of Phoenix to apply for Bureau of Reclamation funds to maximize the dollar amount that can contribute to the program and increase the water savings. No other funding source will be sought by the city.	The city has not identified any cost sharing opportunities as of the time of this application.	The Phoenix Water Services Department will be the source of any matching funds, in the amount of $119,968â€¬, exceeding the 25% match requirement.	The Conservation Team at the City of Phoenix is comprised of 5 Water Resource Specialists, with one whose specific focus will be on managing the rebate program, Amy Garcia. The other 4 will be brought in as needed to assist her: Elijah Tangenberg, Aaron Boydston who will be providing quantification of water savings, and Ginny Svec and Emilie Brown who will be providing outreach and promotion of the program. All Water Resource Specialists have at least a Bachelorâ€™s degree and 3 of the 5 have Masterâ€™s degrees with a fourth working on her Masterâ€™s degree. The city also anticipates hiring two additional staff to assist with processing the rebates.	The city does anticipate hiring two additional staff to assist with processing the rebates. The city has already spent significant time with internal IT systems to get them ready to process the rebates. No other impacts are anticipated.	While not directly promoting partnerships with others, the program often leads to cross promotion of other cities conservation rebates as requests come in from non-residents seeking the rebates. The conservation team directs those people to their own cityâ€™s rebate programs, and vice versa when other cities receive requests for Phoenix residents.	The toilet rebate and smart irrigation controller rebate programs are a direct result of the extensive stakeholder process to form a Water Conservation Ad Hoc Committee in 2019 to propose programs to the City Council for approval. On February 28, 2019, Mayor Thelda Williams established the Water Conservation Ad Hoc Committee to make recommendations concerning potential actions to continue Phoenixâ€™s legacy as a leader in water conservation. The Committee was chaired by Councilwoman Williams and Councilwoman Laura Pastor. Citizens from the community, non-profit, and private and public sector representatives with water expertise were selected to participate in the Committee. The toilet rebate program was one of a number of recommendations that the city is currently working to implement.	The city will be promoting the rebate programs through various media (social, website, press releases) and will be featured over the course of the two years at community events, giving the public ample opportunity to learn about the program.	As indicated by the 2019 Ad Hoc Committeeâ€™s recommendation to city council, the toilet and smart irrigation controller rebate programs have broad support from the community and are anticipated to have broad use amongst residents who have expressed interest.	With ample staff and resources available to the program, the city anticipates relative ease in operating the program. Much will depend on demand, but the city is prepared to meet that demand.	The toilet rebate and smart irrigation controller rebate programs are entirely new programs to the City of Phoenix. The city in the past has offered free toilets with installation to low-income residents, however, the city has never offered rebate incentives to residential households.	Toilet rebates are an established Best Management Practice as outlined by ADWR in the Fourth Management Plan and as required for large users under the Non-Per Capita Conservation Program. While a water conserving device, the smart irrigation controller is not an official Best Management Practice as outlined by ADWR in the Fourth Management Plan and as required for large users under the Non-Per Capita Conservation Program.
34	Maricopa Consolidate Domestic Water Improvement District	Automated Meter Reading Installation Project	Programs and projects that reduce water use Per A.R.S. 49-1332(B)(2)	Project		Maricopa and unincorporated portions of Pinal County, Supervisor District 1 and 3	Pinal	2	16	Lower Santa Cruz	Pinal AMA		$128,466.00	$42,822.00	$171,288.00	16	0.00009340992948	Projected water savings is based on the results of the District's prior WIFA funded 2010 ARM project which indicated an average 15 percent per year reduction from the baseline year following AMR installation.	Installation on AMR water meters is expected to a maximum of 18 months..	The District is proposing to install automated reading meters. The AMR meters will replace out 156 conventional manual reading meters. The AMR meters will allow the District to notify customers of unusually high water use on the customer's property due to possible leaks, overuse or theft. The District will be able to provide customers with daily summaries of water usage to highlight ways in which the customers may be able to modify their behavior to reduce water consumption.	Groundwater	The Water District has two small water systems, consisting of its New Saddleback Vista system and its Valle Escondido system, which serve rural residential communities with an estimated combined population of 530 persons. Both communities have been designated by Pinal County as Colonias with the residents being predominantly Hispanic and Latino. There are no defined economic activities associated with these two systems.	value1 value2	The AMR meters will allow the District monitor water supply verses water demand in real time to help minimize lost and unaccounted for water and well as to notify customers of unusually high water use on the customer's property due to possible leaks, overuse or theft. The District will be able to provide customers with daily summaries of water usage to highlight ways in which the customers may be able to modify their behavior to reduce water consumption.	Groundwater depletion	The project will address long term groundwater depletion by allowing the District to monitor groundwater usage in real time and work with customers on ways to reduce their water usage and encourage water conservation measures.	The proposed project aligns with the Arizona Department of Groundwater Resources' 5th Management Plan Best Management Practices, Appendix 5B, Categories 3.3 and 3.4 for the Pinal AMA .	There are no adverse environmental impacts associated with the proposed project. Costs will be those associated with the installation of the AMR water meters. Benefits will include better water management both by the District as well as by its customers, and real time water usage monitoring, together with reduced groundwater pumping, electrical demand and travel by water system operators.	The District maintains a running monthly summary of groundwater pumped and used by the customers. The effectiveness of the project will be reflected in the annualized summary that is then reported on the annual ADWR Water Report.	The Maricopa Consolidated DWID is currently undergoing the design and installation of an ADEQ mandated nitrate treatment system at its New Saddleback Vista system which is part of the current grant funding request. The proposed improvements will be funded in part by a USDA RD loan which is expected to exhaust the District's loan capacity. Without the proposed Water Conservation Grants funding the District would not have the financial capability to undertake the proposed AMR water meter replacement project.	No, without the proposed Water Conservation Grants funding the District would not have the financial capability to undertake the proposed AMR water meter replacement project.	The Water Conservation Grants Funding appears to be the only funding source available to the District at this time.	No. Given the rural nature of the project and single family residential nature of the service areas there are no other parties or applicants for cost-sharing opportunities.	The District will fund its matching contribution in cash.	William Collings, P.E., R.L.S., the Water District's on staff Engineer, has over 30 years of experience managing all aspects of similar USDA RD and WIFA funded projects.	The District currently has the management capacity to mitigate any staffing impacts. The AMR technology should reduce field operator work loads by negating the need to read meters in the field. Similarly, office staff work load will be reduced due to the automated download of meter data into the District's existing AMI billing system.	The proposed conservation project will promote collaboration between the District staff and its customers to address in real time water lose and excess water consumption activities.	On May 8, 2023, as part of the District's normal meeting process, stakeholders were given the opportunity to provide input and comment on the proposed AMR installation project and it implemtation.	The District proposes to utilize postings on its web page and Facebook page to introduce the proposed project to the community in conjunction with informational handouts, notifications on its billing materials and host community meetings to promote community awareness of the proposed project.	Based on stakeholder response at the District's May 8th Board Meeting there is community support for the proposed AMR project.	The District has the managerial, administrative and technical capability to accomplish the project within the stated timelines.	AMR is an established technology currently being used by the District within its Maricopa AMI system in the City of Maricopa's Heritage District. After the AMR/AMI system was installed in 2010 as a WIFA funded project the District experienced a 15.5 percent reduction in water usage over the subsequent two year period.	The use of AMR technology water meters has been established as a best management practice by ADWR under its 5th Management Plan for the Pinal AMA
35	Marana Town of	Pilot Project to expand Water Conservation Program for Marana Water Department	Programs and projects that reduce water use Per A.R.S. 49-1332(B)(2)	Project		Marana	Pima	6	17	Santa Cruz	Tucson AMA	n/a	$250,000.00	$62,500.00	$312,500.00	30	0.000096	The calculated water savings of 30.4 AFY (rounded to 30 AFY) is an estimate of the average from a range of potential savings from AMI meter installations (3.6AFY), water conservation rebates (14.9AFY), and water audits (6.7 AFY). The water savings calculations are described further below. The activities are further described in application question #8 below (8.2, 8.3, and 8.7). Water savings is estimated as 3.6AFY for AMI meter installations, based on a January 2022 report prepared for the American Water Works Association. Findings showed that "Based on recent meta-analyses and systematic reviews, a credible range of water savings associated with AMI-based programs falls within a range of 2 to 10%." For this proposal, Marana Water uses the average annual use (0.3 AFY) for the 200 upgraded meters, with 1.2AFY to 6AFY or an averaged value of 3.6AFY. Water savings of 14.6AFY from water conservation rebates is calculated as the average of a low and a high water savings estimate, varying the average rebate amount per rebate type, the total number of rebates per rebate type, and a high/low average water savings per rebate. The low water savings estimate assumptions are: for toilets: $150 per rebate, 150 rebates, and 0.221 AFY water savings per rebate; for rainwater systems: $2000 per rebate, 50 rebates, and 0.226AFY water savings per rebate; for irrigation controllers: $400 per rebate, 50 rebates, and 0.0368AFY water savings per rebate. The high water savings estimate assumptions are: for toilets: $100 per rebate, 435 rebates, and 0.273 AFY water savings per rebate; for rainwater systems: $1500 per rebate, 20 rebates, and 0.253AFY water savings per rebate; for irrigation controllers: $300 per rebate, 230 rebates, and 0.0460AFY water savings per rebate Water savings of 12.2 AFY from water audits of Town facilities and commercial and HOA accounts is calculated based on an assumption of 5 to 10 audits completed, with a water savings of 0.87 to 2 AFY per audit, resulting from actions indicated by the audits. Estimates for water savings are based on 2022 report published by the American Water Works Association on AMI-based conservation programs, EPA Water Sense data, and Tucson Water 2021 Water Conservation Report.	This conservation activity pilot project's duration is two years: anticipated as July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2025. The project will help inform projects and programs intended to continue indefinitely. Data and experience from the proposed pilot project will help the applicant determine elements and funding levels most critical to continued success for a water conservation program.	8.1 Expand Citizensâ€™ Water Academy with additional videos and interactive sessions. To date, Marana Water has conducted two Citizensâ€™ Water Academies, which provide in-person meetings sessions for customers to learn more about Marana Water operations, groundwater, surface water, and water reuse in Arizona, and ways for individuals customers to conserve water. A take away from these academies was that the in-person, interactive sessions were critical to information sharing and understanding, but that well produced videos could serve as pre-academy homework and readily available references afterward. In addition, the videos could help inform an even wider audience and increase participation in targeted conservation programs. 8.2 Perform meter replacements to increase benefit of Advanced Metering Infrastructure. All participants in the Citizensâ€™ Water Academy will receive AMI meters and be provided access to the customer water use data portal. In addition, Marana Water will install AMI meters at other locations that will be audited or otherwise engaged for water conservation under this pilot (e.g. Town Parks and other facilities or HOA parks and facilities). 8.3 Implement a pilot rebate program. Through surveys, phone calls, and direct feedback at outreach events, customers have indicated that they would be more likely to do water harvesting and make water-saving appliance replacements where incentives are offered. These programs have also proven very successful at other local, regional and national utilities as reflected in this grant solicitation. Most of the funding for this project is targeted for this activity. In order to estimate cost and water savings, this proposal assumes rebates for high efficiency toilet replacements, rainwater harvesting systems, and irrigation controllers over the two-year project. Additional rebate offerings will be assessed for efficacy and may be implemented during the term of this proposed work. 8.4 Participate as members of water conservation and efficiency groups organizations. The Town has created a new position to ensure effective water conservation. The water conservation analyst will begin June 19, 2023. New and existing staff and project outcomes will benefit greatly from networking with other subject matter experts and taking advantage of associations and organizations focusing on water conservation approaches and professional development (e.g. Alliance for Water Efficiency, One Water Summit, WaterSmart Innovations Conference). 8.5 Conduct outreach and engage public with demonstration sites. The Town currently participates in events hosted by other organizations (e.g. career day and job fairs, home shows, festivals) that create an opportunity for conservation outreach. Grant funding for this pilot project would help secure display materials, brochures, demonstration items and equipment to support this activity. 8.6 Perform monitoring, data analysis and reporting to evaluate conservation activities. Marana Water staff will use the AMI data (where available) and monthly billing data (where AMI data is not available) as well as GIS to evaluate effectiveness of activities. In addition, customer feedback surveys and counts of outreach events and contacts will be used to evaluate activities. 8.7 Conduct water audits at Town facilities, commercial facilities and Homeowner Associations. Marana Water will engage contractors to assist with audits of Town facilities and reach out to commercial and homeowner association customers to offer and perform water audits at their sites. Audit results can be used to inform and potentially direct rebate assistance. 8.8 Contract for assistance from subject matter experts and for time to time activities and specialty work that doesnâ€™t require full time staff (e.g. data automation for GIS analysis, water harvesting workshops, Marana Water Festival w/ MUSD).	Groundwater (3390 AFY), Colorado River water as M&I Priority CAP water (2336 AFY), and recycled effluent (1680 AFY) are all included in Marana Waterâ€™s Designation of Assured Water Supply. The goal of the project would be to conserve end use of all these sources.	The Town of Marana, incorporated in 1977, now has 55,000+ residents in 20,000+ households. As of 2020, the largest Marana racial/ethnic groups are White, not Hispanic or Latino (61.6%) followed by Hispanic or Latino (27.6%) and Asian (3.7%). Current median household income is $90,302. The Town of Marana covers 121.8 square miles, forming a funnel-shaped boundary, with the wider opening formed by the Pima/Pinal County line. It is the 3rd fastest growing community in Arizona and the 2nd largest municipality in Pima County. Its location between Tucson and Phoenix makes it a prime strategic location for a wide variety of economic activities, including aerospace, mining, manufacturing ,logistics, technology, retail, construction, and healthcare.	value1 value2 value3	The water conservation activity achieves long-term reductions in water use by enabling a long-term program that achieves optimal reductions in per capita demands of Marana Water customers. The conservation activity achieves improvements in water use efficiency by incentivizing water savings appliances and incentivizing a combination of xeriscaping and rainwater supply for outdoor water efficiency. The water conservation activity improves water reliability by diversifying the supplies available to the community to sustainably meet all water needs.	Water supply shortages Reliance on non-renewable water supplies Groundwater depletion Natural disasters that may impact water supply infrastructure	The conservation activity addresses water supply shortages by identifying short and longer term measures that can be taken during short and long term drought through water audits and by reducing per capita demands. Water audits will also help identify impacts of natural disasters and mitigation.	Locally, this water conservation activity aligns with the Town of Marana General Plan, Water Resources Element Goal for optimizing the use of water resources to ensure long-term supplies, the specific policies supporting that goal, and the Townâ€™s Strategic Plan objectives for water resources. Regionally, this water conservation activity aligns with activities of other providers in the Tucson Active Management Area. Specifically, a number of the proposed activities are in line with proven programs from information shared by Tucson Water, whose service area covers a significant area of the Town. The AMI metering activities will assist Marana Water in reciprocal information sharing as Marana Water is closer to achieving significant coverage within its service area. Statewide, this conservation activity aligns with Maranaâ€™s participation in the existing municipal non-per capita conservation program and existing TAMA management plan conservation goals, and positions Marana with greater capacity and actionable information to adapt to new conservation goals and technologies, as will be so important to future actions that could be necessary for drought and climate change response.	As outlined in the budget, the proposed conservation activity would cost $250,000 in WIFA grant funds and $62,500 in matching funds from the Town of Marana. The educational and outreach activities will help increase environmental awareness, but no specific environmental impacts are anticipated by this conservation activity.	The effectiveness of the conservation activity will be measured for each element of the project. For the water conservation rebates, Marana Water will track and report: â€¢ The number of high water efficiency appliances replaced. â€¢ The number of rain harvesting systems placed in place. â€¢ The number of irrigation controllers installed. For water meter upgrades, Marana Water will track the number of AMI meters replaced and monitor its AMI data platform for the number of leaks caught and other changes in use. For its water auditing activities, Marana Water will report the number of end results of base-line and follow-up water efficiency audits. In addition, Marana Water will produce an annual water conservation score card and document status and efficacy of all of its activities.	This conservation activity is not eligible under those funds.	Marana recognizes the need for water conservation and is hiring a water conservation analyst to implement a number of the pilot project elements. However - as shown in the grant vs. matching funds of the budget - with a WIFA grant, this Marana water conservation program will be expanded and Maranaâ€™s conservation efforts expedited.	Marana Water is using WIFA loan programs for a number of water infrastructure projects. The proposed conservation activity will maximize the efficacy of these projects for providing sufficient water supply to more customers given the same volume of source water.	Cost-sharing will be provided by Town of Marana.	The Town of Marana, through Marana Water rate payers and/or its general fund will provide the grant match.	The Town of Marana Water Resources Administrator, Asia Philbin, will be the project manager and main point of contact. Asia ha over 20 years' experience on water resources and water conservation program management for mid to large water utilities in Southern Arizona. The Conservation Analyst, who reports to Asia, will be responsible for the day-to-day activities and implementation of the project/program. The project team also includes Marana Water's engineers, water operations, billing staff, and potentially outside consultants.	Marana Water anticipates no additional staffing requirements (Water Conservation Analyst starts June, 2023), but will likely engage additional contracting activity to complete audits, prepare conservation videos, etc.	Yes, the proposed conservation activity includes funding to participate in collaborative partnerships. Marana Water will sponsor conservation activities with funding and in kind support by organizations that have a broader reach. For example, Marana Water participates in the Santa Cruz Watershed Collaborative (SCWC), formed in 2017, which envisions people working together to ensure a healthy urban watershed with flowing rivers and streams. The proposed project will allow Marana water to dedicate more resources to these types of activities.	Feedback from CWA participants, customer surveys and contacts at outreach events will be used to inform the planning process and adapt activities as necessary for efficacy. In addition, the annual water conservation score card will provide a venue for public comment and feedback.	Yes, the proposed conservation activity specifically creates public outreach opportunities and allows customers to participate in a Citizensâ€™ Water Academy and apply for rebates that incentivize water conservation.	Yes, there is community and sector support for this conservation activity. The proposed work will follow proven methods for engagement, rebate incentives and analysis. Community members (Marana Water customers) have responded positively to the efforts that will be expanded (e.g. additional Citizensâ€™ Water Academies) and requested efforts that will be entirely new for Marana Water (e.g. rebates).	This conservation activity is very feasible. It will build on existing work of the Town and Marana Water Department and expand conservation efforts in the manner desired by Town leadership and community members and customers who have participated in conservation efforts thus far. While not performing groundbreaking work, the conservation activity will ensure that Marana conserves more water sooner than it could without grant assistance.	Yes, certain elements of the conservation activity have been implemented and shown to be effective. Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) is a proven technology that will save water by earlier identification of leaks and unwanted use. The Citizensâ€™ Water Academy has proven effective at engaging customers on the topic of groundwater and water conservation, and has led to increased understanding by both customers and the utility on effective outreach. The effective in-person and online elements of the CWA activity will continue. New activities, like site audits and GIS analysis, and rebates are also proven, effective ways to implement and monitor water conservation.	Yes, Marana Water participates in the Modified Non-Per Capita Conservation Program for Best Management Practices and will expand the number and intensity of BMPs it achieves under this proposed conservation activity.
36	Papago Butte Domestic Water Improvement District	AMR/AMI Water Meter Installation Project	Programs and projects that reduce water use Per A.R.S. 49-1332(B)(2)	Project		Unincorporated area south of Maricopa	Pinal	7	16	Santa Rosa / Vekol Wash	Pinal AMA		$62,004.00	$20,668.00	$82,672.00	8	0.00009676795045	Project water savings is based on the results of a comparable ARM/AMI system that was installed by Papago Butte DWID's sister system, the Maricopa Consolidated Domestic Water Improvement District, as a WIFA funded project in 2010. The results of this prior project indicated an average reduction in demand of 15 percent from the 2011 baseline year following the AMR/AMI installation.	The installation of the AMR/AMI water meters is projected to take 18 months. The life expectancy of the system is projected to be 20 years.	The District is proposing to replace 171 existing conventional water meters, many of which may be in excess of 40 years old, with AMR/AMI water meters. The AMR meters will allow the District to notify customers of unusually high water use on the customer's property due to possible leaks, overuse or theft. The District will be able to provide customers with daily summaries of water usage to highlight ways in which the customers may be able to modify their behavior to reduce water consumption.	Groundwater	The project consists of a system serving a rural residential community with an estimated population of 547 persons. The system has been designated as a Colonia by Pinal County with the residents being predominantly Hispanic and Latino. Principal economic activities consist of a Dollar Store, a small retail strip center and convenience mart/gas station.	value1 value2	The AMR meters will allow the District monitor water supply verses water demand in real time to help minimize lost and unaccounted for water and well as to notify customers of unusually highwater use on the customer's property due to possible leaks, overuse or theft. The District will be able to provide customers with daily summaries of water usage to highlight ways in which the customers may be able to modify their behavior to reduce water consumption.	Groundwater depletion	The project will address long term groundwater depletion by allowing the District to monitor groundwater usage in real time, work with customers on ways to reduce their water usage and encourage the use of water conservation measures.	The proposed project aligns with the Arizona Department of Groundwater Resources' 5thManagement Plan Best Management Practices, Appendix 5B, Categories 3.3 and 3.4 for the Pinal AMA .	There are no adverse environmental impacts associated with the proposed project. All work will take place within existing public utility easements that have existing water system facilities. Project costs will be those associated with the installation of the AMRAMI water meters. Benefits will include better water management both by the District as well as by its customers, and real time water usage monitoring, together with reduced groundwater pumping, electrical demand and travel by water system operators.	The District maintains a running monthly summary of groundwater pumped and used by the customers. The effectiveness of the project will be reflected in the annualized summary that is then reported on its annual ADWR Water Report.	The Papago Butte DWID is currently undergoing the design and installation of an ADEQ mandated nitrate treatment system and water main extension. Those proposed improvements are being funded in their entirety by a USDA RD grant verses a loan/grant combination because prior USDA funded improvements to the District's system have exhausted the District's loan capacity. Without the proposed Water Conservation Grants funding the District will not have the financial capability to undertake the proposed AMR/AMI water meter replacement project utilizing loan repayment funding.	The proposed project will not be implemented without the proposed Water Conservation Grants funding the since District does not have the financial capability to undertake the proposed AMR water meter replacement project utilizing public/private loans.	The Water Conservation Grants Fund appears to be the only funding source available to the District at this time.	Given the rural nature of the project and the predominantly single-family customer base of the service area there are no other parties or applicants for cost-sharing opportunities.	The District proposes to utilize in-kind contributions to fund its matching requirements. Its in-kind contributions will consist of providing the labor component of the work by installing the ARM/AMI meters utilizing water system operator personnel provided to the District through an annual administration and operations intergovernmental agreement with its sister system, the Maricopa Consolidated DWID. A copy of the IGA is attached to this submittal.	William Collings, P.E., R.L.S., will provide the project administrative and managerial support for this project through the District's IGA with the MCDWID (copy of the engineering services IGA is attached). Mr. Collings has over 30 years of experience managing all aspects of similar USDA RD and WIFA funded projects. (Resume is attached)	The District, through the aforementioned IGAs, currently has the management capacity to mitigate any staffing impacts. The AMR/AMI technology should reduce field operator workloads by negating the need to read meters in the field. Similarly, office staff workloads will be reduced due to the automated download of meter reading data into the MCDWID's existing AMI billing system.	The proposed conservation project will promote collaboration between the District staff and its customers to address in real time water lose and excess water consumption activities. It will also serve as a demonstration project for an adjacent public water improvement district and two adjacent public irrigation water delivery districts to promote regional conservation collaboration.	On May 9, 2023, as part of the District's normal meeting process, stakeholders were given the opportunity to provide input and comment on the proposed AMR installation project and its implementation. During the meeting the District Governing Board addressed questions and comments from the public in attendance.	The District proposes to utilize postings on its web page and Facebook page to introduce the proposed project to the community in conjunction with informational handouts, notifications on its billing materials and host community meetings to promote community awareness of the proposed project.	Based on stakeholder and public response at the District's May 9th Governing Board meeting there is community support for the proposed AMR project.	The District, through the aforementioned IGAs, has the managerial, administrative and technical capabilities to accomplish and implement the project within the stated timelines.	AMRAMI is an established technology currently being used by the MCDWID which provides administrative and field operations services to the District through the aforementioned IGAs. MCDWID utilizes a Sensus AMR/AMI within its Maricopa system in the City of Maricopa's Heritage District. After the AMR/AMI system was installed in 2010 as a WIFA funded project that District experienced a 15 percent reduction in water usage over the subsequent two year period.	The use of AMRAMI technology water meters has been established as a best management practice by ADWR under its 5th Management Plan for the Pinal AMA
37	Yuma City of	City of Yuma Irrigation Standards Modernization	Programs and projects that reduce water use Per A.R.S. 49-1332(B)(2)	Program	The specific components which make the City of Yuma Irrigation Standards Modernization a program are: 1) City of Yuma Parks and Recreation will be able to implement new irrigation technology and turf reduction City-wide. This program begins at a 190 acre site of the Yuma Civic Center and two golf courses. New materials and methods can then be implemented at an additional 410 acres of parks, facilities and for new development in future decades. 2) The program includes replacing outdated City specifications for new landscape construction and renovations into the foreseeable future. Existing specifications, means and methods date from the 1990's and do not focus on conservation. 3) The program introduces advanced monitoring capabilities for irrigation water conservation with new meters, central irrigation control software and weather stations. At present the City cannot accurately monitor how much irrigation water is used, therefore there is no basis in which to judge water conservation efforts.	Yuma	Arizona	3 4	7 9	Not applicable.	Not applicable	Not applicable	$3,000,000.00	$1,700,000.00	$4,700,000.00	480	0.0001021276596	Over a four year period 2016 through 2019, the most recent years with accurate meter data, the 190 acre parcel in this program's first phase used an average of 872 acre feet annually. After turf reductions and new irrigation estimated water use is 670 acre feet. The estimated water savings is 202 acre feet per year. The 190 acre parcel currently has 165 acres of irrigated turf. Our turf reduction plan eliminates 31 acres. The remaining 134 acres irrigated at a rate of 5 acre feet per year equals 670 acre feet. Phoenix, Tucson and other hot climate Arizona cities have mandated 5 acre feet per acre of landscape with generally successful results. The City's landscape architect has stated Yuma should adopt the same efficiency standards, and the same 23% water savings for the first phase can be applied to the entire City recreation acreage.	The first phase of this program includes renovating 190 acres or approximately â…“ of the Parks and Recreation Department maintained area. Plans and specifications for this phase have been produced by a landscape architect so that the project can be put out to public bid in 2023. Installation of irrigation systems, turf reductions and new irrigation technology is scheduled to take place between March 1st and end of November, 2024. When the program is applied to the remaining 410 acres of Parks and Recreation properties, this program could extend out for the next decade or more.	The City of Yuma Parks and Recreation department maintains approximately 600 acres of public parks and grounds. The WCGF grant would fund a renovation of about â…“ of this area or 190 acres, consisting of new technologically advanced irrigation systems, turfgrass reduction, smart water meters, pump major maintenance, landscape drainage and weather stations. City personnel would be trained in new maintenance techniques with specific duties directly related to water conservation. This grant would also fund a new cloud-based irrigation monitoring and control system to enable the City to track the effectiveness of these improvements.	Colorado River water is diverted at Imperial Dam pursuant to the Cityâ€™s water rights and contracts with local water districts and the United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR). The USBR provides a base amount of 50,000 acre-feet per year. In addition to the base allotment, the City has acquired delivery rights to 25,000 additional acre-feet of water making a total annual water allotment of approximately 75,000 acre-feet. Approximately 63% is delivered to the Main Street Water Treatment Facility by the Yuma County Water Users Association, and 35% is delivered to the Agua Viva Water Treatment Facility by the Gila Gravity Canal System. The remaining 2% is groundwater from three City owned wells.	Nestled in the Yuma and Gila Valleys, the City of Yuma lies in the southwest corner of the United States' Lower Sonoran Desert on the California-Mexico-Arizona border, near the convergence of the Colorado and Gila rivers. An estimate of approximately 210,000 full-time residents live inside and outside the City's boundaries. The coordinates are 32Â°47â€²13â€³N 113Â°58â€²58â€³W. The City of Yuma has an area of 121 square miles and a population of 97,000 (2021). Winter tourism is a major local industry with approximately 80,000 additional residents from January to April each year. Of any populated place in the contiguous United States, Yuma is the driest, sunniest, least humid, lowest frequency of precipitation, and the highest number of days per year with maximum temperature of 90Â°F or higher. Summer temperatures reach well above 100Â°F. Annual precipitation is less than 3 inches. Agriculture is also a principal industry, and the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Yuma is home to 12,000 active duty military, family and civilians. According to the United States Census Bureau, Yuma County has an area of 5,519 square miles (14,290 km2), of which 5,514 square miles (14,280 km2) is land and 5.1 square miles (13 km2) (0.1%) is water.[23] The lowest point in the state of Arizona is on the Colorado River in San Luis in Yuma County, where it flows out of Arizona and into Sonora in Mexico. Yuma County is in the west, and northwestern regions of the northâ€“south Sonoran Desert that extends through Sonora state of Mexico to the border of northern Sinaloa state. West of the County across the Colorado River in southeast California is the Colorado Desert, (a northwestern subregion of the Sonoran Desert). North of the county, with La Paz County the regions merge into the southeastern Mojave Desert. Southwest of Yuma County, is the entirety of Northwest Mexico, at the north shoreline of the Gulf of California, and the outlet of the Colorado River into the Colorado River Delta region, now altered with lack of freshwater inputs. Notable mountains in Yuma County include the Gila Mountains and the Tule Mountains. Yuma County is the highest crop producer in the state by dollar value per year. Yuma County tops the list for the categories of vegetables + melons + potatoes + sweet potatoes at $782,293,000, and fruits + tree nuts + berries at $62,499,000. Overall, this is the second (to Maricopa) producing county for all agricultural products at $1,143,068,000 per year and for organic production. â€Š Almost all of the dates (Phoenix dactylifera) in the state are grown here,â€Š about 10 million pounds (4,500 metric tons; 5,000 short tons) worth $35 million per year. This is the second highest citrus producer behind Maricopa, a distant second in grapefruit,â€Š limes, and orangesâ€Š but producing far more lemons.â€Š Some olives,â€Š clingstone peaches,â€Š and plumsâ€Š are grown here. Yuma County produces almost all of the vegetable seed grown in the state. During the winter agricultural season from November to March, some 40,000 migrant workers cross the border daily to work in United States fields. The area is watered by the Colorado River, and the sector supplies a large part of the US leafy vegetables. The Yuma Lettuce Days festival and agritourism is connected to Yuma agriculture. In 2017 the county produced vegetables worth $782,293,000, ranking first in the state and third in the entire country, from 107,908 acres (43,669 ha). Fruits brought $62,499,000, also first in the state, 56th out of >3000 counties in the country.[8] Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) is a valuable native crop here.â€Š From here it has also been introduced into cultivation in other countries.â€Š	value1 value2	Long term reduction in water use is achieved through turf reduction and much more efficient irrigation materials, means and methods. We have estimated a savings of 23% irrigation water is very achievable. Removal of turfgrass and converting to natural desert landscape, or enhanced with drip irrigation, is a permanent change which leads to direct water savings every year. Although used for decades, the current City specifications call out PVC pipe irrigation systems which are highly inefficient and unreliable over time. PVC specifications actually allow 5% water loss due to leaks through pipe joints. Additionally, the lifespan of PVC irrigation pipe in Arizona is only 25 to 30 years. By comparison, the proposed new irrigation program specifications call out high density polyethylene pipe and fittings. The pipe and fittings are fused with heat and pressure to produce a completely leak free monolithic pipe network. The HDPE pipe we propose to use has a proven service life of 100 years as stated by the Plastic Pipe Institute.	Water supply shortages	This program features an advanced irrigation control system, cloud-based, to more accurately control vast areas of irrigated acreage. Whenever water restrictions or shortages occur the City will be able to react quickly to decrease the amount of irrigation, or pick and choose which area types can withstand no irrigation at all. With site specific weather stations the control system will have ability to adjust irrigation run times based on daily evapotranspiration rates.	The City of Yuma has an established Water Conservation Plan that is updated every five years at a minimum. The current conservation plan was published in 2020. The City also has a Drought Preparedness and Response plan mandated by the State of Arizona which is updated every five years, the most recent version 2022. These existing programs focus on residential customers, whereas the new program supported by this WIFA grant primarily affects parks and recreational facilities. The current Water Conservation Plan makes suggestions on how to conserve landscape water, but the program supported by the WIFA grant will change specifications to directly implement changes on all future City landscape projects.	The irrigation systems proposed under this program have an overall service life of 50 years, with the HDPE pipe infrastructure 100 years. Our proposed system also uses 70% less copper wire due to new technology. By comparison, the City's current specifications use PVC pipe, ductile iron fittings and other materials with a service life of 30 years. The primary materials used in irrigation systems are petroleum based plastics and copper wire. Therefore, with a lifespan 66% longer there will be less non-recyclable materials needed for future replacements. Another important part of this program is returning irrigated turf areas, consisting of non-native grasses, back to pure natural desert or slightly enhanced desert landscape with drip irrigation.	The City's GIS department can measure existing irrigated acreage before and after the proposed turfgrass removals. Applying an efficient irrigation water use standard of 5 acre feet per irrigated turf acre will provide a baseline quantity of water required for irrigation. Daily, weekly and annual data logging from new water meters, pump panels, new central irrigation control system will provide statistics on how much water is actually being used. If the City reduces overall turf acreage, then adheres to 5 acre feet per acre or less standard, then its conservation goals will be realized. The WCGF grant will enable the City to acquire modern hardware and software needed to perform these analyses. At the present time, existing meters and irrigation controls are not capable of gathering data on water use so conservation efforts cannot be measured.	While the project is eligible for funding from WIFA's Long-Term Water Augmentation Fund or Water Supply Development Fund it is impractical to fund this project via these funds. It is impractical to leverage additional appropriated funds at this time as funding this project via a loan will adversely affect the City of Yuma bond rating and financial well-being.	The program planning document was prepared with funding from Arizona Office of Tourism. The implementation of the program could not be carried out without WIFA funding.	For the City of Yuma Irrigation Standards Modernization program we will seek a range of funding sources which incorporate public, private, state and federal mechanisms to maximize support. The City has identified potential funding from the Bureau Of Reclamation; WaterSmart Energy Efficiency Grant, WaterSmart Drought Grant as well as the Water Conservation Field Service Program funding opportunity.	There are no cost-sharing opportunities with other applicants or other parties at this time. We will certainly entertain cost-sharing opportunities with others if we are made aware of any other applicants.	Match funds of $1,700,000 are available in the City of Yuma Grant contingency funds.	The hardware, software and projects proposed under this water conservation program can be managed through existing City departments as typical capital improvements. Turf removals, new irrigation systems, weather stations, pump maintenance, meters, are all items that can be processed through the City Purchasing department. Landscape architects, consultants to train City personnel, can also be hired through the typical RFP process. After improvements are finished, Parks and Recreation department personnel will handle maintenance and monitoring. The lead City agencies would be Parks and Recreation, Purchasing, and possibly Public Works.	City of Yuma Parks and Recreation oversees the operation and maintenance of over 600 acres of public facilities, consisting of 40 parks, 9 athletic complexes, 2 golf courses and the grounds of 19 City buildings. Parks and Recreation employees who manage and maintain these properties will need to receive additional training on the new materials, means and methods. The City may need to recruit a new Irrigation and Conservation Specialist which is a common position in other Arizona cities.	Yes, the proposed City of Yuma Irrigation Standards Modernization program will promote collaborative partnerships to address water-related issues. Partnerships have been formed internally as well as within the Yuma community, The internal partnerships include; City of Yuma Parks Department, Civic Center, Public Works, Utilities, Engineering and Purchasing. The external partnerships include; Yuma County, United State Bureau of Reclamation, Yuma County Water User Association, as well as utilization of the program plan by school dsitricts, other parks and other large scale turf irrigation users.	There has been stakeholder involvement in the program plan, program goals and expected program impact on local Yuma irrigation sources. City Departments involved includes Utilities, Finance, Engineering, Public Works and Parks and Recreation. City divisions include Purchasing, Parks and Desert Hills Golf Course. The main workgroup participants met with our Landscape Architect including the Golf Course Superintendent, Golf Course Crew Leader, Golf Course Mechanic, Supervisor of Golf, Golf Shop Supervisor, Parks Manager and Golf Operations Manager. These are the various City Departments that have been consulted during the process and have reviewed various sections of the work and provided comments and assistance.	A full education program will be launched via social media, print and radio. A PSA program notifying of the course closure and the water conserving purpose of the project will also be developed.	The City has embarked upon a water conservation education program developed for its citizenry and surrounding County residents. The program highlights strategies that residents can employ to reduce the overall water consumption in our area. This includes among other things, converting turf to desert landscaping. The Parks Department is currently converting select turf areas to serve as demonstration sites. This project will be an extension of that effort. In addition, the project specifications relating to the irrigation system will be used as a template to conserve water at homes and businesses.	Most of the improvements proposed under this new program are 90% completed in the design process by an Arizona landscape architecture firm. Since the project has already been in the capital improvements process for quite awhile, feasibility and likelihood of going to construction is very high. Without these improvements the City will continue to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on repairing leaky old irrigation systems, watering many unnecessary acres of turf, which is not sustainable.	The City already has established conservation programs that include public education, literature and notices, landscaping ordinances and other measures primarily targeted to 110,000 City utility customers. Our proposed program focuses on approximately 600 acres of landscaped public facilities over 70 sites and not individual residential users. The technology we propose is not brand new, there are many successful examples using the same materials and methods with excellent results. This is especially true in California in response to recent state mandated water restrictions that required substantial turf and irrigation water reduction.	The proposed program incorporates a variety of BMP's currently being used by municipal water managers throughout the Southwest: 1) New irrigation with 50 year lifespan; a 66% increase over current specifications. 2) Uses fusion joined HDPE pipe that is expected to be leak free for 100 years. 3) Reduces water intensive turfgrass; increases low and no water use landscaping. 4) Uses cloud-based irrigation control software that can be expanded City-wide. 5) New meters, pump improvements, weather stations for conservation monitoring. 6) Provides City staff training on new irrigation techniques and materials.
38	Bonneville Environmental Foundation	Cooling Water Conservation Program	Programs and projects that reduce water use Per A.R.S. 49-1332(B)(2)	Program	Business for Water Stewardship (BWS), working in partnership with BlueCommons and the City of Phoenix, is seeking support for a general water conservation program called the Cooling Water Conservation Program (â€œProgramâ€�). The Program aims to support municipal water conservation efforts by increasing the efficiency of large-scale, wet cooling systems connected to municipal water utilities â€“ one of the largest existing sources of non-residential municipal water demand in the State of Arizona. The Program will be supported by a Cooling Water Conservation Fund (â€œFundâ€�), which will operate as a revolving fund and is managed and operated by BlueCommons, a nonprofit, fiscally sponsored project of the New Venture Fund that helps address water scarcity and sustainability challenges through innovative financing solutions. Working in close partnership with BWS and the City of Phoenix, the Fund will provide â€œrepay-for-performanceâ€� financing to projects that increase water use efficiency in these cooling systems. Projects supported will initially be focused on appropriate implementations of water softening and chemical treatment retrofits, media replacement, plumbing system upgrades, metering, and other potential retrofits and upgrades that help to reduce overall water use in existing wet cooling system applications. Background Initial efforts related to the Cooling Water Conservation Program began with a series of meetings in late 2021 between the City of Phoenix, BlueCommons, and BWS. After gaining significant endorsement and support, in May of 2022 the City of Phoenix, BlueCommons, and BWS entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the purposes of developing an on-going municipal water conservation effort that would promote and enable widespread upgrades for industrial wet-cooling systems in the City of Phoenix. (A copy of the MOU is enclosed with this grant application.) This effort led to the formation of a formal working group composed of staff from BlueCommons, the City of Phoenix, BWS, and Fehr Solutions, LLC (who serves as a technical advisor to the program). Over the course of time, this working group has overseen the establishment, development, and initial stages of implementation of the Cooling Water Conservation Program and its supporting Fund. The Cooling Water Conservation Programâ€™s next phase will focus on carrying out a series of cooling water conservation projects in the City of Phoenix, starting from a list of candidates that have already been identified by the City. Building from these successful initial projects and demonstrations, the Program will expand and also explore a larger implementation footprint that would include other cities throughout Arizona (letters of support attached). The Cooling Water Conservation Fund has already been recognized in several articles and press releases which may be accessed in the links below: Mayorâ€™s Press Release: https://www.phoenix.gov/newsroom/mayors-office/2350 https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2022/05/13/cooling-tower-water-conservation.html https://ktar.com/story/5056063/phoenix-opens-funding-for-companies-interested-in-water-conservation-projects/ https://inbusinessphx.com/government-compliance/mayor-gallego-announces-blue-bank-to-foster-innovation-in-water-conservation#.YoVNL-jMLcs https://www.deseret.com/2022/5/17/23099420/water-in-the-west-conservation-management-growth-drought-benji-backer-gop https://www.amwua.org/blog/phoenixs-blue-bank-partnership-fosters-innovation-in-water-conservation Program Partners Business for Water Stewardshipâ„¢ (BWS) is a program of the Bonneville Environmental Foundation, a national non-profit organization that focuses on water, carbon, and energy solutions that help combat climate change and water scarcity. The BWS team unlocks collective corporate action and funding to accelerate real, measurable, and lasting solutions for water, nature, and business. BWS helps businesses work collaboratively with community and policy stakeholders to advance solutions that ensure people, economies, and ecosystems have enough clean water to flourish. BWS has developed substantial relationships with a range of major Arizona business interests, including major industrial and commercial water users who are helping to support water conservation efforts in Arizona and other parts of the Colorado River Basin. Over time, these businesses have contributed millions of dollars in support of water conservation projects in partnership with cities, tribes, agricultural users, and other water users. BWS is a global leader in corporate water stewardship and is committed to securing and investing private sector funding to leverage state and federal resources and directly benefit water solutions in Arizona. For more information see: https://businessforwater.org/ The City of Phoenix is the fifth-largest city and third-largest municipal water supplier in the United States, supporting nearly 1.7 million people spread across a 540 square-mile service area and occupying a central position â€“ both geographically and economically â€“ in the rapidly-growing greater Phoenix metropolitan area (with a population of ~5 million spread over 23 cities and 3600 square miles). The Cityâ€™s role in the program is to help develop, support, and implement an innovative approach to water conservation and climate resilience, as well as promote Project-related activities as part of its municipal water conservation program. By dedicating substantial amounts of time, staff support, and coordination with municipal conservation programs that have been necessary to prove the water conservation technologies and approaches in practice, and to create the first full demonstration projects for the Program, the City is helping pave the way for broader implementation of the Program across the State of Arizona. As part of the Program, the City will support customer identification and outreach, assist BWS and BlueCommons with the continued development of the Program and outreach to other cities, as well as quantify and verify the water savings achieved by the Program within the City of Phoenix delivery system. BlueCommons is a fiscally-sponsored project of the New Venture Fund, a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization that helps to support innovative efforts in environmental, water, and natural resource management. As a first-of-its-kind, non-profit â€œblue bank,â€� BlueCommons uses revolving funds to recycle capital and apply techniques utilized by â€œgreen banksâ€� in other sectors to help bridge critical funding gaps in water sustainability efforts. This unique financing strategy is being used to support projects that promote innovative approaches to drive water conservation, improvements in watershed health, and infrastructure investment. BlueCommons provides three core elements of project financing that make it possible to implement and scale new kinds of water solutions. Each of its current strategies deploys a different combination of financing elements to help support and scale projects that address water scarcity and sustainability challenges: (1) Facilitate up-front project development assistance. BlueCommons works with on-the-ground partners to provide up-front capital and/or direct technical support that is often hard to access or fund, avoiding significant uncertainty and delays in both planning and construction. The goal is to advance promising strategies that are in early stages of development and require up-front technical support that is often difficult to secure and fund. Technical support that BlueCommons provides can include feasibility analyses, stakeholder outreach, model and deal structuring, project-related diligence, and design services that help reduce risk, guarantee project success, or are necessary to access available sources of public funding. (2) Operate revolving funds that deploy innovative financing mechanisms and help access public funding for project infrastructure and implementation costs. BlueCommons uses and operates revolving fund structures that blend various sources of capital to help create low-cost project financing options in the form of short-term bridge capital, longer-term project funding, and â€œrepay for performanceâ€� contracts. This allows BlueCommons to recycle funds for future use and continue to implement additional projects that scale conservation impact over the long-term (as is proposed in this proposal). BlueCommonsâ€™ goal is to leverage and scale public funding, philanthropic capital, and corporate investment to help bridge the gaps in accessible capital. Revolving funds make more efficient use of limited public, philanthropic, and corporate funding through the ongoing recycling of funds. (3) Support monitoring and accounting practices that derive value from project water savings and other benefits. Working in collaboration with partner organizations like BWS, BlueCommons applies appropriate monitoring and accounting for water conservation, environmental, social, and other benefits created by projects. In addition to ensuring an appropriate way of measuring impact, this may help BlueCommons develop new mechanisms and funding streams that can be captured and invested as additional capital in our revolving funds â€“ such as the substantial pipeline of potential corporate and business support being mobilized by BWS in support of the Program and Fund. For more information see: www.thebluebank.org Program Components Rather than proposing to undertake a one-time project with limited and finite benefit, the Program and its supporting Fund are an on-going municipal water conservation program that will support multiple projects and scale conservation benefit significantly over time. As described further in this application, the Program and its supporting Fund also plan to support other cities in Arizona that are interested in working with BWS and BlueCommons to expand this new water conservation model in their own jurisdictions. The primary components of the program include: - Outreach, Education, and Project Identification: As part of its broader water conservation and urban sustainability programs, the City of Phoenix (and in the future, other municipal participants) carries out outreach and educational activities and promotes the existence of the program among its larger public, industrial, and commercial water customers for the purposes of identifying potentially eligible cooling systems. By working with its customers, the City is able to use the Program to support and scale the Cityâ€™s existing municipal water conservation efforts, targeting conservation upgrades that have been very difficult to achieve through regular, traditional outreach and financing efforts in the past. - Cooling Water Revolving Fund: The Cooling Water Conservation Fund, which operates as a revolving fund, was established in 2022 by BlueCommons for the purposes of providing low-to-no cost financing for initial system upgrades and project costs on a re-pay for performance basis. BlueCommons is responsible for the on-going development, management and operation of the Fund, which as described further in this application includes ensuring the appropriate application of operating manuals, eligibility criteria, and procedures, the development of financing agreements and other core documentation, and appropriate accounting, and monitoring activities related to the operation of the Fund. As described further in the program activities, BlueCommons and BWS will also be conducting ongoing fundraising to help support and expand the capitalization of the revolving Fund as well as support operating costs necessary to undertake technical assistance activities. Support for the Fund is expected to be sourced from a combination of philanthropic, public, and corporate capital, including this grant. - Technical Assistance: BlueCommons has engaged Fehr Solutions, LLC, a water treatment services and consulting firm offering consulting services related to chemical treatment of cooling towers and systems. Fehr Solutions has worked extensively with customers to design and implement the cooling water conservation technologies that are at the core of the Program, including working with the City of Phoenix to implement major retrofits to City-owned facilities. Fehr Solutions serves as the technical advisor to the program helping with a variety of technical services including assessing project eligibility criteria, supporting outreach activities, review of the site analysis and the identification of potential solutions, among others (a letter of commitment from Fehr Solutions is enclosed with this grant application). Repay-for-Performance Financing: Using the available resources in the Fund, BlueCommons is able to offer and enter into innovative financing agreements with eligible City customers. Under these agreements BlueCommons provides funds that cover either all or a significant portion of the costs of system upgrades on a â€œrepay-for-performance basis,â€� with repayment obligations to the Fund linked to the actual water and cost savings achieved by the customers through such upgrades. Monitoring, Verification, and Re-payment: As each project is completed, the City of Phoenix (and in the future, other municipal participants) monitors and verifies the water savings achieved under a previously developed and adopted Measurement and Verification Protocol. Customers will repay BlueCommons over time on the basis of these verified savings, based on the actual avoided costs of water conserved by those customers at the prevailing commercial rate. These funds are recycled back into the Fund and redeployed into subsequent projects, recovering and maintaining enough capital to the Fund over time for other projects to continue indefinitely into the future and achieving significant and growing additional water conservation over time. - Corporate Engagement in Local Conservation Efforts: As part of the Program, BWS is actively exploring and developing mechanisms for businesses and/or corporate sustainability programs interested in enhancing their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices or sustainability goals to provide an additional source of revenue to support the Program by buying into the reputational value of the water conservation outcomes being achieved by each water conservation project. These funds both help to defray operational costs associated with the Program and are intended to allow the Fund to grow significantly over time. Please note that while these anticipated future funds are not proposed to be utilized as match for this grant application, new and recycled corporate funds represent a major source of ongoing future cost-share for the Program that should vastly expand impact over time and the results that will be achieved with the initial funding sought in connection with this grant. - Geographic Expansion and Replication: Given widespread interest in the Program and its potential to drive water conservation in other cities, the Program will actively seek to expand support other cities in Arizona (and in the future, could potentially be expanded to other geographies by serving as a regional and national model for how to undertake this type of municipal water conservation program). A detailed description of the planned outreach and expansion effort to other Arizona municipalities is provided in the program activities section.	Phoenix	Maricopa	1 3 4 8	2 3 4 5 8 11 12 22 24 26 27 28	Middle Gila watershed.	Phoenix AMA		$2,990,709.35	$852,774.35	$3,843,483.71	400	0.0001040722506	Over the next 3 years we expect grant funds (and private match funds) to be sufficient to fund 4-6 projects of different sizes and complexities, generating up to ~400AF/year in water savings in the very near term. However, as project costs are repaid by customers, the monies initially deployed from initial, early term grant funds will continue to cycle and re-cycle into new projects. This will significantly increase the number of projects funded and the amount of water conservation achieved by the Program and its supporting Fund. For example, if/when initial funds are redeployed to similar new projects, cumulative water savings from new funded projects would be expected to double and so on. Under a simplified model using only the funds provided by this grant and including projects of different sizes, repayment profiles, and water savings potential, we estimate that over a period of 10 years the program could be able to support close to 50 projects and could generate over ~12,000 AF of water savings. In addition, as more projects become ready to enroll in the program, we expect the fund to be augmented by additional corporate and/or municipal support, which would further increase the funds available and the number of total projects funded over time.	Given the ongoing nature of Program and its supporting Fund, it is expected that its activities will continue indefinitely and at least for the foreseeable future. However, we expect all funds requested under this grant application to be expended and deployed to projects by or before December 2026. The ongoing Program is designed to finance new projects and scale conservation benefits for the long-term. Under the terms of the existing MOU governing the deployment of the Program in Phoenix, the partnership with the City of Phoenix and BWS will remain in effect during at least the period of implementation and repayment of the initial projects undertaken under this grant, which is expected to be no less than 3 years. Following the completion and repayment of the first projects undertaken pursuant to the MOU, and periodically thereafter, the Program Coordinating Committee will meet and confer to discuss any needed changes to staffing and/or other commitments under this MOU, and will make recommendations to the Parties in connection with the same, including the renewal of the Term of the MOU to cover subsequent phases of projects. Similar MOU arrangements would be implemented with other participating municipal partners as the Program expands to other Arizona cities.	The Program expects to use the grant funds requested to support all necessary Program activities (including required staff not otherwise being contributed by the Program partners as shown in the Program budget) and the financing of approximately 4-6 initial projects. We expect the first 1-2 projects to be completed within the first year of receiving the funds and as such, we expect that the Program would begin generating water conservation benefits within the first year of receiving funds from this grant. Although each individual project supported by the Program will have a unique timeline for identification and completion, the following are the general on-going activities that we expect to carry out with the requested grant funding. (1) Outreach, education, and project identification: The City of Phoenix will continue to lead outreach activities, education and project identification throughout the course of the Program for projects within its jurisdiction. These activities include initial outreach, on-site assessments of the cooling system, and written reports which may include recommendations for potential retrofits in line with the objectives of the project and program. They may also include the organization, attendance, and participation in educational meetings and conferences. These activities will be conducted on an on-going basis, alongside meetings with project operators and owners as needed. The activities that will be undertaken by Department of Water Services conservation staff dedicated to the Program will not be supported by the requested grant funds and will instead be provided as in-kind match by the City of Phoenix. Dedicated personnel/consultant time to support these activities from Business for Water Stewardship, BlueCommons, CK Blueshift, LLC, Culp & Kelly, LLP, and Fehr Solutions, LLC will be partially supported by funding from this grant, with a portion of this time contributed as in-kind match as shown in the Program budget. (2) Management and operation of the Fund. BlueCommons will continue to manage and operate the revolving Fund throughout the course of the Program. As the Program enters the project implementation stage, BlueCommons will also review and continue to further develop, improve, and refine its initial operational guidelines, templates, and documents necessary to standardize the Program and Fund operations for purposes of streamlining future projects and the planned expansion and replication to other Arizona cities. These activities will be conducted on an ongoing basis. Dedicated personnel/consultant time for these activities from BlueCommons, CK Blueshift, LLC, and NVF will be partially supported by funding from this grant, with a portion of this time contributed as in-kind match as shown in the Program budget. (3) Funding and capitalization. The capitalization funds requested under this grant and specified in the budget template will be used to capitalize the Fund and should be expected to be deployed to support the various conservation projects enrolled in the Program. Once a project or series of projects are enrolled in the Program and the corresponding financing agreements are negotiated, BEF will request reimbursement under this grant in the amounts necessary to cover each financing agreement and will deposit these funds into the BlueCommons Fund to ensure that funding commitments made under executed financing agreements can be met on a timely basis. Alternatively, BEF will work with WIFA to define the appropriate process and timing of these reimbursements, including exploring options for the advancement of other funding in the interim. Dedicated personnel/consultant time for these activities from Business for Water Stewardship, BlueCommons, CK Blueshift, LLC, and Culp & Kelly, LLP will be partially supported by funding from this grant, with a portion of this time contributed as in-kind match as shown in the Program budget. (4) Technical Assistance: If the owner of a cooling water system chooses to proceed (following the outreach and education phase), the City, BlueCommons, and the project owner will work together with Fehr Solutions, the technical assistance partner to the Program, to assess options and provide guidance regarding design, planning, and available vendors for implementation. These activities will be conducted on an on-going basis and may take 2-5 weeks per project. These activities will be provided primarily by Fehr Solutions, LLC and will be partially supported by funding from this grant, with a portion of this time contributed as in-kind match as shown in the Program budget. Support from the City of Phoenix, CK Blueshift, LLC and Culp & Kelly, LLP will be provided as needed. This support will be partially supported by funding from this grant, with a portion of this time contributed as in-kind match as shown in the Program budget. (5) Design, negotiation, and execution of financing agreements. Once technical specifications are defined and project eligibility is verified, a financing agreement will be designed, negotiated, and executed between BlueCommons and the project owner. Under each financing agreement, BlueCommons will provide and disburse funds sufficient to cover a portion or all of project costs as appropriate to the individual project. We estimate that individual project costs will range between $200K to $650K depending on the size and complexity of the individual project (larger projects tend to cost more, but can also offer significantly increased potential water conservation outcomes). Therefore, we expect this grant to be able to support 4-6 projects. Dedicated personnel/consultant time for these activities from Business for Water Stewardship, BlueCommons, CK Blueshift, LLC, Culp & Kelly, LLP, and NVF will be partially supported by funding from this grant, with other time contributed as in-kind match as shown in the Program budget. These activities will be conducted for each individual project and may take 2-4 weeks. (6) Ongoing monitoring and verification. Monitoring and verification of water savings for the Program will be primarily carried out by the City of Phoenix in close collaboration with BlueCommons, with some minor support from other partners. Monitoring and verification activities will follow an agreed-upon monitoring and verification protocol that will be adapted to each individual project, and which will continue to be refined and improved throughout the course of the Program for the benefit of future Program participants based upon actual operating experience with individual customer facilities. In addition to ensuring an appropriate way of measuring impact, these activities will help BlueCommons develop new mechanisms and funding streams that can be captured and invested as additional capital for the revolving fund. These activities will be conducted on an on-going basis. Dedicated staff time from the City of Phoenix will be provided as in-kind match. Dedicated personnel/consultant time for these activities from Business for Water Stewardship, BlueCommons, CK Blueshift, LLC, Culp & Kelly, LLP, and Fehr Solutions will be partially supported by funding from this grant, with other time contributed as in-kind match as shown in the Program budget. (7) Invoicing and repayment. In addition to on-going measurement and verification of benefits, BlueCommons will track project progress and carry out the necessary surveillance and invoicing associated with each financing agreement and supported project. These activities will be conducted on an on-going basis and will be supported primarily by BlueCommons, with oversight and guidance from CK Blueshift, LLC. Dedicated personnel/consultant time for these activities from BlueCommons and CK Blueshift, LLC will be partially supported by funding from this grant, with other time provided as in-kind match as shown in the Project budget. (8) Outreach and Feasibility Assessments for Other Cities. Given widespread interest in the Program and its potential to drive water conservation in other cities, the Program will be actively seeking to expand to other cities in Arizona. Other cities have already expressed significant interest in participating in the Program, and initial outreach activities conducted by both the City of Phoenix and by BlueCommons have identified strong interest among both larger and smaller municipalities in Arizona in the Program and its supporting Fund as a means of tackling the complex issues associated with the implementation of cooling water conservation projects. As discussed elsewhere in this application, the Program is expected to rapidly develop and refine potential approaches, outreach materials, documentation, finance agreements, monitoring and verification protocols, and other critical elements associated with the implementation and scaling of these projects. To assess the feasibility of expansion and/or replication of the Program in other interested jurisdictions, BWS and BlueCommons, with support from the City of Phoenix, would share lessons learned and information related to the requirements needed to support the Program within other jurisdictions with appropriate water utility and/or water conservation program staff. This would include a workshop session with interested utilities/city staff, sharing of implementation plans, outreach materials, protocols, tools, water conservation tracking ledgers, legal documents such as the implementing MOU, and other essential information. Based on assessed feasibility and interest, BWS and BlueCommons would work with interested jurisdictions to design an implementation strategy for the Program suitable to each new participant, enter into a similar MOU as utilized with the City of Phoenix, and commence outreach to potential target customers in cooperation with the participating municipality. Dedicated staff time from the City of Phoenix will be provided as in-kind match. Dedicated personnel/consultant time for these activities from Business for Water Stewardship, BlueCommons, CK Blueshift, LLC, and Culp & Kelly, LLP will be partially supported by funding from this grant, with other time provided as in-kind match as shown in the Project budget.	The sources used to provide water to City of Phoenix include Salt River Project water, CAP-delivered Colorado River water, and groundwater--percentages vary based on customer location. Since the exact location for all retrofit projects to be funded with these grant monies has not been determined at the time of this grant application, we cannot say with certainty what portion of each source will be conserved, including Colorado River water. However, Colorado River water makes up approximately 40% of the City of Phoenixâ€™s water supply portfolio. It is therefore likely that conservation activities undertaken through this Program will both directly and indirectly impact the City of Phoenixâ€™s demand for Colorado River water, and will help improve the resilience of the City of Phoenix to potential Colorado River/CAP shortage conditions. Other potential municipal participants are also expected to be CAP subcontractors, and their participation in the Program would also be expected to directly and/or indirectly impact their demand for Colorado River water and resilience to potential Colorado River/CAP shortage conditions.	The City of Phoenix Water Services Department provides water to over 440,000 connections serving approximately 1.7 million people, approximately 23% of the total population of the state, as of 2019. The Department predominately serves water to the City of Phoenix along with other cities and towns on a limited basis. The two largest racial groups represented are non-Hispanic or Latino whites (41.4% as of 2021) and Hispanics (42.7% as of 2021). Median household income in 2021 dollars between 2017 and 2021 was $64,927, with 15.4% of the population living below the poverty line. How customers use water reflects the diversity of economic activity that occurs in Phoenix, from residential landscaping in the service industry to process water used in heavy manufacturing. The focus of this water conservation activity is on non-residential water use, comprising 22% of the Water Services total water demand. The remaining percentage is used by dedicated landscaping meters at industrial and multifamily sites (11%), multifamily sites (16%) and single family homes (51%).	value1 value2 value3	Long-term reductions in water use: Partners are confident that projects funded through the grant monies will result in measurable long term water use reductions. Installing new equipment at commercial facilities â€“ such as water softeners, controllers, and reverse osmosis systems â€“ all have proven potential to achieve water savings and have lifetimes of 8-10 years when properly installed, managed, and maintained. The measurement and verification protocol used for these systems stipulates that all equipment undergo commissioning to check that design specifications are met and that all staff are trained to maintain the systems appropriately. Improvements in water use efficiency: The equipment that the Program will fund and deploy predominately aims to increase HVAC water use efficiency. With the water treatment options discussed here, cooling systems can use 20%- 30% less water as compared to the untreated alternative while providing the same cooling capability. Further, installing or replacing cooling tower controllers can prevent unnecessary water releases and manage water inputs with greater precision. Improvements in water reliability: The Program aims to reduce domestic water demand for supplies that might otherwise be recharged for banking purposes by City of Phoenix Water Services (as well as other potential municipal participants). Mitigating the water use from cooling systems would reduce hardened water consumption, releasing it to be used for other purposes such as storage. Increasing the amount of water stored for future consumption would increase the reliability of water services for City of Phoenix customers and for other potential municipal participants.	Water supply shortages Reliance on non-renewable water supplies Groundwater depletion Natural disasters that may impact water supply infrastructure	Water supply shortages: In general, water efficiency measures can have positive impacts on water supply availability, reduce withdrawals from available sources, and reduce the need to develop new supplies. As noted above, the Program will be helping to reduce use in large-scale cooling water systems, which are the largest single source of non-residential demand in the City of Phoenix and many other Arizona municipalities. Given that 40% of the water the City of Phoenix uses comes from the Colorado River. Reducing demand for water resources through increasing HVAC system efficiency through the proposed Program would help alleviate some of the effects of current or future Colorado River shortages. In addition, the activities associated with outreach, education, and project identification carried out by the Program help site operators better account for and understand their water use, which is a critical step towards ensuring water is being used more sustainably. Reliance on non-renewable water supplies: Because the Program will be helping to reduce use in cooling water systems, which are the largest single source of non-residential demand in the City of Phoenix and many other municipalities, the Program is also expected to broadly help reduce reliance on non-renewable supplies. While the City of Phoenix utilizes only limited amounts of groundwater, other potential participants use significantly more groundwater as part of their regular water supplies, and during future CAP shortage conditions, the use of non-renewable groundwater supplies could significantly increase. Groundwater depletion: Because the Program will be helping reduce use in cooling water systems, which are the largest single source of non-residential demand in the City of Phoenix and many other municipalities, the Program is also expected to broadly help reduce reliance on groundwater and potentially related groundwater depletion in critical areas. While the City of Phoenix utilizes only limited amounts of groundwater, other potential participants use significantly more groundwater as part of their regular water supplies, and during future CAP shortage conditions, the use of groundwater supplies could significantly increase. Water quality issues: The Program is not expected to help address water quality issues in any significant way. Natural disasters that may impact water supply infrastructure: The program is expected to help build resilience to severe drought conditions and future water shortages. Because cooling applications for many large buildings (such as hospitals, schools, and other large facilities) are essential to operations, this helps reduce a substantial source of â€œhardenedâ€� water demand that is otherwise difficult to curtail or conserve during crisis conditions.	Retrofits funded through the Program strongly align with local water resource management plans. For example, the 2019 City of Phoenix Ad Hoc Committee Plan for water conservation, undertaken to expand the Cityâ€™s water conservation activities, promoted cooling system retrofits as a significant conservation strategy the City should promote to its customers. This recommendation was solidified in the City of Phoenixâ€™s water resource plan, which specifically encouraged the City to identify non-city entities to support these retrofits. This proposal and Program directly respond to this recommendation, and BlueCommons and Business for Water Stewardship signed a memorandum of understanding with the City of Phoenix as it related to the recommendation in the water resources plan. Other cities have similar objectives and targets related to water conservation in cooling water applications in their jurisdictions. The Cooling Tower Program also meets the requirements for a category 6.9, 7.1 and 7.5 non-per capita conservation program best management practices outlined in Appendix 5C of the Phoenix AMA 4th Management Plan.	Improvements to cooling tower systems can result in a significant reduction in water and chemical costs. According to initial analyses regarding the potential benefits of the program we estimate that implementing a pretreatment system to soften the water can result in an immediate 19% reduction in water use for many systems. Although expected water savings and other benefits may vary depending on the size of the project and other variables, a larger 12,000 tonnage project may achieve water savings equivalent to 21,100,000 gallons per year. Over a period of 8 years this would represent savings of over 482 gallons of water saved for each dollar invested. In addition, the following ancillary cost/benefits may be expected. Other Costs â€¢ Burden of new training put on site staff to reduce potential for operational issues â€¢ Increased salinity for the system discharge for some retrofit designs, such as reverse osmosis systems and water softeners Other Benefits â€¢ Reduced chemical usage for some retrofit designs â€¢ Anticipated quick return on investment for the sites undergoing the retrofits â€¢ Increased longevity of cooling system equipment that would otherwise be susceptible to scaling â€¢ Reduced energy demand from the City of Phoenix water treatment systems â€¢ In the long term, the $3 Million invested by WIFA in this Program will be recycled and will thus enable more projects than those supported over the grant period. The money will keep cycling into and out of projects, making the grant a long term investment in private sector water conservation. â€¢ The advancement of a new, scalable, innovative model to achieve municipal water savings. â€¢ By advancing demonstration projects and providing up-front technical assistance to projects so that they can get off the ground, these types of solutions can be better understood and proven, enabling them to be adopted at scale in the City of Phoenix and other similarly situated cities.	Effectiveness of the conservation activity will be measured primarily by the AF water savings generated by retrofit projects using the grant funds (and recycled funding recovered from the repayment of project costs). Water savings will be calculated based on the difference between the individual cooling systemâ€™s (or total project site, depending on the available meters) pre-retrofit water consumption baseline and post retrofit water consumption. Water consumption reports will be submitted to BlueCommons and BWS from the City of Phoenix at least twice a year. We will also be monitoring the continued adoption of the technology being utilized/supported by the Program in connection with our ongoing outreach activities, whether or not participants directly utilize the Program or its supporting Fund. A basic objective of the Program is not only to support individual projects, but also to increase acceptance of and implementation of water conservation technologies in cooling system applications in the broader industry.	Since the conservation activity presented here does not fit the purposes for WIFAâ€™s Long-Term Water Augmentation Fund as described in A.R.S Title 49, Chapter 8, Section 49-1303, or the purposes of the Water Supply Development Fund as described in A.R.S. Title 49, Chapter 8, Section 49-1273, our understanding is that the proposed Program and its conservation activities are ineligible for both funds.	The WIFA grant funding requested will be critical for the scaling and advancement of the Program and its supporting Fund as well as the more widespread adoption of the Program. BWS, Blue Commons, and the City do not possess the financial resources to advance this Program without WIFA support. With this grant funding, BWS and BlueCommons expect to be able to immediately support projects in just the next 2-3 years and, as those funds are deployed, recovered, and recycled through the revolving Fund, to continuously support new projects as opportunities arise going forward. This rapid increase in scale will also permit BWS and BlueCommons to immediately begin exploring the deployment of the Program to other Arizona jurisdictions, which will increase the probability of attracting greater business and corporate funding to help scale the Fund and the Program quickly. Achieving the same level of impact in the near term without this grant funding would otherwise be impossible. Similarly, the grant funding will help support outreach, education, and technical assistance activities which are critical to the promotion and broader adoption of these technologies and upgrades. Many cooling system owners are not experts in water chemistry as it relates to cooling towers, and so far have been and remain unlikely to implement these upgrades on their own. A technical assistance and financing program such as the one proposed by the Program and its supporting Fund provides them with the incentive to take on new upgrades and the technical assistance necessary for assessment, planning, and design of new systems that they would not otherwise have access to. Furthermore, deploying and scaling a Program such as the one proposed is critical at this time given the need for additional water conservation activities in the City of Phoenix, the State of Arizona, and in the larger Colorado River Basin, one of the most water stressed regions and river systems in the world. In 2022, shortage conditions in the Basin reached an unprecedented critical level, threatening a widespread crisis and calling for measures that would have been extremely difficult to achieve within a short time frame. Currently and despite a more positive forecast, we must continue to consider that persistent aridification trends will continue to affect Arizona communities in the future. Solutions that achieve significant reductions in municipal water use â€“ particularly in difficult-to-address commercial and industrial applications - require proactive, early implementation, since these demands are rarely responsive to emergency shortage conditions. Because cooling applications for many large buildings (such as hospitals, schools, and other large and frequently critical facilities) are essential to operations in a climate like Central Arizona, these uses are a significant source of â€œhardenedâ€� water demand that is otherwise difficult or impossible to curtail or conserve during crisis conditions. These constraints leave municipal water providers like the City of Phoenix, where non-residential, industrial, and commercial water use represents approximately one third of total demand, with limited capacity to make necessary cuts or react strategically to shortages. Acting in a proactive manner and deploying these solutions at scale will help us adapt to a changing and uncertain hydrology and build resilience within Arizona communities.	One of the main objectives of the program is to create low-cost financing options for projects by blending philanthropic, public, and corporate funding through the use of the Fund and its innovative â€œrepay-for-performanceâ€� financing mechanism. This grant demonstrates how corporate/private match can be used to help leverage and increase the long-term impact of public funding through a revolving fund mechanism. In addition, because the revolving fund structures that BlueCommons promotes are designed to enable the recovery and recycling of funds â€“ at no net cost to customers â€“ while also building the corpus of the Fund through related corporate contributions, the Program will vastly increase its impact over time in comparison to approaches that support projects via one-time grant funding.	Aside from the substantial proposed match (including in-kind) detailed below, we expect there to be a number of additional cost sharing opportunities for the Program. For example, one of the primary objectives of BWS with this Program is to continue to engage corporates and surrounding cities in this effort. We expect that once projects are undergoing and water savings are verified, the Program will gain additional interest and will begin to attract additional attention from these parties. Interested corporate partners are likely to provide cash support to the Program in exchange for being able to make reputational claims to the resulting verified water savings from a specific project or a series of projects. As part of the Program, BlueCommons will also be maintaining and refining a detailed ledger that will allow the ongoing tracking of water conservation savings associated with projects and the parties that produce those savings and/or that provided supporting funding to prevent double-counting and allow potential use of the Program to support â€œoffsetâ€� programs or other similar activities within individual jurisdictions. Similarly, as we explore potential expansion to other areas, interested cities are also expected to commit staff time to continue to explore the expansion of the Program to their service areas. If available, we also expect cities to provide future funding to the Program.	The Program has significant support from its partners, collaborators, and consultants for this grant application. Together, these parties intend to provide both matching funds and in-kind contributions of time and materials. These contributions are expected to provide over 28% match over the funds requested. Details of the specific amounts committed are included in the letters of commitment enclosed with this grant application by these parties and in the Program budget template. Below is a summary of these commitments including each source and the expected amounts: - BWS will provide a total of $400,000 in up-front matching funds (in cash). These funds are expected to support the financing one project or series of projects supported by the program. BWS will also contribute time and effort to support the program as noted in the Program budget. - The City of Phoenix will provide in-kind time to support education, outreach, project identification activities, on-going monitoring and verification, and outreach and feasibility assessment with other cities. This contribution of time and effort is estimated to have a value of $107,971.27, as noted in the Program budget. - CK Blueshift and Culp & Kelly LLP will provide many of their key supporting services to BlueCommons and the program at a 46% discount rate from their regular rates for similar work. In addition, both firms commit to absorb all indirect costs associated with the services provided under this grant. Rates will also intentionally be kept at 2023 values, despite expected increases and rising inflationary costs. It is estimated that the value of this in-kind contribution will be $296,803. - Fehr Solutions, LLC will provide many of their key supporting services to BlueCommons and the program at a 40% discount from their regular rates for similar work. In addition, Fehr Solutions commits to absorb all indirect costs associated with the services provided to BlueCommons and the program under this grant. Rates for Fehr Solutions will also intentionally be kept at 2023 values, despite expected increases and rising inflationary costs. It is estimated that the value of this in-kind contribution will be $48,000.	The Cooling Water Conservation Fund activities are expected to be carried out primarily by staff from Business for Water Stewardship, BlueCommons and CK Blueshift LLC/Culp & Kelly, LLP, The City of Phoenix, Fehr solutions, LLC, and the New Venture Fund. Each of the parties and organizations involved in the program activities are described below. The profiles of the key people and organizations that will support this Grant Application are also included in an attachment to the Grant Application. Any additional information will be made available upon request from the committee. Business for Water Stewardship: BEFâ€™s Business for Water Stewardship program is the key corporate partner of the Cooling Water Conservation Program. BWS is responsible for working with BlueCommons to raise funds sufficient to support the capitalization of the Cooling Water Conservation Fund; market the â€œwater conservation claimsâ€� that will be or have been achieved by the Project to corporate and business donors/funders and promote the further expansion of support and funding in connection with local and regional corporate sustainability programs; and report back to donors on verified water savings and other metrics in order to meet donor/funder requirements. As the applicant for this grant, BEF will be responsible for managing the grant funds, ensuring appropriate tracking and reporting of activities, conducting necessary audits, and complying with any other grant obligations. BEF has a proven 25-year track record of effectively managing complex programs and public and private funds to achieve large scale program outcomes. Program staff are global leaders in the corporate water stewardship movement, with over 500 projects developed and funded to date. Key people include: Todd Reeve â€“ Chief Executive Officer of the Bonneville Environmental Foundation and member of the Coordinating Committee under the terms of the MOU. Internationally-recognized expert in corporate water stewardship. Sara Hoversten - Director of the Business for Water Stewardship program and member of the Coordinating Committee under the terms of the MOU. Aisha Heredia â€“ Senior Program Manager Business for Water Stewardship. Felicia Phillips â€“ CFO and VP of Operations Bonneville Environmental Foundation. Tyler Smith â€“ Program Coordinator Business for Water Stewardship . Detailed bios and information is available at www.b-e-f.org BlueCommons and CK Blueshift, LLC: The concept underlying BlueCommons was created and developed by CK Blueshift, LLC and its parent firm Culp & Kelly, LLP (â€œC&Kâ€�). Since inception, these two firms have provided key strategic and operational support to BlueCommons. These activities have included: managing the startup activities for the organization; drafting of internal policies and procedures; supporting Board meetings and necessary reporting; developing and maintaining initial project pipelines; revolving fund concept design and development; supporting work with external partners; fundraising for operations and the initial capitalization of revolving funds; managing outreach and communications efforts, among other services. In relation to the Cooling Water Conservation Fund and this Grant Application, BlueCommons and CK Blueshift are responsible for working with City of Phoenix on education and outreach, supporting the management and operation of the revolving fund; supporting technical assistance activities as needed â€“ including consulting with local design consultant and/or local cooling system equipment and maintenance vendors on mechanisms to design and install potential cooling upgrades for City customers and ensuring compliance with initial eligibility criteria; supporting the design, negotiation, and execution of financing agreements; supporting monitoring and verification by ensuring adequate tracking and documentation; supporting invoicing and repayment; and helping lead outreach and feasibility assessments with other cities. In addition to its own responsibilities, CK Blueshift will assume the responsibilities of BlueCommons in their entirety during 2023. In 2024, it is expected that BlueCommons will hire one full time employee who will provide additional support operations on the day-to-day activities of BlueCommons in relation to the Cooling Water Conservation Fund. After this hiring process is completed, CK Blueshift will be able to hand over some of the day-to-day responsibilities to BlueCommons staff but will continue to provide oversight and guidance to the BlueCommonsâ€™ new hire during the remaining time of the grant. Key people include: Peter Culp â€“ Managing Partner, Culp & Kelly, LLP, nationally-recognized expert in Western water law and water policy, and member of the Coordinating Committee under the terms of the MOU. Ana Olaya â€“ Managing Director, CK Blueshift, LLC, attorney with extensive knowledge and experience in both the legal and financial fields, member of the Coordinating Committee under the terms of the MOU, and currently Acting Executive Director of BlueCommons. Margot Molloy â€“ Principal, CK Blueshift, LLC, project management and strategy consultant, and member of the Coordinating Committee under the terms of the MOU. Detailed bios and information is available at www.culpkelly.law and www.ckblueshift.com City of Phoenix: The City of Phoenix is the key municipal partner of the Cooling Water Conservation Program. The City is responsible for promoting the Project among its larger public, industrial, and commercial water customers, and as part of the Cityâ€™s larger water conservation program; monitoring and verifying water conservation savings as necessary to support the customersâ€™ repayment obligations to BlueCommons and/or installation vendors under their financing agreements; providing information to the MOU Parties as necessary to evaluate the success of the program and help accurately report verified water savings and other metrics to meet donor/funder requirements. Key people include: Erin Andres - Water Resources Administrator at the Phoenix Water Services Department and member of the Coordinating Committee under the terms of the MOU. Dr. Max Wilson, PhD. - Deputy Director at the Phoenix Water Services Department and member of the Coordinating Committee under the terms of the MOU. Elijah Tangenberg â€“ Water Resources Specialist at the Phoenix Water Services Department and member of the Coordinating Committee under the terms of the MOU. Fehr Solutions, LLC: is a specialized water treatment service and consulting firm founded in 2003 and headquartered in Chicago. Fehr Solutions offers a wide variety of consulting services for chemical treatment of boilers, cooling towers and systems, food processing, and domestic water. Key people Include: Dr. Michael Fehr, Ph.D. â€“ Founder and CEO of Fehr Solutions: Mike Fehr serves as the technical partner to the Cooling Water Conservation Fund helping with a variety of technical services including assessing project eligibility criteria, supporting outreach activities, review of site analyses and the identification of potential solutions, among others. Detailed bio and information is available at: www.fehrsolutions.com New Venture Fund: Since September 15, 2021 BlueCommons has been under fiscal sponsorship with New Venture Fund (NVF), a 501(c)(3) public charity that supports innovative and effective public interest projects. It is expected that this agreement will remain in place during BlueCommonsâ€™ initial phase of operations. Pursuant to the Project Charter New Venture Fund (NVF) provides back-office support to BlueCommons in the following areas of operation: financial management, compliance management, data management, donor management, contract and vendor management, subgrant management, charitable investment management, and human resource management. Key people Include: Francesca Rourke â€“ Account Manager Claire Leopold â€“ Senior Director Additional information on NVF is available at https://newventurefund.org/ and https://www.arabellaadvisors.com	We do not expect significant management impacts to BWS, BlueCommons or its MOU partners. Additional tasks and responsibilities related to the management and reporting of grant funds will be assumed by current BWS and/or BlueCommons staff and consultants. Costs associated with these services are included in the budget template--or covered by other match funding sources. We recognize that some impacts may occur at the level of the individual projects supported. For example, project site staff may face additional demands associated with the management and reporting of funding, working with contractors to retrofit their systems, and training staff to manage said systems. While these impacts are not expected to be major and may fall within what is generally considered usual business activities, BlueCommons and its partners aim to mitigate these burdens through partnering with the project site to ensure they have the capacity to undertake the project, and requiring them to go through a commissioning process provided by a third party to make sure that the site is equipped to operate the retrofitted equipment. These procedures should mitigate any serious impacts to site management from the conservation activity. Project site owners should also recognize significant long-term cost savings in both water and chemical use that should help to justify undertaking any additional burden as part of their business operations.	The approach proposed for the Program and its supporting Fund reflects a unique collaboration among a major urban water utility, a non-profit organization, and local and national business interests to drive industrial water conservation at scale. This collaborative approach has gained significant recognition and fostered additional support for the concept, and we expect it to be a world class example of how innovative partnerships and solutions can solve pressing water challenges. It has also helped ensure success of the program in the implementation phase given that each partner provides an exceptional degree of experience, expertise, and connections necessary to advance, implement, and promote the program.	Stakeholders at the project sites are considered partners in this Program, are central to the conservation activity, and are an important part of the planning process. Cooling system owners volunteer to be part of the Program after being contacted by City of Phoenix staff and undergoing a review process with BlueCommons and a technical advisor. This process is highly collaborative. Further, site staff take the lead on retrofit design and implementation, with eligible retrofits and verification flexible within the funding agreement negotiated with BlueCommons. After the retrofit, BlueCommons will continue to communicate with the site regarding the water savings and any further assistance that may be required. The program can also serve as a bridge between project sites and the City of Phoenix to encourage public-private collaborations on other water conservation educational activities, such as media events and other water conservation projects.	The conservation activity will include extensive public outreach from the City of Phoenix (and from other potential municipal participants) to water customers as potential projects are processed for their eligibility. Under the MOU, the City of Phoenix screens potential sites by processing them through their Water Efficiency Checkup program, which gives them opportunities to talk to customers about the importance of water conservation within their cooling systems. In addition, as retrofits get funded, the City of Phoenix will likely promote these through their public information office. The goal of these activities would be to demonstrate the actions commercial customers are taking to conserve water, as well as highlighting the important role that water plays in the cooling of many buildings and businesses within the City of Phoenix. Similar outreach activities would be expected to be associated with the participation of other municipalities.	Through its outreach activities, the City of Phoenix has found that several businesses have adopted the retrofits recommended, often at considerable expense to them. Given the cost and complexity of these conservation projects, many have expressed significant interest in available funding through the revolving Fund proposed by BlueCommons, and have reached out to the Program for support with future projects. The retrofits being supported by the Program are increasingly gaining recognition as a best practice for the industry, as most experts working on these systems acknowledge. City of Phoenix customers are putting in the time, effort and resources to determine how their system could be more water efficient, but often need an additional push, with further technical and financing support and guidance to adopt them. The City of Phoenixâ€™s outreach activities tap into this interest and connect them with BlueCommons resources. This has resulted in several projects that are in development right now. There is demand for both the retrofits and also for the financial resources offered by BlueCommons and BWS. The technical assistance and financial resources offered by BlueCommons and BWS has been well received locally as a needed piece of financial infrastructure to help businesses advance water conservation efforts and improve their systems.	In establishing the Program and its supporting Fund, we have carried out a significant amount of analysis and partnered with the correct individuals and experts to ensure the Programâ€™s long-term success and optimal use of resources. As such, we believe that the proposed activities will be accomplished successfully and within the timeline expected for this grant. As new funding becomes available from this grant to support the Program, we will continue to promote the Program among city customers and continue to establish the necessary on the ground partnerships to further ensure the success of the Program.	While some revolving funds may encounter difficulties finding enough projects that are ready to fund, the Cooling Water Conservation Fund has defined a clear pathway working with the City of Phoenix to identify an ongoing pipeline of projects. As a result of the initial education, outreach, and project identification activities we have created an initial project pipeline that would help us support 1-2 projects almost immediately after the grant funds are received, and we are tracking a number of interested projects that are exected to enroll soon after. A list of initially identified candidate projects is enclosed with this grant application. While the conservation technology proposed is not new and many of the upgrades proposed to customers are well studied and understood, there are not many local demonstration projects that are well documented. Publicly available information on the associated water conservation outcomes on these projects is also difficult to find. However, the Sky Harbor International Airport case study demonstrated the vast potential water and financial savings that can be derived from wet cooling system upgrades, and Fehr Solutions has successfully implemented a significant number of similar upgrades at facilities across the United States and has significant operational experience that can be shared with Program participants.	The retrofits supported by the project help large cooling systems in the valley meet best management practices for cooling system efficiency. The key metric for cooling water efficiency is "cycles of concentration", a measure of how many times the water in the system circulates before blowing down. With water provided by the City of Phoenix, cycles of concentration can often be around 2.5. In contrast, water efficiency codes adopted in other states such as Texas, the minimum allowable cycles of concentration is five. The retrofits promoted by the Cooling Water Conservation Fund aim for all project sites to meet or exceed this standard either through advanced water treatment or better cooling system management. As it is proposed, this program helps promote conservation actions that are considered best practice.
39	Glendale City of	Glendale Water Wise Rebate Program for Residential and Non-Residential Customers	Programs and projects that reduce water use Per A.R.S. 49-1332(B)(2)	Program	This is a water conservation program since the water efficiency rebates will be distributed to many Glendale water customers over multiple years. If awarded, this grant will expand the City of Glendaleâ€™s existing landscape rebate program, which incentivizes the conversion of grass to xeriscape, and create new water efficiency rebates for single-family residential and non-residential (e.g., multi-family, homeownersâ€™ associations, schools, businesses, etc.) customers in the Glendale water service area.	Glendale	Maricopa	3 8 9	22 24 25 26 27 29	Middle Gila Watershed	Phoenix Active Managment Area		$450,000.00	$364,018.20	$814,018.20	85	0.0001044202697	The City of Glendale calculated that the rebates listed in Attachment B will yield approximately 85 acre-foot/year savings based on assumptions about participation in the rebate program. The water savings were calculated using data from the EPA WaterSense Program, Alliance for Water Efficiencyâ€™s (AWE) Water Conservation Tracking Tool (Version 4), 2018 Arizona Municipal Water Users Association (AMWUA) blog post about cooling towers, and 2019 WaterSmart Innovations Conference Poster Presentation.	The City of Glendale anticipates the initial start of this proposed activity in July 2023 and a completion date, with funds fully expended, before December 31, 2026. It is the Cityâ€™s intent to continue to sustain this expanded rebate program after the WCGF funds are expended by committing City funds and applying for additional state and federal grants.	The Glendale Water Wise Rebate Program will build off the Cityâ€™s successful landscape rebate program by offering greater incentives for grass to xeriscape conversions. It will also provide Glendale water customers with new cost-share opportunities for water efficient products that yield additional water savings. The purpose of the program is to encourage a long-term reduction in water use through the following rebates: A. The WaterSense Toilet rebate (up to $100 for tank toilets and up to $250 for flushometer toilets) will incentivize the replacement of older, inefficient toilets with water-efficient EPA WaterSense labeled toilets. B. The ENERGY STAR Clothes Washer rebate (up to $200) will incentivize the replacement of older, inefficient clothes washers with water-efficient EPA ENERGY STAR labeled clothes washers. C. The Landscape Rebate ($1.00 per square foot of grass converted; up to $3,000 for single-family residential customers and $10,000 for non-residential customers) will incentivize the conversion of existing grass lawns to xeriscape. Since non-residential customers are more likely to have multiple landscape areas with grass, they are eligible to apply for one landscape rebate per year. Impermeable surfaces are ineligible. The City will continue to offer site-specific landscape water budgets for non-residential customers, which compares their actual landscape water use to the recommended water use (based on the regional landscape water budget calculator developed by the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association (AMWUA) Conservation and Efficiency Advisory Group. D. The Water-Efficiency Landscape Irrigation Technology rebate (up to $750) will incentivize the installation of water-efficient landscape irrigation equipment, including EPA WaterSense labeled controllers, EPA WaterSense sprinkler bodies, high-efficiency nozzles, rain sensors, and flow sensors with leak detection. WaterSense labels two types of irrigation controllers that are more water-efficient than standard models: weather-based irrigation controllers use local weather and site conditions to automatically adjust watering schedules, and soil moisture-based irrigation controllers that monitor soil moisture to automatically adjust watering schedules. E. The Pool and/or Spa Removal rebate ($400 plus $1.00 per square foot of water surface area removed; up to $800) will incentivize the removal of an in-ground swimming pool and/or spa. Pool and/or spa being removed must be filled with water; non-functioning and empty pools and/or spas are ineligible. F. The Water-Efficiency Cooling Tower Technology rebate (up to $1,000) will incentivize the installation of water-efficient technology at existing cooling towers. Technology will help provide facility managers with better water management strategies, and can include the installation of remote read controllers, water monitoring and leak detection hardware, and conductivity controllers that can be used to eliminate single-pass cooling.	The City of Glendale receives an allotment of water from the Salt River Project (SRP) and Central Arizona Project (CAP). These renewable surface water supplies account for approximately 85-95% of the cityâ€™s total water supply. The Glendale Water Services Department cleans and transports an average of 13 billion gallons (41,000 acre-feet) of drinking water, and over 6 billion gallons (18,400 acre-feet) of wastewater per year. This includes water service delivery to over 61,000 connections and over 248,000 people within the community.	According to the U.S. Census, the City of Glendale is the sixth largest city in Arizona with a population of 248,325. Due to continued growth in both population and land area, the city has become a hub for healthcare and entertainment with numerous national and regional firms calling the city home along with Luke Air Force Base (Luke AFB), a major U.S. training base. It is also known for hosting major national sporting events in the Glendale Sports and Entertainment District such as the Super Bowl LVII and various college championships. The city is comprised of a diverse community impacted by the conserved water such as 40.2 percent Hispanic or Latino of any race; 7.9 percent Black or African American; and 5.6 percent Asian (Source: U.S. Census). On average, residents in Glendale use 9,000 gallons of water and generate 6,800 gallons of wastewater per month (Source: City of Glendale 2021 Water Quality Report).	value1 value2 value3	Although the 1992 Energy Policy Act set national water efficiency standards for toilets, faucets, and showerheads, according to data from the â€œ2019 Phoenix Metropolitan Area Multi-City Water Use Study,â€� there are still toilets and fixtures in Glendale single-family homes not meeting these national standards. In the study, Glendale single-family residential customers didnâ€™t meet the efficiency standards for toilets or clothes washers, where the average toilet water use was 2.3 gallons per flush compared to the standard of 1.6 gallons per flush and the average clothes washer water use was 9.6 gallons per cycle per cubic foot compared to the standard of 8.4 gallons per cycle per cubic foot. Additionally, this study identified a high potential for additional outdoor water savings since 55% of Glendale parcels had some turfgrass and 38% of parcels had pools. The main goal of this proposed activity is to yield long-term water savings for Glendale customers, both indoors and outdoors. It is anticipated that most of the water savings will occur by converting water-intensive outdoor spaces, such as grass yards and pools/spas, to water-wise landscapes. Additional water savings will occur indoors through the replacement of inefficient products to EPA WaterSense and ENERGY STAR certified products, which are 20% more water- and energy-efficient than standard products. As customers improve water efficiency, the City increases its ability to provide water reliability especially during times of peak demand and potential shortage.	Water supply shortages Reliance on non-renewable water supplies	The Colorado River, which makes up approximately 45% of Glendaleâ€™s water supply, is under serious strain due to a 23-year drought, climate change, and over allocation. As the City of Glendale plans and prepares for a future with less Colorado River water, a key area of focus will be increasing water efficiency and reducing the Cityâ€™s use of Colorado River water. The proposed activity will decrease water use throughout the Glendale water service area, including the zones that are primarily served Colorado River water by the Central Arizona Project. The program is expected to result in annual water savings of 85 acre-feet, which will partially reduce the Cityâ€™s use of surface water provided by CAP and SRP.	The Glendale City Council approved the Cityâ€™s Water Conservation Program in 1985 in response to Arizonaâ€™s 1980 Groundwater Management Act. Under the â€œPhoenix Active Management Area Fourth Management Plan,â€� Glendale maintains a diversity of water conservation programs, ranging from audits to a landscape rebate program to a xeriscape demonstration garden. In 1986, Glendale City Council approved a landscape rebate program to incentivize the conversion of grass to xeriscape for non-residential customers, including homeownersâ€™ associations, businesses, and schools. In 2005, the Glendale City Council approved a new non-residential landscape rebate program and water budget program. The rebate and water budget programs work in tandem, where non-residential customers can receive a rebate for converting unwanted grass to xeriscape and monitor their outdoor water use through a customized landscape water budget. Glendale has identified key areas that collectively contribute to significant community water use efficiencies: installation and retrofit of more efficient appliances and plumbing fixtures, and adoption of xeriscape landscape practices. In 2016, the City Council adopted the â€œGlendale General Plan â€“ Envision Glendale 2040â€� with the following water conservation policies: â€¢ Provide the public with incentives that encourage the use of lowâ€�waterâ€�use landscaping and other xeriscaping techniques. â€¢ Conserve Glendale's water resources with comprehensive conservation programs for residential, commercial, and industrial water users. â€¢ Encourage the use of native plants and inclusion of trees that can enhance shade and reduction of heat island effect in developed areas. This proposal also aligns with the â€œ2022 City of Glendaleâ€™s Integrated Water Master Planâ€� including: â€¢ Continue the Landscape Rebate Program as there are potentially thousands of homes, and hundreds of multi-family units, commercial, and City facilities that could achieve water savings through voluntary turf removal. â€¢ Seek additional new funding sources, such as U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to support water efficiency incentives.	Over the next three years, the City is committed to contributing $250,000 in City funds to expand the Cityâ€™s existing landscape rebate program and create new water efficiency rebates. The City is requesting $450,000 from the Water Conservation Grant Fund to provide direct assistance to Glendale water customers in reducing their indoor and outdoor water use. The rebates will be a cost-share between the City of Glendale and water customers in the Glendale water service area for the removal of water-intensive landscapes, such as grass and pools, and the installation of indoor and outdoor water-efficient products. The rebates are a financial incentive, where the costs are partially offset by the City of Glendale for its water customers. For example, the cost of an average EPA WaterSense certified toilet is approximately $200. Under the proposed WaterSense toilet rebate, a single-family residential customer would be eligible to receive a $100 rebate from the City after the purchase and installation of the high-efficiency toilet. The proposed water conservation activity will result in several direct benefits to our customers such as lower water and energy bills, and maintenance costs. For example, the removal of an average-sized, in-ground, residential pool could result in over $3,000 of total annual savings (source: www.poolremovalhelp.org). This proposal will also help the environment by reducing irrigation runoff and pollution, decreasing greenhouse gases, and providing local wildlife with much-needed habitat through desert-friendly landscapes. Additionally, by reducing water demand, the Cityâ€™s costs associated with the acquisition of water supplies, use of treatment chemicals, and use of energy will be reduced. The City will also reduce capital investments by not having to build additional treatment plants, storage, and distribution systems.	City staff will conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the proposed activity that includes the following: 1) statistical analysis to measure the change in water use of sites two-years before and two-years after participating in the rebate program, 2) participant survey to assess their satisfaction of the rebate program, and 3) GIS map to show participant locations. A report describing the statistical methods and results will be submitted. These results will be used to make future program modifications. Results from the proposed activity will be shared with WIFA, Arizona Municipal Water Users Association members, and the Arizona Water Associationâ€™s Conservation Committee. As an EPA WaterSense Partner, the City will share the number and type of rebates issued in the WaterSense Annual report.	This water conservation activity is a more suitable fit for the WIFA Water Conservation Grant Fund than the Long-Term Water Augmentation Fund since it is a demand management program versus a water supply program.	Since 2005, the City of Glendale Council has allocated $50,000 in the Water Services Departmentâ€™s budget toward the landscape rebate program each fiscal year. Residential and non-residential customers that successfully complete a landscape conversion and apply for the rebate receive a rebate check from the City. Currently, the City of Glendale doesnâ€™t offer additional water efficiency rebates. On September 27, 2022, Water Services staff proposed an expanded water efficiency rebate program at a City of Glendale Council workshop. Council has tentatively approved an additional investment of $100,000, on top of the existing $50,000 landscape rebate program budget, for the expanded rebate program for the FY24 budget. Continued implementation of the rebate program depends on Council approval of the budget each year.	Through the end of calendar year 2023, the City of Glendale is currently administering a $50,000 WaterSmart Small Scale Water Efficiency Project grant from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation that provides funds to municipal and non-residential customers to upgrade their irrigation systems with innovative irrigation technology. Participants are reimbursed after the components have been installed and inspected. Landscape irrigation upgrades include the following water-efficient components: â€¢ Smart irrigation controllers â€¢ Flow sensors for smart irrigation controllers â€¢ Climate or weather sensors for manual controllers â€¢ Sprinkler spray bodies â€¢ Sprinkler check valves added to the base of sprinklers â€¢ High efficiency nozzles â€¢ Drip irrigation emitters The City will continue to leverage funding sources to provide high-quality water conservation and efficiency programs and services.	Yes. This program is designed as a cost-share between the City of Glendale and residential and non-residential customers in the Glendale water service area for the removal of water-intensive landscapes, such as grass and pools, and the installation of indoor and outdoor water-efficient products. The City's current landscape rebate dollar amount hasn't been updated since 2015 and this proposal will provide more of an incentive for customers to adopt water-efficient practices.	The City will exceed the 25% match, which will come from the following: 1) the Cityâ€™s existing landscape rebate budget that is $50,000 per fiscal year (or $150,000 over the next three years), and 2) an additional $100,000 for an expanded rebate program that has been tentatively approved for FY24, and 3) in-kind contribution from the Water Services Department â€“ Conservation and Sustainable Living Division staff, which is approximated at $114,018.20 over the next three years. The total match from the City of Glendale over the next three years (July 2023 to July 2026) is approximately $364,018.20.	The City of Glendale staff responsible for managing this activity include the following: William Simonson, City of Glendale Water Conservation Assistant: 9 years of experience with the City of Glendale Water Services Department as a Water Conservation Assistant. Lead staff on coordinating the City's existing residential landscape rebate program. Anne Stahley, City of Glendale Water Conservation Specialist: 8 years of experience with the City of Glendale Water Services Department; 2 years as an Energy Education Specialist; 6 years as a Water Conservation Specialist. Lead author and coordinator of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation WaterSmart grant. Joanne Toms, City of Glendale Environmental Program Administrator: 17 years of experience with the City of Glendale Water Services Department; 9 years as a Water Conservation Specialist and 8 years as an Environmental Program Administrator, lead staff on administering the City's existing non-residential landscape rebate program and lead author and coordinator of several state and federal grants. Over the past ten years, the Glendale Water Services Department â€“ Conservation and Sustainable Living Division has been awarded multiple state and federal grants for a variety of water-use efficiency projects, all of which have either been completed successfully or are in the process of being completed: Year - Grant Agency - Project and Description 2014 - National Fish and Wildlife Foundation â€“ Rain Garden at the Glendale Xeriscape Demonstration Garden. The 3,500 square foot Glendale Rain Garden features rainwater harvesting basins, native Sonoran Desert plants, and an interpretive sign on the benefits of rainwater harvesting. 2014 - Water Infrastructure Finance Authority of Arizona â€“ Low Impact Development (LID) Toolkit. Partnered with the City of Mesa to assess storm waterâ€“related engineering standards. A consultant, funded through the grant, provided Mesa and Glendale with a green infrastructure LID toolkit. The cities of Glendale and Mesa won an Arizona Forward Crescordia Award for the LID Toolkit. 2017 - Central Arizona Project - Rain Garden at the Glendale Community Center North. The 5,000 square foot Glendale Rain Garden features rainwater harvesting basins, native Sonoran Desert plants, and an interpretive sign on the benefits of rainwater harvesting. 2017 - Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management - Glendale Food Forest at the Glendale Xeriscape Demonstration Garden. The 3,000 square foot Desert Food Forest features rainwater harvesting basins, Sonoran Desert edible plants, and an interpretive sign on how to create a food forest. The City of Glendale won an Arizona Forward Crescordia Award for the Glendale Food Forest. 2017 - Arizona Department of Water Resources - Multi-City Single Family Residential Water Use Study. Glendale participated in a study with the municipalities of Gilbert and Phoenix to assess water use and landscape types in single-family residential properties. Results from this study were shared at the WaterSmart Innovations conference. 2022 - U.S. Bureau of Reclamation - Landscape Irrigation Technology Incentive Project for Municipal and Non-Residential Customers. The City provided non-residential customers with a cost-share for the purchase and installation of water-efficient landscape irrigation technology.	The City of Glendale plans to use existing staff to cover the additional responsibilities to coordinate the proposed activity. This includes staff from multiple departments: Water Services to manage the rebate program; GIS to create the rebate dashboard and paper application; Public Affairs to promote the rebates; Budget/Finance to assist with the grant contract and financial reports and to issue the rebate checks to participants.	Yes, this proposed conservation activity will complement the Cityâ€™s existing Glendale Water Efficiency Partner (GWEP) Program for non-residential customers. This program entails offering onsite water efficiency assessments. Currently, 34 non-residential customers, including homeownersâ€™ associations, schools, and businesses are identified as Glendale Water Efficiency Partners on the Cityâ€™s webpage â€“ www.glendaleaz.com/waterconservation. Three partners (Fryâ€™s Grocery Store, Honeywell, and Marshall Ranch HOA) submitted letters of support to the City of Glendale for the WCGF grant, which were uploaded as Attachment A. The City of Glendale has been an EPA WaterSense partner since 2009. As a WaterSense Partner, Glendale is required to submit an annual report on the number of water conservation rebates distributed to customers over the past year. Through this partnership, the City of Glendale will also be able to communicate new water efficiency rebates through WaterSenseâ€™s Rebate Finder webpage - https://lookforwatersense.epa.gov/rebates/.	The City of Glendale presented the conservation activity to the Citizens Utility Advisory Commission in August 2022 to receive their input on the proposed incentives and obtain their recommendation to present to City Council. Additionally, City staff presented the proposed activity at a City of Glendale Councilmemberâ€™s district event in November 2022. After the first year, the City of Glendale will administer a survey to rebate participants to gather their input on the Glendale Water Wise Rebate Program, which will be used to help improve the program.	Yes, the Glendale Water Wise Rebate Program will include public outreach and opportunities for the public to learn about the conservation activity. The proposed rebates will complement the City of Glendaleâ€™s existing Green-Living class series for adult learners. This popular series includes a variety of classes, from landscape design to rainwater harvesting, and an annual Save Money, Energy, and Water at Home class taught by City of Glendale staff and SRP to help raise awareness about the energy-water nexus and conservation programs, including rebates, offered by both utilities.	Yes, there is tremendous community support for the program. Since 1986, over 5,600 residential and 50 non-residential customers have participated in Glendaleâ€™s Landscape Rebate Program, collectively converting over 118 acres of water-intensive grass to desert-friendly landscapes. This has resulted in the savings of millions of gallons of water each year. There is a high level of community support for the conservation activity as seen in the 2023 National Community Survey, which gathered Glendale residentsâ€™ perspectives on the Cityâ€™s services, policies, and management. When respondents rated how important it is for the City to â€œassist households in conserving waterâ€� in the coming two years, 36% said this was â€œessentialâ€� and 38% said it was â€œvery importantâ€�.	The City of Glendale has a dedicated Conservation and Sustainable Living Division team, within the Water Services Department, to coordinate this water conservation activity, conduct a water savings assessment, and prepare grant-related reports. The team consists of one Environmental Program Administrator, two Water Conservation Specialists, and two temporary part-time Water Conservation Assistants. The City also has a Grants Manager to help facilitate the grant agreement and Sr. Account Specialist to administer the financial reports.	Yes, the City of Glendale has offered a landscape rebate for single-family residential customers since 1986 and non-residential customers (e.g., multi-family, homeownersâ€™ associations, schools, businesses, etc.) since 2005. Based on a study titled, â€œCity of Glendale Strategic Water Conservationâ€� conducted in 2022 by a Master of Public Administration student at Arizona State University, the City of Glendaleâ€™s landscape rebate program produced clear results in annual water savings and cost-effectiveness. For each square foot of turf converted to xeriscape, residential customers saved 22 gallons of water and non-residential customers saved 28 gallons of water.	Yes, under the Phoenix Active Management Area Fourth Management Plan, there are two regulatory programs for large municipal provider: the Total Gallons Per Capita Per Day (GPCD) Program and the Non-Per Capita Conservation Program (NPCCP). Currently, the City of Glendale is in the Total GPCD Program. Should Glendale exceed the Arizona Department of Water Resourcesâ€™ total GPCD requirements, the City would be regulated under the NPCCP and be required to implement 15 additional Best Management Practices (BMPs). This proposal would implement eight BMPs (listed as bullet points below) under the Fourth Management Plan for the Phoenix Active Management Area. Residential Rebates/Incentives: â€¢ Toilet Rebate or Incentive Program â€¢ Smart Irrigation Technology Rebate or Incentive Program â€¢ Water-Efficient Appliance Rebate or Incentive Program â€¢ Landscape Conversion Rebate or Incentive Program â€¢ Installing Xeriscape in New Landscapes Rebate or Incentive Program Non-Residential Rebates/Incentives: â€¢ Commercial and Industrial Rebate or Incentive Program â€¢ Toilet Rebate or Incentive Program â€¢ Landscape Conversion Rebate or Incentive Program
40	Apache Junction Water District	Advanced Metering Infrastructure Program	Programs and projects that reduce water use Per A.R.S. 49-1332(B)(2)	Program	The AMI program being proposed should be considered a program because of the following: This effect all of our customers not just one facility. The program doesn't just end when the equipment is installed, it is just the beginning of the program. Water conservation will just start with customers understanding their water usage. The program will continue to evolve as people change their water habits and conserve additional water. This program will train customers on water conservation for their entire life not just today. So, this AMI program can help water conservation currently and long into the future.	Apache Junction	Pinal	5	7 10	Middle Gila Watershed	Phoenix Active Management Area	N/A	$1,065,845.00	$851,100.00	$1,916,945.00	275	0.0001434574284	The potential for reduction in use by individual users has been determined by previous case studies from past AMI programs. The IBM Research study provided data that showed if individual customer had access to there real time data, it could have a potential water conservation of 6.6 percent. That equates to approximately 105 acre feet of water per year in AJWD. Also using EPAâ€™s WaterSense website, 90 percent of average household's leaks can account for 10,000 gallons of water wasted every year and 10 percent could account for 90 gallons per day (32,850 gallons per year). Notifying customers earlier about a leak because of the AMI program, has the potential to save 170 acre feet of water per year.	The expected duration of this conservation program is at least 10 years or more. This AMI program will also help individuals understand their water usage, by allowing them to see it each day. This will allow every customer to learn how to conserve water on their own and could help them for a lifetime.	AJWD wants to further increase its water supply reliability and support water conservation and management efforts, AJWD began a program to replace approximately 4,500 manual-read meters to touch read meters. In 2018, AJWD started a pilot program with installing its first automated metering reading (â€œAMRâ€�), the program was a success. AJWD has decided to move forward with updating the rest of its existing meters to advanced metering infrastructure (â€œAMIâ€�) further promoting water conservation in the desert southwest. The AMI program includes the upgrade of approximately 4,300 manual read meters with an AMI fixed-based network system that will automatically collect and store hourly consumption data, aiding in water conservation and water efficiency and improved water management. This AMI program would be scheduled to be completed by the end of 2023 with the following: 1.) Install AMI devices at the remaining 4,300 water meters 2.) Install a fixed network data collection system that will automatically collect and store hourly consumption data from all 4,500 meters 3.) Deploy a web-based utility management portal and a web-based customer portal for customers to access their accounts to view both real-time flow and information and historical data. The upgrade to a fully automated AMI system is expected to result in measurable water savings estimated at 275 acre-feet per year (â€œAFYâ€�). Furthermore, deployment of the Customer Portal through which water users will have online access to their own real-time hourly water usage data will prompt customers to make positive changes to their water use behaviors. The AMI program will reduce real system losses and increase water efficiency and conservation through the availability of near real-time data on water usage and daily water needs.	One renewable resource that will be conserved is Colorado River water delivered through the Central Arizona Project. AJWD also pumps groundwater so additional groundwater will be conserved as part of this AMI program also.	Apache Junction Water District serves a population of 15,000. Mostly lower income families that commute to Phoenix for work. During the wintertime the population doubles because of an influx of winter visitors. The economy is made up of mostly small business owners with a couple of large retailers. Apache Junction continues to work on water conservation with existing customers to provide a secure and reliable water supply.	value1 value2 value3	The AMI program will have a long-term effect on the water use in the community by training customers to be more water efficient because they can see their water use in real time. This will allow water to be conserved for the future and make it more reliable to everyone in the community.	Water supply shortages Reliance on non-renewable water supplies Groundwater depletion	The water reduction from the AMI program will help the community use less water and save our water supplies for the future, making our community more resilient during times of drought. The program will also conserve groundwater during times of shortages on the Colorado River. AJWD's groundwater aquifer is very shallow compared to other cities in the Phoenix area which requires us to manage our water supplies closely, so we do not deplete the local aquifer.	Locally, AJWD has been working with the City of Apache Junction to conserve water by having low impact water features in existing and new subdivisions. On a more regional base we launched One Water Our Water with the City of Apache Junction and Arizona Water Company, a private utility that serves water in the surrounding area. On a statewide basis everyone knows that we are having shortages on the Colorado River and water conservation is one way that we can all help reduce demands on the river.	AJWD's customer will save money by using less water. In using less water AJWD will have to pump less water using less electricity saving the environment.	Actual water savings will be verified upon program completion by comparing to historical water records vs new data collected after installation of the AMI program. AJWD files an annual report with the Arizona Department of Water Resources showing water losses and gallons per capita per day (GPCD). AJWD will compare past year with current years after the AMI program is complete to verify the water savings from this program. Since AJWD is growing we cannot compare annual water use so it will have to be on individual water use base, AJWD should see a reduction in GPCD from 105 to 95 with the completion of this program.	No, Long-Term Water Augmentation and Water Supply Development only add water supplies. Water conservation allows us to use our existing water supplies in the most efficient way. AJWD believes this only adds to our water supplies for the future.	AJWD is always working on water conservation and this is just one of the programs that we are currently working towards implementing in the next few years. As water becomes scarce here in the desert southwest every drop counts. This grant would definitely help with funding of the program, to help implement the program faster, when water conservation is greatly needed because of the Colorado River status.	AJWD is always trying to maximize, and leverage are funding sources to get the most out of the resources that we have to provide reliable and resilient water supplies to our customers.	The AMI program does not have any other cost-sharing opportunities with other parties because this program is just for AJWD customers.	The source of funding is mostly in-kind services because there is a bunch of labor involved in the installation of the equipment. AJWD is funded by our rate base to do improvements for our existing customers.	Mike Loggins has been in the water industry for over 20 years from an engineer, project manager, operation superintendent and finally to a director. Mike Loggins project managed the construction of a surface water plant that treats Colorado River water and was funded by a WIFA loan. AJWD is currently expanding and will have the addition of another 11,000 service connections in the near future. AJWD is expanding our surface water plant and building a new water campus. The district's staff, Dennis Montes, Sam Fitzgerald, and Clay Blankenship, have installed over 4,000 meters that will tie to this AMI program equipment. District staff has also installed over 500 units to start our AMR system that will connect to the AMI program. AJWD will have, Charles Briggs, a project manager that has over 30 years in the water industry watching over the program. The Bill Stanford, superintendent that is over field staff has over 20 years' experience in the water industry working on meters and water distribution systems. Rita Vineyard has over 5 years experience as a administrative assistant and will manage the procurement and invoicing from the vendors.	No, significant impacts to staffing required to run the program. Most of the impacts will be taken care of through technology and educating our customers.	The AMI program will help AJWD collaborate with its customers to help them better understand water conservation. This will also help customer service staff explain water leaks and consumption to individuals in a real time environment.	Stakeholders will be trained on access their accounts and understand water consumption. When they understand their water consumption, customers will be able to start on water conservation by finding leaks sooner from a leaky toilet or faucet.	The AMI program will lead to public outreach to train them on the program. The training will help them access their accounts and understand their water usage catching water conservation opportunities.	The community supports water conservation of all kinds from low water use plants to low water use fixtures. AJWD has worked with the City of Apache Junction on new developments to only allow artificial grass in front yards, rather than paying to have grass removed in the future. The community has supports water conservation of all kinds.	The program will take 6 months to one year to get started and then we should see the benefit of water conservation for years to come.	In 2018, AJWD started a pilot program with installing its first automated metering reading (â€œAMRâ€�), the program was a success. AJWD has decided to move forward with updating the rest of its existing meters to advanced metering infrastructure (â€œAMIâ€�) further promoting water conservation in the desert southwest. Adding an AMI program to the AJWD is not something new, other cities have move forward with these programs and had great success. These cities that have implemented this type of program have seen an average water conservation rate of about 6.6%.	This AMI program will be implemented as best management practices. It is currently required of all new developments in the water district service area.
41	Metropolitan Domestic Water Improvement District	Metro Main Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) Implementation and WaterSmart Customer Platform	Education and research programs on how to reduce water consumption, increase water efficiency or increase water reuse.	Program	The Metro Main Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) Implementation and WaterSmart Customer Platform for all District service areas conservation activity is a water conservation program. The Metropolitan Domestic Water Improvement District (District) has a meter replacement program that has been in effect for over 10 years to ensure accurate recording of water usage as well as adding electronic endpoints to the meters replaced. The meter replacement program has allowed the District to convert four of its smaller systems to AMI and maintain the accuracy of these meters. This program has had limited implementation in the Districtâ€™s largest service area; Metro Main, due to available capacity in the operating budget. The completion of the metering upgrades in the Metro Main service area is required in order to implement a District-wide customer access portal on real-time water usage. This conservation grant would allow the District to expeditiously implement the program and complete all of its service areas in a few years as opposed to the longer period of ten or more years at the current funding availability. The scope of the work involves the replacement of approximately 11,234 meters, the installation of the corresponding meter endpoints, composite meter lids or antennas as applicable, and the installation of approximately 25 collectors / repeaters to create the fixed network system to backhaul the metering data for customer access. The customer access would be through a WaterSmart Customer Portal.	Tucson	Pima	6	18	Upper Santa Cruz River Watershed	Tucson AMA		$3,000,000.00	$2,258,319.00	$5,258,319.00	1119	0.0002128056514	The District expects to conserve approximately 1,119.09 acre-feet as a result of this project: (Please see the full submittal application attached for better formatting) Water savings associated with customer conservation, leak notifications, and improved meter accuracy include: â€¢ 424.25 acre-feet due to customer conservation based on the ability to monitor and know their hourly and daily usage. â€¢ 569.48 acre-feet due to timely leak notifications â€¢ 125.36 acre-feet of unaccounted water due to improved meter accuracy This program focuses on water conservation measures by providing the tools needed to the Districtâ€™s customers so that they can be well informed about their water usage in a timely manner, which empowers them to make corrections to conserve water and reduce their water bill. This will be accomplished by the conversion of all the meters to AMI fixed network and providing a WaterSmart web portal that allows customers to see their water usage on an hourly basis as well as being informed by the system when they have a potential water leak. The AMI system uses an algorithm to monitor water usage and if the usage does not periodically go to zero, a notification is made of a possible leak that can be sent to the customer via text, email, or they can see the notification when using the web portal. Under the current system in place, customers do not have the ability to see their water usage until the water bill is sent in the mail, which can be as much as 45 days later. At that point the customerâ€™s leak has caused wasted water and a financial impact to the customer. Customers could physically read the water meter, however, that can be a challenge for some customers and could create some safety concerns. The WaterSmart Customer Portal can be viewed from a smart phone app, making it convenient for customers to track their water usage. With smart phone applications now being part of many peopleâ€™s daily lives, this project makes tracking water usage easy as a few taps on the phone and provides the tools for the customer to save water, money, and directly participate in increasing water conservation. Between the five service areas that the District serves, and will be part of the WaterSmart customer portal, the District billed over 2.7 billion gallons or 8,485 acre-feet of water in Fiscal Year 2021. With the implementation of the AMI and the Customer Portal, the District anticipates water savings of 1,119.09 acre-feet per year. The current water losses that will be conserved as a result of this project are from high water usage, leaks, and meter inaccuracies. The United States Environmental Protection Agency cites that â€œthe average householdâ€™s leaks can account for nearly 10,000 gallons of water wasted every year and ten percent of homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons or more per dayâ€�. https://www.epa.gov/watersense/fix-leak-week. The Potential Water Losses from Water Leaks published by EPA identifies some of the causes of losses from leaks. https://www.epa.gov/watersense/getting-started As an example from the EPA Table: Potential Losses from Water Leaks, a leaking toilet can be 0.5 GPM and equate to 21,600 gallons per year. The table also identifies Drip Irrigation malfunctions at 43,200 gallons per month, and Broken Distribution lines that can be 151,200 gallons per week. From the varying types of water leaks that can occur there are many places where water can be conserved. The lost and unaccounted for water in the Districtâ€™s Metro Main Service Area in 2021 was calculated at 7.09 percent. This water loss is caused by a combination of older meters not accurately recording usage, and leaks from water mains and service lines. Ninety percent of the Districtâ€™s water mains and service lines range from two foot deep to five foot deep and the majority of leaks surface within a few days and are identified. As such, it is anticipated that a significant portion of the lost and unaccounted for water is the result of meter inaccuracies. This project will improve the meter accuracies as the new meters being installed will meet the AWWA meter accuracy standards (98.5% - 101%). Although this will not eliminate water loss from mainline and service line leaks, it will increase the recorded water usage through the meter providing more accurate information to customers on their actual usage for enhanced water resource management. Additionally, the increased recorded water will also result in an increase to the customerâ€™s water bill, based on actual usage, further promoting water conservation. The WaterSmart Customer Portal will enable customers in all five service areas to actively monitor their water consumption and will alert customers of high-water usage, resulting in more immediate responses to leaks. In a report prepared for the American Water Works Association in January 2022 titled Increasing consumer benefits & engagement in AMI-based conservation programs, the authors found customers who had signed up for the AMI portal decreased their daily water usage in a range of 6.3% to 12%. https://www.awwa.org/Portals/0/AWWA/ETS/Resources/Technical%20Reports/ami_report_feb_2022.pdf In a report prepared by the company M.Cubed on the Evaluation of East Bay Municipal Utility Districtâ€™s Pilot of Water Smart Home Water Reports showed that the water savings ranged from 4.6% to 6.6%. https://www.financingsustainablewater.org/sites/www.financingsustainablewater.org/files/resource_pdfs/MCubed-Watersmart_evaluation_report_FINAL_12-12-13(00238356).pdf As a conservative estimate and to not overstate the potential water savings, the District has elected to use the percent savings of five percent in its calculations. This is lower than the low end of the AWWA report and in the middle range of the East Bay MUD report. One of the critical aspects of the customer portal is customer participation. The District is planning multiple approaches for the implementation of the customer portal to gain greater participation and increase the savings, to include notifying customers via social media, newsletters, billing inserts, public information meetings, and through free conservation materials that are available to all customers. Below are the calculations using the 5 percent water savings. In Fiscal Year 2021, the Districtâ€™s five service areas billed 8,485 acre-feet of recorded water. Using the 8,485 acre-feet multiplied by 5 percent, saves 424.25 acre-feet per year. 8,485 acre-feet x .05 = 424.25 acre-feet. The United States Environmental Protection Agency states that â€œthe average householdâ€™s leaks can account for nearly 10,000 gallons of water wasted every year and ten percent of homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons or more per dayâ€�. With the implementation of the AMI and customer portal, leaks will still occur; however, with the reports provided, customer monitoring, and leak notifications, the District estimates the leaks will be mitigated by 80 percent. This will reduce the EPA identified leak volume from 10,000 gallons to 2,000 gallons per year per household. Using the 8,000 per year savings for the 23,196 customers, the potential water savings due to the implementation of this project is 569.48 acre-feet per year. 23,196 customers x 8,000 gallons per year saved per customer = 185,568,000 gallons 185,568,000 gallons Ã· 325,851 gallons per acre-foot = 569.48 acre-feet of water saved.	This Project is anticipated to take two and a half (2.5) years to complete. The proposed start date of this project is July 1, 2023. The District is ready to proceed upon approval of the agreement. For planning purposes, the selected start date of the project is July 1, 2023. The majority of the work is in the replacement of the water meters and installation of the network infrastructure. The only potential slowdown will be related to supply chain and product availability. A three-month buffer has been included in the schedule to assist with any supply chain challenges. The District has cooperative purchasing contracts available for the meter installation services that it currently uses for the physical replacement of meters. The bulk of the network infrastructure required for this project will be installed at existing District-owned properties. These facilities will be installed by in-house staff. For the seven or so units that will need to be installed on infrastructure not owned by the District, those investigations and agreements are currently being worked on and are anticipated to be complete before the award of the agreement. The Fixed Network Software required to receive the meter data is already installed and is operating in four out of five of the District service areas. The Customer Web Portal is anticipated to take six months to complete and will begin on following the award of the agreement. The completion of the Customer Portal in the first phase of the project will allow immediate water savings to begin in the Metro Southwest â€“ Diablo Village, Metro Southwest â€“ E&T, Metro Southwest â€“ Lazy B, and Metro Hub service areas where AMI compatible meters have already been installed, while the remainder of the meters and network infrastructure are installed in the Metro Main service area. See the project schedule in the full submittal attachment.	This program proposal is for the implementation of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) in its main service area northwest of Tucson, Arizona and implementation of a WaterSmart Customer Platform for all its customers located in Pima County. The work consists of installing AMI wireless communication equipment for meter data backhaul, upgrading components of commercial sized meters to be AMI capable, and replacing approximately 11,234 existing customer water meters with new meters and electronic endpoints capable of sending hourly water consumption to the WaterSmart Customer Platform so customers can receive timely information of their current and historic water usage for better management of this most precious resource. The WaterSmart Customer Portal is a key component to making the water usage information available to customers. WaterSmart is a cloud-based application so customers can access it from the internet. The Itron Choice Connect Fixed Network will transmit data to the WaterSmart platform. WaterSmart has integrated with the Itron Choice Connect Fixed Network software in other utility installations, so integration issues are not anticipated. The Districtâ€™s Fixed Network data (customer account and meter information, pertinent server address, and mapping) will be sent to WaterSmart for integration into their platform and creation of the web portal. The District will maintain annual technical support for the WaterSmart software and services. This will ensure continued operation of the customer portal to District customers. The Metro Main Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) and Implementation of the WaterSmart Customer Portal involves replacing existing water meters, installation of electronic endpoints, and installation of network communication equipment for the Metro Main service area. The District previously installed AMI compatible meters in the Metro Southwest â€“ E&T, Metro Southwest â€“ Diablo Village, Metro Southwest â€“ Lazy B, and Metro Hub service areas. Software installation and web portal configuration for customer access will be implemented in all five service areas enabling 23,196 customers to utilize the WaterSmart Customer Portal to monitor their water consumption in real time. A summary of customer types by service area is reflected in the table below. (Please see attachment) Table â€“ All District Meters Customer Type Located in Metro Main All Metro Service Areas Single Family Residential 17,547 21,744 Multi-Family Residential 183 201 Commercial 796 804 Irrigation 355 433 Public Authorities 14 14 Total 18,895 23,196 Meters Requiring Replacement: The project consists of approximately 11,234 meters that need full replacement as they are not compatible with the AMI components. The 11,234 meters range in size from 5/8â€� to 2â€� (See Table 2 below). Table - Meters to be Replaced Meter Size Number of Units 5/8â€� 10,602 Â¾â€� 135 1â€� 262 1.5â€� 114 2â€� 121 TOTAL 11,234 The Districtâ€™s water meters are installed in meter boxes near the customerâ€™s property line. The work involved in replacing the meters includes cleaning out the existing meter box, notifying customers of the work to be performed, recording of existing and new serial numbers and readings, removing the old meter and installing a new Meter with an encoder register along with Itron connector to attach to the electronic endpoint. The materials will be purchased through various procurement vehicles. The physical work to replace the meter will be contracted out to a vendor that performs meter replacements. The typical time to replace each meter is approximately 30 minutes with some situational deviations. Electronic Endpoint: For a meter to be part of an AMI system, the meter reading needs to be transmitted to the servers containing the AMI and web portal software. At the time of the meter replacement / installation, an Itron 100W+ Water Communication Module, also known as an ERT (Encoder Receiver Transmitter) will be installed to perform this function. The ERT has a quarter turn connector that attaches to the Itron connecter cable from the meter. The ERT also has an antenna port as well. This allows for the connection of a short antenna in order to boost the signal level. The District meters are located below ground in meter boxes. The majority of the meter boxes have steel lids that can impede the RF communication of the ERT. For this work either a new composite meter box lid will replace the existing steel lids or a Â¾â€� hole will be drilled into the steel lid to allow for the antenna connection. This work is also done at the time of the meter connection. The equipment count shows more composite lids / antennas than ERTs. This is due to the metal lids that exist on all the meter boxes. The meters in Metro Main that are already AMI compatible will require the addition of a new meter box lid or an antenna to eliminate radio frequency interferences with the metal lids. Network Communication Equipment: The ERT modules have a communication range of approximately one mile. The range can vary with topography, buildings, or other objects that interfere with radio communications. Since the Districtâ€™s Metro Main system covers an area of approximately 23 square miles, 25 Collectors or Repeaters will need to be installed. The collectors (Itron CCU 100) and the repeaters (Itron Repeater 100) will be installed around the District based on the propagation study that was performed by Itron on 18 of the existing properties owned by the District. The propagation study identified the need for additional locations to obtain full coverage. The additional seven collectors / repeaters will be installed on public right of way infrastructure. The right of way locations will be utility power poles, street lighting poles or District installed poles with solar panels. The collectors and repeaters are the same physical size, with each being about one foot square; and both use a three-foot antenna. They have a small footprint that makes them more versatile than traditional radio equipment as well as being much less obtrusive to the public. The actual installation work will vary depending whether it is being installed on a water storage tank, antenna tower, or power pole. In security-controlled sites, the collector / repeater will be installed approximately 4 feet off the ground with a remote three-foot antenna being installed at a height of 20 to 30 feet. Poles within the public right-of-way without security will require the collector / repeater to be installed on top of the pole with the direct mount antenna. Existing Propagation Study without the Right of Way installations: The District is currently working with Itron to update the propagation study to include coverage for the underserved areas. This task will be completed before the start of the conservation activity. The meter installations are planned to take 2-1/2 years. The installation of the collectors and repeaters will be done concurrently with the meter replacements. Software Installation: The District currently utilizes Itronâ€™s Choice Connect Fixed Network Software for four of its service areas: Metro Southwest â€“ E&T, Metro Southwest â€“ Diablo Village, Metro Southwest â€“ Lazy B, and Metro Hub service areas. This AMI project will utilize the same software already installed. The only software programming will be related to the additional collectors / repeaters that are installed. The District maintains software and technical support with Itron. WaterSmart Customer Portal: The WaterSmart Customer Portal is a key component to making the water usage information available to customers. WaterSmart is a cloud-based application so customers can access it from the internet. The Itron Choice Connect Fixed Network will transmit data to the WaterSmart platform. WaterSmart has integrated with the Itron Choice Connect Fixed Network software in other utility installations, so integration issues are not anticipated. The Districtâ€™s Fixed Network data (customer account and meter information, pertinent server address, and mapping) will be sent to WaterSmart for integration into their platform and creation of the web portal. The District will maintain annual technical support for the WaterSmart software and services. This will ensure continued operation of the customer portal to District customers.	The Districtâ€™s current primary source of water is groundwater. The conserved water from this program will offset groundwater pumping to slow or stabilize water level decline. In addition to the slowed water level decline, the conserved water will allow the District to leave additional water in the Colorado River system to help with the decline of the overall Basin. The Districtâ€™s service areas reside around the Tucson area, which has an arid climate and the primary source of water is physical groundwater. Groundwater is being pumped out faster than it can be replenished by nature. The District does have an allocation of Colorado River water that it receives each year but is delivered to recharge basins and stored underground approximately 13 miles west of the Metro Main service area. Designs to directly recover the stored renewable water resources and deliver to Metro Mainâ€™s service area have been finalized and construction is anticipated to begin in the next two years. Regardless of the unrelated infrastructure effort to recover the renewable supplies, this proposal will directly result in overall water resource savings. With the water levels continuing to decline in the Colorado River system, and shortages declared on the river, the District expects reduced deliveries in the near future. This program slows the groundwater level decline, and potentially stabilizing declines in individual wells, as well as mitigating the impacts of reduced Colorado River water to the District. For the past three years, the District has voluntarily conserved 3,500 acre-feet annually through the Central Arizona Water Conservation District through a compensated conservation agreement to leave this quantity of water in Lake Mead; lessening the magnitude of declines to the Lake. In May 2023, the District entered into an agreement with the Bureau of Reclamation to increase this voluntary conservation amount to 5,000 acre-feet annually for up to three years. This represents 37% of the Districtâ€™s current CAP allocation.	The District operates five public water systems that will be beneficially impacted by this conservation activity. The meter replacement work and the network installation will occur in the Metro-Main service area, but all five systems will utilize the WaterSmart Customer Portal to reduce water usage. The Districtâ€™s Metro â€“ Main system has a population of 47,236 and is residential and light commercial. The Metro â€“ Hub system has a population of 4,252 and is mostly residential with one School. The Metro â€“ Diablo system has a population of 5,542 and is currently all residential. The Metro â€“ E&T system has a population of 880 and is residential with one convenience store. The Metro â€“ Lazy system has a population of 77 and is all residential. In seeking state revolving funding for infrastructure needs unrelated to this grant application it was determined by that state agency that the Districtâ€™s Metro Main, Metro Southwest - Diablo Village, and Metro Southwest - E&T service areas are disadvantaged communities based on a medium household income of $46,011.47 in 2021 dollars. The above is the Median Household Income (MHI) per the WIFA Rate Dashboard. WIFA stated this was based upon 2019 income. 12 Month Average CPI for 2020 = 1.2 inflated MHI for 2020 $43,946.10, which is 65% of the U.S. 2020 Median income in the United States which was $67,521 or 35% below the U.S. Average MHI. The 2020 Arizona MHI was $61,529 and the Metro Water Districtâ€™s MHI was 71.42% or 28.58% below the Arizona State Average MHI. 12 Month Average CPI for 2021 = 4.7 inflated MHI $46,011.57 which is 63% of the U.S. 2021 MHI. According to this report, the median income in the United States in December 2021 was $72,933 or 36.91% below the U.S. Average MHI. The 2021 Arizona MHI was $61,744 and the Metro Water Districtâ€™s MHI was 74.52% or 25.48% below the State Average MHI.	value1 value2 value3	This conservation activity provides knowledge, education, and the tools needed for the consumer to have a significant impact on conserving water that will provide long-term reductions in water use. Essentially, the knowledge and education will create better water use habits that are reinforced by a reduction in the consumerâ€™s water bill saving them money. With the changes in water use, consumers will be able to use their water in the most efficient manner for their needs. The less water that is wasted slows down the depletion of the ground water which in turn lessens the amount of water needed from the Colorado River System. Lower consumption of the groundwater and less use of the Colorado River System improves water reliability.	Water supply shortages Reliance on non-renewable water supplies Groundwater depletion Water quality issues	As previously stated, the primary source of water for the District is groundwater which is not a renewable water supply. This conservation activity reduces the amount of water that is withdrawn from the ground, slowing down the depletion and may in some areas stabilize the groundwater. In the next few years, the District will have direct delivery of its recovered Central Arizona Project (CAP) water that is a renewable supply. The reduction in water use will reduce the amount of the CAP water needed leaving more in the basin as well as extending the life of the water the District has stored from its allocation over the last 20 years. The groundwater in the Tucson area does move with pumping. There are areas that are affected by water quality issues that can migrate to other wells. Reducing the amount of water needed also reduces the amount of pumping required, which can slow down the movement of the contaminants.	The State of Arizona and water providers in Pima County have been focused on water conservation for decades. The District has partnered with other water providers to ensure effective water conservation for over 25 years as evidenced by the Districtâ€™s membership in the Water Conservation Alliance of Southern Arizona (WaterCASA) since 1997 and participation in the Local Drought Impact Group. Many water providers statewide and locally are employing AMI technology and moving toward customer use portals to provide homeowners with a powerful tool to see their daily water use and find ways to conserve water. Metro Water District is committed to providing these powerful tools to its customers to help them make better choices regarding water use in their homes.	The program cost for this conservation activity is $5,258,319. The benefits of this conservation activity include educating the Districtâ€™s customer base through the use of an online customer portal that will allow them to see and monitor their water use so they can more efficiently use water now and into the future. Additional benefits include reducing the amount of wasted water due to leaks as well as a reduction in the lost and unaccounted for water through improved meter accuracy. The expected amount of water saved per year is 1,119.09 acre feet. Environmental impacts include a reduction of groundwater decline, less reliance on Colorado River water, and energy savings. Each month, the District calculates how much energy (electricity) it takes to produce one Million gallons of water. The current average energy usage for Metro Main is 2,916 kWh / Million Gallons. With the estimated reduction of water consumption at 1,119.09 acre-feet per year in water, this correlates to a reduction in energy use of 1,063,319kWh per year. Cost per Kilowatt-hour is .122531 cents per hour. 2,916 Kilowatt-hours to produce one million gallons 1,119.09 acre-feet = 364,656,595.59, gallons 364,656,595.59 gallons divided by 1,000,000 = 364.65 million gallons 2916 Kilowatt-hours per million gallons *364.65 million gallons = 1,063, 319 kWh of Energy Saved per Year 1,063,319 kWh x .122531 = $130.289.58 Cost Savings per Year. Less Energy usage by reducing the amount of runtime on wells and booster pumps may help reduce impacts of climate change. EPA estimates that every gallon of gasoline burned creates about 8,887 grams of CO2 (https://www.epa.gov/greenvehicles/greenhouse-gas-emissions-typical-passenger-vehicle#:~:text=This%20assumes%20the%20average%20gasoline,8%2C887%20grams%20of%20CO2). The District averages approximately 30,000 miles driven annually to read meters. With the implementation of this project, the annual miles traveled will be reduced by approximately 75%. Using an estimated 14.6 mpg city fuel economy for a Ford F-250, the reduction in miles traveled will reduce CO2 emissions by 13,695,719 grams of CO2, or 13.7 metric tons of CO2 annually (274 metric tons of CO2 reduced over the 20-year life cycle of this project). While the project does not directly benefit specific species, the environmental benefits gained by energy and water conservation and a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions will benefit the District and region in general. Better water management will result in the benefit to the surrounding environment and wildlife overall as less groundwater pumping could help stabilize aquifer levels. The project will result in more efficient use of water supplies both in groundwater aquifer pumping and Colorado River water. Less water demand will provide the opportunity to do additional rotations in the groundwater wells to lessen the water level decline in each well field in the Tucson Basin and could result in localized aquifer stabilization and/or recovery.	To verify the amount of water savings, historical water usage data prior to implementation of the AMI system will be compared with water usage data after implementation of the AMI system. Leaks detected from the alarms generated through the AMI system will be recorded throughout each year. The data will be used to compare the water usage had the leak not been identified through early leak detection but had been identified as if it was on the District's current practice of manual monthly meter reads. The Districtâ€™s billing system maintains years of previous customer consumption that can be compared with the consumption after the program is complete. The District also maintains a history of water produced at each facility as well as the power consumed to produce the water. This data will be compared to the post project data to verify water saved by the program as well as electrical power saved. Each year the District is required by the Arizona Department of Water resources to calculate itâ€™s lost and unaccounted for water. The replacement of the water meters will increase the accuracy of the meter and more accurately measuring the usage that may have previously gone unmeasured. The recording of this water will reduce the unaccounted-for water loss and will be compared to previous yearâ€™s data.	This conservation activity request is to allow for the more efficient use and conservation of water to save existing supplies. The Long-Term Water Augmentation Fund and the Water Supply Development Fund appear to be designed for bringing in additional supplies of water. The requested conservation activity would not likely comply with the requirements of these funding sources. From a financial perspective, the District actively works to balance its debt service so that funds are prioritized and allocated to meet the existing debt, future debt, and needs of the Districtâ€™s capital improvement projects as well as the operation and maintenance of the system. This conservation activity is more appropriate for the Conservation Grant as it meets the requirements of the grant. The District is a domestic water improvement district and every dollar saved with the use of Grants or similar instruments, allows for better service to District rate payers enabling funds to be allocated to where they are needed the most to ensure delivery of safe, reliable water to customers.	The District has been active in meter replacements and fixed network upgrades for AMI and customer portal preparation. These costs were incurred separately from this request and will not be included. Additionally, the fixed network software for the AMI was just updated to the latest version at a cost of $67,225. The District plans to continue the implementation of the AMI and customer portal regardless of the grant funding; however, without grant funding this implementation will take years longer to complete and extending water losses that could be addressed now.	The District prides itself on fiscal responsibility and is making its best efforts for its rate payers. The District was recently selected for a grant award of $2,000,000 for this conservation activity from the Bureau of Reclamation. The award process will be completed over the next couple of months which fits in perfectly with the timing of this Water Conservation Grant Fund application. The additional funds needed to complete this project, beyond the awarded Reclamation Grant and this potential grant funding opportunity, will come from the Districtâ€™s operating budget. The Districtâ€™s staff time and salaries are not included in this request.	The District frequently looks for cost-sharing efforts and regional collaboration as it has done with the Northwest Recharge, Recovery, and Delivery System to utilize a renewable supply of water. Additionally, the District, partners with neighboring water providers to construct emergency interconnect agreements to enhance the reliability of service for both water providers. Unfortunately, given the nature of the water conservation program, this activity does not offer the opportunity for cost-sharing.	The projected cost of this program is $5,258,319. District intends to utilize $2,000,000 of Grant funding from the Bureau of Reclamation and the remaining balance, beyond this potential funding opportunity, will be from the Districtâ€™s operating budget to meet the 25% match requirement.	Joseph Olsen is the Districtâ€™s General Manager and a registered Professional Engineer with over 22 years of leadership experience as well as managing multimillion dollar capital improvement projects and military deployments. Although Mr. Olsen, is not directly managing this conservation activity, he provides the leadership and support to staff and the program. Steve Shepard, the Districtâ€™s Utility Superintendent will be the primary program manager overseeing this conservation activity. Steve Shepard has been employed at the District for over 30 years. During his 30 plus year tenure he has performed a wide variety of duties that includes meter reading, meter replacements, telemetry and SCADA programming, budgeting, supervision as well as project management, fixed network development and AMI deployment. As the superintendent, he manages a staff of 31 water utility professionals capable of providing assistance at every level of this implementation. Diane Bracken is the Districtâ€™s CFO with over 36 years of finance experience in both the public and private sector. She has managed the finance portions of grants and other federal funding for other governmental entities as well as WIFA loans received for the District. She has vast experience if performing Single Finance Audits that are typically required with Grant and Federal funding. Travis Tarket is the Customer Service and Billing Supervisor with over 20 years of experience in both the public and private sectors creating, nurturing and retaining customer communications and confidence. In the last 10 years, he has been involved in multiple Water Meter Replacement Programs and conservation efforts. He will be leading the implantation of the WaterSmart Program. He will also manage the communication between the District and its customers while fostering customer involvement with the conservation program.	This conservation activity will require some priorities to change; however, there should not be any significant management impacts. The scope of work of this program is not complicated as it is replacing meters, installing network antennas, and installing software. The District already replaces meters and installs the network antennas. This program just increases the quantities and a shorter timeline. The management time will be spent in making sure materials and contracts are procured in compliance with District policies, budgets are being met, and the program schedule is maintained. The work required for these items will be short in duration and have minimal impact. The only new technology related to this project is the WaterSmart Customer Portal. There will be some issues as there always are with new software. There will also be a learning curve for staff so that they can educate, support and answer any questions from the customers using the portal. No additional costs or staffing requirements are anticipated.	With the increasing of deeper shortages to Colorado River water, conservation at the residential level is more important than ever. Providing a portal for customers to see real-time water use in their home will promote a strong partnership for achieving higher levels of water conservation. By identifying wasteful practices and possible leaks, Metro Water District and its customers can reduce overall water use and reduce the impact of shortages in water resources. The District continues to work with other local water providers for regional collaboration on water sustainability projects. The most recent example would the ongoing development of the Northwest Recharge, Recovery, and Delivery System that includes partnership among three area water providers to recover stored CAP water and to convey that renewable water resource to the partnerâ€™s respective service areas in order to reduce the reliance on groundwater. Since the primary source of water for the area providers is groundwater pulled from some of the same aquifers. Any reduction or water saved from being pumped from the aquifer benefits all the water providers by reducing groundwater level decline. Metro Water District's goal of reducing groundwater pumping is supported by the soon to be published Lower Santa Cruz River Basin Study (LSCRBS). The LSCRBS explores many possible adaptive strategies to reduce groundwater pumping in the Tucson AMA. Conservation efforts of the past are discussed and evaluated using a groundwater flow model to quantify the effects of reduced groundwater pumping in the study area which includes Metro Water District's service areas. The program will have a small benefit to the Central Arizona Project by reducing the amount of water required for the District to offset groundwater pumping, which may enable additional water to remain in the Colorado River system.	There are a number of stakeholders related to this conservation activity: District staff, Board of Directors, other area water providers, conservation groups, and customers. District staff has been involved in the planning process as it directly effects how they perform their duties to assist customers. There have been many conservation discussions with the Board of Directors and other conservation organizations such as the Water Conservation Alliance of Southern Arizona that helped drive this conservation solution. District customers have also expressed great interest in having access to their real-time water usage as a tool to use water wisely and avoid unintended water waste.	The key to success for this conservation activity is for the public to learn about and utilize this conservation resource. The program focuses on the customerâ€™s ability to know how and when they are using their water so that they can efficiently utilize the WaterSmart resource allowing for the benefits of conservation to be achieved. The other key aspect is timely notification of a potential water leak. This will provide the customer the ability to promptly address the leak reducing the amount of wasted water as well as limiting the expenses incurred related to the water usage. As the District already has service areas on AMI Fixed Network, the customer portal will be introduced to them. This allows for small scale implementations. The District is planning multiple efforts to engage customers with public outreach. To ensure the understanding and benefits of this conservation activity, the District plans to have a series of in-person public meetings, webinar events, create and distribute how-to guides through traditional media communications that will provide the understanding and benefits of using the web portal to track and conserve their water use	There is a great deal of sector support for initiatives such as this one that reduce water consumption. The Tucson region has been recognized statewide and nationally as a leader in water conservation for many decades. Specifically, the District has offered rebates for conservation activities, to include replacement with efficient toilets and rainwater harvesting, for over 25 years. By implementing new technologies like AMI and customer access to real-time water use data, Metro Water District along with the Tucson region will continue to demonstrate its commitment to water conservation. The following is an excerpt from a letter of support for this project provided by Val Little, the Director of the Water Conservation Alliance of Southern Arizona. â€œSince the founding of the Water Conservation Alliance of Southern Arizona (Water Casa) in 1997, I have had the distinct pleasure of serving as the organizationâ€™s Director. For a Quarter of a century, WaterCASAâ€™s goal has been the efficient use of regional water resources and to strive for a public fully aware of the water conservation tools, methods, and practices. Metro Waterâ€™s proposal for a real time portal enabling customers to track their water consumption is exactly the type of initiative that is needed in our current environment to increase conservation and customer awareness of their water usage.â€�	This conservation activity is very feasible to complete. The work consists of replacing approximately 11,234 water meters and attaching the endpoint. This is a common work practice that District staff currently performs. In addition, the District has access to contractors for this program through a cooperative procurement contract that replacing water meters is their core business. The network components of this are Itron Collectors / Repeaters that will backhaul the meter data back to the District office. Approximately 25 of these units will be required to provide the geographic coverage. These will be installed by the District staff mostly at existing facilities. The installation is fairly simple in mounting the collector / repeater, placing an antenna on a pole or existing structures, such as a water tank, and providing a 120V power source for it to plug into. There will be a handful of locations where installations will be required in the public right of way on free standing poles or exiting light poles and will utilize a solar panel for its power source. Each installation should take a few days. The software being proposed is cloud based and hosted by a vendor. There will be some programming required to create the interface to upload the meter data to the cloud. From a financial perspective, the award of this grant eliminates the monetary issues that has prevented the program from being completed already.	This conservation activity is both a continuation of an existing program and a new activity. The District has been replacing water meters and applying Fixed Network reading to the systems for a number of years to the extent possible with operating budgets. The meter replacement and the Fixed Network have been shown to be effective in keeping the meter accuracies high to properly record the water used and to be able to provide the customer with historical water use information. The new activity portion of this is the implementation of the cloud-based software that will allow water users to monitor their usage as well as receive automated notices of high usage and potential leaks giving them the opportunity to promptly address the issue. This technology has been implemented by many other water utilities around the country. The Districtâ€™s neighboring water utility, Oro Valley Water, has implemented the WaterSmart Customer Portal as part of their fixed network solution. One of the District employees is a customer of Oro Valley Water and utilizes the WaterSmart Customer Portal and they provided the following comments from a user perspective: â€œI am a Metro Water District employee who has used the WaterSmart portal since 2018. I live in an area serviced by another Water Utility using the WaterSmart program. I can see annual, monthly, weekly, daily and hourly consumption data at the click of a button. The hourly consumption data has probably helped me the most to conserve water because I can pinpoint specific water consumption like morning showers and weekend irrigation. I can calibrate my irrigation habits using a garden hose because the data is almost real-time. The notification feature through text, voice or email is helpful to keep an eye on water consumption and possible leaks. I have set my account up so I receive an email when my consumption for the day hits a level greater than 2 times my normal daily usage. When I receive these notifications it "forces" me to think why my consumption would be that high. I think the biggest strength of WaterSmart is that itâ€™s an educational tool that makes users aware of their consumption, which can provide tangible results to water conservation efforts. The portal offers a lot of dynamic information in a surprisingly user-friendly website and Metro Water customers and Metro Water District will benefit from all the information it has to offer.â€�	This conservation activity does implement but would be considered a Best Management Practice as it provides the tools and resources, to all the end users of water, to be effective in efficiently utilizing water to reduce water loss from leaks and wasteful practices. Going forward, all new services and developments will be placed on the fixed network and customers will have access to the benefits of the customer portal.
42	Saint David Irrigation District	Canal Efficiency Feasibility	Programs or projects to improve groundwater conservation and surface water flows.	Program	1. Conceptual design 2. Procure Project Manager 3. Surveying and recording 4. Initial public input 5. Engineering 6. Material sourcing 7. Sources sought and RFI from contractors 8. Final public input 9. Permitting 10. Solicitation for pre-construction activities 11. Pre-Construction activities; grading, excavation, creating access 12. Purchase specialized or unique materials	Saint David	Cochise	6	19	Upper San Pedro	N/A	N/A	$3,000,000.00	$750,000.00	$3,750,000.00	1000	0.0002666666667	Assuming a 50%-70% loss in evaporation and ground absorption, we can deduce the savings by taken historic averages and reducing them accordingly. Arguably this savings estimate is conservative as it does not account for river water flow or private irrigation wells.	The conservation activity would be in perpetuity. The feasibility and design phase should be 12-18 months.	The Saint David Irrigation District was formed by the first settlers of Saint David in 1877 to use water from the San Pedro River for irrigation. It is because of this irrigation district and canal that the community of Saint David exists. The 9-mile-long canal is still essential to the community today and is essentially in the same state and when it was built with horse-drawn equipment. Water is turned into the canal from the river during the winter and spring by means of an earthen dam and during the drier summer months, river water is pumped into the canal from shallow wells. The canal winds through the community, providing essential irrigation water for agriculture, both commercial and non-commercial. The canal also provides water for trees and brush along its course, and habitat for a variety of species who depend on this oasis in the desert. However, the earthen canal is highly inefficient, losing up to 70% of its water from one end of the canal to the other. In addition to water lost to seepage, leaks and evaporation, blockage from debris in the open canal is a constant problem and requires constant maintenance to preserve the flow. We propose to pipe the canal to eliminate this water loss, dramatically reduce our water usage, and make irrigation and its benefits sustainable. Two short sections of the canal were piped over a decade ago, so we have experience with piping and see it as the single most important thing we could do to preserve water and improve efficiency.	All water is sourced from the San Pedro River, either from the river bed itself via diversion, or from shallow wells drawing water from the sub flow at a static height of about 30 feet.	Saint David has a population of about 2,000 residents in the irrigation district and as many as 4,000 when the surrounding dependent areas are included. The median age is 44, but 28% of the population is under 18 years of age. The community includes family-owned farms and ranches, employment from local businesses and government, and serves as a bedroom community for Sierra Vista and Tucson. In addition to those families whose principal occupation depends on irrigated agriculture, there is a majority who rely on outside employment to supplement their farming. Over the last decade, many young families have returned to the community to raise their families. This influx is supplemented by those individuals who were able to begin working remotely as a result of the COVID pandemic. This demographic trend has created a small renaissance in the community, increasing property values and inspiring a moderate building boom and the creation of more commercial properties. Eight farms within the irrigation district who sell their produce to the public in Saint David or through marketing networks have experienced growth in the last few years.	value1 value2 value3	â€¢ Long-term reductions in water use Piping the canal will realize an enormous reduction in long-term water use. Using the present system of unlined earthen canals, up to 70% of the pumped or dammed water is lost in transit. As an example, the largest of two pumps operated by the district pumps about 2,500 gallons per minute at full power. Seven miles downstream, at the opposite end of the canal network, that head of water might deliver 500 gallons per minute of useable irrigation water. A piped system would save almost all of this water, which is to say 2,000 gallons per minute of water. This would translate to a savings of 2,880,000 gallons of water saved per day. This is approximately 10-acre feet of water saved in a day. It is hard to imagine anything in our canal system that would yield such a dramatic long-term reduction in water use. This reduction in water use means there is more water left in the river or in the sub flow to be shared with other users downstream. â€¢ Improvements in water use efficiency. Replacing an 1880 earthen canal with a pipe is the definition of water use efficiency. â€¢ Improvements in water reliability One of the major challenges for irrigation district members now is the random nature of water delivery. Although the pumps can be started on a regular schedule, the actual flow of water to users is highly erratic due to fissures and sinks in the canal where water can disappear for weeks at a time. Every time the pumps are started, the canal loses at least several days of water to re-soak the ditch and start flowing regularly. This delay is further complicated by the growth of grass in the canal bottom, significantly slowing water delivery. In addition to this, debris is blown into the canal or dumped in the canal and must be cleaned on a daily basis from a dozen grates. In an irrigation system that relies on all volunteer labor, cleaning can be erratic and watering schedules are almost always random, depending on how water flowed to the previous user. The practical impact on district members is that water is rarely delivered on schedule and is very difficult to plan. A piped system would create a dramatic change in all of these factors and would greatly increase the number of users and their agricultural productivity.	Water supply shortages Reliance on non-renewable water supplies Groundwater depletion Natural disasters that may impact water supply infrastructure	â€¢ Water supply shortages Claims on water provided by the San Pedro River far exceed the riverâ€™s ability to provide. A decades-long legal adjudication of the Gila River drainage continues to grind on at great expense to claimants and defendants, although it is clear that there will be insufficient water from the San Pedro to serve even a fraction of the claims. In this environment, every water user in the San Pedro River basin should be considered to be in a severe water shortage. The Saint David Irrigation District has the second oldest priority date on the river and is expected to receive a satisfactory adjudication. In this position, savings in the district on the order of 2,000 gallons per minute as detailed above would release a tremendous amount of water for other claimants downstream, relieving this severe water shortage. â€¢ Reliance on non-renewable water supplies The lack of a piped canal has prevented our irrigation district from providing sufficient and consistent irrigating water. Consequently, many district members with commercial and non-commercial crops have drilled wells to supplement or replace canal water from the district. Because the ongoing Gila River adjudication mentioned above induces significant uncertainty for district members, they have tended to drill very deep wells. They do this in order to be demonstrably outside the river sub flow and therefore avoid the adjudication. Unfortunately, this also means they are mining water that is at 600 feet or lower and is below a thick clay substrate. This ground water is generally considered non-renewable as the aquifer is unlikely to recharge in any reasonable time span. Therefore, one of the most important things we could to preserve these non-renewable aquifers is to make better use of the renewable river water. Piping our canal is the best thing we can do to make good use of this renewable water. â€¢ Groundwater depletion Please see the answer above, which describes the ongoing deep groundwater depletion driven by inefficient handling of surface and sub flow river water. â€¢ Natural disasters that may impact water supply infrastructure The existing open earthen canal serving the irrigation district cuts across a number of washes that drain into the San Pedro River. Siphons built from corrugated metal pipe draw canal water under these washes to allow the canal to cross. The 2022 monsoon season in St David was exceptionally wet and several washes breached their banks, filling siphons with sediment and washing out the canal leading up to the siphon. This sort of destruction is a regular occurrence and results in many hours of earth moving work to recover. A piped canal would be largely impervious to these floodwaters, and would allow water deliveries to continue.	The project dovetails into many other management plans by reducing the water demand on the San Pedro. The project location is within the Fort Huachuca Sentinel Landscape and aligns with their objectives. There are several wellâ€�established regional conservation collaboratives that share this common goal.	The cost of our activity will be the financial cost as described in this application, plus the districtâ€™s in-kind assistance to implement the piping. The benefits of piping will be 1) a dramatic decrease in water consumed and wasted by the earthen canal, 2) a commensurate decrease in energy consumed in pumping water with both electric and diesel pumps, 3) conservation of marginal lands that are currently abandoned or fallow due to lack of reliable irrigation, including a decrease in brush and mesquite incursion and commensurate reduction in soil erosion and topsoil loss, 4) a significant increase in the feasibility of irrigated agriculture for district members, 5) improved livelihoods within the community due to more profitable agriculture, 6) greater employment opportunities for at-risk populations due to expanded agricultural activity, 7) increased local production of fresh foods to offer on local markets, 8) improved wildlife habitat through increased forage and green spaces.	The effectiveness of our piping project will be immediately measured by the decrease in the amount of water pumped into the canal by the district. The district currently operates an electric and a diesel pump to feed the canal. Together they can produce about 3,000 gallons per minute. This is as much as three times more than most district members need, but such over pumping is necessary to compensate for the earthen canal. A piped canal could result in an immediate 50-70% decrease in the amount of water pumped. Over the period of several growing seasons, the effectiveness of the project will also be measured by the positive effects detailed in question 14. This will include increased production, increased amount of land being irrigated, increase in the number of producers, improvement in the financial success of producers, and an increase in the green footprint of the irrigation district. All of these positive effects will be achieved while decreasing energy consumption and other resource depletion.	The Long-Term Water Augmentation Fund is impractical because the district does not generate enough revenue to repay a loan. The project would have to be accomplished through a grant that has benefit to other stakeholders.	Yes, but only through other grant funding from another source. The district does not generate enough revenue to repay a loan. The project would have to be accomplished through a grant that has benefit to other stakeholders.	We intend to partner with one or more federal agencies to help provide funding for the conservation activity. Both BOR and NRCS have programs that fit well with this. We also have preliminary support from other agencies and NGO's in the vicinity.	We believe there are cost-sharing opportunities with other stakeholders within the watershed. This conservation opportunity will provide a significant positive impact to the river and aquifer that would be appealing to those parties.	The match will be comprised of a combination of district funds, federal grants and in-kind contributions from the district. Total match of $750,000.	Even though our irrigation district is a special tax district under county administration, the management is composed of volunteers. The district has a part time employee who serves as secretary, but all of the other managerial work is done on a volunteer basis. The district members have a variety of civil contracting and agricultural skills and equipment and have historically been generous with their time and resources. Nevertheless, our plan is have the system professionally engineered and a Civil Contractor will install the pipe and appurtenances. Our board president is Neil Gintz, founder of Engineered Concepts which contracts with Federal, State and Municipal customers. Pecan farmer and cattle rancher. Has also successfully implemented NRCS water efficiency grants. Other board members include: Houston Reynolds, BS in business management and pecan farmer Layne East, professional hay farmer and cattle rancher. Has successfully implemented NRCS water efficiency grants. We also have district members who are civil engineers and water management experts.	Piping our canal will significantly reduce the amount of management required to maintain our irrigation system. Currently, every water run is a mass collaborative effort to clean the canal, set up and manage volunteers to clean the grates each day, schedule and then constantly modify scheduled water turns, and resolve the many problems that result from an open canal.	As noted in Section 2, piping our canal will result in a windfall of water for other users. So, in this sense, it will promote real partnership. A piped canal can also run on a regular schedule and serve many more users. We anticipate recovering many customers who the district has lost over the years due to frustration with the challenges, losses and unpredictability of an open canal.	Most district water users are actively involved in supporting canal operations and will continue to be involved in the piping planning and installation. Other stakeholders in this watershed have expressed their support of the project. (See attached Letter of Support)	Yes, during the feasibility phase we intend to reach out to the public. The intent is to educate them about the project, and it's benefits along with create a forum for community input. Our design also includes accommodation for occasionally flooding of the existing canal with tail water to maintain the trees and vegetation that are important to Saint David and the wildlife habitat.	Yes, since we are within the boundary of the Fort Huachuca Sentinel Landscape, they support this conservation activity. The community is also strongly supportive of the canal and its operation, realizing the important role of irrigation in making Saint David an oasis in the desert. Most residents have chosen to buy property in Saint David because of these unique characteristics. Since piping the canal is the single most important thing we can do to preserve the irrigation district and our unique community, community members are very supportive.	In 2008, our irrigation district participated in a limited USDA grant that allowed us to install about a mile of corrugated metal pipe, as a first step towards piping the canal. This pipe is at either end of the canal. We know from this experience and from the results of this limited piping that our plan is very feasible. We also have some design improvements to incorporate into this new piping project based on our experience in using that pipe over the last 15 years.	As noted in question 27 above, the district installed some piping 15 years ago. So, this technology has been implemented and the existing pipe is providing the expected benefits in terms of water savings, protection of the canal, and ease of use. Unfortunately, these two short sections of pipe are at each end of the canal and the entire canal needs to be piped to extend those benefits. The technology has been proven and there are other irrigation districts within the state that have successfully implemented these systems.	Yes, there will be a Management Plan developed and implemented for the operation and on-going maintenance of the system. One significant element of this will be creating a permanent personnel position to manage and maintain the system which would be funded through the District's revenues.
43	Saint David Irrigation District	Canal Efficiency Construction, Phase 1	Programs or projects to improve groundwater conservation and surface water flows.	Program	This activity is a program as there will be multiple benchmarks: Purchase HDPE pipe Install Section 1 Install Section 2 Install Section 3 Install remaining sections determined by Engineering plan	Saint David	Cochise	6	19	Upper San Pedro	N/A	N/A	$3,000,000.00	$750,000.00	$3,750,000.00	1000	0.0002666666667	Assuming a 50%-70% loss in evaporation and ground absorption, we can deduce the savings by taken historic averages and reducing them accordingly. Arguably this savings estimate is conservative as it does not account for river water flow or private irrigation wells.	The conservation activity would be in perpetuity. The construction phase should be 18-24 months after the feasibility study is completed.	The Saint David Irrigation District was formed by the first settlers of Saint David in 1877 to use water from the San Pedro River for irrigation. It is because of this irrigation district and canal that the community of Saint David exists. The 9-mile-long canal is still essential to the community today and is essentially in the same state and when it was built with horse-drawn equipment. Water is turned into the canal from the river during the winter and spring by means of an earthen dam and during the drier summer months, river water is pumped into the canal from shallow wells. The canal winds through the community, providing essential irrigation water for agriculture, both commercial and non-commercial. The canal also provides water for trees and brush along its course, and habitat for a variety of species who depend on this oasis in the desert. However, the earthen canal is highly inefficient, losing up to 70% of its water from one end of the canal to the other. In addition to water lost to seepage, leaks and evaporation, blockage from debris in the open canal is a constant problem and requires constant maintenance to preserve the flow. We propose to pipe the canal to eliminate this water loss, dramatically reduce our water usage, and make irrigation and its benefits sustainable. Two short sections of the canal were piped over a decade ago, so we have experience with piping and see it as the single most important thing we could do to preserve water and improve efficiency.	All water is sourced from the San Pedro River, either from the river bed itself via diversion, or from shallow wells drawing water from the sub flow at a static height of about 30 feet.	Saint David has a population of about 2,000 residents in the irrigation district and as many as 4,000 when the surrounding dependent areas are included. The median age is 44, but 28% of the population is under 18 years of age. The community includes family-owned farms and ranches, employment from local businesses and government, and serves as a bedroom community for Sierra Vista and Tucson. In addition to those families whose principal occupation depends on irrigated agriculture, there is a majority who rely on outside employment to supplement their farming. Over the last decade, many young families have returned to the community to raise their families. This influx is supplemented by those individuals who were able to begin working remotely as a result of the COVID pandemic. This demographic trend has created a small renaissance in the community, increasing property values and inspiring a moderate building boom and the creation of more commercial properties. Eight farms within the irrigation district who sell their produce to the public in Saint David or through marketing networks have experienced growth in the last few years.	value1 value2 value3	â€¢ Long-term reductions in water use Piping the canal will realize an enormous reduction in long-term water use. Using the present system of unlined earthen canals, up to 70% of the pumped or dammed water is lost in transit. As an example, the largest of two pumps operated by the district pumps about 2,500 gallons per minute at full power. Seven miles downstream, at the opposite end of the canal network, that head of water might deliver 500 gallons per minute of useable irrigation water. A piped system would save almost all of this water, which is to say 2,000 gallons per minute of water. This would translate to a savings of 2,880,000 gallons of water saved per day. This is approximately 10-acre feet of water saved in a day. It is hard to imagine anything in our canal system that would yield such a dramatic long-term reduction in water use. This reduction in water use means there is more water left in the river or in the sub flow to be shared with other users downstream. â€¢ Improvements in water use efficiency. Replacing an 1880 earthen canal with a pipe is the definition of water use efficiency. â€¢ Improvements in water reliability One of the major challenges for irrigation district members now is the random nature of water delivery. Although the pumps can be started on a regular schedule, the actual flow of water to users is highly erratic due to fissures and sinks in the canal where water can disappear for weeks at a time. Every time the pumps are started, the canal loses at least several days of water to re-soak the ditch and start flowing regularly. This delay is further complicated by the growth of grass in the canal bottom, significantly slowing water delivery. In addition to this, debris is blown into the canal or dumped in the canal and must be cleaned on a daily basis from a dozen grates. In an irrigation system that relies on all volunteer labor, cleaning can be erratic and watering schedules are almost always random, depending on how water flowed to the previous user. The practical impact on district members is that water is rarely delivered on schedule and is very difficult to plan. A piped system would create a dramatic change in all of these factors and would greatly increase the number of users and their agricultural productivity.	Water supply shortages Reliance on non-renewable water supplies Groundwater depletion Natural disasters that may impact water supply infrastructure	â€¢ Water supply shortages Claims on water provided by the San Pedro River far exceed the riverâ€™s ability to provide. A decades-long legal adjudication of the Gila River drainage continues to grind on at great expense to claimants and defendants, although it is clear that there will be insufficient water from the San Pedro to serve even a fraction of the claims. In this environment, every water user in the San Pedro River basin should be considered to be in a severe water shortage. The Saint David Irrigation District has the second oldest priority date on the river and is expected to receive a satisfactory adjudication. In this position, savings in the district on the order of 2,000 gallons per minute as detailed above would release a tremendous amount of water for other claimants downstream, relieving this severe water shortage. â€¢ Reliance on non-renewable water supplies The lack of a piped canal has prevented our irrigation district from providing sufficient and consistent irrigating water. Consequently, many district members with commercial and non-commercial crops have drilled wells to supplement or replace canal water from the district. Because the ongoing Gila River adjudication mentioned above induces significant uncertainty for district members, they have tended to drill very deep wells. They do this in order to be demonstrably outside the river sub flow and therefore avoid the adjudication. Unfortunately, this also means they are mining water that is at 600 feet or lower and is below a thick clay substrate. This ground water is generally considered non-renewable as the aquifer is unlikely to recharge in any reasonable time span. Therefore, one of the most important things we could to preserve these non-renewable aquifers is to make better use of the renewable river water. Piping our canal is the best thing we can do to make good use of this renewable water. â€¢ Groundwater depletion Please see the answer above, which describes the ongoing deep groundwater depletion driven by inefficient handling of surface and sub flow river water. â€¢ Natural disasters that may impact water supply infrastructure The existing open earthen canal serving the irrigation district cuts across a number of washes that drain into the San Pedro River. Siphons built from corrugated metal pipe draw canal water under these washes to allow the canal to cross. The 2022 monsoon season in St David was exceptionally wet and several washes breached their banks, filling siphons with sediment and washing out the canal leading up to the siphon. This sort of destruction is a regular occurrence and results in many hours of earth moving work to recover. A piped canal would be largely impervious to these floodwaters, and would allow water deliveries to continue.	The project dovetails into many other management plans by reducing the water demand on the San Pedro. The project location is within the Fort Huachuca Sentinel Landscape and aligns with their objectives. There are several wellâ€�established regional conservation collaboratives that share this common goal.	The cost of our activity will be the financial cost as described in this application, plus the districtâ€™s in-kind assistance to implement the piping. The benefits of piping will be 1) a dramatic decrease in water consumed and wasted by the earthen canal, 2) a commensurate decrease in energy consumed in pumping water with both electric and diesel pumps, 3) conservation of marginal lands that are currently abandoned or fallow due to lack of reliable irrigation, including a decrease in brush and mesquite incursion and commensurate reduction in soil erosion and topsoil loss, 4) a significant increase in the feasibility of irrigated agriculture for district members, 5) improved livelihoods within the community due to more profitable agriculture, 6) greater employment opportunities for at-risk populations due to expanded agricultural activity, 7) increased local production of fresh foods to offer on local markets, 8) improved wildlife habitat through increased forage and green spaces.	The effectiveness of our piping project will be immediately measured by the decrease in the amount of water pumped into the canal by the district. The district currently operates an electric and a diesel pump to feed the canal. Together they can produce about 3,000 gallons per minute. This is as much as three times more than most district members need, but such over pumping is necessary to compensate for the earthen canal. A piped canal could result in an immediate 50-70% decrease in the amount of water pumped. Over the period of several growing seasons, the effectiveness of the project will also be measured by the positive effects detailed in question 14. This will include increased production, increased amount of land being irrigated, increase in the number of producers, improvement in the financial success of producers, and an increase in the green footprint of the irrigation district. All of these positive effects will be achieved while decreasing energy consumption and other resource depletion.	The Long-Term Water Augmentation Fund is impractical because the district does not generate enough revenue to repay a loan. The project would have to be accomplished through a grant that has benefit to other stakeholders.	Yes, but only through other grant funding from another source. The district does not generate enough revenue to repay a loan. The project would have to be accomplished through a grant that has benefit to other stakeholders.	We intend to partner with one or more federal agencies to help provide funding for the conservation activity. Both BOR and NRCS have programs that fit well with this. We also have preliminary support from other agencies and NGO's in the vicinity.	We believe there are cost-sharing opportunities with other stakeholders within the watershed. This conservation opportunity will provide a significant positive impact to the river and aquifer that would be appealing to those parties.	The match will be comprised of a combination of district funds, federal grants and in-kind contributions from the district. Total match of $750,000.	Even though our irrigation district is a special tax district under county administration, the management is composed of volunteers. The district has a part time employee who serves as secretary, but all of the other managerial work is done on a volunteer basis. The district members have a variety of civil contracting and agricultural skills and equipment and have historically been generous with their time and resources. Nevertheless, our plan is have the system professionally engineered and a Civil Contractor will install the pipe and appurtenances. Our board president is Neil Gintz, founder of Engineered Concepts which contracts with Federal, State and Municipal customers. Pecan farmer and cattle rancher. Has also successfully implemented NRCS water efficiency grants. Other board members include: Houston Reynolds, BS in business management and pecan farmer Layne East, professional hay farmer and cattle rancher. Has successfully implemented NRCS water efficiency grants. We also have district members who are civil engineers and water management experts.	Piping our canal will significantly reduce the amount of management required to maintain our irrigation system. Currently, every water run is a mass collaborative effort to clean the canal, set up and manage volunteers to clean the grates each day, schedule and then constantly modify scheduled water turns, and resolve the many problems that result from an open canal.	As noted in Section 2, piping our canal will result in a windfall of water for other users. So, in this sense, it will promote real partnership. A piped canal can also run on a regular schedule and serve many more users. We anticipate recovering many customers who the district has lost over the years due to frustration with the challenges, losses and unpredictability of an open canal.	Most district water users are actively involved in supporting canal operations and will continue to be involved in the piping planning and installation. Other stakeholders in this watershed have expressed their support of the project. (See attached Letter of Support)	Yes, during the feasibility phase we intend to reach out to the public. The intent is to educate them about the project, and it's benefits along with create a forum for community input. Our design also includes accommodation for occasionally flooding of the existing canal with tail water to maintain the trees and vegetation that are important to Saint David and the wildlife habitat.	Yes, since we are within the boundary of the Fort Huachuca Sentinel Landscape, they support this conservation activity.The community is also strongly supportive of the canal and its operation, realizing the important role of irrigation in making Saint David an oasis in the desert. Most residents have chosen to buy property in Saint David because of these unique characteristics. Since piping the canal is the single most important thing we can do to preserve the irrigation district and our unique community, community members are very supportive.	In 2008, our irrigation district participated in a limited USDA grant that allowed us to install about a mile of corrugated metal pipe, as a first step towards piping the canal. This pipe is at either end of the canal. We know from this experience and from the results of this limited piping that our plan is very feasible. We also have some design improvements to incorporate into this new piping project based on our experience in using that pipe over the last 15 years.	As noted in question 27 above, the district installed some piping 15 years ago. So, this technology has been implemented and the existing pipe is providing the expected benefits in terms of water savings, protection of the canal, and ease of use. Unfortunately, these two short sections of pipe are at each end of the canal and the entire canal needs to be piped to extend those benefits. The technology has been proven and there are other irrigation districts within the state that have successfully implemented these systems.	Yes, there will be a Management Plan developed and implemented for the operation and on-going maintenance of the system. One significant element of this will be creating a permanent personnel position to manage and maintain the system which would be funded through the District's revenues.
44	Peoria City of	Remote Sensing Analysis to Assist Water Conservation Effort	Education and research programs on how to reduce water consumption, increase water efficiency or increase water reuse.	Project		Peoria Arizona	Maricopa	8	8	ADWR Designated Watershed: Phoenix AMA Subbasins: West Salt River Valley, Lake Pleasant and Agua Fria	City of Peoria, Maricopa County, Arizona, 8th Congressional District, Phoenix AMA		$250,000.00	$62,500.00	$312,500.00	100	0.00032	This is difficult to quantify because we do not know where and how much area is considered high water use nor where landscape hot spots are. This study will help us evaluate area and the location of high water use landscapes in our city. It will better allow conservation to target grass removal and landscape consultations to the areas with higher potential water savings. We know there are more than 15 acres of non-functional turf in just two dozen HOAs we have looked at. Assuming a savings of 50 gallons per square foot of grass conversions, that would equal 100 acre feet of water saved annually from the very limited data we have. Targeting outreach to the areas where there are robust potential water savings would increase potential savings well beyond 100 acre feet. For residential customers we know that there is an average water savings of 17% when we conduct landscape consultations. Targeting areas and increased marketing where needed would expand these savings as well.	1.5 Years	A third party consultant or research team would be hired to perform the following research/study tasks: â€¢ Classify residential and non-residential plant/surface cover within City limits. â€¢ Classify parcels as low, medium or high potential water use based on remote sensing data. â€¢ Identify changes in land cover between 2015 and most recent imagery that indicate higher water use. â€¢ Using infrared data, create a heat map layer that allows for urban heat island and shade analysis to support heat resiliency across the city Expected deliverables include: â€¢ Land cover classification as a GIS shapefile and as a raster file for all imagery evaluated. â€¢ Water use classification as a GIS shapefile with full parcel information, the summarized spectral indices and the determined classification. â€¢ Land cover classification with parcel boundaries as a GIS shapefile. Attribute table will have percent land cover class for each defined cover type for each year of imagery evaluated and the water use class for each year evaluated. â€¢ Heat layer classification and GIS shapefile with defined categories. â€¢ A written technical report summarizing findings of the study including recommendations. Part of the strategy to increase our success in water conservation is to leverage the use of data for water use analysis. The more we collect, clean up, and improve our data, the more impactful our decisions will be from proper analysis. We expect this analysis will lead to a better understanding of where and how our water is used and how we might be able to encourage development and properly target existing programs utilizing appropriate land cover uses consistent with our water conservation goals.	This would impact the entire City of Peoria, which includes the following water sources: â€¢ Central Arizona Project (CAP) â€¢ Salt River Project (SRP) â€¢ Groundwater Recovery	Peoria covers nearly 179 square miles and is home to over 200,000 residents making it Arizonaâ€™s ninth largest city in terms of population. Ranked the Number 1 City to Live, Work and Play in Arizona by AZ Big Media, Peoria is a premier and thriving community that welcomes new families and new businesses. Peoria residents enjoy outdoor trails and parks and is home to a scenic desert oasis - Lake Pleasant Regional Park. Surrounded by the Sonoran Desert, it is an outdoor enthusiastâ€™s dream for action and adventure. Peoria is also fast-growing and ideally located in the northwest Greater Phoenix region and is within minutes of TSMC, one of the worldâ€™s largest microchip manufacturing companies. Peoria is a business-friendly community with lower costs of doing business. The Mayor and city leadership promote a pro-business environment that has identified industry sectors such as semiconductors, finance, healthcare, bioscience, and innovation as high-value targets for business attraction.	value1 value2	â€¢ Long-term reductions in water use By identifying areas with high water use landscapes, we can target grass removal projects and landscape consultation programs to realize some water savings. â€¢ Improvements in water use efficiency. By identifying areas with high water use landscapes, we can also get more efficient with our water use.	Water supply shortages Groundwater depletion	â€¢ Water supply shortages By reducing our water use, we can help address the potential water supply shortage issues that might affect the CAP system. â€¢ Groundwater depletion By reducing our water use, we can realistically use less of our groundwater, thereby slowing depletion of our aquifers.	This program will align with the Cityâ€™s recently completed â€˜Sustainable Peoria Planâ€™, as well as the State of Arizonaâ€™s 5th Management Plan, which both set significant water conservation goals to achieve a long-term reliable water supply for our City.	The cost for the third party consultant and/or academic research team is expected to be under the $250,000 project limit. This activity would improve our Cityâ€™s data, leading to analysis that would allow for better water conservation practices and results.	Through the implementation of new policies, guidelines and standards. Rebate and landscape consultation programs offered by Peoria have water savings that are analyzed annually. Increased participation in these programs due to this project and analysis will have a water savings impact.	This program does not meet the requirements for funding through WIFAâ€™s Long-Term Water Augmentation Fund or Water Supply Development Fund.	Grant funding will allow Peoria to increase the scope and accelerate the schedule for completing the project. We do not have the resources to do this work â€˜in houseâ€™ at the moment. We would have to set aside some budget in future fiscal years to accommodate this work. This grant would allow us to conduct the study quicker and allow for the benefits to be achieved sooner.	The proposed water conservation activity will help Peoria leverage funding available in our current Capital Improvement Program (CIP). The CIP has been heavily burdened recently by increases needed to address possible water supply shortages due to concerns related to the Colorado River.	We could potentially partner with an academic institution.	The required matching funding for this program, $62,500, will be sourced entirely through the Peoria Water Enterprise Fund (Water Rates).	We have dedicated funding, staff, and political support to support this project. The project will be managed by the Cityâ€™s Water Services Department, in conjunction with the Cityâ€™s Finance Department. The person overseeing the project will be Daniel Kiel, the Cityâ€™s Water Services Planning & Engineering Manager. Daniel is a professional civil engineer registered in the State of Arizona with over 15 years of experience managing similar projects, as well as experience working on projects funded with grant monies.	The Peoria Water Services Department is adequately staffed to ensure successful completion of this program. There are no concerns with regards to human or other required resources.	Yes, especially if we work with local academic institutions.	Peoria citizens broadly support water conservation and efficiency activities, especially when it comes to city operations. Comments received during the recent updating of Peoriaâ€™s sustainability plan indicate a desire for a community that is efficient with the resources available. Citizens also expressed concerns for future water shortages, and with the Colorado River in particular.	The City of Peoria Water Services Department currently executes a robust education and awareness program for issues related to water supply and conservation. This project, and the results of the associated efforts, will become part of the Peoria success story communicated to our citizens.	This type of activity is consistent with the goals outlined in our Sustainable Peoria Plan, which received our communityâ€™s support.	This project closely follows work performed by other municipalities within Arizona. We do not anticipate any significant challenges to project completion.	If a new activity, has the proposed project, technology, or technique previously been implemented? This is a new activity to Peoria, although other communities in Arizona have performed similar work.	Results from this study will lead to new best management practices being created that would impact our guidelines and standards for new development.
45	Phoenix City of	Phoenix Water Conservation Corps	Programs and projects that reduce water use Per A.R.S. 49-1332(B)(2)	Program	This is a program proposal. The Water Conservation Corps program would occur over the span of four years in three stages. Year one would be the Planning and preparation stage. (Summer 2023-Summer 2024) Years two-three would be the Working stage where the direct water conservation work would occur. (Summer 2024-Summer 2025 and Summer 2025-Summer 2026) Within the two years of the Working stage, three phases would operate cyclically and continuously. These three phases are: Phase A: This is the most important phase from which water savings will result. For our purposes, this will be called the "doing" phase. It refers to the â€œdoingâ€�, or the implementation of known water conservation solutions. Phase B: This is the â€œlearningâ€� phase. Essential information will be gathered and utilized to optimize water conservation outreach programs. â€¯ Phase C: The â€œadaptingâ€� phase is the sustainable phase in which the program's management will be adjusted according to what is learned. Year 4 would be the Review stage. (Summer 2026-Summer 2027)	Phoenix	Maricopa	1 3 4 8	2 3 8 11 12 22 24 26 27 28	This conservation activity will occur in the City of Phoenix, which covers the Middle Gila Watershed (Lower Salt sub watershed, Agua Fria sub watershed, and the Middle Gila sub watershed).	Phoenix Active Management Area	N/A	$3,000,000.00	$2,000,000.00	$5,000,000.00	1600	0.00032	The estimated water savings in acre-feet per year would range from 383 to 1,600 AF./// a. This range is based on two estimates that we have found to quantify the impact of individual water audits or checkups in residential settings. b. The estimate of 12,000 gallons saved per "consultation" was derived from national AWE data and aligns with results of a study conducted by the city of Tucson. c. The estimate of 50,000 gallons saved per "consultation" was derived from results that were shared by regional partner cities Tempe and Chandler./// Year one: 383 - 1,600 acre-feet Year two: 479 - 1,995 acre-feet (now including decaying results from the previous year) Year three: 120 - 500 acre-feet (no new consultations, only decaying results) Year four: 30 - 125 acre-feet (no new consultations, only decaying results)/// Total for the two years of "working" phase: 861 - 3,595 AF /// We have used a conservative estimate of a 25% rate of degradation in water savings after a single consultation. Other local cities in the Phoenix Metropolitan area provided an estimate of 50,000 gallons saved per year after the completion of one water audit or direct water conservation consultation. Our estimate of the 25% degradation rate could be an overestimate in some instances, but it is likely an accurate estimate for behavior-based consultations like improved irrigation practices. A similar percentage was used in the AWE study (ours is 25% and theirs was 20%). The degradation rate is included because it is expected, based on AWE data, that the water savings that result from the consultations are not â€œpermanentâ€� or consistent. To be realistic, the water savings degradation rate is included to address the following possibilities: behavior is not maintained, equipment fails or a leak occurs and is not identified, the ownership of the property is transferred, the property landscape changes, etc. Total for the lifespan of water savings as a result of only two years of work, including decaying results in following years where work is not occurring: 1,012 to 4,220 acre-feet. /// Calculation explanation: The estimates for water savings and cost have been very cautious and conservative estimates. Based on communications with a local potential vendor, the cost of a crew of six conservation corps members is estimated to be $8,400 per week. Only five of the six members are assumed to do consultations, as the other provides supervisory and coordinating assistance. Five functional corps members are estimated to perform 100 consultations per pay period. In one year, we estimate that four crews can perform 10,400 consultations. It would cost approximately $1,747,200 to pay the crew members for a year of work. This is a cost that ranges from $4,561 to $1,092 per acre-foot in the first year. With an investment of two years, and the accumulated benefits of the degrading savings, the program cost ranges from $3,460 to $828 per acre-foot in the lifetime of the programâ€™s water saving results./// To review the conservative nature of these calculations: The local potential vendor offers a crew work structure of â€œeight days on and six days offâ€�. We estimate that there will be 208 working days in any year and 156 lost to respite. The work structure is 10 hours per working day in this estimate./// Scenario A: Of a crew of six people, we are assuming that only five are functional. We are assuming that any one person will achieve two-and-a-half consultations each day. Because we plan to pair the crew members, we are estimating five consultations per pair per day. If we have four crews of 24 members total, and only 20 members are assumed to be functional, in one 4-day work week, there would be 200 consultations total. In a year, there would be 10,400 consultations total. Using national estimates of water savings, this would equal 383 AF in year one. Using local estimates of water savings, this could equal 1,600 AF in year one. /// Scenario B: In a less conservative scenario, if we have a crew of six people and we assume that all six crew members are functional, the number of consultations increases. Additionally, if we assess the 10-hour workday and devote seven of those hours for consultations (reserving 3 for lunch, rest, and travel, assuming a consultation will last one hour) maintaining the paired structure, we can increase the numbers again. In this case, four crews of six people performing three-and-a-half consultations per person would yield 84 total consultations per day. In 208 working days, that estimate rises to 17,472 total consultations. Using national estimates of water savings, this would equal 645 AF in year one. Using local estimates of water savings, this could equal 2,680 AF in year one./// Continuing the scenarios and applying the degradation of 25%, the program would play out as follows:/// Scenario A: Year one, range of 383 to 1,600 acre feet saved. Year two, range of 479 to 1,995 acre-feet saved. Year three, work has stopped, but degraded savings continue and yield 120 to 500 acre-feet of savings. In Year four, degraded savings continue and yield a range of 30 to 125 acre-feet of savings. Total project savings range: 1,012 to 4,220 acre-feet./// Scenario B: Year one, range of 645 to 2,680 acre-feet saved. Year two, range of 804 to 3,350 acre-feet saved. Year three, work has stopped, but degraded savings continue and yield a range of 201 to 837 acre-feet of savings. In Year four, degraded savings continue and yield a range of 50 to 210 acre-feet of savings. Total project savings range: 1,700 to 7,077 acre-feet.	There will be one year for planning before the water savings work begins. The year will be spent developing relevant software, preparing educational and promotional materials, designing the Corps training program, and primarily going through the procurement process to establish a contract with the partner organization. Staff will also need time after the contract is established to coordinate with the partner organization. Two years of active work during the program will deliver two years of â€œactiveâ€� water savings. The active work that would be funded by this opportunity would begin in 2024 and conclude in 2026. After the active work concludes, passive water savings results will continue.	Direct community-based water conservation is the approach for the novel program described further in this proposal. The proposed program will be executed as a partnership between the City of Phoenix Water Services Department and (a) local conservation organization(s). A conservation corps is a model of program operations which traditionally employs young adults and tasks them with achieving a conservation-related task. Historically, these activities have included trail management in wild spaces, watershed restoration in remote headwaters, restoration of parks and recreation sites, and even invasive species management. More recently, the corps programs (which occur nationwide) have begun to perform conservation work in urban spaces. These urban conservation projects have included urban forestry, graffiti removal, landscape maintenance, and community outreach (and more!). The conservation corps is traditionally managed by a nonprofit organization or a government agency. The structure of the Corps is intended to provide natural resource-related opportunities to young adults as they begin to enter the workforce. It also leverages the strength and ingenuity of the young adults and applies their unique perspectives and abilities to a â€œlocalâ€� problem, typically. This program proposes to employ Corps members and task them with applying known water conservation solutions in individual, residential instances. This would involve Corps members canvassing the city, going door-to-door (or having a scheduled visit), and identifying willing residents who would participate in a voluntary water conservation consultation. The consultation would entail an assessment of the homeownerâ€™s property, their landscape type, irrigation methods and behaviors, leak identification, and other water waste sources that may exist on the property. A customized plan to increase water efficiency would be developed. The Corps members would discuss the results with the resident and provide a report of their findings. With permission, the Corps members could implement the recommended solutions. For example, if the customer is found to be watering their outdoor plants excessively, the Corps members could work with the homeowner to properly set their irrigation controller. After implementing the solution in collaboration with the homeowner, the Corps member would follow up by collecting feedback about the homeownerâ€™s water conservation interests, concerns, and attitudes. The Corps member would collect feedback on the process and outcome of the consultation and would determine whether the homeowner would be interested in additional education or assistance opportunities. The Corps member would refer the homeowner to relevant opportunities. This process is what we will refer to as â€œdirect outreachâ€�. The City of Phoenix, along with many other valley cities, has implemented water conservation programs for many years. The programs have always included education and outreach elements. Few or none have included direct solutions and action elements. Outreach and education rely on the customer to achieve water savings. Programs that create actionable solutions are more likely to deliver water savings than outreach or education alone. Direct outreach combines the actionable, solution-oriented methods with the existing educational methods to create the most durable water conservation programs. The cumulative results of this program can contribute to the growth of an existing water conservation culture among the city's residents. The large spatial dispersal of the consultations will increase the attention and interest in water conservation across the city. If our program is successful, it could become a more permanent program, and it could be replicated by other cities in Arizona or across the country.	The source of the water that will be conserved could come from any part of the City of Phoenix's water supply portfolio. This includes the Colorado River (Central Arizona Project), the Salt and Verde Rivers (SRP), and groundwater from the Phoenix Active Management Area.	The City of Phoenix has a population of 1.6 million people; the demographic composition is approximately 41% White, 7.3% Black or African American, 2.1% Native American, and 42% Hispanic or Latino. The median household income is $64, 927, and the city has a 15% rate of persons in poverty. Phoenix serves an average of two people per household. Phoenix is home to many high-tech, IT, renewable energy, and bioscience industries. The city's economic base also includes financial and advanced business services enterprises as well as a robust health sciences sector. All households and businesses would benefit from increased water savings with long term impacts to the cityâ€™s water supply from reductions in demand. Reductions of discretionary residential outdoor water use and water waste (leaks, irrigation inefficiencies, etc.) can lower a residentâ€™s water bill and can also have a positive impact upon the entire region. At a large scale, when water inefficiency is reduced, Phoenixâ€™s water supply portfolio would benefit from reduced demand. Demand reductions increase our ability to adapt to variable supply conditions and regional climatic shifts like aridification.	value1 value2 value3	â€¢ Long-term reductions in water use Outdoor water use makes up approximately 65% of residential service water deliveries. It is estimated that nearly every resident in the city experiences some form of irrigation inefficiency, whether as over-watering, over-spray, leaks, or poor adjustment to seasonal variations. It is envisioned that Corps members will help residents to complete relevant applications for other Phoenix water saving opportunities (rebates, efficiency upgrades, etc.). These other opportunities can deliver relatively permanent water savings. â€¢ Improvements in water use efficiency. Water with an outdoor end use, usually irrigation or pools, is estimated to be 65% of the residential water that is delivered to residents of the greater Phoenix metropolitan area. Widespread, efficient irrigation practices can result in huge water savings. This program can achieve increased water efficiency and responsibility in residential water use. A large barrier for achieving residential water conservation is awareness, but the next largest barrier is willingness. This program incentivizes efficiency by making efficiency an easy choice: we will do it for you. The conservation corps will fill the willingness gap between customer thoughts and customer actions. Efficiency is achieved by changing customer behaviors and resources. Efficiency options are already well known. The barriers to implementing the solutions are ability and willingness, and the Corps can provide both! â€¢ Improvements in water reliability This program can improve water reliability by managing discretionary water demand today and planning for sustained water use efficiency and responsibility. Sustained water use efficiency and responsibility can reduce vulnerability to water supply shortages by reducing overall demand.	Water supply shortages Reliance on non-renewable water supplies Groundwater depletion Water quality issues Natural disasters that may impact water supply infrastructure	â€¢ Water supply shortages This program can improve water reliability by managing discretionary water demand today and planning for sustained water use efficiency and responsibility. Sustained water use efficiency and responsibility can reduce vulnerability to water supply shortages by reducing overall demand. â€¢ Reliance on non-renewable water supplies This program can improve water reliability by managing discretionary water demand today and planning for sustained water use efficiency and responsibility. Sustained water use efficiency and responsibility can reduce vulnerability to water supply shortages by reducing overall demand and reducing reliance on non-renewable water supplies. â€¢ Groundwater depletion This program can improve water reliability by managing discretionary water demand today and planning for sustained water use efficiency and responsibility. Sustained water use efficiency and responsibility can reduce vulnerability to water supply shortages by reducing overall demand and reducing reliance on non-renewable water supplies like groundwater. â€¢ Water quality issues Efficient irrigation could reduce overspray and urban runoff. Pesticides/herbicides and nutrient/substrate amendments which are applied to residential landscapes could stay where they are placed: on the residentâ€™s property. â€¢ Natural disasters that may impact water supply infrastructure Reductions in discretionary water demand increase resiliency to water supply variability; water supply variability is a consequence of natural disasters, like sustained drought.	The Water Conservation Corpsâ€™ activities will directly support the goals of efficient and responsible water use which are covered in the following plans: The Phoenix Active Management Area, Fifth Management Plan- the 1980 Groundwater Management Act of the State of Arizona; the City of Phoenix Water Resources Plan; the City of Phoenix Drought Management Plan and Water Use Reduction Guidelines; the Phoenix City Councilâ€™s 2019 Final Report from the Water Conservation Ad Hoc Committee. In the Phoenix City Councilâ€™s 2019 Final Report from the Water Conservation Ad Hoc Committee, certain opportunities were identified through community engagement and deliberation. These included outdoor residential water use. A solution that was put forth by the Committee was the idea of a residential landscape water audit. The proposed program leverages local ideas and operationalizes them in a community-based way.	The cost of this program is monetary. Monetary cost is also associated with staff time, physical and technological assets, and conservation supplies. There are no known environmental costs of the program. The positive environmental impacts include lower water demand and thus lower withdrawal of available water supplies. Additionally, reductions in urban runoff could have positive water and environmental quality impacts. A community benefit of this program is increased capacity to achieve water conservation solutions. The solutions we offer can only be effective if they are accessible (available to most people) and actionable (easily accomplished). The water conservation corps will perform work for Phoenix water customers for free, and they will deliver water saving solutions by directly implementing them for voluntary participants. This program delivers water savings by making solutions accessible. While other proposals may have environmental costs, this program only delivers benefits. Where other programs have economic drawbacks, this program leverages federal funding sources and local government resources to empower a local nonprofit partner. This program proposes to deliver community-based, specific solutions, rather than relying on blanketed, ineffective, sweeping oversight. This program empowers the community rather than mandating its behavior. This program yields real, direct water savings rather than hoping that they may result indirectly.	The effectiveness of the program will have the following metrics: - gallons of water saved annually - gallons of water saved annually per consultation - number of consultations per year - quality of interactions per consultation - number or types of outreach per consultation - spread and physical distribution of consultation services - maintenance of water savings, per consultation. Program outputs will include the number of consultations, the number of hours that are worked, and the number of corps members that receive training while participating in the program. Program outcomes will be water savings, a bigger applicant field for water and natural resource-related positions, and improved community attitudes toward water conservation solutions. Cumulatively, the outcome will be sustainable water behavior changes among customers of the City of Phoenixâ€™s water utility.	The Water Conservation Corps program is not eligible for funding from WIFAâ€™s Long-Term Water Augmentation Fund or Water Supply Development Fund.	No, the Corps would likely not occur without this grant funding. This is a unique and novel idea. Similar programs are being planned by the city; we are looking to hire permanent staff to perform residential audits, but it will not be able to match the scale that the Corps program could deliver.	We will already be leveraging applicable enterprise funds to employ staff whose work would complement this program. It is the intent of the City of Phoenix to apply for Bureau of Reclamation funds to maximize the dollar amount that can contribute to the program and increase the water savings. We are not aware of additional funding opportunities currently.	The city has not identified any cost sharing opportunities at the time of this application. We are open to these opportunities in the future, especially if we can expand the impact of this program to other valley cities.	The Phoenix Water Services Department will be the source of any matching funds, in the amount of the 25% match requirement. If given the full requested amount of $3,000,000, we will exceed the minimum match with an estimated $2 million. Match funding will come from the relevant work hours of program management staff. We will also partially fund the contract partnership and cover program supplies.	The Water Conservation Team includes five Water Resource Specialists. Ginny Svec is the Youth Outreach and Education Specialist. She will aid the program manager and apply her credentials: Master of Education and two years of teaching experience in general education and science. Aaron Boydston is the teamâ€™s Quantification Specialist. He will work with the program manager to track and quantify the water savings and community impacts of the program. Additional team members will aid the Program Manager when needed. Program Manager, Emilie Brown: Emilie is the water conservation teamâ€™s adult outreach and education specialist. Emilie will manage the program and serve as the partner liaison. Emilie has 3 years of experience working with a variety of community, nonprofit, government, and tribal partners. She has expertise in environmental policy and a focus on holistic natural resource management, promoting incorporation of community perspectives in shaping their own solutions. She is a degree candidate for both a Master of Public Policy (Environmental Policy) and a Master of Nonprofit Leadership and Management from Arizona State University. Erin Andres is the Water Resource Administrator and oversees the Water Conservation Team. She brings 20+ years of municipal planning and management experience to the table and will guide the Program Manager and supporting staff as they execute the program. Max Wilson is a Deputy Director in the Water Services Department whose responsibilities include the oversight and support of the Water Conservation Team and Erin Andres. Max has previous experience working with nonprofit organizations, regional conservation corps groups, and other community partners. He will support Erin Andres and the Program Manager as they execute the program. Cynthia Campbell is the Water Resources Management Advisor for the City of Phoenix. She has over ten years of experience in working in Arizona water policy and managing Phoenix's water supply portfolio. She will provide guidance and support to Max Wilson, Erin Andres, and the Program Manager, as needed.	Existing staff will administer this program. Additional staff are already planned for hire (and the associated personnel costs are already accounted for in the upcoming annual budget): they will complement the activities of this program by working in greater depth and detail with voluntary customers. It is possible that we would need or would host a partner liaison; this depends on the capabilities of the program partner.	Yes, it will promote collaborative partnerships. The program itself is a partnership, and ideally our partner will be one with its own legacy of conservation. Collaboration between a public utility and an environmental nonprofit organization to address one of the greatest urban environmental challenges of our generation in a community-based way is one of the strongest examples of collaborative partnerships which address water related issues in the Southwest that could possibly exist.	This program has been developed because of cumulative stakeholder feedback, industry concerns, and institutional gaps regarding water conservation outreach and education. The program is designed to simultaneously perform stakeholder engagement while also providing education and aiding voluntary participants as they implement water conservation solutions. The results of this program will be used to adapt water conservation methods that are implemented by the City of Phoenix; we plan to publish the results of this program and lead a continuing discussion with our community of service about what their water conservation barriers are and how we may be able to help lower them. This program is the spearhead of modern, municipal water conservation outreach in Phoenix: we listen to our customers, and we help them to implement solutions. We do not assume to know their problems without asking and we do not give blanket solutions for highly individual challenges. The 2019 Water Conservation Ad Hoc Final Report, issued by the Phoenix City Council, identified audits and residential outdoor water use as two major opportunities for water conservation.	Public outreach is the basis of this program. The program is designed to deliver direct water conservation solutions through residential outreach while simultaneously gathering feedback from residents and/or customers. Additionally, the Corps members will distribute and promote free, written information about water conservation solutions. The Corps will perform adult education daily, giving many opportunities for the public to learn about the Program and the solutions that are offered. The Corps members will communicate the importance of water conservation actions and emphasize the major water saving impacts that can result from making simple lifestyle changes. Additionally, Corps members will notify residents of additional water conservation solution or education opportunities and facilitate those connections if the resident is interested. Why is the outreach in this Program different than outreach you may normally expect from a municipal water provider? Rather than employing traditional municipal outreach methods, we plan to practice direct outreach. OLD OUTREACH: The structure of traditional municipal outreach: a customer comes to you (there must be customer interest), you teach the customer about the solution (the customer must be willing to learn), and then outreach stops. After the teaching opportunity, we have relied on customers to act on the knowledge. This also requires them to maintain that interest, retain the knowledge, and devote money, time, and/or labor to the solution. Additionally, the outreach method relies on the customer to be consistent. NEW OUTREACH: Direct, collaborative outreach: WE go to the customer. The customer voluntarily accepts our help. We teach the customer by DOING. We show them the solution and do it for them. We give the customer MORE opportunities to learn and apply solutions by sharing resources and efficiency opportunities. We return to the customer and help them maintain the solutions we offered. The direct approach eliminates every element that the municipal outreach method requiresâ€¦ direct outreach only requires customer consent. These elements are barriers to water savings. The corps structure lowers barriers.	In the Phoenix City Councilâ€™s 2019 Water Conservation Ad Hoc Committee final report, certain opportunities were identified through community engagement and deliberation. There is a â€œpotential for efficiencyâ€� in outdoor water use on residential properties, or rather, a noted inefficiency. This presents an opportunity, and it will be the focus of the proposed program here. Another proposed subcommittee goal: â€œexamine opportunities to assist property owners in improving efficiencies in landscaping/outdoor water use through voluntary programs.â€� Specifically, the committee identified â€œauditsâ€� as a potential water savings opportunity. Additionally, there has been preliminary survey data collected by Phoenix Water Conservation Team staff from the Spring 2023 outreach season that supports the publicâ€™s interest in and need for irrigation solutions.	This program is perhaps more feasible than any other conservation program because it will rely on a reputable local partner for the shared responsibility of success. The local partner that we envision working with would have a demonstrated ability to successfully implement conservation programs through partnerships with government, nonprofit, and tribal partners. We discussed this program idea with one such potential partner and their insights have informed the cost calculations and capability descriptions for this program proposal. The future partner of this program would ideally be supported by a national organization and have many similar experiences and successes to draw upon. This program is one of the most feasible ways to deliver measurable water savings in a cost and time efficient way. It has the added benefit of giving valuable work experience to motivated, local, young adults. Our staff here in the Water Department are fully capable of supporting this programâ€™s success and are very much looking forward to the opportunity to do so!	This program is an adaptation and improvement of existing water efficiency check-up or audit formats. Water audits, efficiency check-ups, and landscape consultations have been performed in different forms by the City of Phoenix and other Valley cities; we have Homeownerâ€™s Association and Commercial-Industrial-Institutional consultation programs that are active. We are already planning to expand our conservation staff to include permanent staff who will manage the performance of more audits, check-ups, or consultations in residential settings. The Water Conservation Corps program will increase the scale at which we are able to perform this work. We will match the large footprint of the city and its many customers with the larger magnitude of consultations. The Water Conservation Corpsâ€™ work would directly complement the work of the planned efficiency team by bridging the gap between water conservation outreach and direct, water conservation ACTION. The NEED for water conservation has surpassed the previous methods of education and outreach; we need a way to provide direct assistance and make the water savings happen. We cannot rely on customers alone to implement the solutions that we advise; this program is a way to help them to implement the solutions without requiring any additional customer time, money, or willingness. This program provides solutions for residents that are free of charge, free of penalties, and customized to their individual challenges. And we intend to provide support and consistency for participating customers by following up on the results of the consultations. The structure of this program, which leverages a partnership with a local nonprofit organization, is novel, but it is not without basis. The work that is expected to result from the Water Conservation Corps has also been performed in similar ways in other states; there are urban, residential conservation projects that are performed in partnership between local water utilities and nonprofit organizations of conservation corps persons. Additionally, examples of local, urban forestry partnerships show the power of collaboration between government and nonprofits to solve natural resource challenges.	The City of Phoenix is subject to the Gallons Per Capita program. The BMP requirements do not directly apply. However, many of the BMP requirements from the Fifth Management Plan are still met by the City of Phoenix throughout our teamâ€™s conservation activities; the BMPs are minimum requirements for the Non-Per Capita Conservation Program that are exceeded by participants of the GPCD program. The following BMPs are supported by this program as means of â€œreducing water consumption or increasing water use efficiencyâ€�: - Public Engagement (appendix 5b, Phoenix AMA Fifth Management Plan): communication to customers about the importance of water conservation. Notification of water conservation materials and programs that are available from the City of Phoenix and information about how customers may obtain the materials or more information. - Free, written information on water conservation. - Implementation of plan to effectively deliver water conservation materials and programs. - Tracking of material distribution. - Residential adult education and training programs. - Industry and Regional Partnerships: the Corps members for this program will be managed in partnership with a regional nonprofit or partner organization. - New homeowner outreach: the Corps members will perform outreach with voluntary participants. - Residential audit and landscape consultation: the Corps members will perform the consultation with voluntary participants. - Residential water budget: the Corps members will review the budget tool on the PHX Water website with voluntary participants. - Water waste prohibition: this program promotes efficient irrigation and reduces water waste. - Residential customer assistance: this program provides direct assistance to residents. - Market surveys or focus groups: this program simultaneously gathers residential/customer feedback. - Pilot plan development/piloting a new technique: this program is a pilot plan to develop a new technique for combining water conservation outreach and water conservation audits, delivering measurable water savings because of education and assistance. - Quantitative evaluation of actual water savings of an existing BMP or emerging practice; see above.
46	Peoria City of	AMI Implementation Study & Pilot Program	Programs and projects that reduce water use Per A.R.S. 49-1332(B)(2)	Program	This program will evaluate the benefit, strategy and cost to install Advanced Metering Infrastructure, and begin rollout of a pilot program to determine its feasibility and success rate. After completing the study, the program will install as many new meters as possible to begin the pilot.	Peoria, Arizona	Maricopa	8	8	ADWR Designated Watershed: Phoenix AMA Subbasins: West Salt River Valley, Lake Pleasant and Agua Fria	City of Peoria; Maricopa County; Arizona; Phoenix AMA		$3,000,000.00	$750,000.00	$3,750,000.00	1500	0.0004	According to a study (attached to this application) completed by the American Water Works Association in January 2022: Most U.S. water utilities are now moving toward full AMI deployment. With the provision of near real-time consumption data and personalized feedback, AMI promises to help consumers achieve significant water savings. Until we complete the study and pilot program, it is difficult to estimate the anticipated water savings. However, being conservative, we would hope to reach a 5% reduction in water used and lost. The City of Peoria, Arizona delivered approximately 30,000 AF of water to our residential and commercials users in 2022. A 5% savings would result in a total estimated savings of 1500 AF of water.	Peoria will complete the program within 3 years following award of the grant. This work will likely require use of multiple contractors and consultants.	This proposed activity will fund an ongoing study to determine the feasibility and cost to implement AMI technology in the City of Peoria. In addition, the funding would be used to rollout a pilot program that would setup an AMI network in a section of our City to track the success and cost of this technology. Should the pilot program yield good results, we would then move to convert the entire City water system to AMI technology.	The proposed pilot program will be conducted in an area that currently utilizes water from the Colorado River supplied through the Central Arizona Project.	Peoria covers nearly 179 square miles and is home to over 200,000 residents making it Arizonaâ€™s ninth largest city in terms of population. Ranked the Number 1 City to Live, Work and Play in Arizona by AZ Big Media, Peoria is a premier and thriving community that welcomes new families and new businesses. Peoria residents enjoy outdoor trails and parks and is home to a scenic desert oasis - Lake Pleasant Regional Park. Surrounded by the Sonoran Desert, it is an outdoor enthusiastâ€™s dream for action and adventure. Peoria is also fast-growing and ideally located in the northwest Greater Phoenix region and is within minutes of TSMC, one of the worldâ€™s largest microchip manufacturing companies. Peoria is a business-friendly community with lower costs of doing business. The Mayor and city leadership promote a pro-business environment that has identified industry sectors such as semiconductors, finance, healthcare, bioscience, and innovation as high-value targets for business attraction.	value1 value2 value3	â€¢ Long-term reductions in water use AMI technology allows each individual water customer to access real time water use information as well as view patterns of their use and identify times when they may have a leak. This gives each customer the ability to reduce their water use. Couple with a public education program, this could go a long way to achieving significant long-term water use reductions. â€¢ Improvements in water use efficiency These meters report real time water use information, and allows the City to identify users that are wasting water or may have a leak they are unaware of. This allows us to investigate problems areas of our system and make changes that allow the system to run more efficient. â€¢ Improvements in water reliability Utilizing this technology allows for much better data gathering of our water use and delivery system. This data can be used to conduct system efficiency studies that ensure a reliable water supply for our residents.	Water supply shortages Reliance on non-renewable water supplies Groundwater depletion	â€¢ Water supply shortages By reducing our water use, we are helping deal with possible CAP supply shortages. â€¢ Reliance on non-renewable water supplies Reducing our water use helps us be less reliant on non-renewable water supply sources, such as groundwater. â€¢ Groundwater depletion Reducing our water use helps us use less groundwater, thereby slowing the depletion of our aquifers.	This program will align with the Cityâ€™s recently completed â€˜Sustainable Peoria Planâ€™, as well as the State of Arizonaâ€™s 5th Management Plan, which both set significant water conservation goals to achieve a long-term reliable water supply for our City.	We are not yet entirely sure of the cost per meter to install AMI technology, but the study will help us determine that. Benefits are tremendous and include increased customer awareness of their water use activity which can lead to significant water savings. As a City, we will also be able to reduce system leaks, including those at individual meters, and we will be able to track large water users for our conservation staff to engage.	Once the pilot program is rolled out and the technology is installed, we will track water use over the course of one year and compare it to the same area from the previous year.	This program does not meet the requirements for funding through WIFAâ€™s Long-Term Water Augmentation Fund or Water Supply Development Fund.	We are currently working on the feasibility study regardless of whether or not we receive the grant. However, we currently do not have the funding to implement any sort of pilot program.	We could potentially look to other funding programs/sources for completing full implementation after a successful pilot. This may be through a low interest loan through the WIFA Drinking Water State Revolving Fund.	We are unaware of any cost-sharing opportunities.	The required matching funding, $750,000, will be sourced entirely through the Peoria Water Enterprise Fund (Water Rates).	Peoria has a long history of successfully completing large and complicated projects funded through WIFA loan programs. The proposed activities will be completed in a similar manner by the Peoria Water Services Department under the direction of Cape Powers, PE, Water Services Director. The department utilizes five professional engineers and two project managers, and a full complement of support staff, to successfully deliver a comprehensive capital improvement program on a yearly basis.	The Peoria Water Services Department is adequately staffed to ensure successful completion of this program. There are no concerns with regards to human or other required resources.	We believe so. We often work with other water providers around us in a regional effort to achieve conservation goals. In addition, we will be able to work closer with our residents by utilizing data tracking, water use reporting, and conservation education. The data we receive from the AMI meters, as well as notification of any abnormal water use, will allow us to work with the residents on reducing their water use and eliminate wasted water.	We have received many enquiries from customers regarding technology similar to what AMI would provide. Customers want more information so that they can help manage their water usage and lower their water consumption. Implementing AMI would provide the tool these customers are requesting.	Yes, we would include this in our water conservation education outreach efforts. We would also track our success through our Sustainability Program.	Yes, the community participated in the drafting of our â€˜Sustainable Peoria Planâ€™. This technology was identified as something that could help us achieve the water conservation goals laid out in the plan.	With funding, very feasible. AMI technology is currently being used successfully by the City of Tempe and we have talked their staff about the steps required to integrate this modern technology into our water infrastructure systems.	The City of Tempe and other neighboring cities are currently utilizing AMI technology to be more efficient with their water resources. We have discussed the success of this technology with some of those neighbors.	The proposed activity would implement several BMPs from Schedule CER, Conservation Efforts Report from the annual ADWR report, specifically BMP 7.1 Evaluating New and Emerging Technologies and Practices, 7.8 Pilot A New Initiative, Project, or Program, and further our work with 4.1 Leak Detection Program as the AMI system would help identify leaks at our customerâ€™s properties.
47	Goodyear City of	Commercial, Institutional, Industrial, and HOA Lawn Removal Incentive	Programs and projects that reduce water use Per A.R.S. 49-1332(B)(2)	Program	This is a Water Conservation â€˜Programâ€™ because lawn removal incentives will be applied to multiple locations and customers throughout our service area over a continuous period of time.	Goodyear	Maricopa	7 9	23	Middle Gila Watershed; West Salt River Valley Sub-Basin	Phoenix		$74,000.00	$18,500.00	$92,500.00	40	0.0004324324324	One acre of overseeded lawn uses about 1.8M gallons (5.5 Ac Ft) per year, one acre of urban desert plants consumes about 0.3M Gallons (1 Ac Ft) per year. Goodyear Water service area has around 400 Acres of non-residential lawn. Our goal would be to remove as many acres as possible through this incentive. Realistically, we can aim to reduce this by 5-8% (20-32 Acres of lawn) through the end of 2026. We estimate between 30-50 Acre Feet of savings (9.8M â€“ 16.3M Gal) annually would be saved by reducing at least 7 acres of turf per year. (305,000 sq ft). This is a conservative estimate as many large landscapes will remove more area than our proposed annual incentive cap per customer. Savings of 100+ Acre Feet annually are possible depending on the type of projects that are completed and specific customersâ€™ water use history.	The expected duration of the benefits of lawn removal would be in perpetuity. The expected duration of the lawn removal incentive is until funds are depleted. Goodyear will aim to maintain a non-residential lawn removal incentive program at a smaller scale in perpetuity as part of our water conservation master plan.	The conservation activity includes sending money to locations in Goodyear Water service area classified as commercial, institutional, industrial, or HOA that remove lawn on their property and replace it with a non-lawn alternative. â€¢ The water customer must remove at least 1,500 square feet of lawn to qualify. â€¢ Incentive amount is based on 20% of the total project cost up to $7,000. This method reduces staff time for field measurements and provides flexibility for customer options. â€¢ To qualify, an entity must be a non-residential water customer in the Goodyear Water Service area. (E.g. Church, School, HOA, Business). â€¢ Goodyear Water Conservation staff will work to guide the customer through the process including digitally measuring areas that will be removed for acreage tracking, ensuring plant coverage where appropriate, assisting with timeline or phasing of the project, and coordinating payment.	Goodyear blends Colorado River water delivered through the CAP Canal with groundwater throughout the service area. The water saved would be a combination of these two sources.	The city of Goodyear as a whole is about 105,000 residents. About 63,000 of those are within the Goodyear Water Service area while the remainder reside in areas served by private water companies. The incentive would apply to any non-residential water customer in the Goodyear Water Service area. This includes businesses, schools, churches, HOAs, government organizations, multi-family etc. The greatest impact would be primarily in HOAs with large quantities of lawn square footage. These communities are generally most motivated to reduce water consumption and water bills, and Goodyear Water Conservation already has relationships established with about half of the HOAs within the service area to accelerate this process. Other potential customers include churches and commercial plazas that are in older parts of Goodyear where ornamental lawn installation was more common and has not yet been replaced with desert plants. Industrial, light commercial, and multi-family customers will not be impacted to the same extent due to the lack of established relationships with stakeholders in those customer classes. Although eligible, commercial business are difficult to contact and often do not have as large of quantities of lawn. Multi-family properties have large water savings potential but are often not motivated to make upgrades due to the nature of pass-through costs of utilities to residents.	value1 value2 value3	This program would strive to achieve all of the abovementioned goals. Long term reductions in water use of around 4 â€“ 5 acre feet per acre of lawn removed would be permanent savings. It is rare for businesses or communities to remove existing desert landscaping in favor of lawn. Improvements in water use efficiency would occur as lawn is most commonly irrigated with overhead irrigation such as fixed spray heads and rotors which have high evaporation rates and lower irrigation efficiency than drip irrigation. Desert plants are most commonly irrigated with point-source drip irrigation which places water at lower outputs right into the soil root zone area, thereby reducing losses to evaporation. An acre of desert landscape can be expected to use about 4 â€“ 5 acre feet per year less than an acre of overseeded lawn. Improvements in water reliability would occur due to the lowered summer (peak) demand of desert landscaping. While both lawn and desert plants require about 4 times more water in summer than in winter, desert plants only require about one-fifth of the total amount over the same area. This improves managing peak demand and water reliability over our service area. Additionally, desert plants can go longer without water and still live in the instance of water shortages, thereby reducing losses to our urban forests and the assets associated with our landscapes.	Water supply shortages Reliance on non-renewable water supplies Water quality issues	Lawn removal addresses water supply shortages by providing a more resilient landscape type that can withstand longer periods between watering. In the instance of a water supply shortage, desert plants can withstand significantly reduced water application frequency and still not die, while summer Bermuda grass will begin to go into drought dormancy within a week or two depending on the season. In the case of a severe cut to Colorado River supplies, desert landscapes can be leveraged by reducing water to them easier than lawn. This allows the city greater flexibility in ensuring delivery of potable water to essential services and households in the case of a supply shortage because irrigation water meters will have a lower long term demand. This program supports reduction of reliance on non-renewable supplies because, in Goodyear, surface water is prioritized in use as much as possible over groundwater. By reducing demand through irrigation watering, especially in summer, the amount of groundwater pumped is directly reduced as a function of the increased watering demand. Local water quality is expected to improve by the reduction of dry-weather flow into stormwater basins. Lawn watering results in more runoff and overspray into local stormwater basins, carrying along unwanted pollutants or fertilizers. Removing this source of pollution can help enhance the quality of water ending up in stormwater basins.	This conservation activity directly aligns with the Goodyear Integrated Water Master plan by bringing the per parcel water use more in line with expected long-term use, as well as the Goodyear Water Conservation Committeeâ€™s specific outline for reducing water use in the city of Goodyear. Regional efforts in Phoenix aim at reducing outdoor water use, this program directly supports that effort. References: https://new.azwater.gov/conservation/landscaping https://www.goodyearaz.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/28950/637896098176430000 https://www.goodyearaz.gov/government/departments/engineering-development-services/engineering/plan-review/integrated-water-master-plan	The costs include labor and materials needed to remove lawn and install a non-lawn alternative. Potential environmental impacts include additional material sourcing for new irrigation systems, mulch, plants, etc. There are also potential environmental impacts in the lawn removal process since herbicide is typically needed to permanently remove Bermuda lawn from an area. Additionally, caution must be taken by installers to protect existing mature trees that will be retained to ensure proper watering and recovery from nearby herbicide application. The benefits include a permanently reduced water and maintenance demand on an area of landscape. Side benefits include potential improvements to air quality as mowers are no longer needed for ongoing maintenance. Increasing desert plant coverages also improves overall tree canopy within the city and the region, as well as provides better resources for beneficial wildlife than lawn.	Effectiveness will be measured by quantifying gallons used or saved before the month of change and after the month change for the specific area. Typically, landscape water savings must be evaluated on an annual basis due to seasonality of water use. Water Conservation staff will also track the total square feet removed as well as the gallons per square foot saved.	This project is not eligible for funding under the Long Term Augmentation Fund or Supply Development Fund. This activity is not an infrastructure project. Although the intent is to save water resources, the activity does not increase the supply of water into the state, so would not qualify in that category.	The conservation activity would still be implemented without this grant funding but at a much smaller scale. The â€˜matched fundsâ€™ amount would be the maximum we could offer to our water customers, which would limit the opportunities for annual water savings from implemented lawn removal projects.	Currently, Goodyear Water Conservation fiscal year budgeted funds is the only other funding source for this program.	Since this particular program is restricted to specific locations within the Goodyear Water service area, it is not practical to partner with another entity.	The funding source is from Goodyear Water and it includes actual budgeted funds of $18,500.	Goodyear Water Conservation began this program as a pilot in early 2023. Several applicants have submitted information but no projects have yet broken ground. We plan to utilize the additional funds to more strongly market this program and increase the speed and number of lawn removal projects that are converted. The additional funding will further the opportunity for water customers to participate before funds run out. With our current available funds, only 5-6 projects may be completed. The workflow and internal processes have already been established, so activity can begin taking place immediately. Main program manager: Andrew Pirrone, Goodyear Water Conservation Coordinator for city of Goodyear. Andrew has worked in Arizona Water Conservation for the last 8 years, including 6 years with Gilbert as a Program Specialist, and 2+ years with Goodyears as a Program Coordinator. All the current conservation programs are administered or run by Andrew and his Conservation team members. These programs include an in-person home water audit program, a free rain sensor program, a free home conservation kit program, free water and landscape workshops, and free smart controllers. Before working for municipalities, Andrew worked in the landscape water management industry helping commercial and HOA customers with identifying and implementing water efficient practices in the field. The city of Goodyear has identified lawn removal incentives as a priority for long term water savings and is in support of continuing and expanding this activity.	Because a pilot program is already running, there will only be minimal additional requirements to help as more applications are submitted. Because non-residential projects are larger and less frequent, the assistance we need can be managed in-house with other staff and volunteers helping process paperwork etc.	This activity will promote collaboration with water customers, their landscape contractors, and other stakeholders, such as HOA Board members and community members, to help address water scarcity issues in the desert. These intentional transitions from lawn to non-lawn landscapes can help promote a more water-conscious and water-efficient Goodyear by becoming highly visible to community stakeholders and leaders. Intentional lawn removal will also serve as an example to enhance Arizonaâ€™s commitment saving water permanently on the Colorado River.	This strategy to save water was identified as one of the priorities promoted by the Goodyear Water Conservation Committee and has been well received so far through the pilot program with individual customers.	This activity will include active recruitment and outreach to customers to notify them of the available incentive. The individual lawn removal efforts will be celebrated through the Goodyear Water Efficient Partners Program. This program honors our large landscape water customers who take steps to maintain or improve water efficiency. Successful lawn removal projects will also be publicized with the entities permission on our website, through social media, newspaper outlets etc. to encourage other interested large water customers to consider converting as well.	Yes. There is support expressed from many HOAs and residents of HOAs within the community. We have also had interest from the private sector. Council and city leadership support the need for reducing non-functional lawn throughout the water service area to enhance the resiliency of Goodyearâ€™s water resources.	It is feasible to complete this lawn removal incentive because: â€¢ There is already an active pilot program in place with internal processes and buy-in, however only a small number of projects can be completed with our existing funds. â€¢ We plan to utilize the additional funds to more strongly market this program and increase the speed and number of lawn removal projects that are converted. The additional funding will further the opportunity for water customers to participate before funds run out. With our current available funds, only 5-6 projects may be completed. â€¢ Large landscape customers are actively reaching out for support in ways to reduce water consumption and utility bills. â€¢ Goodyear Water service area has around 400 acres of non-residential awn, so there are many opportunities for low-hanging fruit.	This conservation activity has proven effectiveness throughout Arizona, but especially in the Phoenix Active Management Area due to our warmer, drier springs and summers. City of Scottsdale displayed an average of 30-40 gal/square foot/year of savings from their long-standing lawn replacement program.	Yes, this activity will implement the best management practice from the Phoenix AMA 4th Management Plan BMP No. 6.15 Non-Residential Landscape Conversion.
48	Marana Town of	Santa Cruz River Effluent Recharge Program	Programs or projects to promote groundwater recharge and improved aquifer health.	Program	This general Water Conservation Program will occur in multiple phases over a longer timeframe than a Water Conservation Project.	Marana	Pima	6	17	Santa Cruz	Tucson	n/a	$3,000,000.00	$1,000,000.00	$4,000,000.00	2000	0.0005	The proposed CA prevents treated effluent generated in the Tucson AMA from leaving the AMA, while promoting groundwater recharge and improving aquifer health. It is estimated that an additional of 2,000 acre-feet of effluent will be recharged to groundwater within Tucson AMA. Otherwise, it would be lost without being beneficially used.	The design and construction of the Conservation Activity (CA) are anticipated to take approximately 30 months. The CA will then be in use for at least the design life of the infrastructure â€“ at least 25 years.	The overall cost of the Santa Cruz Effluent Recharge Program (SCERP) is anticipated to be significantly greater than the $3,000,000 plus matching funds available from the Town. The overall goal of the SCERP is to capture the excess treated effluent generated by the Tres Rios Facility before it leaves the Tucson AMA. This effluent will be delivered to the existing Marana WRF, where it will be recharged into the aquifer using existing and proposed recharge basins. This will keep the effluent in the local aquifer and improve the health of groundwater. This water that has passed the TRICO gauge (boundary of Tucson AMA) is variable, and has been as high as 15,000 acre-feet per year. This water is owned by a variety of users, including the Bureau of Reclamation who are to manage this resource for the benefit of the Tohono Oâ€™odham and other Tribal Nations. These water supplies are currently lost to the Tucson AMA, requiring the parties to obtain other water sources. In order to achieve the ultimate goal, the SCERP includes the following key components: engineering design, environmental permitting, construction, and/or equipment installation of an infiltration gallery, diversion point, and/or additional recharge basins at our existing WRF site. Marana Water recognizes that this is a program with numerous stakeholders, which can complicate the schedule. We understand that the CA must be completed by December 31st, 2026. The grant fund will be primarily spent on the design and permitting of the entire system and the construction of the additional recharge basins, which are less time consuming. The conceptual design of the SCERP is currently being done by a selected outside consultant.	The source water for this project is effluent from the Tres Rios Facility in Tucson.	The Town of Marana, incorporated in 1977, now has 55,000+ residents in 20,000+ households. As of 2020, the largest Marana racial/ethnic groups are White, not Hispanic or Latino (61.6%) followed by Hispanic or Latino (27.6%) and Asian (3.7%). Current median household income is $90,302. The Town of Marana covers 121.8 square miles, forming a funnel-shaped boundary, with the wider opening formed by the Pima/Pinal County line. It is the 3rd fastest growing community in Arizona and the 2nd largest municipality in Pima County. Its location between Tucson and Phoenix makes it a prime strategic location for a wide variety of economic activities, including aerospace, mining, manufacturing, logistics, technology, retail, construction, and healthcare.	value2 value3	This Conservation Activity (CA) has the potential to improve the energy efficiency of the water by using gravity to recharge our aquifer rather than use Colorado River water and its associated pumping costs. It is not anticipated to increase water use efficiency directly. This CA will greatly increase our water reliability as it will provide both physical and legal availability of groundwater inside our water service area within Tucson AMA. The physical water storage will provide additional supplies in the event of Colorado River Shortages.	Water supply shortages Reliance on non-renewable water supplies Groundwater depletion Natural disasters that may impact water supply infrastructure	The physical water storage will provide additional supplies in the event of Colorado River Shortages. This Conservation Activity will allow partners to use renewable resources instead of groundwater. It will keep water in the Tucson AMA, partially offsetting the effects of well pumping. In the even of a disruption to the CAP canal, this will provide additional supplies that can be used via our wellfield.	The Town is committed to maximizing the use of renewable water supplies to improve communityâ€™s long-term water sustainability. This CA directly works towards that goal. This CA will also reduce reliance on groundwater, which is a finite resources for communities in Southern Arizona.	While there are other potential locations for beneficial use of this effluent, this particular location allows the effluent to remain in the Santa Cruz River as long as possible while remaining in the AMA. This provides xeroriparian habitat for numerous species of birds, fish, insects, and mammals. Please note, this CA is located at the end of the watershed. It will have minimum impacts to the environment upstream.	This Conservation Activity will be considered a success when it is able to deliver effluent from Santa Cruz River to be recharged and reduce the amount of effluent flowing out of the TRICO Gauge (Tucson AMA).	No, it does not.	The Town intends to do this activity whether or not funding is available. However, it will take much longer time to achieve the goal. There is close to 15,000 acre-fee water flowing out of Tucson AMA. The longer it takes the more water it wastes. The WIFA grant will allow the town to complete this work more quickly and with less debt than self-funding.	The Town of Marana intends to leverage any funding that is available for this project to maximize our ability to preserve our aquifer and improve our renewable resource portfolio without excessive rate increases for our existing customers.	There are potential cost-sharing opportunities with other entities that have effluent produced by the Tres Rios facility. The Town of Marana has not yet officially negotiated any agreements.	Matching funds of $1,000,000 will come from the Town of Marana's Water Resource impact fee account, which is collected specifically to identify, develop, and procure renewable resources.	Mr. Erik Christenson, Water Engineering Manager, will be the Project Manager overseeing this completing of this program. Mr. Christenson is a registered Professional Engineer in Arizona with over 20 years of extensive experience in the design, construction, and management of water and wastewater projects in Arizona. Mr. Christenson will be supported by a team of water/wastewater engineers and water resources experts within Marana Water Department. We also have on-call engineering consultants available to help us with the design and construction of the proposed water facilities.	No. This Conservation Activity is anticipated to not require any full-time employees, nor will it require different technology than that already used by the Town of Marana Water Department.	Yes. This promotes collaborative partnerships with the entities with rights to the effluent treated at Tres Rios. This includes Town of Marana, Tucson Water, Pima County, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the tribes included within the Southern Arizona Water Settlements Act. This will promote cooperation among the users in managing the aquifer.	We have met with several stakeholder groups at the site to discuss, including the Bureau of Reclamation, Tucson Water, and the Cortaro-marana Irrigation District (CMID). We anticipate closer coordination as the project progresses. It is important to Marana that this CA has regional support and provides benefits to the Town, its partners, and the community.	We do not anticipate specific public outreach as a part of the funding, but anticipate incorporating it into our ongoing water conservation and public outreach efforts, such as the Townâ€™s â€œWater Wednesdaysâ€�, our Citizens' water academy, and the new water conservation rebate program.	The Town has broad support for decreasing our reliance on non-sustainable sources. The Bureau of Reclamation has also indicated their support. This CA also has the added benefit of maintaining the Santa Cruz effluent flows as long as possible within the AMA, as opposed to other options that would take flows more upstream, such as near Cortaro Farm Road and thereby depleting the river flows through the Town.	This project is very feasible from an engineering standpoint. It also is in-line with the Townâ€™s strategic initiatives. The rights for the effluent are not in contention, so we do not anticipate any water-rights or adjudication issues from these activities.	This is not an ongoing activity.	Not at this time.
49	Yuma City of	CITY OF YUMA WATER CONSERVATION PROGRAM	Programs or projects to improve groundwater conservation and surface water flows.	Program	The specific components that make this a program is that the proposed phase of designing/constructing a pipeline from Desert Dunes Water Reclamation Facility to the Colorado River System will deliver actual real wet water from treated effluent that will affect two different locations. This Feasibility Study phase of our program is only one of many phases involved in the expansion of our Desert Dunes Water Reclamation Facility. Once it is funded, it will take approximately two years to build and install the metered pipe. The amount of treated effluent sent to the river will begin at 1,904 acre feet and will gradually increase to 6,720 acre feet over an indefinite timeframe. There are multiple deliverables such as the education and research necessary to ensure this is a successful, effective, efficient and sustainable way to reduce consumption. At the same time, it will increase efficiency by discharging a large amount of actual real wet water into the Colorado River. In designing and constructing this pipeline, it will provide indefinite quantities and quality of effluent water into the river for usage by the basin states affiliated with the Colorado River and Mexico as well. It will result in long-term sustainable reductions in water use and improve reliability. Additionally, the extra actual real wet water will provide quality water for the birds and various animals, lizards, etc. that depend on the Colorado river water to survive. The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) will benefit from the treated effluent as it relates to their mission of conserving and protecting the state's 800-plus species of wildlife.	Region 7 and Region 9	YUMA	7 9	7 9	Lower Colorado River Basin Watershed	N/A	N/A	$3,000,000.00	$750,000.00	$3,750,000.00	1904	0.0005077333333	1,700,000 mgd/325,851 = 1,904 acre feet. 1,904 acre feet x 365 days = 1,904 acre feet annually. We would be able to treat effluent and discharge Class A+ actual real wet water into the Colorado River System.	Once completed, this installed pipe placement of approximately six miles from the Desert Dunes Water Reclamation Facility to the Colorado River system will allow effluent reclamation of approximately 1,904 acre feet per year. Yuma, Arizona continues to grow, and as it does, it will allow treated effluent (actual real wet water) reclamation of approximately 6 million gallons per day x 365 days with about 6,720 acre feet annually for future usage. It will improve water availability and surface flows. By putting in this pipeline, it will provide an indefinite duration and benefit. This will provide a forever benefit for the entire State of Arizona because Yuma will be lessening our demand for water.	We would like to begin by doing a Feasibility Study within our conservation program to construct a water pipeline conveyance from the Desert Dunes Water Reclamation Facility in Yuma, Arizona to the Colorado River system. We need to identify a path that includes right of ways, land interests, environmental considerations, underground utilities that may conflict with routes, underlying fee holders between generation and discharge, and, geographical elevations that will allow us to pump water from the plant to the river. It is estimated the pipeline will run about six miles depending on the route identified in the Study. The dimensions are unknown as of now, and would be revealed through the engineering details based within the Study.	The source of the water that will be conserved is the mainstem Colorado River water. The City of Yuma receives its water supply from two sources: the Colorado River and ground water. The Colorado River water is diverted at Imperial Dam pursuant to the City's water rights, and has Contract No. 4-07-30-W0055 in place with the Yuma County Water Users Association, the Gila Project and the United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR). The City of Yuma receives approximately 85% of its raw water from the Colorado River; 50% is delivered to the Main Street Water Treatment Facility by the Yuma County Water Users Association, and 35% is delivered to the Agua Viva Water Treatment Facility by the Gila Gravity Canal System operated by the Yuma Mesa Irrigation District. The remaining 15% is a seasonal blend of ground water from the two existing wells located at the Agua Viva Water Treatment Facility. The surface water is what will be conserved.	Nestled in the Yuma and Gila Valleys, the City of Yuma lies in the southwest corner of the United States' Lower Sonoran Desert on the California-Mexico-Arizona border, near the convergence of the Colorado and Gila rivers. An estimate of approximately 210,000 full-time residents live inside and outside the City's boundaries. The coordinates are 32Â°47â€²13â€³N 113Â°58â€²58â€³W. The City of Yuma treatment plants are all located above the Basin and Range aquifers of the western United States. These aquifers cover most of Nevada, Eastern California, Southern Nevada, western Utah and small portions of New Mexico, Idaho and Oregon. According to the United States Census Bureau, Yuma County has an area of 5,519 square miles (14,290 km2), of which 5,514 square miles (14,280 km2) is land and 5.1 square miles (13 km2) (0.1%) is water.[23] The lowest point in the state of Arizona is on the Colorado River in San Luis in Yuma County, where it flows out of Arizona and into Sonora in Mexico. Yuma County is in the west, and northwestern regions of the northâ€“south Sonoran Desert that extends through Sonora state of Mexico to the border of northern Sinaloa state. West of the County across the Colorado River in southeast California is the Colorado Desert, (a northwestern subregion of the Sonoran Desert). North of the county, with La Paz County the regions merge into the southeastern Mojave Desert. Southwest of Yuma County, is the entirety of Northwest Mexico, at the north shoreline of the Gulf of California, and the outlet of the Colorado River into the Colorado River Delta region, now altered with lack of freshwater inputs. Notable mountains in Yuma County include the Gila Mountains and the Tule Mountains. Yuma County is the highest crop producer in the state by dollar value per year. Yuma County tops the list for the categories of vegetables + melons + potatoes + sweet potatoes at $782,293,000, and fruits + tree nuts + berries at $62,499,000. Overall, this is the second (to Maricopa) producing county for all agricultural products at $1,143,068,000 per year and for organic production. â€Š Almost all of the dates (Phoenix dactylifera) in the state are grown here,â€Š about 10 million pounds (4,500 metric tons; 5,000 short tons) worth $35 million per year. This is the second highest citrus producer behind Maricopa, a distant second in grapefruit,â€Š limes, and orangesâ€Š but producing far more lemons.â€Š Some olives,â€Š clingstone peaches,â€Š and plumsâ€Š are grown here. Yuma County produces almost all of the vegetable seed grown in the state. During the winter agricultural season from November to March, some 40,000 migrant workers cross the border daily to work in United States fields. The area is watered by the Colorado River, and the sector supplies a large part of the US leafy vegetables. The Yuma Lettuce Days festival and agritourism is connected to Yuma agriculture. In 2017 the county produced vegetables worth $782,293,000, ranking first in the state and third in the entire country, from 107,908 acres (43,669 ha). Fruits brought $62,499,000, also first in the state, 56th out of >3000 counties in the country.[8] Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) is a valuable native crop here.â€Š From here it has also been introduced into cultivation in other countries.â€Š Time zone UTCâˆ’7 (Mountain) Congressional districts 7th, 9th Yuma is known for its extensive agriculture. It is also home to two major military installations - Yuma Marine Corp Air Station (YMCA) and Yuma Proving Grounds (YPG). All life in the desert is impacted by the river system, and so much more as we go through this severe drought situation. Without water, there IS NO LIFE, and if we can conserve more actual real water, it should be our responsibility as well as our priority!	value1 value2 value3	Currently, our community does not produce re-used water for our customers as you would typically see in Arizona and other communities. We do however, have the privilege of returning water flow to the river. The contributions are vitally important to our water conservation efforts and also to the lower Colorado River basin states, as well as Mexico, impacting approximately fifty-five (55) million people. This waterline will serve a long-term reduction to Yuma's water use by reducing the volume of water demand in the amount of 1,904 acre feet the first few years. When our Desert Dunes Water Reclamation Facility expansion is complete, we will be producing six million (6,000,000) mgd. This will convert to a 6,720 acre feet improvement in water reliability annually and indefinitely, while reducing Yuma's annual water demand by the same amount.	Water supply shortages Water quality issues Natural disasters that may impact water supply infrastructure	This water conservation activity addresses the severe drought situation we are currently in. Once built, initially the pipeline will supply an additional 1,904 acre feet per year to the Colorado River system, and reduce Yuma's demand for water by the same amount. The pipeline will address water quality issues by turning wasted effluent from the Desert Dunes Water Reclamation Facility into Class A+ actual real wet water for usage back to the river. In terms of natural disasters, a massive earthquake would probably be the only potential threat to either the Desert Dunes Water Reclamation Facility and/or the breakage of the pipeline.	This water conservation activity aligns with the City of Yuma's Water Conservation Plan. Currently, we publish a Water Conservation Facts pamphlet to educate customers on water conservation measures they can implement at home. We promote conservation through landscaping booklets that provide for xeriscaped lawns, and water-efficient landscaping. We have a booklet on leak detection about finding & fixing leaks for education purposes. We sponsor an annual Project WET Water Festival for 500+ school students that encompass teacher professional development workshops and extensive volunteer and community involvement. The City of Yuma requires the use of low-flow plumbing fixtures. We also have an inverted block water rates structure which is the most effective tool for managing water consumption in relation to cost. We have an operation and maintenance program that responds to and repairs leaks as they occur with an in-house water service line replacement program. The City has a landscaping ordinance. The Utilities Division has a water meter replacement program that was implemented to correct loss of water accountability. We have a Drought/Water Shortage Contingency Plan that encompasses written formal policy and procedures regarding water shortage allocation. In addition to the City of Yuma's water conservation techniques already in place, this proposed pipeline design/installation will have a direct effect on the reduction of water demands Yuma has, while at the same time initially place 1,904 acre feet of actual real wet water into the Colorado River annually, increasing to 6,720 acre feet per year, as Yuma continues to grow. The construction of this pipeline also aligns with the State's mission of new water.	We are currently seeking funding for a Feasibility Study for the design/construction of an approximately six mile pipeline from our Desert Dunes Water Reclamation Facility to the Colorado River system. All costs associated with the design/construction of it are unknown at this time. Once the study is done, we will be able to build the budget and costs accordingly. The major benefits will be treating effluent into actual real wet water and depositing it into the Colorado River from 1,904 - 6,720 acre feet annually, thereby reducing Yuma's demand for water while adding water for all users of the Colorado River. This will result in sustainable long-term reduction in water usage by a substantial amount.	The pipeline will be metered to exact the amount of effluent actual real wet water to reflect discharge amounts reclaimed into the Colorado River. Currently, our treatment plants do not produce treated effluent for our customers as you would typically see in Arizona and other cities.	While the project is eligible for funding from WIFA's Long-Term Water Augmentation Fund or Water Supply Development Fund it is impractical to fund this project via these funds. It is impractical because funding this project via a loan will adversely affect the City of Yuma bond rating and financial well-being.	This would be an appropriate opportunity for grant funding because the results of this program would benefit the entire State of Arizona The results of this program would initially provide an additional 1,904 acre feet of real wet water to the Colorado River system, eventually allowing 6,720 acre feet annually flowing into it. This conservation activity would be incumbent upon us to find the necessary resources and funding to ensure this program is built out. It is the responsibility of all the affected basin states within the drought region to help resolve the devastating effect drought brings with it. Ultimately it would be a win-win situation where the burden of construction does not fall solely on one entity. With the occurrence of unprecedented growth, it puts a further strain on the already over-burdened water usage of the Colorado River. We are currently expanding our Desert Dunes Water Reclamation Facility, and it is estimated to cost approximately $100,000,000. It is imperative the City of Yuma save money where possible toward this expansion. Without this grant funding, this water conservation activity would be postponed, potentially wasting the production of an indefinite amount of actual real wet water. To this end, we are seeking State-sponsored funding for this Feasibility Study.	For the City of Yuma Water Conservation Program we will seek a range of funding sources which incorporate public, private, state and federal mechanisms to maximize support. The City has identified potential funding from the Bureau Of Reclamation; WaterSmart Energy Efficiency Grant, WaterSmart Drought Grant as well as the Water Conservation Field Service Program funding opportunity.	This is a state-wide impact from this project. It goes beyond the regional boundaries of Yuma County.	The source comes from the City of Yuma rate payers. The amount of the match from the City of Yuma will be $750,000 which is authorized from funding within the CIP budget.	We are 100% qualified for completing this pipe line for discharging effluent actual real wet water into the Colorado and/or Gila River(s). We manage almost one (1) billion dollars of capital infrastructure for the City of Yuma. This program is exactly the type of thing we do. It is straight approach of installing the appropriately sized conveyance pipe for whatever the distance is from the Desert Dunes Water Reclamation Facility to the Colorado River. In the past, we have designed and built the Aqua Viva Water Treatment Plant in 2009 to produce 30 million gallons per day (30mgd). We also designed and built the Desert Dunes Water Reclamation Facility in 2005. It produces 1,700,000 million gallons per day (1.7 mgd) effluent, and we are currently upgrading it by another 3 mgd. This expansion is designated for 2023 and in total will cost one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000).	The City of Yuma will manage the project, and the point of contact is Jeremy McCall (the City of Yuma Director of Utilities). There will be no additional staff, and no on-going costs related to this pipe line. There is no technology necessary for the installation of it. This effluent actual real wet water will be metered, and those allocations will be logged and available. The Bureau of Reclamation Water Master of the Colorado River will be able to manage this per the Laws of the River.	It is in the best interest of the State of Arizona to fund this project to ensure the water rights and credits stay within the boundary of Arizona. It is for this reason we seek state-sponsored funding.	The City of Yuma will be involved in the pipeline by applying funding, working in conjunction with the construction of it, and by monitoring, metering and logging data from the effluent that is discharged back into the river.	Yes. The City of Yuma has a Water Outreach Program. We educate the public through our annual Water Festival, interaction with a horticulture club that provides printed booklets as to what low water plants and trees are best for the desert. We will do a groundbreaking ceremony, publish media posts and public notices. We will invite the Bureau of Reclamation, AADWR and WIFA to speak about the benefits of actual real wet water into the Colorado River. It will also be published in the City of Yuma, Utilities Department website, further educating the public about the extreme need to be vigilant regarding water resources. We conduct public service announcements (PSAs), we provide water leak notices and high bill consumption notices to allow customers to manage their water consumptions. We are installing Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMIs) this is currently costing our program about two million dollars per year for water efficiency.	The City of Yuma has a Water and Sewer Commission that is open to the public and meets monthly. This Committee is highly concerned about the drought and water impact on our community, and what we as a whole can do to help mitigate the drought in any way possible.	The installation of the pipeline for effluent to be discharged into the Colorado River is extremely feasible and simplistic. It is not impactful of any of the interests. A lot of the pipeline will go through the City of Yuma, and will be located within existing right-of-ways and individual properties and easements. Thankfully, the simplistics of this pipeline are not bound by advanced technology. Once the water is treated to a Class A+ effluent, it can be treated as a real wet water drinking source.	This is a new phase of our Water Conservation Program. It is anticipated this will put Class A+ effluent actual real wet water back into the Colorado River starting at 1904 acre feet per year, and is expected to produce as much as 6,700 acre feet in years to come. This is a substantial amount of drinking water to be released back into the main stream as opposed to continuously wasting the effluent. It will provide long-term reductions annually in terms of water consumption by the amount we discharge as well as the water amount we request annually. This is a new activity, and therefore has not been previously implemented.	Yes. As a water manager, you're always looking for the best usage of water. Currently, the Desert Dunes Water Reclamation Facility is discharging to an aquifer, and the effluent is not managed. We will be able to change from a non-managed effluent to a managed effluent. This treated effluent (actual real wet water) is being wasted in high volumes year after year and is thereby non-beneficial for the best use for this water. Once the pipeline is constructed and the actual real wet water is able to be discharged into the Colorado River, it will align with the best management practice. Upon entering the Colorado River, it will not only lessen the amount of wasted surface water for Yuma, Arizona, it will also provide us with return flow credits and lessen Yuma's water demands on the Colorado River. It will also put a minimum of 2000 acre feet per year (with the potential of going up to 6,720 acre feet per year) as Yuma continues to grow. By lessening Arizona water demands on the Colorado River, it will allow the other six basin states such as California, Utah, Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming more access to actual real wet water. This is a HUGE SAVINGS of currently wasted 1.7 million gallons of Class A+ effluent which can be used as a drinking water source. It will have a direct calculated impact on our overall water consumption because of the discharge.
50	Verde Natural Resource Conservation District	Camp Verde Irrigation Piping Program	Programs or projects to improve groundwater conservation and surface water flows.	Program	Program Summary: The proposed program is designed to support the piping of irrigation ditches in the Verde Valley to improve water use efficiency and supply reliability. The program will work with ditch companies to prioritize piping areas based on the highest seepage loss per dollar invested. Factors such as soil type, slope, maintenance regime, access, and project cost will be considered in selecting the most suitable areas for piping. Projects that will generate the highest volume of water savings for the estimated costs will be awarded. The Verde Natural Resource Conservation District (NRCD), The Nature Conservancy, and three prospective ditch companies have already identified stretches of irrigation ditches that would benefit from being piped and meet the program requirements. The program will work with a qualified engineer to assess the total cost and seepage of each potential section and prioritize them accordingly. The Program will also include hiring a project manager for the Verde NRCD to manage the projects under this program. The Nature Conservancy will use leveraged funds from corporate donors as match for the program. The piping will be done using High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) fusion weld pipe, an industry-standard for industrial and municipal water conveyance that is projected to last over 100 years. Overall, the program aims to improve water use efficiency and supply reliability, which will have positive impacts on agriculture, downstream water users, and the environment. Program Rules: Eligibility: The program is open to irrigation companies in the Verde Valley downstream of Oak Creek with more than 5 users. Project Scope: Projects must involve the piping of dirt-lined open canals with HDPE pipe. Individual projects under the program must be at least 500 feet in length. Water Savings: Projects must demonstrate a water savings of at least 6% per mile of pipeline. Water savings will be calculated based on the difference between the current water use and the estimated water use with the HDPE pipe installed. Cost-Effectiveness: Projects will be evaluated based on the cost-effectiveness of the proposed water savings. Projects with the highest water savings for the cost will be prioritized. Likelihood of Success: Projects will also be evaluated based on the likelihood of success. Factors that will be considered include the feasibility of the proposed project, the level of community support, and the availability of necessary resources. Compliance: Grant recipients must comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and guidelines related to the project. Budget: Grant funds may be used for project-related expenses, including materials, labor, and equipment. Budgets must be reasonable, necessary, and directly related to the project. The Verde NRCD will manage the relationship with the ditch companies. The Ditch Companies will establish contracts with contractors and vendors to complete the projects. Timeline: Projects must be completed within a reasonable timeframe, as determined by the grant committee. Evaluation: The program will be evaluated periodically to ensure that it is achieving its objectives and meeting the needs of the community.	Camp Verde	Yavapai County	2	1	Verde Watershed	N/A	N/A	$2,998,732.00	$749,683.00	$3,748,415.00	1955	0.0005215537767	We estimate water savings of 8.3% per mile based off field measurements and other indicators of loss. We estimate that the program will be able to pipe 14,100 feet of irrigation ditch with this funding. With an average diversion rate of 12 cfs, we would save 1,955 acre-feet annually. To estimate seepage loss in unlined ditches, we have used surface area and soil infiltration rate values that are representative of a one-mile section on the Eureka Ditch, Pioneer Ditch, and Verde Ditch. It is important to note that although the seepage loss estimations were based on these three ditches, the program does not exclude the possibility of piping opportunities for any other eligible ditch in the Verde Valley. These representative values were calculated from analysis of vetted soil and cross-sectional data on each of the three ditches, explained below. An analysis of soil types on each ditch was conducted using data from the NRCS Web Soil Survey and found that each ditch is comprised of 4-11 soil types ranging from well drained to excessively drained, primarily characterized as sandy loam. We utilized the lower limit of the range of infiltration rates for sandy soils as presented in Introduction to Soil Physics by David Hillel (1982), which is 0.8 inches of water loss per hour. We used this infiltration rate to represent the seepage rate for sandy loam soils within all three ditches and converted this value to feet per second (0.000018519 feet per second) for our estimate. We calculated a representative surface area by analyzing flow data from 2016-2022 and calculating wetted perimeter values from select monitoring sites within the most critical sections of each ditch. The median value for wetted perimeter on each ditch was used to calculate the average wetted perimeter of all three ditches, a representative value of 10.22 feet. We then used this value to calculate the representative surface area of a one-mile section of ditch, resulting in approximately 53,962 square-feet. Water infiltrating into the representative soil type, sandy loam soils, at a rate of 0.000018519 feet per second, over a representative surface area of 53,962 square-feet is an approximate water loss of 1 cfs per mile, and 2.7 cfs over 14,100 feet of piping. In total, projects funded by the program would save approximately 1,955 acre-feet per year of water.	We anticipate this program to last 3 years to compete all proposed piping activities.	The proposed irrigation piping program is aimed at addressing the significant issue of seepage and leakage loss associated with irrigation diversion from the Verde River and West Clear Creek. By piping irrigation ditches, the program aims to completely eliminate these losses and reduce the amount of water needed to be diverted from the river, while still delivering water to stakeholders. Most irrigation ditches in the Verde Valley were dug by hand using shovels, pickaxes, and other tools in the late 1800s. They are still largely dirt lined, conveying water for miles from their source stream to farmland throughout the valley. However, water loss through conveyance due to seepage and leakage is a significant issue, and the cost of fixing it through piping or lining is usually not feasible for small ditch associations that maintain the ditches. As a result, ditch companies increase their diversion rate to deliver water to stakeholders, resulting in increased water diversion from the river and frequent leaks. The program will prioritize piping sections that can save the most amount of water. This will not only improve surface water flows in the Verde River watershed but also reduce structural water use and benefit fish, wildlife, and recreation by keeping more water in the river. Additionally, the program will improve water security for farmers who rely on this water. We have identified at least three irrigation ditches, which total 24 miles, who want to participate in the program and stretches on each of these ditches that have seepage rates that meet our program requirements. Two of these ditches have provided letters of support expressing their commitment to engage in these projects; the third ditch does not have a formal board but the largest landowner in this ditch (Hauser and Hauser Farms) has submitted a letter of support. Furthermore, within the program area, there are an additional five irrigation ditches that have yet to be contacted but will be approached if the program receives funding. If funding is awarded to this program, we will work with a qualified engineer to look at the design and costs associated with piping various sections of each of these ditches and use that data to rank our priority for piping. This will ensure the maximum water savings per dollar invested in the program The proposed conservation activity encompasses a systematic and comprehensive process that includes: - Engaging the project manager of the program to initiate communication with the eight irrigation ditch companies, exploring potential projects and scoping their feasibility. - Securing the services of a qualified engineer who will contribute to the design of the irrigation system, ensuring its efficiency and effectiveness. - Collaborating with the irrigation ditch companies and the engineer to identify specific stretches along the ditches that meet the stringent requirements of the program. - Generating a final design and comprehensive material list that encompasses the appropriate pipe size and water control structures necessary for the successful implementation of the projects. - Conducting a ranking and approval process for the identified projects, ensuring that each one aligns with the objectives and priorities of the program. - Managing the procurement of the required materials from a reputable HDPE pipe vendor, ensuring the quality and suitability of the materials for the proposed installations. - Contracting with a professional construction company specialized in pipeline installations to execute the project, following the engineering design specifications. - Overseeing the entire pipe installation process to guarantee strict adherence to the established engineering specifications and securing stakeholder approvals. This comprehensive approach ensures that each step of the program is executed with care and precision, leading to the successful implementation of the proposed conservation activities The Project Manager hired by the NRCD will work with the NRCD and partners to manage this process. This process has been successfully implemented in previous piping projects completed by the Verde Program of The Nature Conservancy, who are partners in this program. In summary, the proposed irrigation piping program is a crucial step towards addressing the significant issue of seepage and leakage loss associated with irrigation diversion in the Verde Valley. By prioritizing piping sections that can save the most amount of water, the program will have a direct impact on improving water flows and reducing water use, benefiting the environment and farmers who depend on this water.	The source is surface water from the Verde River and West Clear Creek. The Verde Riverâ€™s water is fed by numerous springs and tributaries. West Clear Creek is fed from natural springs and snowmelt.	This will project will benefit people in the Camp Verde community and downstream water users on the Verde River including those in the Phoenix Metro Area. Camp Verde is a town located in Yavapai County, Arizona, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of Camp Verde was estimated to be around 12,600. The town is situated in the Verde Valley, approximately 86 miles north of Phoenix and 60 miles south of Flagstaff. The demographic makeup of Camp Verde is predominantly White, with a significant Hispanic or Latino population. According to the United States Census Bureau, the racial makeup of the town is 72.8% White, 16.7% Hispanic or Latino, 6.7% Native American, and smaller percentages of other racial groups. The principal economic activities in Camp Verde are related to tourism, agriculture, and retail. The town is known for its natural beauty and outdoor recreational opportunities, including hiking, camping, and fishing. Agriculture plays an important role in the local economy, with many farms and ranches producing crops such as corn, alfalfa, and pecans. Retail is another significant industry in Camp Verde, with numerous stores, restaurants, and other businesses serving both tourists and local residents. Overall, Camp Verde is a small town with a diverse population and a mix of economic activities with a focus on tourism, agriculture, and retail.	value1 value2 value3	Long-term reductions in water use: This project aims to completely eliminate seepage and leakage losses associated with irrigation diversion from the Verde River and its tributaries by piping sections of canals in the Verde Valley. By doing so, the project will result in significant long-term reductions in water usage, as less water will be needed to be diverted from the river to deliver the same amount of water to stakeholders. Projects will demonstrate water savings of 8.3% per mile of pipeline, and the cost-effectiveness of the proposed water savings will be evaluated, with projects that have the highest volume of water savings for the estimated costs being awarded. These criteria will ensure that the projects that are funded are those that will have the greatest impact on reducing water usage and achieving the program's objectives. This project will deliver long-lasting water savings, with a projected lifetime of up to 100 years. HDPE pipe, which is the industry standard for industrial and municipal water conveyance, is designed to last up to a century. By fusing the pipes together with high heat, we create one continuous pipe that is impervious to leaks, ensuring maximum efficiency and durability. With the elimination of leaks and seepage, we can guarantee that the water conveyed through these pipes will remain secure and sustainable for the full duration of the project's lifetime. Improvements in water use efficiency: The piping of irrigation ditches will result in a significant increase in water use efficiency by reducing seepage and leakage losses. The program will achieve an estimated 8.3% per mile increase in water use efficiency on all piped irrigation canals. By reducing water losses through conveyance, ditch managers will be able to divert less water from the river while still delivering the same amount of water to users in the Verde Valley. This will result in long-term reductions in water usage, as less water will need to be diverted from the river for irrigation purposes. Additionally, the program may incentivize farmers to adopt more water-efficient irrigation practices, further improving water use efficiency in the long term. Improvements in water reliability: This project will also improve water security for farmers in the Verde Valley and downstream water users. As the Verde River suffers from reduced baseflows from drought, climate change, and development, surface water users are at risk of a depleted and less reliable water supply. By improving conveyance efficiency on irrigation ditches, we improve water security for farmers reliant on flows, secure water for downstream users, and improve continuous flows in the rivers for fish, wildlife and recreation.	Water supply shortages Reliance on non-renewable water supplies Groundwater depletion Water quality issues Natural disasters that may impact water supply infrastructure	Water supply shortages: Baseflows in the Verde River are declining. Flows are threatened by climate change, drought and increasing development. This threatens water supplies for people and instream flows for fish, wildlife and recreation. These piping projects aim to reduce the amount of water that irrigation ditches divert from the river for the benefit of fish, wildlife, and recreation, while increasing water security for the surface water users that rely on it. Reliance on non-renewable water supplies: Although the Verde River and its tributaries are technically renewable water supplies, as flows are decreased by climate change, drought, and development, water use will have to be supplemented with groundwater supplies. The groundwater aquifers that would supplement these water supplies are part of a complex hydrological system that includes both renewable and non-renewable sources of water. While some of the groundwater in the area is being replenished by natural processes, other parts of the aquifer are being depleted faster than they are being replenished, leading to a decline in the overall water table. Creating more efficiency in surface water usage, while reducing the amount of water that will need to be supplemented with non-renewable groundwater supplies. Groundwater depletion: Baseflow in the Verde River near the Verde Valley has declined significantly over the past three decades as a result of prolonged drought and increasing demand. This decline is baseflow indicates declines in groundwater contribution to the river. In order to continue to maintain current flows, projects like this are critical. These projects reduce surface water demand buffer the impacts of groundwater pumping. Water quality issues: Water quality will be improved through dilution and reduced sediment transport. A central part of this project is leaving more water in the Verde River and its tributaries. The effect of having more water instream is improved water quality. Additionally, these projects will also reduce sediment transport. Irrigation canals that are dirt lined pick up sediment and often deposit excessive sediment back into their source stream as return flows. Natural disasters that may impact water supply infrastructure: High-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipes are known to be resistant to natural disasters like earthquakes, hurricanes, and floods. HDPE pipes are flexible, which means they can absorb shock and strain, reducing the risk of damage during an earthquake. HDPE pipes are also resistant to corrosion, which makes them ideal for areas with a high risk of floods, where exposure to corrosive materials is a concern. During a flood, HDPE pipes can remain operational as they are designed to withstand high pressure and high flow rates. They are also resistant to abrasion, which is beneficial during a flood when debris and sediment can cause significant damage to pipelines. Open, dirt lined, irrigation canals are more susceptible to natural disasters considering the effects from floods, hurricanes and earthquakes such as erosion, damage to the banks and walls of the ditch, leading to breaches and loss of water, and sedimentation of the ditches when floodwaters breach the headgates.	The impacts of the proposed piping projects meet several goals and policies outlined in the Yavapai County Comprehensive Plan Update 2032, specifically within the Land Use, Open Space, Water Resource, and Environmental sections as described below: - Land Use Goal 8: Strive to protect and preserve Yavapai farming and ranching to ensure sustainable food production is located within the County; Policy 8a: Continue County efforts to protect and preserve farm and ranch land, especially those agricultural operations utilizing regenerative methods of agriculture to replenish the soil and natural environment. - Open Space Goal 3: Preserve and enhance recreational, cultural, historic and educational opportunities; Policy 3a: Prioritize the preservation of streamside recreational opportunities, such as swimming, kayaking, canoeing, rafting, and fishing - Water Resource Goal 4: Protect surface water and groundwater quality in the county; Policy 4j: Manage land use to protect the base flow, water quality and health of the Verde River and all other perennial surface waterways within Yavapai County. - Environmental Goal 1: Maintain a high level of water conservation. - Environmental Goal 8: Preserve natural landscapes and wildlife; Policy 8a: Protect ecosystems in riparian areas around perennial and intermittent streams, springs, rivers and lakes; Policy 8b: Protect Fossil Creek and the Verde River as the only remaining Wild and Scenic Rivers inside the state of Arizona. The proposed piping projects have the potential to return around 1,955 acre-feet per year of water to the Verde River and its tributaries by completely eliminating water loss during conveyance, while still reliably delivering water to users who depend on it. This will provide greater water security and reliability for farmers and ranchers, ensuring the sustainability and future of local food production in the Verde Valley. Furthermore, the increased baseflow resulting from the proposed projects will help support outdoor recreational opportunities and tourism along the Verde River and its tributaries, especially during the summer months when baseflow is typically at its lowest and tourism is at its peak. By piping unlined irrigation ditches, we can improve water quality by minimizing sediment transport while also safeguarding and enhancing the critical riparian habitat that help restrict the entry of nutrients and pollutants into our waterways. Preservation and improvement of riparian zones will also serve to support wildlife and maintain natural landscapes along the Verde River.	Costs: - Expense: Piping irrigation canals can be expensive to install, particularly if the terrain is difficult or if long stretches of pipeline are required. - System complexity: Piping systems can be more complex than open canals and may require additional infrastructure such as control valves and pressure regulators. - Loss of streamside vegetation: Many irrigation ditches have allowed for both native and non-native species to establish on the ditch banks. This has created an artificial riparian habitat which will usably be converted back to upland habitat once piping is complete. Benefits: - Water conservation: Piping irrigation canals can reduce water loss due to evaporation and seepage, particularly in arid regions where water resources are scarce. - Reduced maintenance: Usually ditch managers need to maintenance every foot of an irrigation ditch. Rockfalls, tree falls, breaches and contamination are common. With piped systems, maintenance is far reduced. - Increased efficiency: By reducing water loss, piping systems can increase the efficiency of water delivery. - Improved water quality: Piping canals can reduce the potential for contaminants and sediment to enter the water supply, which can improve the quality of the water for irrigation. - Reduced erosion: By reducing the velocity of water flow, piping systems can reduce erosion and sedimentation in watercourses. - Reduced land use conflict: Piping systems can require less maintenance on open canals through private property. - Improved riparian habitat: The natural riparian area along the river will be improved by increased streamflow. - Improved upland habitat. Open irrigation ditch introduces many riparian species along the canal which would have otherwise been upland habitat.	We will be using three measures for evaluating the benefit of our projects. - Total water savings associated with piping: This will be based off of how much pipe is installed and the seepage factors associated with the area of ditch that are piped. - Stakeholder engagement: We will look at stakeholder satisfaction with the program. This will be entail interviewing the irrigation ditches and non-profit stakeholders to understand their satisfaction with the program. - Instream connectivity: The Nature Conservancy has a monitoring program that looks at inflow stream throughout the Verde River and West Clear Creek. The project will result in more instream flow and data regarding instream flow is recording in their program.	No, it is not eligible.	No, without this grant funding, it is unlikely that the proposed conservation activity of piping irrigation ditches would be implemented. The high cost of large-scale piping projects, which can exceed a million dollars per mile, makes it financially unfeasible for the irrigation ditch companies to fund such projects on their own. The fees charged by these ditches to water users are typically too low to cover the expenses of major renovation programs. Additionally, most farmers who are the largest water users of these irrigation ditches operate on tight budgets and cannot afford the increased fees that would be required to fund these projects. Fees are always on a per irrigated acre basis, so farmers who irrigate the most land on the ditches often bear the brunt of fee increases. Smaller water users who do not rely on the water for their livelihoods may also be unwilling to pay higher fees to support such projects. In order to fund large-scale upgrade projects like this, irrigation ditch companies and other stakeholders must seek outside funding sources. While corporate funders have been the primary source of funding for projects like this in the past, these are typically smaller, one-off projects. Larger funding sources such as WIFAâ€™s Water Conservation Grant Funds are needed to support this critical program. There are other funding sources, from agencies such as BOR or NRCS, which could support these projects, but thus far, we have not had success in navigating those sources. Organizations such as The Nature Conservancy are engaging with those agencies to try to leverage other federal funding for piping projects which could be used as match for a program like this.	This program is proposing to utilize match funding from The Nature Conservancy (TNC). TNC has leverage funding from corporate donors to support this project. That is outlined in their letter of support.	Yes, TNC has been engaging with corporate and foundational partners to provide match funding for this program. TNC has already utilized corporate and foundational funds to pipe nearly three miles of irrigation ditch in the past 5 years. Although these funding sources are unlikely to be able to fund large scale programs, they are very good sources for match requirements.	The match requirements will come from The Nature Conservancy. TNC is committed to securing $750,000 in match. They have secured $400,000 and are in the process of and committed to securing the remainder.	Chip Norton: - Chairman of Verde NRCD for over 5 years - Served as President of Friends of the Verde River for 12 years - Served on the County Resource Advisor Committee for 6 years - Retired engineer. Claudia Hauer - Owner of Hauser and Hauser Farms, which is the largest farming operation in the Verde Valley - Serving on two ditch boards (Diamond S and West Clear Creek Stakeholders) - Farm operator for 37 years. - Has served on the NRCD board for 1 year. Chris Jensen - Has served on NRCD board for over 8 years - Retired educator and Navy veteran - Serves on the board of the Verde River Valley Nature Organization. - Member of the Friends of the Verde River Brenda Hauser - Former Camp Verde Mayor - Former town council member - NRCD Supervisor for 7 years - Retired nurse with over 20 years of experience The Nature Conservancy - The Nature Conservancy will be partnering on this project. They have been managing irrigation infrastructure project in the Verde Valley for over a decade and have a dedicated staff in the Verde Valley for helping with this program.	There will be improved management impacts as a result of this project. Piping an irrigation ditch can bring several management improvements, including a reduction in labor requirements. Ditch lined irrigation canals are susceptible to breaches, seepage, trees, and boulders falling into them, which can require significant labor to fix and maintain. By contrast, piped irrigation systems are more resistant to these issues and require less labor-intensive maintenance. Once installed, piped systems generally require less ongoing maintenance than open canals, which can free up labor resources for other tasks. Additionally, piped systems can be operated with fewer staff since they often require less manual intervention than open canals, which can be particularly beneficial for smaller operations with limited labor resources. Overall, piping an irrigation ditch can reduce labor requirements and improve the efficiency of water delivery, which can benefit farmers and land managers alike.	Yes, this project will foster collaborations among esteemed entities including irrigation ditch companies, non-profit organizations such as The Nature Conservancy and Friends of the Verde River, the local government entity NRCD, and the dedicated farmers in the Verde Valley community. The unwavering support demonstrated by each of these organizations is exemplified through their letters of endorsement, further underscoring the significance and potential impact of this project. These collaborative partnerships will serve as a strong foundation for success, leveraging the diverse expertise, resources, and shared vision of all stakeholders involved.	The irrigation ditch companies, NRCD, and The Nature Conservancy will be the primary parties involved in the process. All three parties have already been involved in preliminary planning and have also engaged in other conservation projects.	Absolutely. The Natural Resource Conservation District regularly conducts Surface Water User Workshops, which offer opportunities for the public to learn about a variety of topics related to surface water use, such as adjudication, water rights, hydrology, and more. Additionally, the NRCD hosts Local Workgroup meetings where they gather input from the public to provide recommendations on local natural resource priorities and criteria for USDA conservation activities and programs. At the last local workgroup meeting, held in May of 2023, Insufficient Surface Water was ranked as the highest priority resource concern by the public. Considering that this piping program is directly addressing this issue, if this program is funded, information about the piping program will be provided at the next meetings to encourage more participation and support. The goal is to create more piping programs through this outreach, thereby continuing the conservation work. There will be at least 2 surface water user workshop and 1 local workgroup meeting per year.	We have received strong letters of support from esteemed entities who recognize the utmost significance of our program for the well-being of the Verde River and the preservation of agriculture in the Verde Valley. We have received endorsements from the Town of Camp Verde, Salt River Project, Friends of the Verde River, the Eureka Ditch, the Verde Ditch, and Hauser and Hauer Farms. These letters reflect a shared understanding of the vital role that our program plays in fostering sustainable water management practices and safeguarding the ecological and agricultural heritage of the region. Their support further validates the importance and potential impact of our initiative.	The feasibility of our water conservation activity is exceptionally high, underscored by the proven success of similar projects implemented in the area over the past five years by The Nature Conservancy and various irrigation ditch companies. Significant strides have been made, with nearly three miles of irrigation ditch effectively piped using HDPE fusion pipe in the Verde Valley. This accomplishment is a testament to the established network of reliable vendors and experienced contractors who have been instrumental in supplying and installing this cutting-edge pipe technology. Furthermore, the irrigation ditch companies possess a well-defined process for project completion, while the local community has demonstrated support for such transformative initiatives. As partners with The Nature Conservancy, who has spearheaded previous piping projects, we are confident in the feasibility of our undertaking. With existing infrastructure and widespread community backing, we are poised to make substantial progress in advancing water conservation and fortifying water security throughout the Verde Valley.	The conservation activity proposed in this grant application is a continuation of ongoing activities that have already demonstrated their effectiveness. In the past five years, nearly three miles of irrigation ditch have been piped with HDPE fusion pipe, resulting in reduced water usage and improved water security. These piping endeavors have been completed by The Nature Conservancy in partnership with irrigation ditch companies and other environmental nonprofits. Stakeholders have expressed overwhelming support for these projects, and all of the irrigation ditches that have participated in piping projects have expressed interest in doing more. The Eureka Ditch and the Verde Ditch have already completed successful pipeline projects, and their willingness to participate in this program further indicates the effectiveness of these efforts.	Yes. The industry standard for piping irrigation ditches, and most other commercial water conveyance systems, is to use HDPE Fusion Pipe. HDPE pipes are strong, durable, and resistant to corrosion and chemical damage. They are commonly used for both high-pressure and low-pressure water applications, as well as for gas distribution systems.
51	Verde Natual Resource Conservation District	Soil Moisture Monitoring and Irrigation Optimization for Agricultural Water Users	Programs or projects to improve groundwater conservation and surface water flows.	Program	The Soil Moisture Monitoring and Irrigation Optimization program is designed to provide agricultural surface water users on the Verde River, West Clear Creek, and Oak Creek with the information they need to best schedule their irrigation and maximize the efficiency of their water application and crop yield. The program involves three components: The primary component of the program entails distributing 35 soil moisture meters to surface water users in the Verde Valley and providing them with the invaluable assistance of a project manager and agronomist. This collaborative effort aims to optimize irrigation water application practices and maximize water use efficiency for the benefit of participating stakeholders. The secondary component involves the project manager working directly with surface water users who do not receive permanent meters to do soil moisture spot checks with a handheld meter to improve their irrigation scheduling. The final component involves education and outreach at local workshops hosted by the Verde Natural Resource Conservation District (NRCD). This program will engage a range of surface water users in the community, from small property landowners to larger scale farmers. For the primary focus of the program, data collected from the sensors will be communicated to the cloud, where water users will be able to access their soil moisture levels in real-time. The program will employ a project manager who will work with an agronomist to provide reports to each of the landowners who participate. These reports will explain the data from their soil moisture sensors and give recommendations on how they can use or change their irrigation scheduling to minimize water usage while maximizing crop production. Recommendations will take into account crop water needs, river water availability, seasonality, and weather. The project manager will also work with landowners directly to help interpret reports, recruit program participants, and to educate the broader community about irrigation water application and water use inefficiency. With data gathered from this program, the Verde NRCD will disseminate the information at surface water user's seminars throughout the year and an annual local workgroup meeting. This information will inform future irrigation scheduling for other water users within the Verde NRCD area. The second component will help to expand the reach of the program beyond the participants who receive soil moisture meters. The project manager will work with surface water users to improve their irrigation scheduling using handheld soil moisture probes to conduct spot measurements, assess crops and water application, and work with users to adjust their irrigation scheduling. This component will not require additional soil moisture meters and will provide a valuable resource for the community in improving irrigation efficiency and water conservation. The program will engage with up to 35 participants for the soil moisture monitoring portion of the program, and each of these landowners must be surface water users and willing to engage with the Natural Resource Conservation District on the project. Landowners must irrigate at least .5 acres. An additional 60 participants will be engaged through the educational outreach component of the program. Overall, the program aims to reduce water usage while maintaining crop yields by providing water users with the necessary information to make informed irrigation scheduling decisions.	Camp Verde, Cottonwood, Cornville, Sedona, and Clarkdale	Yavapai County	2	1	Verde Watershed	n/a	n/a	$177,760.00	$45,000.00	$206,600.00	148	0.0007163601162	We are estimating water savings of at least 5.2 % of total water use per year for each participant. This estimation is based on the farm Irrigation Rating Index Tool developed by the Natural Resource Conservation Service under the USDA. This tool lets you estimate water usage of agricultural operations based on various factors. We held those factors consistent for the type of farm that this program will be targeting, flood irrigated pastures, alfalfa, and barley fields, and adjusted the factors relating to soil moisture monitoring. From that, we estimate a 5.2 % improvement in irrigation efficiency. With this grant, we are looking to engage 150 acres worth of landowners over two years. We anticipate at least 50 acres will be growing alfalfa, 25 acres growing barley, and 50 acres will be growing pasture. We estimate that 148 acre feet per year will be saved by this grant. Furthermore, we project that the soil moisture spot measurement and irrigation scheduling component of the program will have a direct impact on approximately 60 individuals. While we anticipate significant water savings resulting from this component, it is important to note that precise quantification of the benefits is challenging due to the inherent variability in trying to monitor water application rates without infrastructural measuring tools among landowners. Consequently, we have chosen not to include these benefits in our formal estimations of water savings. Nonetheless, the implementation of this component holds immense promise for optimizing water management practices and fostering greater efficiency in irrigation techniques.	This program will collect data for two years from the time of installation.	We propose utilizing grant funds to acquire 35 soil moisture sensors and one handheld soil moisture sensor enabling data collection at various depths. Alongside the provision of soil moisture meters to selected landowners, grant funding would employ a dedicated project manager who will extend personalized guidance to additional participants through soil moisture spot checks and recommendations. Additionally, grant funding will be used to pay for communication fees associated with cloud data from the meters as well as some installation equipment needed for installation. This comprehensive approach will effectively curb irrigation water overuse and foster improved community-wide water management practices. Our program targets three distinct categories of landowners: small property users, small farmers, and large farmers, all of whom have already expressed keen interest in participating, as evidenced by the strong engagement received by the NRCD. Small property users are landowners who do not produce crops but have irrigation rights. This group of users typically irrigates ornamental grasses or pasture fields by wild flooding, which can result in excessive water usage and reduced productivity. Our program aims to provide soil moisture meters to as many small property users as possible, allowing them to better understand their irrigation needs and improve their overall efficiency. The soil moisture data will be available to users in real-time through cloud monitoring, and the project manager will provide reports to help interpret the data and make irrigation scheduling recommendations. Small farmers, on the other hand, are typically producing food on 1-5 acre tracts and are already invested in maximizing their crop productivity. In the Verde Valley, small farmers include fruit and vegetable farmers, grape growers, and small-scale livestock farmers. By providing them with soil moisture sensors and access to expert agronomist advice, we can help them reduce their water usage while improving their productivity. Finally, we will engage large farmers who irrigate over 40 acres of land, using various types of irrigation systems. Although these farmers are already working to perfect their irrigation efficiency, none of the large farms have employed soil moisture monitoring. These types of farmers grow several types of hay, large scale vegetables, and different types of grain. They irrigate with furrows, borders, pivots, and drip irrigation. By working with this group, we can highlight the benefits of soil moisture sensors and provide insights into irrigation scheduling and efficiency across different irrigation types. The program's dedicated project manager will actively engage with an additional cohort of 60 participants, providing valuable assistance in irrigation scheduling through a combination of traditional field soil moisture testing and spot soil moisture measurements utilizing a handheld probe. By extending the program's reach beyond the recipients of soil moisture meters, this initiative will have a far-reaching impact on improving irrigation practices and promoting efficient water use across a wider spectrum of stakeholders. The soil moisture monitoring system utilized in the program represents a cutting-edge approach to irrigation management. It goes beyond a simple soil moisture meter, offering a comprehensive system that includes three moisture sensors placed at different depths, a rain gauge, soil temperature gauge, and air temperature gauge. These various components work together seamlessly, communicating data to a cloud service and making it accessible remotely through a user-friendly web application. This will allow the agronomist, project manager and program participant to have all the data they need to maximize the irrigation efficiency of the fields. The soil moisture monitoring component of the program is designed around the IC-10 Monitoring System from Irrometer. This is a company that The Nature Conservancy has worked with in the past and is trusted in the agricultural field. Overall, the program will provide valuable support to local landowners, helping them to use water more efficiently and sustainably. By reducing water waste and increasing productivity, this program will have significant benefits for the local environment and community.	Water will be conserved from the Verde River, West Clear Creek, and Oak Creek.	The Verde Valley is located in central Arizona and is composed of several small communities, including Cottonwood, Clarkdale, Jerome, Camp Verde, Sedona, and Cornville. Collectively, the Verde Valley is home to approximately 70,000 residents. In terms of demographics, the population of the Verde Valley is relatively diverse. According to the United States Census Bureau, the majority of residents are White (approximately 75%), with smaller populations of Hispanic or Latino, American Indian or Alaska Native, and Asian residents. The principal economic activities in the Verde Valley are agriculture, tourism, and healthcare. The region has a long history of farming, and crops such as corn, cotton, and alfalfa are commonly grown in the area. In addition, the region's natural beauty and outdoor recreational opportunities have made it a popular tourist destination. Tourists come to the Verde Valley to explore its numerous state and national parks, hike its trails, and visit its vineyards and wineries. The region is also home to several hospitals and medical centers, which provide healthcare services to residents and visitors alike.	value1 value2 value3	Long-term reductions in water use: This program has the potential to result in long-term reductions in water use through the following ways: - Improved irrigation scheduling: The program will provide participants with soil moisture sensors that will enable them to monitor their soil moisture levels in real-time. The data collected from these sensors will be used to inform irrigation scheduling decisions. By providing participants with more accurate information about their soil moisture levels, they can avoid over-irrigation and apply water only when it is necessary, reducing overall water use. - Agronomist recommendations: The program will employ a project manager who will contract with an agronomist as needed to provide reports to each landowner with soil moisture meters during the irrigation season. These reports will explain the data from their soil moisture sensors and give recommendations on how they can use or change their irrigation scheduling to minimize water usage while maximizing crop production. This will take into account river water availability, season, and weather. These recommendations will be tailored to each participant's specific needs and will be designed to optimize water use over the long term. - Increased awareness of water conservation practices: By providing participants with information about their water use and recommendations for water conservation, the program can increase awareness of the need for water conservation practices. This increased awareness can lead to long-term changes in water use habits, even beyond the duration of the program. - Long term water reduction through engaging with small property water users: Addressing water inefficiency on small properties is a top priority for conservation groups and agricultural users. Currently, large farms in the Verde Valley are few, making it easy to engage with them to improve water efficiency. However, a major challenge lies in reaching the thousands of small property water users in the area, which has been exceedingly difficult. This program represents a necessary step towards engaging small property surface water users to determine proper irrigation scheduling and application. This program is the first of its kind in the Verde Valley, and our goal is to expand it over time to reach as many water users as possible. - While it may not be possible to reach every water user in the community, as the Verde Valley is still relatively small, growing this program and reaching a critical threshold will allow us to influence a much wider range of irrigators. The success of this program will have a significant impact on protecting the flows in the river and ensuring water security for farmers who rely on the water. This program is essential for promoting sustainable water use in the region and reducing unnecessary water waste. Overall, the combination of improved irrigation scheduling, agronomist recommendations, and increased awareness of water conservation practices has the potential to result in long-term reductions in water use among agricultural surface water users on the Verde River, West Clear Creek, and Oak Creek. Improvements in water use efficiency: The Soil Moisture Monitoring and Irrigation Optimization program will improve water use efficiency in several ways, including: - Real-time soil moisture monitoring: By providing participants with soil moisture sensors that can monitor soil moisture levels in real-time, the program will enable them to make more informed irrigation scheduling decisions. Water users can avoid over-irrigation and apply water only when it is necessary, reducing overall water use and improving water use efficiency. - Tailored recommendations: The program will provide reports to each of the landowners during the irrigation season. These reports will explain the data from their soil moisture sensors and give recommendations on how they can use or change their irrigation scheduling to minimize water usage while maximizing crop production. These recommendations will be tailored to each participant's specific needs and will be designed to optimize water use efficiency. - On-the-Ground Expert: The program will benefit from a dedicated project manager who will work directly with water users in the Verde Valley, providing valuable guidance on proper irrigation techniques. Recognizing that not everyone can have soil moisture meters installed on their properties, the project manager will play a crucial role in conducting soil moisture spot checks and offering personalized recommendations on water applications. This hands-on approach will enable the program to engage with approximately 60 landowners, significantly reducing irrigation water overuse and promoting more efficient water management practices throughout the community. - Increased understanding of water use: The program will provide water users with a better understanding of their water use patterns and how they can optimize their water use. This increased understanding can lead to changes in irrigation practices that result in improved water use efficiency. - Increased awareness of water conservation: By providing participants with information on how they can conserve water, the program can increase awareness of the need for water conservation practices. This increased awareness can lead to changes in irrigation practices that result in improved water use efficiency. Overall, the Soil Moisture Monitoring and Irrigation Optimization program will improve water use efficiency by providing participants with real-time soil moisture monitoring, tailored recommendations, increased understanding of water use, and increased awareness of water conservation practices. Improvements in water reliability Declining baseflows of the Verde River due to drought, climate change, and development have made water reliability a critical concern for agricultural water users who rely on the river as a water source. The Soil Moisture Monitoring and Irrigation Optimization program can improve water reliability in several ways, including: - Optimized water application: By providing participants with real-time soil moisture monitoring and tailored recommendations, the program can help them optimize their water application. This means that water users can apply water only when it is necessary, which reduces the risk of over-irrigation and the potential for water loss due to runoff or deep percolation. This, in turn, improves water reliability by making more water available for other water users and reducing the overall demand for water. - Increased crop yield: The program will provide participants with recommendations on how to maximize crop yield while minimizing water usage. By optimizing irrigation scheduling and improving crop yield, the program can help water users make the most of the water they have available, which can reduce the need for additional water resources. - Increased water conservation: The program will increase awareness of water conservation practices, which can lead to long-term changes in water use habits. By promoting sustainable water use practices, the program can help ensure that water resources are available for future generations, improving water reliability in the long term. Overall, the Soil Moisture Monitoring and Irrigation Optimization program can improve water reliability by helping agricultural water users optimize their water application, maximize crop yield, and promote sustainable water use practices. By doing so, the program can reduce the demand for water resources and make more water available for other water users, improving water reliability for the entire community.	Water supply shortages Reliance on non-renewable water supplies Groundwater depletion Water quality issues	Water supply shortages: The Soil Moisture Monitoring and Irrigation Optimization program can help address challenges regarding water supply shortage in several ways: - Real-time soil moisture monitoring: By providing participants with soil moisture sensors that can monitor soil moisture levels in real-time, the program can help them avoid over-irrigation and apply water only when it is necessary. This can reduce overall water use and help stretch limited water supplies. - Tailored recommendations: The program will provide participants with tailored recommendations on how to minimize water usage while maximizing crop production. This can help water users optimize their irrigation scheduling, apply water more efficiently, and reduce the overall demand for water resources. - Increased crop yield: The program's recommendations on irrigation scheduling and crop production can help water users achieve higher crop yields with the same amount of water. This means that water users can make the most of the water they have available, reducing the need for additional water resources. - Improved water use efficiency: By promoting sustainable water use practices, the program can help water users reduce their overall water usage and minimize waste. This can help stretch limited water supplies and make more water available for other water users. Overall, the Soil Moisture Monitoring and Irrigation Optimization program can help address challenges regarding water supply shortage by promoting efficient water use practices, optimizing irrigation scheduling, and increasing crop yield with the same amount of water. By doing so, the program can help reduce the overall demand for water resources and make more water available for other water users during times of water supply shortage. Reliance on non-renewable water supplies - The Soil Moisture Monitoring and Irrigation Optimization program can help decrease reliance on non-renewable water sources by promoting sustainable and efficient use of surface water resources. By providing participants with real-time soil moisture data and tailored recommendations, the program can help water users optimize their irrigation scheduling and reduce their overall water use. This can help stretch limited surface water supplies and reduce the need for supplemental water from non-renewable sources such as groundwater. - By reducing water use and promoting sustainable irrigation practices, the program can help preserve and protect the natural recharge of groundwater aquifers. This can help ensure the long-term sustainability of the hydrological system, reduce the risk of groundwater depletion, and preserve this critical water resource for future generations. - As flows are decreased by climate change, drought, and development, water use will have to be supplemented with groundwater supplies. The aquifers that would supplement these water supplies are part of a complex hydrological system that includes both renewable and non-renewable sources of water. While some of the groundwater in the area is being replenished by natural processes, other parts of the aquifer are being depleted faster than they are being replenished, leading to a decline in the overall water table. Creating more efficient surface water usage, while reducing the amount of water that will need to be supplemented with non-renewable groundwater supplies. Overall, the Soil Moisture Monitoring and Irrigation Optimization program can help decrease reliance on non-renewable water sources by promoting sustainable use of surface water resources and protecting the natural recharge of groundwater aquifers. Groundwater depletion Baseflow in the Verde River near the Verde Valley has been falling since 1930 (when USGS started recording flow volumes). As baseflows continue to deplete, many water users will be forced to supplement surface water supplies with groundwater supplies. This will increase groundwater depletion. Water quality issues Although water quality is not a central part of this project, there are two ways this project can improve water quality in the river. First, by increasing flows in the Verde River and its tributaries, water quality will be improved through dilution. Second, this project will reduce agricultural runoff through reducing the amount of water that needs to be applied on farms. Many agricultural water users overapply water to their land causing excessive runoff into adjacent waterways. Flooding can run off fertilizers and pesticide into the river.	The benefits of the program align with several goals and policies outlined in the Yavapai County Comprehensive Plan Update 2032, specifically within the Land Use, Open Space, Water Resource, and Environmental sections as described below: - Land Use Goal 8: Strive to protect and preserve Yavapai farming and ranching to ensure sustainable food production is located within the County; Policy 8a: Continue County efforts to protect and preserve farm and ranch land, especially those agricultural operations utilizing regenerative methods of agriculture to replenish the soil and natural environment. - Land Use Goal 6: Encourage public participation in land use decisions; Policy 6c: Work with land owners to address community concerns about their land use, while respecting their private property rights. - Open Space Goal 3: Preserve and enhance recreational, cultural, historic and educational opportunities; Policy 3a: Prioritize the preservation of streamside recreational opportunities, such as swimming, kayaking, canoeing, rafting, and fishing. - Water Resource Goal 4: Protect surface water and groundwater quality in the county; Policy 4j: Manage land use to protect the base flow, water quality and health of the Verde River and all other perennial surface waterways within Yavapai County. - Environmental Goal 1: Maintain a high level of water conservation. - Environmental Goal 8: Preserve natural landscapes and wildlife; Policy 8a: Protect ecosystems in riparian areas around perennial and intermittent streams, springs, rivers and lakes; Policy 8b: Protect Fossil Creek and the Verde River as the only remaining Wild and Scenic Rivers inside the state of Arizona. Because soil moisture monitoring will increase water use awareness and efficiency on properties with irrigation rights, less water will need to be diverted from the Verde River, West Clear Creek, and Oak Creek. The additional water that will be returned to the system will increase water security, reliability, and quality for residents of the Verde Valley including small farmers, large farmers, and small property owners. Increased water security will undoubtedly help protect the future of agriculture in the region, as well as involve small property owners in efforts that will allow them to both meet their irrigation needs and conserve local water resources. Additionally, analysis and recommendations by an agronomist will provide education on water conservation methods, providing the opportunity to both users and the community to take ownership of the program and its benefits while also maximizing crop yield. Increased baseflow in the Verde River, West Clear Creek, and Oak Creek will protect critical riparian habitat and the general health of these waterways. Increased baseflow will also support outdoor recreational opportunities and tourism in the region, particularly in the summer months when baseflow is low and tourism is high. Overall, the combination of improved irrigation scheduling, agronomist recommendations, and increased awareness of water conservation practices in the Verde Valley has several benefits that align with many goals and policies outlined in the Yavapai County Comprehensive Plan Update 2032.	The Soil Moisture Monitoring and Irrigation Optimization program has costs and benefits that can be summarized as follows: Costs: - Equipment and installation: The program will require the purchase and installation of soil moisture sensors, communication equipment, and other hardware required to collect and transmit data to the cloud. This can be a significant upfront cost for the program. - Staffing: The program will require the employment of a project manager to analyze data and work with landowners. This is a recurring cost for the program. - Training: The program will need to provide training to participating farmers on the use and maintenance of the equipment, software, and data visualization tools. Benefits: - Water savings: The program can help participating farmers optimize their irrigation scheduling, apply water more efficiently, and reduce overall water use. This can result in significant water savings and potentially reduce the need for costly infrastructure investments to meet future water demand. - Increased crop yields: By providing landowners with real-time soil moisture data and tailored recommendations, the program can help them maximize their crop yields with the same amount of water. - Improved water reliability: By promoting efficient water use practices and reducing overall water use, the program can help increase water reliability and reduce the risk of water shortages. - Environmental benefits: By reducing water use and promoting sustainable irrigation practices, the program can help preserve and protect the natural environment, including surface and groundwater resources. In summary, the Soil Moisture Monitoring and Irrigation Optimization program has upfront costs for equipment, staffing, and training, but it also has significant benefits, including water savings, increased crop yields, improved water reliability, and environmental benefits.	Measuring the effectiveness of the Soil Moisture Monitoring and Irrigation Optimization program will be done in several ways, including: - Water Use Monitoring: The program will measure the amount of water applied before and after the implementation of the program to determine how much water was saved due to the program. This will be done through both surveying participants and interpreting their soil moisture sensor surveys. The soil moisture sensors installed can record data and calculate the water application for each field. - Crop Yield Monitoring: The program will monitor crop yields before and after implementation through surveying participants. - Survey Participants: After each year of participation, a survey will be conducted with participating farmers to understand their satisfaction with the program, their perceived impact on water savings, crop yields, and other factors related to the program. - Analyzing the data: After two years, data collected from the sensors, survey, and record-keeping can be analyzed to measure the effectiveness of the program, including changes in water use, crop yields, and overall water efficiency. In summary, measuring the effectiveness of the Soil Moisture Monitoring and Irrigation Optimization program can be done by monitoring water use, crop yields, surveying participants, keeping records, and analyzing data. These methods can help determine the program's impact and its effectiveness in achieving its goals.	No, it is not eligible.	No, the implementation of a program of this magnitude and impact would be highly unlikely without the support of this grant funding. Despite our efforts, we have been unable to identify alternative funding sources that could adequately support the scale and scope of this program. However, it is crucial to highlight that there is overwhelming community support for the implementation of such a program. The recognition of the pressing need for this initiative, coupled with the lack of available funding from other sources, further underscores the significance and necessity of securing grant funding to bring this program to fruition and address the critical water conservation challenges faced by our community.	Our water conservation activity will leverage two funding sources: $30,000 from the Walton Family Foundation Funds via the NRCD and $15,000 in-kind labor from the NRCD and participants in the program. The $30,000 in funding will go toward purchasing the soil meters. While we do not plan on leveraging any federal funding for this specific project, we will be maximizing the impact of the funding we have received by utilizing it to purchase soil moisture sensors and contract an agronomist to help participants interpret the data and schedule their irrigation more efficiently.	While we do not have any cost-sharing opportunities with other applicants for this specific project, we will be utilizing $15,000 in-kind labor from the NRCD and the participants. This will involve the participants contributing their time and expertise to the project, which will help to reduce overall costs.	The source and amount of the match for our project are as follows: - $30,000 from Walton Family Foundation Funds via the NRCD. - $15,000 in-kind labor from the Natural Resource Conservation District and the participants The in-kind match will involve the participants contributing their time and expertise to the project, which will be valued at $15,000. Together, these funding sources will allow us to purchase soil moisture sensors, a handheld meter, and fund the ongoing communication fees associated with the meters.	Chip Norton: - Chairman of Verde NRCD for over 5 years - Served as President of Friends of the Verde River for 12 years - Served on the County Resource Advisor Committee for 6 years - Retired engineer. Claudia Hauer - Owner of Hauser and Hauser Farms, which is the largest farming operation in the Verde Valley - Serving on two ditch boards (Diamond S and West Clear Creek Stakeholders) - Farm operator for 37 years. - Has served on the NRCD board for 1 year. Chris Jensen - Has served on NRCD board for over 8 years - Retired educator and Navy veteran - Serves on the board of the Verde River Valley Nature Organization. - Member of the Friends of the Verde River Brenda Hauser - Former Camp Verde Mayor - Former town council member - NRCD Supervisor for 7 years - Retired nurse with over 20 years of experience The Nature Conservancy - The Nature Conservancy will be partnering on this project. They have been managing irrigation infrastructure projects in the Verde Valley for over a decade and have a dedicated staff in the Verde Valley for helping with this program.	The proposed conservation activity involving the sensors and soil moisture monitoring system is not expected to have significant negative management impacts, but some maintenance may be required. Given that the sensors will be placed outside, issues may arise, but the Natural Resource Conservation District (NRCD) will support participants for troubleshooting. The meter supplier will also offer assistance for ongoing maintenance. Regarding the soil moisture monitoring system, participants will be required to pay an annual fee after the grant period. The grant will cover this fee for two years. In the event that a participant chooses not to pay the fee after that, the system will be returned to the NRCD and made available for use by other participants.	The involvement of the NRCD and the meter supplier in providing assistance with maintenance, installation, and ongoing support for the soil moisture monitoring system is an example of a collaborative partnership. In addition, the fact that the program aims to reach out to small property water users, small farmers, and large famers in the Verde Valley suggests demonstrates approach to addressing water-related issues, as it involves engaging with multiple stakeholders in the region. This program also has corporate funding and partnership with enviromental non-profits, which also shows collaboration. By working together with various partners, the proposed conservation activity has the potential to build stronger relationships, share knowledge and resources, and develop new strategies for addressing water-related challenges in the area. This collaborative approach can ultimately lead to more effective and sustainable solutions for managing water resources and protecting the environment.	The NRCD is made up of small parcel surface water irrigators, small farmers, and large farmers. Additionally, they have collaborators from The Nature Conservancy. The program aims to engage with as many landowners as possible who meet the criteria for the program and will use this team for outreach. The core team for conducting the planning will be the NRCD and The Nature Conservancy.	Absolutely. The Natural Resource Conservation District regularly conducts Surface Water User Workshops, which offer opportunities for the public to learn about a variety of topics related to surface water use, such as adjudication, water rights, hydrology, and more. Additionally, the NRCD hosts Local Workgroup meetings where we gather input from the public to provide recommendations on local natural resource priorities and criteria for USDA conservation activities and programs. Information about the program will be provided in these meetings to encourage more participation and support. The goal is to engage as many people on this topic as possible considering the large amount of people with surface water irrigation in the Verde Valley.	Yes, we have letters of support from Friends of the Verde River, the Town of Camp Verde, The Nature Conservancy, and Hauser and Hauser Farms	We believe that our water conservation activity is highly feasible. We have taken several steps to ensure its success, including the formation of a strong project team, securing community support, and identifying suitable soil moisture probes for the project. In addition, we have been in communication with a similar program in the Blackfoot watershed that has been successful, and we plan to leverage their experience and expertise to inform our project. We are confident that these factors, combined with our careful planning and implementation strategy, will enable us to successfully complete our water conservation activity.	Our proposed conservation activity is a new activity that has not been previously implemented in the Verde Valley. However, the technology we are proposing to use, the Irrometer IC-10 moisture probes, has been successfully employed in the agricultural sector for many years. We have also identified a similar program in the Blackfoot Watershed, by an organization called Blackfoot Challenge, that uses an agronomist and similar soil moisture meters to inform irrigation scheduling, which has been effective in improving water efficiency. This link shows an example of the type of report they have generated, https://blackfootchallenge.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/BCWeeklyReport2021-12-1.pdf While our program is unique to the Verde Valley, we are confident that the proven technology and successful implementation in similar programs give us a solid foundation for success.	The proposed conservation activity will implement an established BMP by using soil moisture monitoring to inform irrigation scheduling, which has been shown to be an effective method for improving water use efficiency and crop yields. The Irrometer IC-10 moisture probes that will be used have a developed interface for viewing soil moisture data and include all of the components necessary for collecting data. Additionally, the Natural Resource Conservation District has experience implementing similar BMPs in the past and will be able to provide guidance and support for participants throughout the project. Therefore, the proposed conservation activity will implement an established BMP that has been shown to be effective in improving water use efficiency and crop yields.
52	Buckskin Sanitary District	Injection Wells Installation	Projects facilitating coordinated water management, including groundwater storage and recovery.	Project		Parker	La Paz	8	28 29	Colorado River	Not applicable	Not applicable	$250,000.00	$350,000.00	$600,000.00	470	0.0007833333333	Maximum groundwater discharge of 250,000 gpd which equates to 1.3 acre-feet per day.	Minimum of 20-30 years.	This activity involves the installation of three (3) injection wells for the purpose of recharging the aquifer using treated wastewater.	The source of water is the mainstem of the Colorado River.	The Phase 5& 6 Planning Area falls within the boundaries of Buckskin Sanitary Districtâ€™s service area. The majority of the existing development to be served by this project generally lies in close proximity to the eastern shore of the Colorado River on both the east and west sides of SR95. This project, which is about 11 miles north of Parker, encompasses existing residential development and businesses extending north from the Buckskin Mountain State Park for approximately 4.4 miles. The northern planning area is somewhat of a vacation/retirement area; consisting of many contiguous and noncontiguous developments. Housing is mainly full-time residences, a few condominiums and trailer homes. Several businesses are located along the northern most end of the District, including restaurants, motels, and other miscellaneous commercial shops.Census La Paz County (1) Buckskin S.D.(2) Phase 5/6 Area Population % Growth Population % Growth Population % Growth 1990 13,844 x not available x not available x 2000 19,715 42.41 4,510 x 1,850 2010 20,489 3.93 4,746 5.2 1,921 3.8 2014 20,231 -1.2 4,955 4.4 1,965 2.3 20 year Population Projection (3) 2,653 30.0 Notes: 1. Housing density for La Paz County was 2.32 in 2000; and 1.96 in 2010. 2. A density of 2.34 was used for the BSD due to its service area being primarily in a recreational zone along the Colorado River; and, to be consistent with ADEQ guidelines and Phase 4 PER. 3. Growth rate for Phase 5 & 6 is estimated at 1.5% annually due to the availability of sewer service. 4. The 2000 population for the District and Phase 5 & 6 are estimated based on County growth rates.	value1 value3	This activity will not only recharge the aquifer but the treated wastewater will also be used to allow Arizona State Parks to irrigate their lands, thus conserving water use.	Groundwater depletion	This activity will recharge the groundwater which is directly linked to the Colorado River.	This activity is consistent with the goals of the local, regional, and statewide water plans to conserve water to prevent the depletion of groundwater.	The capital cost of this activity is approximately $600,000. Treated wastewater may be used for reuse on adjacent lands.	The conservation activity will be measured by groundwater monitoring over time to determine the impact on groundwater levels and the amount of treated wastewater used for reuse.	Not applicable	Yes, it would. It is a critical component of the new proposed 0.250 MGD treatment facility that will be built by the District.	This activity along with the proposed treatment facility will be partially funded by the USDA. The Corps of Engineers has also agreed to provide grant funds for a portion of the project.	The USDA will provide grant funding at approximately 50% of the capital cost of the project with the remaining loan to be paid through an Improvement District. There are nor other parties sharing costs other than those mentioned above.	The amount of the matching funds is $350,000 which will be included in the assessment of the newly formed improvement district.	Wayne Posey, District Manager of the Buckskin Sanitary District for the last 10 years will be managing this facility.	None really other than normal routine maintenance of facilities.	Yes, it will. The Arizona State Parks and the District have partnered on the land which the WWTF will be built, and are working on an agreement to utilize treated wastewater for spray irrigation purposes.	Public meetings have been held over the last five years to ensure all stakeholder involvement since the inception of this project.	Yes, as mentioned above, the public has been kept informed throughout the entire planning and design process.	Yes there is. The activity of recharging the groundwater has been supported by the community rather than a direct discharge to the Colorado River.	Very feasible. The USDA has already approved funding and the District is in the process of obtaining additional grant funds from the Corps of Engineers. An Aquifer Protection Permit has been issued by the ADEQ.	This is a new activity, however, the technology is an accepted practice in AZ;.	Possibly. This will be addressed with the ADEQ.
53	Upper Verde River Watershed Protection Coalition, fiscal agent Town of Prescott Valley	Optimization of groundwater recharge in the Upper Verde River Watershed	Programs or projects to promote groundwater recharge and improved aquifer health.	Program	Activities are located at more than one site in Yavapai County in the Upper Verde River Watershed. Conservation activities proposed are a component of a larger, comprehensive effort by the Upper Verde River Watershed Protection Coalition, a formal partnership of local governments, to optimize groundwater recharge across the watershed. Funding from the Water Conservation Grant Fund will complement funding also received from the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service to optimize recharge in the Upper Verde River Watershed and allow for expansion of that program resulting in a larger positive impact to recharge. Also included in this program is the Coalition-developed rainwater harvesting for aquifer recharge system, a French drain configuration that allows precipitation captured from rooftops to be directly funneled to the aquifer, and not a component of this funding request. Systems can be installed on single family homes and large commercial and government buildings. Application of juniper biochar on farms and ranches to improve the water holding capacity of soils is an additional practice not included with this request. The proposal builds on a strategic, planned, science and project-based conservation program that, in sum total, promotes recharge, protects the Verde River Watershed and its contributing sub-watersheds, and protects and augments Upper Verde River flows, as well as numerous additional benefits described in the response to question #14. A spreadsheet identifying each proposed site is uploaded with this application (Monitoring_ProjectSites_Infiltration_Detail).	Town of Chino Valley, and primarily unincorporated areas of Yavapai County. A detailed location description, with map, is attached with this proposal (location_map).	Yavapai	1	1	Upper Verde River Watershed	Prescott Active Management Area	N/A	$3,190,000.00	$725,002.00	$3,915,002.00	3233	0.0008257977901	A detailed description of the methodology and mathematical justification are attached in two files. (Water Savings; and Monitoring_ProjectSites_Infiltration_Detail)	Juniper silt dams have a life span of 15 years; juniper chip wattles have a life span of seven to 10 years. Biomass to manufacture wattles and juniper silt dams will likely be sourced from the project site (ranch) where conservation activities will be installed. According to a Feedstock Analysis completed for the Upper Verde River Watershed Protection Coalition by TSS Consultants, the sustainable restoration goal is treatment of 26,000 acres of juniper a year. Activities proposed with this request will be installed within one year of approval of a grant agreement, weather permitting. Funding for installation of monitoring equipment and one year of monitoring is included with this proposal; monitoring will continue for at least five years, and longer, as funding allows.	Primary low-impact development conservation activities associated with this request are (1) installation of 218 juniper silt dams, each about 30â€™ long and 15â€™ wide, (2) manufacturing and installation of 55,200 lineal feet of juniper chip wattles, and (3) thinning of 275 acres of juniper required to support installation of silt dams and manufacturing of wattles. Installation of activities will occur at seven sites in the Big Chino Sub-basin and Prescott Active Management Area of the Upper Verde River Watershed. Silt dams are designed to retain, not detain water, withstand a 100-year storm, and be appropriately sized to avoid rerouting flows onto unaffected lands. Other activities to be supported with grant funds include (1) cultural resource surveys, (2) clearance through the Clean Water Act (where required), (3) installation of monitoring equipment and one-year of monitoring, (4) an on-the-ground assessment of each project site to finalize location of conservation activities, and certification that activities have been completed according to specifications, (5) potential engineering that may be required for installation of juniper silt dams, (6) project management, (7) staff support by the Upper Verde River Watershed Protection Technical Advisory Committee Chair and/or Technical Advisory Committee members, and (8) project management and oversight by the Coalition's contract program manager. Over the last seven years, the Coalition has implemented a strategic approach to design a multi-benefit program to develop and test effectiveness of new and innovative low-impact development conservation practices with the primary goal to increase opportunities for recharge In the Upper Verde River Watershed. Water Conservation Grant Funds are targeted to ranching operations located above the primary aquifer; or in the mountain block areas of the Big Chino Sub-basin that were identified in the Northern Arizona Regional Groundwater Flow Model, completed by the United States Geological Survey, as primary contributors to recharge. A detailed description of activities proposed is included in the file Monitoring_ProjectSites_Infiltration_Detail attached with this proposal.	Non-appropriable stormwater is the water source. Conservation activities are designed to detain not retain water. The USGS determined that less than 2% of the precipitation landing on the watershed recharges the aquifer, while a similar small percentage runs off to the Verde River. The remaining 96% of total precipitation is consumed by vegetation and evaporation from the soil surface. (Blasch et al Hydrology of the Upper and Middle Verde Watersheds, Central Arizona, 2006, USGS Report 2005-5198). This is a lost opportunity that can be mitigated with effective low-impact development to improve long-term aquifer storage, and flows to the Upper Verde River. Rainwater or sheet flow is not an appropriable source of water in Arizona, as long as it is collected prior to reaching a defined stream channel. Legislators have established few, if any, laws governing the use of rainwater or sheet flow. Rainwater or sheet flow can be used to recharge aquifers without requiring an aquifer protection permit, underground water storage permit or recharge permit from the State.	Population in the Upper Verde River Watershed is about 167,000. The median age is 54.1 years, higher than the state at 37.1 and country at 38.6. Median household income is $51,239, and 12.6% of the population lives below the poverty line. Major employment sectors include healthcare, manufacturing, service-based industry, tourism, and retail. Water availability and depletion present a challenge for economic development. (Yavapai County Workforce Development Plan, Northern Arizona Council of Governments).	value3	Using low-impact development conservation activities to slow stormwater and allow more time for infiltration increases the amount of water going directly into the ground for long-term aquifer storage which improves water reliability.	Groundwater depletion	The project area is in the Colorado River Basin, a critical conservation area identified by the Natural Resource Conservation Service with the primary resource concern insufficient water. It has been identified by the United States Bureau of Reclamation as likely to experience conflicts over water supply by 2025. In 1999, the Arizona Department of Water Resources declared a state of groundwater mining in the Prescott Active Management Area. Current overdraft is about 7,000 acre-feet per year. The Big Chino Sub-basin, the primary location of agriculture production, is outside of the Active Management Area. Water is primarily delivered through unregulated exempt wells. One of the project sites proposed is in the Prescott Active Management Area; the remainder are in the Big-Chino Sub-basin. The Northern Arizona Council of Governments in its Workforce Development Plan has identified depletion of groundwater resources as a major impediment to economic development. Total water savings through installation of proposed low-impact development conservation activities is calculated to be 3,233 acre-feet per year.	Proposed conservation activities are aligned with numerous plans including, but not limited to: 1. Upper Verde River Watershed Protection, Watershed Plan (https://yavapaiwatersmart.org/watershed-restoration); 2. Yavapai County Comprehensive Plan (https://planningyavapai2032.org/Portals/42/Documents/YAVAPAI_CTY_COMP_PLAN.pdf); and 3. Prescott Active Management Area 4th Management Plan (https://infoshare.azwater.gov/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-10037/PrescottFourthManagementPlan.pdf). All plans include a priority to support aquifer recharge, water conservation and efficient use of all water supplies. Yavapai County's Comprehensive Plan and the Coalition's Watershed Plan also include a priority to protect the Upper Verde River and prioritize low-impact development The Coalition has the added purpose to protect and manage the Upper Verde River Watershed and contributing watersheds. According to the United States Geological, the Big Chino Sub-basin in the Upper Verde River Watershed contributes 80% of dry season flows to the Upper Verde River. Six of the seven sites proposed for installation of conservation activities are located in the Big Chino Sub-basin.	The primary benefit to the proposed conservation activities is optimization of groundwater recharge and its estimated water savings of 3,123 acre-feet per year dedicated to long-term aquifer storage. According to the Northern Arizona Groundwater Flow Model completed the United States Geological Survey, natural recharge in the Big Chino Sub-basin is 23,420 acre-feet per year. Water savings associated with installation of the proposed conservations activities represents 13.8% of natural recharge. This is a multi-faceted program with numerous environmental benefits including mitigation of erosion resulting from the overgrowth of juniper trees, grasslands rebound, reduction in the risk of catastrophic wildfire through thinning of juniper and development of uses for juniper biomass resulting from restoration activities, and mitigation of flood impacts. Additional benefits include support for economic development through re-invigoration of the forest products industry, the ability to transfer the design and specifications developed by the Coalition to other jurisdictions, and application of innovative uses for juniper biomass that can reduce land treatment costs and allow for increased restoration of overgrown woodlands in the watershed, and integration of data and modeling results resulting from multiple efforts including ongoing stream gaging throughout the watershed, modeling by the Arizona Department of Water Resources and partners to Comprehensive Agreement #1, and a comprehensive monitoring effort by the Chino Winds Natural Resource Conservation District in partnership with the Prescott National Forest and Arizona Association of Conservation Districts. According to The Nature Conservancy (TNC), a leader in the support of tree thinning to "support a healthy balance and increase water yield." TNC research indicates that fewer trees result in less competition for underground water. This could offset impacts from drought and warming trends. TNC research also found thinned forests potentially could make 20% more water available for aquifers that flows into streams in upper watersheds. Total cost is $3,915,002 with $2,900,000 in direct costs plus $290,000 in indirect costs requested through the Water Conservation Grant Fund. Cash match is 25% of direct costs or $725,002. An Excel spreadsheet itemizes costs, per site, for installation of juniper silt dams, manufacturing and installing juniper chip wattles, tree thinning required to provide biomass for wattles and silt dams, and monitoring supplies. Contractual costs in the budget include engineering required for juniper silt dam installation ($228,000); cultural resource surveys ($100,000); compliance with the Clean Water Act ($60,000); Project management, oversight of contractors and coordination of and meeting facilitation for the implementation team ($72,000); labor to accomplish installation of monitoring equipment and monitoring for one year ($86,450); and technical assistance provided by West Consulting, an authority on low-impact development on agricultural land ($206,953). Although construction is not an exact fit for the activities, it was used as the category on the budget worksheet to account for installation of juniper silt dams; manufacturing and installation of juniper chip wattles and tree thinning.	A robust monitoring effort to track results; and collect and analyze project data will be implemented with funding from the Water Conservation Grant Fund. Results will be integrated with other data collected from monitoring of project results conducted by landowners in the Chino Winds Natural Resource Conservation District; data provided through a complex stream gaging network managed by the Yavapai County Flood Control District, United States Geological Survey, Arizona Department of Water Resources; and Comprehensive Agreement #1, a partnership between the City of Prescott, Town of Prescott Valley and Salt River Project to model and monitor in the Big Chino Sub-basin. Monitoring results is a critical component of all Coalition projects. Not only is this a reporting mechanism, it is also the primary evaluation tool. It is how the Coalition charts its successes and revises, processes practices, and project plans, when necessary. A successful outcome is documentation of baseline conditions, and implementation of a project monitoring plan tied to achieving the primary project benefit â€“ optimization of groundwater recharge. Quantifying recharge at sites where wattles and/or silt dams are installed: Soil moisture monitoring sensors will measure wetted conditions of soil. If soils are at or above saturation water is recharging, total time of saturation (recharge event) will be recorded. Cameras and field surveys will determine wetted area after a storm event. Infiltration rate will be determined from a double-ring infiltrometer test. The volume of recharge will be determined as wetted area x time saturated x infiltration rate x soil water holding capacity â€“ evapotranspiration. Evaporation losses will be calculated according to the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) Recharge Program standard using Evaporation from Open Water Surfaces in Arizona, Keith R. Cooley (1970). Using ADWR standards, transpiration losses will be calculated using the Blaney-Criddle Method with a reference crop coefficient appropriate for the vegetation type. Sites will be monitored through remote telemetry and visited up to 6 times per year to survey changes in wetted area, accumulation of silt, to maintain equipment and download any non-telemetered data. Measuring silt buildup requires inclusion of t-posts during silt dam installation and on-the-ground monitoring. Photo monitoring will be in accordance with guidance from the Arizona Water Protection Fund. A detailed description of monitoring, costs and equipment is included in the spreadsheet (Monitoring_ProjectSites_Infiltration_Detail) attached with this proposal.	The proposed activities do not appear to be eligible for funding through Water Supply Development Fund. It is unclear whether or not the conservation activities would be eligible under the Long-Term Water Augmentation Fund. The coalition is a partnership of local governments. It is not a water provider nor taxing authority, and is not in the business of applying for or managing loans. It does not have a regular income stream other than grants and contributions by partners to guarantee repayment Conservation activities proposed are aligned with A.R.S. 99-1332(B) priorities to support programs or projects that promote groundwater recharge and improved aquifer health, as well as programs or projects to improve groundwater conservation and surface water flows.	No. The proposed activities would not be possible on larger ranches in the Big Chino Sub-basin that have been identified by the USGS as prime locations to optimize recharge without additional funding available through the Water Conservation Grant Fund. Current funding from the Natural Resources Conservation Service targets 10 to 12 smaller ranchers and farmers and historically underserved ranchers and farmers. Funding from Conservation Grant Fund will result in a synergistic effect and greater positive impact to long-term aquifer storage and Upper Verde River flows than would otherwise be possible. This project would also not be possible without the companion funding from the Natural Resource Conservation Service that is available for match.	The Upper Verde River Watershed Protection Coalition is matching WIFA funding with $$725,002 from a $2.7 million award to the Coalition from the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service, Regional Conservation Partnership Program, Alternative Funding Arrangement (fiscal agent for the Coalition is the Town of Prescott Valley.) Additional match is possible; however, the WIFA program only requires a 25% match. Remaining funding is earmarked as match for other potential grants. Typically, grant makers prohibit the same "pot" of money to be used as match for more than one grant. Natural Resource Conservation Service funding was leveraged by agencies and stakeholders addressing water resource issues in the watershed. Other leverage partners include the Arizona Department of Water Resources, Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, Comprehensive Agreement #1 (partnership between Salt River Project, Town of Prescott Valley and City of Prescott), Coalition, and Town of Prescott Valley. The funding award from the Natural Resource Conservation Service was received shortly after the start of the pandemic. Implementation was halted due to the inability to conduct grassroots outreach and meet in person with landowners, many of whom live in isolated rural areas with limited of no access to the Internet. This is a population that places a high degree of value on in-person meetings and shaking a person's hand, not possible during the pandemic. Meetings of the Chino Winds Conservation District, the primary landowner organization in the project area, were suspended. The Prescott Farmer's Market, the primary outreach opportunity to communicate with small farmers, was open only vehicle pickup of pre-placed orders; no discussion with farmers was possible. Planned location of a forest products' business with the potential of hiring 20 to 30 employees was also stalled due to the pandemic. Implementation of the Natural Resource Conservation Service funding is back on track, and will occur concurrently with funding through the Water Conservation Grant Fund, if awarded,	This question is not clear. I am not certain what is meant by cost-sharing opportunities with other applicants. Applicants for what? There are always cost-sharing opportunities by other parties. Specific to this request, there is a possible of a cost-share to complete archaeological surveys. Both the Prescott National Forest and Chino Winds Conservation District employ archaeologies. and have indicated a willingness to provide support to complete required surveys. The issue is timing. With only two years to complete project activities, project implementation must include the ability to complete those surveys within the first several months of the project period. Assistance from the forest service and conservation district depends on their workload, and they may not be able to accommodate a fast turn around. To that end, funding to hire a state certified archaeologist is included in the budget. There is also a potential cost-share with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) through additional grant funding and/or technical assistance. TNC is a Coalition partner. Other potential opportunities includes grants from the Arizona Water Protection Fund, Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, United States Department of Agriculture, and United States Bureau of Reclamation, as well as the federal Bi-partisan Infrastructure Act. Potential additional funding will be used to expand the breadth of the recharge effort to result in an even greater impact to long-term water supply sustainability and Upper Verde River flows.	The source of match funding is the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Regional Conservation Partnership Program, Alternative Funding Arrangements.	There are no past managerial deficiencies. The Upper Verde River Watershed Protection Coalition is an intergovernmental partnership in existence since 2006. It consists of an Executive Board comprised of elected representatives representing each partnering jurisdiction, a technical advisory committee comprised of geologists, engineers, biologists and planners from each partnering jurisdiction, a contract program manager and communication's consultant. Technical assistance providers are hired, as needed, to support project implementation. Coalition day-to-day activities are supported through annual dues paid by partners. Projects are funded through grants and in-kind technical assistance by partners. Since its inception, the Coalition has managed millions of dollars in federal, state and private grant funding. as well as developed a comprehensive list of long-time partners from the public and private sectors. Tracy Lund, a Professional Geologist with a Masters of Science in Geochemistry and Special Water Projects Manager for the Town of Prescott Valley chairs the Technical Advisory Committee. Melody Reifsnyder, a master's level geologist with 30 years of experience working on natural resource issues in the southwest, has served as the Coalition's contract program manager for more than a decade and will be responsible for overall project management, facilitating meetings of the project implementation team and contractor oversight. West Consulting, an authority on low-impact development with a focus on agricultural land, will be the primary technical assistance provider responsible for on-the-ground assessments of sites and certification that conservation activities have been installed to specification. John Munderloh; owner of Munderloh Consulting, former Water Resources Manager for the Town of Prescott Valley and current member of the Arizona Department of Water Resources, Prescott Active Management Area Groundwater Users Advisory Council, will oversee the monitoring effort from purchase and installation of equipment to data collection and analysis. Membership on the project implementation team is described in detail in the response to question #23.	There will be management impacts and additional requirements for technical assistance. Funding to address these shortfalls is included in the project budget, specifically additional time by the current contract program manager, technical assistance from West Consulting, an authority in low-impact development on agricultural land, and monitoring provided by Munderloh Consulting.	Yes. A project implementation team will include individual agricultural producers, the Chino Winds Natural Resource Conservation District, Prescott National Forest, Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, Prescott Farmer's Market Cooperative, Arizona Association of Conservation Districts. Arizona Department of Water Resources Groundwater Users Advisory Council, The Nature Conservancy, Natural Resource Conservation Service local office, one member of the Coalition Executive Board, and professionals described in the response to question #21. Partnerships and collaborations remain the cornerstone of Coalition efforts. Without the collective effort of all partners to address common water-related issues, this program of work would not be possible. Since its inception as a partnership of local governments with common goals to support sustainability of water resources, improve management of all water resources, and protect the baseflow of the Upper Verde River, the Coalition has continued to build on this founding collaborative effort. Partners that have contributed to Coalition projects over the years are listed below in addition to founding partners including Yavapai County, Towns of Prescott Valley and Chino Valley, City of Prescott and Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribe. Plans are also in place to add an NGO as a formal partner in the next 60 days: 1. Prescott National Forest 2. Arizona State Land Department 3. Arizona Department of Water Resources, state office and Prescott Active Management Area Groundwater Users Advisory Council 4. The Nature Conservancy 5. Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management 6 Chino Winds Natural Resource Conservation District, and local district office 7. Abra Water Company 8. Prescott Creeks 9. Biocarbon Technologies 10. Arizona State Land Department 11. Arizona Association of Conservation Districts 12. Arizona Commerce Authority 13. Arizona Game & Fish Department	Stakeholders have been involved at every step from the beginning of this process 12 years ago with development of the Upper Verde River Watershed Project Plan. The Coalition defines stakeholders as those who have responsibility for implementation of projects and outcomes that support watershed health through water conservation and other related activities, such as habitat management, fire management, forest restoration, and protection of the Upper Verde River and its associated tributaries and riparian areas. Primary stakeholders in development of juniper silt dams and juniper chip wattles were the Coalition, individual agricultural producers, Chino Winds Natural Resource Conservation District, Arizona Department of Forest and Fire Management, Prescott National Forest and Arizona State Land Department. The idea to design juniper silt dams was sparked during a demonstration of forestry equipment on a local ranch eight years ago; juniper chip wattles were added to the mix following results of an All Hands, All Lands conference in 2016, further discussed in the response to question #26.	Yes. Public outreach and communication is an activity included in project implementation. It will be accomplished by the Upper Verde River Watershed Protection Coalition communication's consultant with assistance from the program manager and chair of the Technical Advisory Committed. Funding to support this effort will come from the current NRCS funding, the Coalition operating budget, outreach funding from the Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribe, and a recently awarded two-year grant from The Nature Conservancy with objectives to provide public education on water conservation, and the nexus between watershed health and the health of the Upper Verde River. Total outreach and education costs over two years are estimated at $100,000. The communications and outreach strategy can be provided to the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority, Water Conservation Grant Fund Committee as a reporting deliverable. Outreach and communication will have the value-added contribution of also promoting development of the forest products industry and utilization of juniper biomass through the Coalition developed Juniper Works! strategy. A copy of the Coalition's WaterSmart newsletter demonstrating the breadth and depth of partnerships and work accomplished to support this funding request is also attached.	Yes. The Coalition has been working with the agricultural sector through the Chino Winds Natural Resource Conservation District and local Natural Resource Conservation District office since the representatives from the District and local office participated in the watershed plan process that began 12 years ago. That plan has been the guide for all Coalition activities since. All Hands, All Lands conferences in Prescott during 2018, and 2017 were hosted by the Coalition, District, and Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management. They were designed to address landowners needs and concerns and brought together hundreds of people from the local agricultural sector, state and federal agencies, local governments and non-profit organizations. Coalition representatives have been attending District (working group meetings) since 2014. Landowners were involved with the development of conservation activities proposed with the application. The Barney-York Ranch in the Big Chino Sub-basin was the site for initial demonstrations. Members of the District have been apprised on the Natural Resources Conservation project from inception to funding. An update on project implementation is on the agenda for the July District meeting. If an award is made through the Water Conservation Grant, that will also be discussed.	Coalition personnel have conducted demonstration projects of both proposed conservation activities on the Barney-York Ranch. It is feasible to complete cultural surveys, and on-the-ground site evaluations in 4 to 5 months followed by juniper thinning, installation of juniper silt dams and manufacturing and installation of juniper chip wattles within the first year. Monitoring equipment will be purchased in the first several months of the project period and installed immediately after installation of conservation activities allowing for a year of the two-year project period to monitor results. The Coalition has budgeted sufficient funds for technical assistance and management, and garnered support for membership on its implementation team; the Town of Prescott Valley Public Works Director and Capital Projects Manager will be available to provide assistance, as needed.	The conservation activities proposed are innovative activities using juniper biomass that have been demonstrated and proven to be effective. Results from demonstrations of juniper silt dams and juniper chip wattles, funded with grants from the US Forest Service, Arizona Water Protection Fund, and Western Forest Leadership Council, resulted in the designation of both as approved practices under the Natural Resource Conservation Service Rare and Declining Habitat umbrella and laid the groundwork for the subsequent $2.7 million award from Service.	Yes. The proposed activities will result in an estimated water savings of 3,233 acre-feet per year that, water that is put in the ground for long-term aquifer storage, an identified Best Management Practice by the Arizona Department of Water Resources, Arizona Water Board, Central Arizona Water Conservation District, and in Arizona Revised Statutes.
54	Tucson City of	Automated Metring Infrastructure (AMI) Program Phase 1	Programs and projects that reduce water use Per A.R.S. 49-1332(B)(2)	Program	This application describes a Water Conservation Program. The AMI Program, Phase 1 will replace outdated water meter and endpoint technology with AMI meters, electronic endpoints, and an associated network of communication equipment targeting critical meter groups across the Tucson Water service area. This robust program will be completed in phases to target multiple meter groups over a period with long-lasting impacts, including a recurring annual deliverable of water savings. Phase 1 will impact over 20,000 Reclaimed, Irrigation, Potable Water, and Construction Water meters across Commercial, Construction, Multifamily, Residential, and Municipal customers throughout Tucson Waterâ€™s 398 square-mile service area. Across these classifications we will target five overarching groups: 1) the entire reclaimed water meter system, 2) all large water meters (3-inch and larger), 3) City-owned construction meters, 4) water meters at City facilities, and 5) all commercial rate class customer water meters.	Tucson	Pima	6 7	16 17 18 19 20 21 23	Santa Cruz River	Tucson AMA		$3,000,000.00	$1,000,000.00	$4,000,000.00	4257	0.00106425	The estimated water savings is between 2,216 and 4,257 acre-feet per year for this conservation program. This is based on the sum of the average consumption data for each of the five targeted meter groups: reclaimed water meters, large water meters, City-owned construction meters, City facility meters, and commercial rate class meters. Research by the American Water Works Association (AWWA) estimates water savings from AMI in the amount of 6.3% - 12.1% of current usage. However, thatâ€™s assuming 100% engagement with the AMI portal to drive behavior changes. More research is needed to fine-tune the estimations, especially for different demographics, but current research from the AWWA has also found that with proactive outreach customer sign-up rates for the AMI portal can be in the range of 30%-45%. This conservation program targets five (5) meter groups that are more likely to have higher engagement rates within this range. In particular, large water meters will have a high engagement rate as they are already closely monitored by the utility on a monthly basis, as well as tested on a yearly basis, and have regular close communication with the customers. For construction meters, the current practice of manual reading lends itself to be a group that will benefit from the automation of meter reads and the granularity of data. These construction meter installations on fire hydrants often leak, so the alerts from AMI will be especially useful for this group. City facilities will have the highest engagement rate as they are internal customers. Lastly, commercial customers will likely have higher engagement as well because their bottom line is impacted by their water usage. Table 1 (see supplemental information) details the estimated water savings. In addition to these water saving paths per targeted water meter groups in this program, we anticipate further water savings in the form of leak mitigation and reducing non-revenue water.	The expected duration of this program is broken down into two periods. The first is the timeline for installations. This program will take approximately 24 months to install 20,000 endpoints and replace incompatible out-of-date meters. Installation will be completed well before the December 31, 2026, close-out requirement. The second duration of this conservation activity is the longevity of this program. The smart meter technology has a 20-year warranty. This allows the investment of installing AMI to have a meaningful impact over time.	Tucson Water will replace outdated water meter and endpoint technology with AMI meters, electronic endpoints, and an associated network of communication equipment. This activity will impact over 20,000 potable and reclaimed water meters across Commercial, Construction, Multifamily, Residential, and Municipal customers in Tucson Waterâ€™s service area. By providing near real-time data to water system operators and to customers, the program is expected to result in annual water savings of an estimated 6.3% to 12.1% which totals 2,216 to 4,257 acre-feet for the targeted meter groups, currently lost to leaks and inefficient water use. To summarize, the program will produce water conservation results across our reclaimed and potable water systems through two primary avenues: leak detection and behavior change. Potable water customers: Efficiency improvements and leak-detection enhancements afforded by AMI meter technology will lead to reductions in potable water usage, directly reducing our customersâ€™ usage of Colorado River water. The estimated annual Colorado River water savings for this population is 1,969 to 3,782 acre-feet. Reclaimed water customers: Reductions in reclaimed water usage by customers will result in an increase in the volume of reclaimed water held as long-term storage credits. In times of future water resource shortage, these may be withdrawn in place of future Colorado River water deliveries. The estimated annual water savings for this population is 247 to 475 acre-feet. Program Details: The program area covers approximately 398 square miles of Tucson Water's water service areas located in and around the Tucson metropolitan area. The proposed infrastructure improvements to the System will be in the City of Tucson, unincorporated Pima County, the Town of Marana, and the Town of Oro Valley. 1) Reclaimed Water Meters: Tucson Water provides recycled water to over 1,000 sites across the City of Tucson, unincorporated Pima County, the towns of Marana and Oro Valley. The sites include private customers, common areas, right-of-way irrigations, public and private golf courses, parks, and numerous public and private schools. The system provides a benefit to the entire population of the Tucson Water service area (approximately 745,000) as well as towns of Marana and Oro Valley by reducing reliance on mined groundwater and on Colorado River water delivered via the Central Arizona Project (CAP). This portion of the program would convert the entire reclaimed water meter system to smart meters. 2) Large Water Meters: Large water meters are those meters with a 3-inch bore and greater. Tucson Water services and maintains approximately 300 large meters. These are for commercial and multi-family customers across the City of Tucson, unincorporated Pima County, the towns of Marana and Oro Valley as well. These meters are the highest individual consumers of water with an average consumption of 2,400 CCFs per month. Smart meters would benefit this population of the highest water users. 3) City-owned Construction Water Meters: Construction water meters, also known as fire-hydrant meters, are utilized in construction projects. These meters are used on a short-term basis and are moved around the entire Tucson Water service area driven by the demand of development across the region. Presently contractors submit their meter reads for tracking and billing. Additionally, contractors may use privately owned construction meters. However, private meters will soon be phased out and only City-owned construction meters will be utilized. This subgroup of meters totals approximately 200 meters. 4) City Facility Water Meters: City of Tucson facilities represent over 1,000 water meters at locations that include City buildings, parks, golf courses, right-of-way irrigation, and fire protection. The City and Tucson Water strive to set a community example for water conservation. Smart meters at these facilities will enable detailed tracking of City water usage and enhance leak detection capabilities, leading to reductions in the Cityâ€™s annual water consumption. 5) Commercial Water Meters: Lastly, the largest subgroup of meters in this conservation program are the meters serving commercial rate class customers, which total approximately 17,500 meters. These locations spread across the Tucson Water service area including businesses in the City of Tucson, unincorporated Pima County, and the towns of Marana and Oro Valley. These meter groups are not entirely exclusive of each other and there is some overlap. For example, many large meters are a part of the reclaimed water system and may also serve commercial purposes. We have accounted for this in the total meter counts. By taking this approach on these five groups across the Tucson Water service area, we are targeting the most critical areas that would benefit most significantly from smart meter technology in terms of having water conservation impacts. Map 1 (see supplemental information) indicates specific locations of large meters, reclaimed meters, and commercial rate class meters. Construction meter locations are not plotted because these locations are variable and short-term, and City facility locations were excluded because it is understood that they are within city limits.	Tucson Waterâ€™s primary potable water resource is Colorado River water delivered through the CAP canal. AMI conversion of potable water meters in the categories of large water meters, construction meters, City facility water meters, and commercial water meters will directly result in annual reductions of the Cityâ€™s Colorado River water consumption by an estimated 1,969 to 3,782 acre-feet. Tucson Waterâ€™s reclaimed water system provides a benefit to the entire population of its service area and to neighboring jurisdictions by reducing reliance on Colorado River water delivered via the CAP. Conversion of all reclaimed water meters to smart meters is expected to reduce reclaimed water consumption through leak detection and increased customer efficiencies in the amount of 247 to 475 acre-feet annually. Unconsumed reclaimed water will be recharged in local aquifers and held as long-term storage credits. In times of water resource shortage, these may later be withdrawn in place of future Colorado River deliveries.	The population impacted by this conservation program includes the over 20,000 customers associated with the five targeted meters groups for the: reclaimed water meter system, large water meters, City-owned construction meters, meters at City facilities, and commercial water meters. Although this segment of the population accounts for less than 10% of all Tucson Water meters and customers, their consumption makes up more than 50% of Tucson Waterâ€™s customer water demand. The demographics for each of these groups is broken down below. 1) Reclaimed Water Meters: Of the over 1,000 reclaimed water meters, over half serve residential customers and all of these are appropriately sized small meters (2-inches or less). There are in fact two residential neighborhood communities in Tucson included in this group that were built with a specific emphasis on conservation that have clusters of reclaimed water meters. These are at the Tucson County Club Estates and the Civano neighborhood. The next largest demographic within this group is commercial customers. These customers vary in the size of meter they have, and the types of enterprises included in this subgroup are as follows: various private businesses, golf courses, schools, medical facilities, neighborhood associations, and construction companies, in addition to public parks and rights-of-way. The subgroup of City parks, Pima County properties, and rights-of-way makes up a large proportion of reclaimed water customers, and most are connected to 2-inch meters. Lastly, multifamily customers, which include duplexes and triplexes as well as facilities with up to 50 units, make up a sizeable number of reclaimed meters and generally have a 1-inch meter. The overall demographics of this group are displayed in Graph 1 and Table 2 (see supplemental information). 2) Large Water Meters: Large water meters are meters ranging in meter size from 3-inches to 16-inches, of which there are approximately 300. The customers in this group have the highest individual water consumption and utilize large water meters for potable water, irrigation, and reclaimed water (with overlap with the reclaimed water meter group detailed above). By far the largest customer class within this group of large water meters is commercial customers, which make up 70% of the total. The commercial enterprises included in this subgroup are as follows: various private businesses, including the Amazon warehouse, hotels, golf courses, schools, medical facilities, churches, casinos, car dealerships, the airport, neighborhood associations, construction companies, and the Saguaro National Park, in addition to City parks and rights-of-way. Other water utilities in the region that Tucson Water provides water to are also included in this group. This group has many similarities in its demographic makeup to the reclaimed water meter group. A notable difference is the inclusion of industrial facilities in this group. This includes Raytheon Systems Company. The overall demographics of this group are displayed in Graph 2 and Table 3 (see supplemental information). 3) City-Owned Construction Water Meters: The demographic makeup for the roughly 200 construction water meters is very homogeneous as all customers for these meters are within the construction rate class. They have 2.5-inch water meters that are installed with a backflow assembly onto fire hydrants for construction purposes across the Tucson Water service area. 4) City Facility Water Meters: Though this group is more homogenous than the others, as the demographic of the customer is simply the City of Tucson, its makeup of uses vary. The over 1,000 water meters at City facilities are used for potable water, irrigation, and reclaimed water, and include the following applications: golf courses, parks, medians and other rights-of-way, community centers, sportsplex, City Hall and other city operational buildings. Note, there is some overlap in this group with the reclaimed water meter and large water meter groups as well. Additionally, though the direct â€œcustomerâ€� is officially the City of Tucson, it is the uses of these public spaces by the Tucson community at large that brings diversity and purpose to the spaces. 5) Commercial Water Meters: The commercial water meter group totals approximately 17,500 water meters for potable water, irrigation, and reclaimed water use. 1-inch and 2-inch meters are the most common size servicing this population. In addition to the various commercial rate class customers that overlap with the reclaimed water meter and large water meter subgroups, other commercial customers that are included in this group are restaurants, retailers, and a wide variety of businesses and offices.	value1 value2 value3	This conservation program will lead to a total long-term reduction in water use in the amount of 2,216 to 4,257 acre-feet annually, compared to current consumption. This is based on the customer behavior change that occurs with access to greater information about oneâ€™s water usage. Additionally, the utility will be able to take more impactful actions based on this data to target information to customers given their usage patterns, as well as have more significant leak detection and correction, and ultimately lead to long-term demand reduction due to these improved water use efficiencies. This conservation program provides estimated annual water savings from the potable water system in the amount of 1,969 to 3,782 acre-feet which directly reduces our demand for Colorado River water. The inclusion of our entire reclaimed water meter systems in this conservation program is estimated to bring an additional 247 to 475 acre-feet of annual water savings. Reductions in reclaimed water usage by customers will result in an increase in the volume of reclaimed water held as long-term storage credits. In times of future water resource shortage, these may be withdrawn in place of future Colorado River water deliveries, supporting water reliability.	Water supply shortages	The outcome of the program will be a long-term demand reduction of Colorado River and reclaimed water supplies which will help mitigate water shortage stressors by using less. The Colorado River water delivered via the CAP is the primary source of water for the Tucson region. With AMI, customers and the utility will be enabled with a greater granularity of water consumption data tracking. By providing this near real-time data to customers and water system operators, the program is expected to result in annual water savings of an estimated 6.3% to 12.1% which totals 2,216 to 4,257 acre-feet for the targeted meter groups, currently lost to leaks and inefficient water use.	Tucson Water is currently engaged in the preparation of a new comprehensive long-range water plan to guide its water resources for the next 80 years. The master plan is based on a nationally recognized, integrated approach to water resource management known as â€œOne Water.â€� The goal of the One Water 2100 Master Plan is to foster a shared vision for providing a reliable source of the highest-quality potable and non-potable water for our community in the decades to come. As a part of this planning process, Tucson Water developed a Smart Metering Technical Memorandum, which explores the anticipated benefits of AMI conversion and provides a business case analysis that supports the program proposed by this conservation activity. Additionally, the program aligns with the City of Tucsonâ€™s long-term planning policies described in Plan Tucson. That document, required by State law, is intended to guide decisions affecting elements that shape the city, such as housing, jobs, land use, transportation, water, and energy resources. Key to the Plan are goals and policies that provide a framework to guide future actions. Used to best advantage, the Plan provides both a place to start and a place to end for the public, staff, and decision makers involved in developing or approving actions. That is, those who propose actions should do so with the Plan Tucson goals and policies in mind, and those reviewing proposed actions should assess whether the actions do in fact advance the Planâ€™s goals and policies. The water conservation activity proposed through this program aligns with multiple Elements, Goals, and Policies set forth in Plan Tucson that relate to the natural environment and the built environment.	The cost for this conservation program to install the AMI meters and endpoints is $4,000,000. The most significant impact of this program will come in the form of water conservation benefits. Research from the American Water Works Association (AWWA) has shown AMI leads to an average daily water savings in the range of 6.3%-12.1% for engaged customers. Additionally, AMI allows for near real-time leak detection. Whereas current leak detection often occurs only where there are obvious signs of leaks, i.e. water in the street or when customers notice irregularly in their monthly bills. Currently, Tucson Water Utility Service Technicians respond to over 3,000 leak work orders per year. With AMI, the utility and its customers will be able to proactively address and repair leaks. Furthermore, the transition and shift to full conversion of AMI will bring environmental benefits in the form of reduced gasoline use and carbon emission. Currently, Tucson Water vehicles drive well over 100,000 miles a year to collect meter reads. With AMI technology, driving and gasoline consumption for this task is eliminated because the meter reads are communicated cellularly instead. To offset the impact of acquiring new materials for the program, we will work with our AMI endpoint vendor to follow a more direct delivery method. By receiving materials directly from their manufacturing location in Nogales, Sonora, we will eliminate extra transportation impacts of shipping via their headquarters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Additionally, as is our current practice, we will recycle the current endpoints when they are replaced. Finally, the online customer portal with granular water consumption data from AMI can create additional motivation to drive more customers to paperless billing. Overall, this program will lead to the following environmental benefits: serve as a valuable water conservation tool, provide detailed water usage tracking, reduce non-revenue water, enhance customer service, reduce costs to customers, improve customer service efficiency, and improve operational efficiency.	Two of the primary benefits of AMI technology are its capacity for providing near real-time leak-detection alerts and its ability to acquire granular water consumption data from each customer meter. Measurements of the AMI Programâ€™s effectiveness will come in the form of reduced water loss from leaks and in customersâ€™ changed water-consumption behaviors. Tucson Water will track the count and scale of leaks identified by AMI data. The utility will also track customersâ€™ engagement rates with the online customer portal. Ultimately, the programâ€™s effectiveness will be measured against the anticipated reduction in Colorado River water and reclaimed water resources, as described above.	This conservation activity is not eligible for funding from the Long-Term Water Augmentation Fund or the Water Supply Development Fund.	Tucson Water recently conducted a successful small-scale AMI pilot program, and the utility is strategically positioned to roll-out Phase 1 AMI conversion to additional customer classes as described in this grant application. However, complete funding for Phase 1 has not been allocated through Tucson Waterâ€™s Capital Improvement Program (CIP) budget due to other emergent water resource and infrastructure priorities. Without timely grant funding, Tucson Waterâ€™s ability to complete this activity would be considerably delayed.	This conservation activity will leverage committed Capital Improvement Program (CIP) utility funds. Tucson Water has two multi-year CIPs related to this conservation program. They are a Small Meter Replacement CIP and a Large Meter Replacement CIP. These CIPs are an effort to update identified out-of-date meters based on age and overuse, where their performance to accurately measure water consumption is declining. This is also an opportunity to replace these meters with meters that are compatible with AMI endpoints, which is critical to this conservation program. These CIPs provide matching funds while also elevating the metering infrastructure to be compatible with AMI.	Not at this time. Tucson Water previously explored a detailed pilot proposal to deploy a small number of AMI water meters that shared existing communications infrastructure with Tucson Electric Power Company. However, this partnership proved incompatible due to fundamental differences in the utilitiesâ€™ requirements for processing end-user data. We have identified the best-suited approach for this program to be that outlined in this application.	Source: Capital Improvement Program Funding Match amount: $1,000,000	This program will be completed and managed by Tucson Waterâ€™s Customer Service Division (CSD), which consists of the Metering and Field Services staff responsible for installing, servicing, and repairing water meters, and the Customer Solutions Center staff, which is responsible for managing customer account, consumption, and billing information. In total, the CSD is staffed by 152 full-time employees. Within this group, the CSD Field Services Leadership Team is actively recruiting for a full-time AMI Project Manager, with an estimated start date of July 2023. Regardless of the funding source for Tucson Waterâ€™s AMI Program, the AMI Project Manager will be tasked with overseeing the utilityâ€™s transition to AMI technology over the next phases of AMI expansion. Until a full-time Project Manager is on-boarded for this program, it will be managed by the CSD Field Services Leadership Team. This includes: Superintendent: Reyna Woods Assistant Superintendents: Marcos Arenas, Monica Gallegos, and Shane Gerbig Management Analyst II: Sasha Geschwind The Leadership Team has already conducted a successful AMI pilot program and is qualified and prepared to oversee an expanded program.	Yes, there will be significant management impacts as the result of the proposed conservation activity. The scope of this program will require a Project Manager for which we are actively hiring. Additionally, there will be on-going costs for the cellular transmittal of the meter reading data which have been accounted for in the Customer Service Divisionâ€™s operational budget. Finally, this technology will require integration with our customer information and billing system, and this process is already underway.	The City of Tucson and its citizens are internationally recognized as water-conservation leaders. Tucson Water has several long-running partnerships with the University of Arizona and with a range of local non-profit organizations to promote water conservation, conduct residential and commercial water fixture upgrades and leak-prevention, and to educate our younger generations of community water stewards. Our conversion to AMI delivery points will create a powerful new set of data that Tucson Water will leverage into new conservation initiatives, partnerships, and education programs for years to come.	As the utility planned and conducted a successful AMI pilot project and now moves towards AMI program expansion, stakeholder updates and feedback have taken place via public open meetings, community town halls, and consultant development sessions. AMI program stakeholders include the Tucson Mayor and Council via their appointed Citizensâ€™ Water Advisory Committee, the utilityâ€™s One Water 2100 community stakeholders, and Tucson Waterâ€™s Directorâ€™s Office, water conservation staff, division administrators, and field staff.	This conservation program will include public outreach and opportunities for the public to learn about the conservation activity. In conjunction with the roll-out of AMI Phase 1, staff from Tucson Waterâ€™s AMI Program, Water Conservation, and Public Information teams will continue to develop customer engagement and education protocols based upon industry best practices published by the American Water Works Association (AWWA) and other leading industry experts.	There is ample community and sector support for this conservation activity. The Citizenâ€™s Water Advisory Committee has expressed eager support for AMI. AMI is in line with City Council established climate change mitigation plans and it is supported by Tucson Waterâ€™s One Water 2100 Master Plan, which relies heavily upon diverse stakeholder input from the community.	Successful completion of this activity within the required timeframe is highly feasible. Tucson Water conducted an AMI Program Pilot from May-December 2022, building familiarity with AMI technology among key utility staff. As a result, Tucson Water is prepared to expand its AMI Program to Phase 1, entailing more than 20,000 additional AMI endpoints as proposed in this conservation activity. During AMI Program Phase 1, Tucson Waterâ€™s metering/field services staff will take approximately 24 months to replace incompatible out-of-date meters and to install electronic endpoints and the associated network of communication equipment. Installation of all equipment associated with AMI Program Phase 1 will be completed well before the December 31, 2026, deadline established by AZWIFA per terms set by the U.S. Department of the Treasury for ARPA funds. In parallel with the physical installation of equipment, Tucson Waterâ€™s AMI Program staff will develop and complete training for Customer Service Division staff on the usage of AMI portals and data, complete integration with our customer information and billing system, and develop a customer outreach and education campaign to stimulate public engagement with this conservation activity.	This conservation activity is a continuation of ongoing activities. From May-December 2022, Tucson Water piloted AMI technology at 100 locations across its service area in a sample that was representative of the utilityâ€™s overall accounts. The AMI pilot was an operational success: AMIâ€™s cellular communication of meter reads and alerts was very effective, including incidents of meter tampering; acquisition of granular consumption data allowed our staff to answer customersâ€™ high-consumption concerns and to identify and resolve leaks; and AMI technology has been demonstrated to be temperature resilient, which is of course critical in our climate. In its short duration and given the small sample of meters, the pilot has not yet yielded significant water savings. However, as discussed above, long-term implementation of this conservation activity targeted at the largest water consumers in the community is expected to produce measurable and lasting water savings. This experience well equips us to move forward with AMI Program Phase 1.	Yes, the proposed conservation activity will implement established Best Management Practice (BMPs). We look towards the American Water Works Association (AWWA) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for these BMPs, especially in terms of customer outreach to drive high engagement for various targeted outreach. For example, for commercial and industrial sites, hospitals, restaurants, multifamily buildings, etc., which have particular patterns of water consumption, AMI can be an especially useful tool for these customers. AMI can help them understand and manage their water use, help facilities establish an effective water management program, and identify projects and practices that can reduce facility water use. In addition to these BMPs, Tucson Water will develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for customer outreach, as well the management of the technology in the field, and in the office particularly for data management and data analytics.
55	University of Arizona, Board of Regents	Portable low-energy technology to desalinate brackish well water and conserve Colorado river water	Education and research programs on how to reduce water consumption, increase water efficiency or increase water reuse.	Project		Tucson	Pima County	7	20	Colorado River			$249,965.00	$66,403.00	$316,368.00	355	0.001122110959	355 acre-feet/yr per desalination unit. Our technology can produce approximately 1200 cubic meters every 24 hours, which is about 438,000 cubic meters or approximately 355 acre-feet per year for each portable desalination unit. There are no limiting materials to the desalination units, such as lithium for batteries. Every component of the desalination unit is readily available.	9-12 months	Dr. Ravishankar at the University of Arizona will work with Dr. Witten of Witten Technologies Inc. and two major commercial producers to use Dr. Wittenâ€™s proprietary portable low-energy desalination technology to decontaminate and remove salt from Yuma and Maricopa brackish well water. Producers in both counties are concerned that currently, no economical technology exists to manage sodium and chloride salts. More sensitive crops essential to AZ production such as lettuce and spinach do not tolerate poor water quality. Desalination solutions such as reverse osmosis and flash distillation are impractical due to capital expenditure and energy costs. Preliminary data demonstrated extraction of 28% of the total salt from seawater by our technology, compared to 32% extraction by reverse osmosis, but with only 5-10% of the energy required. Water from producers will be treated to reduce the microbial load in Dr. Ravishankarâ€™s lab, then desalinated to meet irrigation water standards for sensitive crops using the portable low-energy desalination system initially in the lab, then piloted with Duncan Family Farms in Maricopa and Smith Farms Company of Yuma. This project is a feasibility study aimed at developing a process able to desalinate water, to serve as a substitute for Colorado River water that has been significantly reduced in water levels. This technology will take the burden off of Colorado river. â€‚ Dr. Mark Witten, Inventor of the desalination technology holding one active U.S. issued patent (US Patent 8,628,625B2) and Founder/President of Witten Technologies, Inc., has been collecting preliminary data since summer 2021. This patented and proprietary portable desalination technology uses a fraction (5-10%) of the enormous energy required for reverse osmosis or flash desalination. Currently, first passage of simulated seawater using this low-energy desalination technology extracted 28% of the total salt, compared to reverse osmosis that yielded 32% extraction. This project proposes a joint collaboration between Dr. Ravishankar, a microbiologist with extensive ties to vegetable producers, and Dr. Witten to work with two major vegetable producers in Arizona to optimize and determine parameters for decontaminating and desalinating brackish well water with the goal of converting this water to a better-quality water suitable for irrigating sensitive produce crops. Desalination as a practice has risen over the recent years due to necessity, but the major drawbacks of desalination remain both the high-energy consumption of seawater desalination processes and high capital expenditures. Global energy consumption is projected to increase along with water requirements, so a low energy portable desalination process would allow smaller scale or point-of-entry solutions, such as for producers needing a flexible desalination solution. Only slow movement of the water is required, compared to 350 pounds per square inch pressure and extensive capital requirements for reverse osmosis desalination. This small energy expenditure can be powered with solar batteries. The lung surfactant technology utilized in Dr. Wittenâ€™s technology is based on over 20 years of research conducted by Dr. Witten (PI & Research Professor; retired from UA and Founder of Witten Technologies, Inc) at the Joan B. & Donald R. Diamond Lung Injury Laboratory at the University of Arizona College of Medicine with continuous support from the U.S. Air Force- Office of Scientific Research. Meetings with water scientists at the Yuma, Arizona- U.S. Bureau of Land Reclamation desalination plant on December 1, 2021 confirmed that this portable low-energy desalination process will use only 5-10% of the energy utilized by standard reverse osmosis desalination, for the same amount of water desalinated. The heart of this â€œlow-energy desalinationâ€� process is a biofilm that is derived from a component of human lung surfactant, which is sprayed upon silicon disks. This biofilm attracts salt to the pores in the biofilm (see photograph in attachment). After each extraction period, the silicon plates will be lifted from the desalination tank and the extracted salt is simply rinsed off and collected and the silicon plates reused to extract more salt. Very little energy is required as the saltwater only needs to move over the biofilm plate, thus this method is economical in both small- and large-scale capacities. The hypothesis is that this surfactant functions in the alveoli of the lungs to transport salt. This surfactant is synthetically made and readily available for purchase. Mark Smith, President of the Yuma Irrigation Districtâ€™s Board of Directors and owner of Smith Farms Company of Yuma, Inc., assisted in coordinating the meetings with the water scientists in Yuma, AZ to foster collaborations towards an alternative solution to Colorado River water for the produce industry in Yuma, AZ. He will supply the Yuma brackish water needed for this project. For the brackish water from Maricopa, Duncan Family Farms has agreed to supply the brackish water needed for this project. The plan is to alternate trips between Yuma and Maricopa counties, AZ every month to collect brackish water, test and decontaminate, desalinate and work with the two producers to optimize the performance of the desalination technology in order to best desalinate the brackish well water. Total salt in the brackish water is currently ranging 1200 to 1600 ppm, and the goal is to desalinate to reach below 650 ppm. The goal of this project is to develop a simple and sustainable, portable low-cost technology to desalinate brackish water and make it feasible to irrigate sensitive crops such as leafy greens. The objectives are: 1. Assess the most effective, sustainable, and economical technologies employing organic and other sanitizers to decontaminate brackish water. 2. Desalinate the decontaminated brackish water using the proprietary low-energy desalination technology. Timeline: We estimate 9-12 months to finish the work, with Dr. Ravishankar's team assessing technologies to decontaminate brackish water (Objective 1), and Dr. Witten desalinating the decontaminated water (Objective 2), while collaborating closely with the two producers to obtain feedback on parameters for both the objectives and requirements for a portable desalination system. Both producers will submit desalinated water samples to the laboratories they normally submit their water to, to analyze for irrigation suitability. This data will assist us with optimizing our processes. Objective 1: Assess the most effective, sustainable, and economical technologies employing organic and other sanitizers to decontaminate brackish water. Decontamination treatments: Brackish water will be collected from Yuma and Maricopa and brought to the food safety lab at the University of Arizona. All water samples will be stored in the dark at 4Â°C until the day of the experiment. The water samples will be shaken well to create a homogenous mixture and 19 ml will be transferred onto sterile 50 ml centrifuge tubes. The samples will be kept in the lab for 1 h to reach ambient temperature. Samples will then be treated with 1 ml of one of the antimicrobial treatment solutions or sterile deionized water and vortexed for 10 sec to mix thoroughly. Antimicrobial treatments will include the following: peroxyacetic acid, hydrogen peroxide, chlorine, calcium hypochlorite, a citric acid-based organic sanitizer, a fulvic acid-based organic sanitizer, and Daveâ€™s Amazing organic sanitizer. Peroxyacetic acid, hydrogen peroxide, chlorine, and calcium hypochlorite will be tested at 3 different concentrations and the organic sanitizers will be evaluated at the manufacturerâ€™s recommended concentrations. Sterile deionized water will be evaluated as the control. The most effective and economical treatment will be used for decontaminating brackish water which will be further taken through desalination experiments in objective 2. Microbial Analysis after decontamination treatments: Samples will be taken at 0 h, 3 h and 24 h after treatment and all water samples will be stored at room temperature in the dark. The treated samples and controls will be diluted in 0.1% peptone water and plated on Tryptic Soy Agar. Plates will be incubated at 37Â°C for 48 h and then enumerated to determine the surviving microbial population. Objective 2: Desalinate the decontaminated brackish water using the proprietary low-energy desalination technology. Dr. Witten will determine desalination parameters by continuously scaling up the desalination technology using larger desalination tanks (up to 200 L) and additional silicon disks, with these disks coated with biofilm on both sides instead of one side, to increase extraction rates. The 12 inch silicon disks will be sprayed with the surfactant and the biofilm thickness will be measured with a laser device to ensure standardization of the desalination technology. The 12 inch silicon disks will be immersed in the desalination tank with a stainless steel layered plate stand (similar to a Christmas tree) maximizing surface area to desalinate the water. A salinity meter will be used to monitor the desalination process as well as salt accumulation on the disks. The goal would be to achieve under 650 ppm of final salt concentration (650 mg of salt per liter) in the treated water. Parameters will include the length of extraction periods, how many passes would be required to reach various salinity levels (500-650 ppm), how many times the silicon plates can be reused prior to recoating, and efficiencies at room temperature (approximately at 22Â°C/71.6Â°F) and at various temperatures (23.9Â°C/75Â°F, 26.7Â°C/80Â°F, and 29.4Â°C/85Â°F). All previous experiments were conducted at room temperature, but higher temperatures may increase extraction rates as the biofilm is a lung surfactant. Therefore, mimicking the lungs may increase the first passage extraction of 28% of the total salt (compared to reverse osmosis of 32%, but at only 5-10% of the energy required). We need to conduct these experiments to determine if 1) higher temperatures will result in significant salt extraction efficiencies, and 2) if these higher efficiencies offset the higher energy costs to desalinate at higher temperatures. Statistical Analysis: All experiments will be repeated three times. Data will be analyzed with the XLSTAT software (Addinsoft Inc., NY) to determine significant differences between decontamination treatments (objective 1), as well as treatments and controls (Objectives 1 and 2), at a 5% confidence level. Significant differences will be determined using ANOVA and comparison of means with the LSD (P<0.05) test. Dr. Witten and Dr. Ravishankar's team will work closely with the two producers on all objectives to optimize the desalination system for their use. Previous discussions have included plans for a portable desalination system on the back of a semi-truck consisting of: a decontamination tank, a continuous system of desalination tanks (e.g. 2 cubic meter tanks), and a wash tank and system to pull up the plates to wash and collect the salt. This could be powered with a solar panel with batteries and a back-up diesel generator, capable of running 24/7 for continuous water output. Other relevant information: The research conducted during this project is similar to the process that would be required for potable water. The goal is to achieve salinity levels below 650 ppm, for agricultural use to take the burden off the Colorado river water. However, preliminary data demonstrated that multiple passes over the silicon plates reduce the salinity to 500 ppm, which is the drinking water standard. We will conduct experiments to desalinate to 500 ppm, and be able to estimate costs at various salinity levels. Dr. Witten is currently working with a Dutch desalination collaborator, Dr. Earl Goetheer of the Eindhoven University of Technology, who believes the lipid/salt complex can be recycled, hence further lowering the cost. Dr. Witten is also currently working with an industrial design company, Design Integrity of Chicago, who will assist in designing the portable desalination units. Lithium is found in seawater and there is a known lithium deposit just north of the Yuma area according to the Arizona Geological Survey. If this grant proposal is funded, a lithium extraction methodology will be developed by Dr. James Roach who is the Associate Dean and Chairman of the Department of Chemistry at Cornell University Medical School in Qatar to collect lithium from the salt extracted from the brackish water without any expenses incurred to this grant. With the accelerating development of electrical vehicles throughout the world, there will be a huge demand for lithium batteries. Estimates are that 7 times the lithium production we have now will be needed for the electric vehicle industry to be viable. This leveraging of funds will allow research into the amount of lithium available from the desalination process. Other considerations are that salt can be used to establish sea algae farms, which can be used to make synthetic fuel. Sea algae absorbs huge amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and also has enough nutrients to make food pellets for animal and human consumption.	The source of water to be conserved is both Colorado River and Colorado River water delivered through CAP, as this project allows brackish water that is otherwise non-usable to be desalinated and usable, and therefore taking the burden off of Colorado River water.	The community impacted by the conserved water is the state of Arizona, as there is aquifer water all around the state, with a percentage that is not usable due to excess salinity. This technology can take the unusable water and desalinate it, thereby the unusable water becomes potable water, both for agriculture and human use.	value2 value3	Our water technology activity achieves improvements in both water use efficiency and water reliability, as it desalinates brackish well water, and therefore allows brackish water to be a reliable source of usable water for both agricultural and human use.	Water supply shortages Water quality issues	Our water conservation activity addresses the water supply shortages and water quality issues, by turning salty brackish well water into potable water.	These are portable desalination units that can be placed side by side, or be stackable to optimize gravity for the flow of water, and can be adapted to local, regional, or statewide water plans.	Only slow movement of the water is required, compared to 350 pounds per square inch pressure as required for reverse osmosis desalination. Our technology is not capital intensive, allowing smaller scale points of entry therefore more flexibility in locations. The small energy expenditure can be powered with wind or solar batteries, and the potable water, and lithium extracted from the salt, can serve as revenue sources, thus allowing sustainability.	We will measure the effectiveness of the conservation activity by tracking all inputs associated with the desalination units, to compare to the output of desalinated water. Currently, a thorough cost analysis has the portable desalination technology producing fresh water at $480 per acre-foot, which is considerably lower than the Israeli reverse osmosis company quote to Arizona of selling fresh water from the Sea of Cortez at $2,500 per acre-foot. This is also lower than the $6 billion request by Yuma farmers for giving up 4 million acre-feet over 4 years, which equates to $1,500 per acre-foot. We will revise our cost analyses after our experiments, and can estimate better the costs as well as the quantity of water desalinated, which would equate the burden off the Colorado river water. Cost calculations for estimate: One kilogram of DOPC from Lipoid of Germany has been quoted at $14,000 USD. This DOPC is mixed with acetone and chloroform to make 400,000 milliliters of DOPC solution that can coat 20,000 12-inch silicon disks. By increasing the water temperature to 80-86Â°F we hope to increase the first passage salt extraction rate from 30% to 36%. We also believe that we can separate the salt/DOPC complex after desalination and reuse the DOPC compound again with perhaps a negligible DOPC loss in the recycling process. Dr. Witten is currently working with a Dutch desalination collaborator, Dr. Earl Goetheer of the Eindhoven University of Technology, on this salt/lipid recycling, hence further lowering the cost. We calculate that ten passages of the low-energy desalination process at a 36% salt extraction will have a remaining approximately 631 ppm salt concentration which is very close to the USA national standard for drinking water of 500 ppm salt. We estimate that the 20,000 silicon oxide or metal oxide disks can desalinate 240,000 L of seawater or 240 cubic meters. It is currently difficult to estimate just how many times we can re-use the silicon or metal oxide disks before it is necessary to re-coat the disks with recycled DOPC biofilm. In preliminary experiments using 6-inch silicon disks, we were able to conduct a maximum of 13 trials before we re-coated the silicon disk. If our loss of DOPC in the recycling process is negligible, we perhaps can re-use the recycled DOPC 10-20 times. We will use renewable energy sources of solar/wind and batteries at night to power our low-energy desalination process. Previous experiments demonstrated that the DOPC phospholipid compound is very durable as heating the biofilm to 40Â°C for 2 weeks resulted in no loss of effectiveness, as well as freezing the biofilm to minus 70Â°C for two weeks had no loss of effectiveness. Consequently, we have estimated that one kg of DOPC can be used an average of 150 trials to produce 36,000 cubic meters of desalinated water or 29.19 acre-feet of water. An Israeli reverse osmosis desalination company has offered to produce desalinated seawater to the State of Arizona at $2,500 acre feet from the Sea of Cortez, Mexico. We estimate we can produce desalinated water at $479.62 USD per acre foot or 19.2% of the cost of the Israeli reverse osmosis desalination company. We intend to be as close as possible to 100% sustainable. To further this end, we plan to eventually develop the capacity to extract the elements lithium and magnesium from the sea salt. We will also use the sea salt to establish sea algae farms to eventually make synthetic fuels and food pellets from the sea algae as well as remove large amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The Big Picture We intend to advance this new desalination technology to solve the southwestern USA chronic drought for at least the next 100 years. Dr. Witten has started discussions via a formal presentation on the Witten Technologies, Inc. low-energy desalination technology to the Roosevelt County Economic Development Commission at Portales, New Mexico on May 10, 2023, with next steps to be discussed with the New Mexico water officials. We intend to build a salt water canal from Padre Island, Texas to an area south of Portales, New Mexico. At this site, we will build our desalination plant powered by wind/solar power and batteries at night. We will also build a holding reservoir for the sea water so that it can be treated with antibacterial agents before undergoing desalination. We will recharge the Colorado River at Lake Powell, the Rio Grande north of Albuquerque, the San Juan River, and send water to the Colorado cities of Pueblo, Colorado Springs, and Denver. We will also build a plant to chemically extract lithium and magnesium from the collected sea salt. At the present time, lithium is selling for $0.50 per gram on the world market and it estimated that the evolving electric car industry will require seven times more lithium than is currently being produced. There is an estimated 300 billion tons of lithium attached to sea salt in the worldâ€™s oceans. We will then use the collected sea salt to start sea algae farms in large greenhouses in the Portales area. Sea algae grows very quickly and can extract huge amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The US Air Force has successfully made synthetic jet fuel from sea algae which has been proven to be a cleaner jet fuel on jet engine efficiency/wear compared to oil-derived jet fuel. Finally, there are sufficient nutrients in sea algae to make food pellets for animal and human consumption. In summary, we will have four sources of revenue from our Portales plant; fresh water, commercial elements of lithium and magnesium, synthetic fuel derived from sea algae, and food pellets made from sea algae.	Not applicable.	No, as some initial funding is required to kickstart this activity. Though we have limited preliminary data showing great potential and feasibility, we need funding to get this project off the ground. We can then find more investors, and generate our own revenue.	Once additional data is obtained, we plan to submit for future grant funding from state and federal sources, as well as funding from the industry.	Yes, producers will provide the personnel and their time to provide the brackish water and test the desalinated water as well as give critical input in what parameters are most important and optimal for them. Furthermore, we have close interactions with Mark Smith, President of the Yuma Irrigation Districtâ€™s Board of Directors. As we progress, we will interact with additional producers and water officials to pursue further cost-sharing opportunities.	Of the 26.6% being matched, 40% is from Dr. Ravishankar contributing her time/salary at the University of Arizona and 60% is from Dr. Witten contributing his time/salary from Witten Technologies Inc. In-kind support of brackish water and time from Duncan Family Farm personnel and Mark Smith will be provided by the two major producer collaborators.	Both Dr. Ravishankar and Dr. Witten, as professors, have successful research programs, and have extensive experience managing small to large multi-institutional and muti-disciplinary projects as Principal Investigators of multiple grants, of all levels ranging up to $10 million from industry, state, and federal funding. Dr. Ravishankar is currently a Professor housed in the School of Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences, in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at the University of Arizona, with expertise in microbiology working over a decade with producers around the state and nation. Dr. Witten is a retired Research Professor of Pediatrics and Director of the Lung Injury Laboratory and AZ Airborne Particulate Research Center, at the University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, holding a long research career with over 70 contracts and grants in lung health and respiratory science. Both Drs. Ravishankar and Witten have been successfully collaborating on other projects since 2019 and have the necessary qualifications and the capacity to complete and report on the water conservation activity.	Funding is requested to pay the personnel and obtain the materials needed to develop the desalination technology, with skilled personnel already employed at the University of Arizona and Witten Technologies, Inc. Producers and water officials are donating their time and the brackish well water to assist in this development, and both Dr. Ravishankar and Dr. Witten are matching/committing a portion of their time to this project. There will not be additional staffing requirements or costs after meeting the objectives. We will find further investments to commercialize the technology with the results of this grant funding.	Yes, Dr. Witten has collaborated extensively with Mark Smith, President of the Yuma Irrigation Districtâ€™s Board of Directors and owner of Smith Farms Company of Yuma, Inc. Mark Smith provided the brackish water for the preliminary data, and coordinated the meetings for Dr. Witten and Dr. Ravishankar and team with the water scientists in Yuma, AZ, to foster collaborations towards an alternative solution to Colorado River water for the produce industry in Yuma, AZ. Dr. Ravishankar has a longstanding and strong collaborative relationship with Duncan Family Farms in multiple projects, and she and her team and Dr. Witten had meetings discussing this grant proposal with Duncan Family Farms team, who agreed to collaborate on this project. Dr. Ravishankar also works with numerous producers in Arizona over the past decades and these collaborative partnerships will synergize from this project.	Mark Smith will supply the brackish water from Yuma and Duncan Family Farms will supply the brackish water from Maricopa, needed for this project. Both producers will assist with water quality testing and validation. Dr. Ravishankar has collaborated extensively with Duncan Family Farms for over a decade in numerous projects, and Dr. Witten has collaborated with Mark Smith since 2019. Other producers have mentioned great interest in this technology.	The results of this project will be shared with the specialty crop growers and produce industry professionals via various means including seminars, workshops, website postings, school/college newsletters, and social media. Both Dr. Witten and Dr. Ravishankar are actively conducting outreach, and this project will give further outreach opportunities. Dr. Witten is scheduled to present at the University of Arizona Water Resources Research Centerâ€™s 2023 Annual Conference (July 11-12, 2023), What Can We Do? Solutions to Arizonaâ€™s Water Challenges, and currently has a YouTube video by Arizona Illustrated (https://youtu.be/84lPq1If6Kc) on this desalination technology. Dr. Ravishankar is also chair of the Food Safety Consortium at the University of Arizona, which hosts monthly meetings and an annual conference connecting academia, government, and industry on food safety and water research and extension. Dr. Ravishankarâ€™s students actively present posters at numerous events, including the annual Southwest Ag Summit in Yuma, AZ and the annual Food Safety Consortium conference in Tucson, AZ. Results will also be presented at professional international conferences and manuscripts published in peer-reviewed scientific journals.	Yes, this conservation activity is supported by producers in the state. Specifically, we are working with Duncan Family Farms and Mark Smith, Owner of the Smith Farms Company of Yuma, Inc. and President of the Yuma Irrigation Districtâ€™s Board of Directors. Producers are supportive of this project because intensifying droughts are increasing water scarcity, and alternative water sources for agricultural use are urgently needed. Producers are being affected by the intensifying drought in the Southwest, and some have already lost some allocations to Colorado river water, such as those in the Maricopa county. Well water is being used, but the salinity levels are higher than river water, and sensitive crops such as lettuce and spinach are unable to tolerate poor water quality. No treatment is being done in regards to salinity as no economical technology currently exists to manage sodium and chloride unlike other salts that can be managed. The well water in Yuma county is also too high in salinity. This project addresses this need by allowing us to work directly with these producers for a portable, simple, low energy desalination system to desalinate their water and allow them to continue growing their crops. Simultaneously, this allows us to work out methods for this portable desalination technology that will be the same for potable water for human use.	Our water conservation activity is very feasible, as a prototype has been demonstrated to work, with details in question #28.	Preliminary work by Dr. Witten to determine salinity parameters started with two inch diameter silicon disks, then adapted to four, then six inch silicon disks and now at 12 inch silicon disk, which is currently the largest commercially available silicon disk. A similar increase in desalination volume was seen each time, with extraction processes taking between 2-3 hours, and biofilm plates being reused 10-13 times before requiring cleaning and re-coating of biofilm. The current prototype includes two 12-inch silicon disks placed inside an aluminum tub, that are able to desalinate 7 liters. However, this was done with simulated seawater at 35,000 ppm salinity, and resulted in a 28% extraction rate in one session (first passage). A preliminary trial with brackish water from Mark Smith (Figure 1 - see attachment) using a 6 inch silicon plate extracted 20% salt but the water was simply treated with 3% hydrogen peroxide. Dr. Ravishankarâ€™s team will optimize water decontamination to increase extraction rates in Objective 1. The desalination prototype has also been stored frozen at -70Â°C for 2 weeks, with no loss of effectiveness as well as heated to 40Â°C for 2 weeks, with no loss of effectiveness, therefore demonstrating the prototypeâ€™s durability.	f
56	Roosevelt Irrigation District	Conservation through Automation Program (CTAP)	Programs or projects to improve groundwater conservation and surface water flows.	Program	The Roosevelt Irrigation District (RID) is excited to work with the Water Conservation Grant Fund and the Water Infrastructure Financial Authority to apply for this funding opportunity. RID looks forward to the potential of these opportunities to improve the water conservation efforts in the community for a more sustainable future. The RID is located in the Phoenix Active Management Area within Maricopa County. The RID is pleased to present its Conservation through Automation Program (CTAP) for the WCGFâ€™s consideration in the Round 1 funding of fiscal year 2023. The proposed RID Conservation through Automation Program (CTAP) has been regarded within the RID as the next step for improving efficiencies and water savings throughout the system. RID has meticulously researched, analyzed, tested and implemented automation features in several locations within the RID to determine feasibility, reliability, maximum water savings, and maximum effectivity per dollar invested in each project built into the CTAP. The CTAP proposes using automation features of Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) to enhance water savings, efficiency of operation, and overall system control. The testing of the initial pieces of the CTAP have proven to show a possibility of 3,109 acre-feet of water savings annually with total program implementation in the RID. The CTAP water saving projected is equivalent to approximately 9,327 average Valley homesâ€™ consumption annually. Total CTAP costs are expected to be $2,541,707.80 including the matching amounts from the WCGF and RID. The RID expects the CTAP to be in operation continuously for at least the next 25 years and likely beyond. Over that 25-year span, the CTAP will have saved approximately 77,725 acre-feet of water â€“ equating to roughly $31.50 of initial investment cost per acre-foot of water saved. The RID CTAP expects the regional community impact to be extremely positive due to the water saving and efficiency increases; resulting in a lower strain on limited water and electrical resources.	Phoenix, Tolleson, Goodyear, Avondale and Buckeye AZ	Maricopa	3	23 25	AMA	AMA	N/A	$1,906,280.85	$635,426.95	$2,541,707.80	3109	0.001223193319	The calculation is based on several test sites.	The total duration of the water conservation from the Conservation through Automation Program (CTAP) will be the new RID operational norm until such a time as RID no longer exists. These new conservation best management practices through automation and SCADA enhance the new management goals for conservation for the RID. The factors of continuation include parts replacements, to be funded in the future by RID, and system maintenance, also to be funded by RID. The CTAP has a goal of at least a 10-year working life of the newly installed equipment purchased by this proposal, and has a component internally with RID to fund the maintenance and operation of these new features for at least 25 years. RID believes every drop of water counts, and every conservation project has value in the long term when associated with any kind of water saving.	The Roosevelt Irrigation District is focused on conservation and maintains a Ground-water Savings Facility permit. Water savings and efficiency has always been a crucial component of RIDâ€™s stability and longevity. Ground water is the primary source for the mostly agricultural water users in the RID. The current water crisis in the American West has increased the scrutiny of RIDâ€™s operation as a primarily agricultural district, and now more than ever the RID looks to save every last drop of water it can to better improve community and regional futures for water availability. The proposed RID Conservation through Automation Program (CTAP) will include projects that facilitate coordinated water management through system supervisory control and data acquisition, which has proven in many other areas and districts around the world to reduce groundwater pumping, and in turn, improve groundwater storage. The RID CTAP will also reduce structural water overuse issues by enhancing control of the entire system, reducing loads on structures, reduced customer facility faults from excess water, and reduced ground subsidence from excess pumping. If funded, the RID plans to begin the program and start the installation of the system upon notification of funding. The RID CTAP, as scheduled, expects a two-year installation period and completion within that period post funding notification. All program costs have been listed in the Conservation Activity Cost section.	The Roosevelt Irrigation District has several exchange agreements with other valley water users in the Phoenix AMA. The agreements with Salt River Project, City of Phoenix, and the Salt River Pima Indian Community convey an exchange of treated effluent water from the City of Phoenix that RID receives for less pumping of ground water and groundwater storage. The City of Phoenix gets credit for this effluent delivery to RID in exchange for CAP water delivery. SRP then pumps the difference of water in this exchange and delivers it to the City of Phoenix. These exchanged waters result in a reduction to total pumped groundwater amounts. The RID CTAP will continue to encourage these exchanges with more effective accounting measures as well as the added benefit of reduced demand due to the increased efficiency. Exchange agreements like this ensure a â€œvalue addedâ€� process for every molecule of water that the RID and its exchange partners use, meaning as little water as possible is left unaccounted in the AMA. RID hopes that implementation of the CTAP will encourage more water exchange facilitation agreements in the future with other communities in the Phoenix AMA basin.	The RID CTAP will provide benefits to all water users within the Phoenix Active Management Area, which includes Indian Reservations, Reclamation Projects, other irrigation districts as well as several municipalities. Since the supply for the AMA is augmented by the Central Arizona Project, decreasing pumped water from RID wells and more efficient delivery of water pumped will help ground water levels across the AMA basin. The greater Phoenix area has a population over 4,500,000, all of whom stand a potential for benefit from the CTAP activity. Conserving more water will have beneficial electrical grid impacts to the area as well, with less electricity needed to pump, more load demand is available to other area users. The RID operations team regularly meets with other irrigation districts to improve operations and compare best practices. RID has already shared the CTAP plans with several other districts in the greater Phoenix area. The interest in programs of this type is considerable and RID expects the CTAP will attract more attention upon completion.	value1 value2 value3	The RID CTAP system improvements will reduce flow fluctuations. Changing flow rates to agricultural deliveries causes losses. The majority of the RID is irrigated by the flood irrigation method. When flows increase during flood irrigation water flows past the irrigation tubes and becomes wasted tailwater. When flows decrease irrigation tubes do not flow efficiently and can even shut down all together. Tube shutdowns will extend the demands for water during an irrigation session and result in oversaturated areas and dry spots. The oversaturated and dry areas reduce crop yields. This proposal is ideal for our agricultural customer to better use their delivery and qualify for NRCS funding. The intent of the RID CTAP funding request is to install monitoring and control systems. The monitoring will allow the RID water operations team to know the inputs to the system and match them to the demands. The control systems supply the RID staff with remote shutdown capabilities at programmable intervals. The more precise the inputs and demands can be matched the more efficiency can be expected. The removal of losses helps to conserve the aquifer and creates drought resiliency. Once operational, the CTAP system will annually accrue water savings, and with planned permanence of CTAP operation, the accrual of water savings over time will have a large impact on the water left in the ground for future generations. Calculating water conservation over the next 25 years using Table 1, the RID CTAP estimates 77,725 acre- feet of potential water saved. The RID CTAP is truly the next step for the RID in joining the 21st century and ensuring water conservation for the future.	Water supply shortages Reliance on non-renewable water supplies Groundwater depletion	Water conservation and excess ground water pumping reduction is the key objective for the RID CTAP. The CTAP will help reduce water supply shortages by increasing the precision of the RID system, the more precise the system, the less water consumed without benefit. Arizona is facing a statewide crisis of water supply, the many drops saved by the CTAP proposed will allow for increased availability of the water in the aquifer for others to use in times of shortage. The main source of the RID water supply is groundwater. RIDâ€™s CTAP will reduce pumping and groundwater depletion along the entire RID system. The RID CTAP will also hold the benefit of shielding RIDâ€™s water supply infrastructure from natural disaster. Currently, there are many places storm water runoff and debris from storm winds can block canals, increase flows drastically and rapidly, and increase overall load on the concrete structures themselves within the RID system. The CTAP will help mitigate the effects of these sudden disastrous events by real-time measuring and alerting RID crew members of issues. The automatic features of the CTAP also will be programed for regulation of these irregular inflows, meaning even in the dead of the night the system will be working to protect itself and save any extra water that enters the system from a storm event.	The Roosevelt Irrigation District falls under the Phoenix AMA, and the 5th management plan generated by the Arizona Department of Water Resources. The ADWR management plan includes further conservation of water from Agricultural users in the AMA, along with further encouragement of extended water use for exchange waters like effluent. The RID CTAP fits into the ADWR plan by reducing groundwater withdrawals improving the likelihood of the Phoenix AMA of reaching the â€œSafe-Yieldâ€� threshold outlined by the ADWR plan. Along with safe-yield, RIDâ€™s CTAP will put CAP exchange waters to more efficient use, helping the exchange partners potentially reduce their reliance on the CAP waters if reductions are issued. RID also has its own integrated resource plan(IRP) that includes electricity use for load demand sourcing, along with water management. The RID integrated resource planâ€™s goals of improving electrical load forecasting for pumping, and water use reduction can all be realized with the RID CTAP. The CTAPâ€™s increase in efficiencies will lead to an improved future integrated resource plan, with higher accuracy and better fore-sight for new goals. The improvements in the RID IRP will be realized by all Phoenix users with a more accurate, reduced total electrical load forecast, meaning more electrical load will be available on the grid for the other area users. The water efficiencies from the CTAP will lead to a better accounting and forecast in the IRP for water use, locations, and exchange availability.	Total costs of the RID CTAP when considering labor, materials, management and implementation are $2,541,707.80. The RID CTAP has reviewed and considered costs of potential system down times and concluded that due to cost, it is best that the CTAP integrate a plan to minimize down time utilizing improved construction and implementation methods program wide. The slight added cost of this approach is far exceeded by system down time cost. The CTAP planning assessment also included review of potential environmental impacts around each project site and throughout the implementation of the program. The CTAP review assessment concluded that using the solar panels power method, stationing the SCADA relay sites on existing well sites and structures creates little to no environmental impact overall. The benefits of the CTAP system will reduce system water waste, drive time and pollutants from equipment and vehicles due to improved system operation and remote diagnostic capability, and finally the reduction in electrical load will reduce power plant direct emissions from generation due to reduced RID electrical load needs. The average RID electrical pump operates at approximately 325 kilowatt hours per acre-foot. With an estimated water savings of 3,109 acre-feet this project will save an estimated 1,200,000-kilowatt hours of electricity. The average emissions of a natural gas plant is based on mmBTU or millions of British Thermal Units. The gas plant contracted by RID for power generation has a specific heat rate when burning gas to create electricity: 7.8 mmBTU per Megawatt Hour generated. According to the EPA, the average natural gas generation plant emits 117 pounds of carbon dioxide per mmBTU burned. Using the CTAP RID saves 1,200 megawatt hours of generation from being needed, thus saving 1,100,000 pounds of CO2 from being emitted by the gas plant to power the RID pumps every year.	The RID expects to realize and measure effectiveness in real-time with the CTAP system. The new integrated data points will allow RID to actively see water balancing, well pump output, delivery consumption, and pump efficiency. Overall, this will mean the total picture will come into water accounting after effective implementation year over year. The RIDâ€™s current manual measurements and estimations practices give an idea of the water in the system, along with the water accounting software used, will be improved and more accurate with the CTAP. The RID management currently holds an efficiency meeting and water accounting assessment every month with the water operations team. These meetings will continue after CTAP implementation, but with more accurate numbers and higher precision on efficiency numbers in comparison to historical data. The CTAP system is designed to be the source of the improved measurements, the fail-safe will be those savings realized on paper with the daily updates of data onto the already used water accounting software.	While the RID is eligible for the WIFA Long-Term Augmentation Fund (LTWAF), the RID board of directors have elected to not accumulate further significant debt at this time. The RID was interested in doing a bond offering and submitting for the LTWAF previously, but ultimately was constrained by the markets for taking on new debt. In order for the RID to take on these new debt monies, the overall water cost rate must go up for the RID customers. The RID board of directors voted against a water rate increase at this time due to volatile crop and input prices on the market. The RID is also not eligible for the WIFA Water-Supply Development Fund due to its location in Maricopa County and its proximity to high population cities. All of the details considered, the nature of immediate input cost-to-return value does not seem to be feasible for additional debt acquisition for these improvements of the RID at this time. Problematically, as prices of the CTAP equipment increase over time, the possibility of implementing these water saving practices seem to be further out of reach every year.	The RID CTAP has been analyzed and reviewed, from an RID system perspective, of necessity to complete for approximately the past 3 years. The RID has implemented test bed sites for balancing near the end of the canal, integrating the balancing storage ponds into the CTAP test program. The test bed sites have been determined to be successful, the total program package displayed is the result of a few different configurations to determine effectiveness. The RID plans to implement the program regardless of funding â€“ internal or external, within the next seven to nine years. The WCGF opportunity shows the RID a way to realize the program faster, saving more water over the next few years and saving cost. The CTA Programâ€™s hardware and construction costs will only increase in the coming years, potentially putting features of the CTAP out of reach for the RIDâ€™s budget.	The RID has applied for funding from other sources but has failed to be awarded the funding. The Bureau of Reclamation has listed several opportunities that the RID has attempted to acquire funds from, including the WaterSmart Program. The Bureau has determined that other grants are needed to fund other programs within the district prior to the boots on the ground water savings program plan the RID has displayed. The RID has also considered bond offerings for additional funds for the CTAP, but due to current market conditions the RIDâ€™s board of directors has elected to postpone bond issuances. The districtâ€™s advisors have already determined that if the board so elects, additional funds from bond monies or loan monies would be readily available if required to complete the program.	The Roosevelt Irrigation District covers a vast area, including many other cities and municipalities. The RID has long standing contracts with other entities such as the Salt River Project, the City of Goodyear, the City of Buckeye, the City of Avondale, and the City of Phoenix for water exchanges. Each city, per their contracts with the district, receives credit for water storage at the delivery point from the city to the district. Since the cost savings cannot be directly passed on to the other entities from this project cost sharing was not reasonable. That is not to say the other entities will not indirectly benefit due to the savings this program provides, however. The savings as scoped and analyzed will provide the other entities with more available water and hydrology over the program total life, thus resulting in a long-term benefit for all of the Phoenix AMA basin water users.	The RID CTAP, as scoped, plans on an in-kind match of manhours and personnel. The program has an extensive labor component due to each project siteâ€™s proximity to the others, as well as actual time on each site constructing, assembling, and configuring each of the components to tie in each project site to the whole program. The district has elected to use these hours and pay as a match during the program construction period to match the full 25% as indicated in the WCGF offering. As previously mentioned, the district is also open to other sources to match the WCGF grant if needed or indicated by the offeror. The labor costs approximately meet the 25% match.	RID has contacted all of the suppliers to confirm availably of supplies. As of today, all have a short supply that we hope will change in the 2 to 3 years to come. RID has identified locations and equipment and are ready to begin. RID anticipates 3 to 5 project installations per month with the final installs being sometime in the middle of 2025. The average time of installation at each project site in the CTAP is predicted to be 7 plus or minus one working days. The RID will order supplies as soon as the project can begin. Some of the challenges will be the current supply shortages. We will begin by installing antennas and weather tight enclosures then move forward with installing motors on gates. In this case the actuating nuts on the gates may need to be replaced or modified. All equipment will be installed on existing structures/facilities and will require no permitting. The RID CTAP proposal has selected several capable staff members of the district to complete the acquisition of parts, the installation, and operational management of the program for the entire life of the project. The RID feels that in house management of the program is the most cost tenable feature that ensures the highest operational reliability and program success rate. The RID staff selected already have previous experience with the test bed sites, installation, coding, and construction of each project siteâ€™s pieces. Staff also has the experience running the system program wide with the test sites already integrated with each other. The test bed project sites completed have shown the capability and management efficiency of the district in operation of the new program presented. The CTAP test sites were all installed by the RID Watermaster. The Watermaster, Steve Harris, has over 15 yearsâ€™ experience on the RID operations and management crew, involving construction of facilities and structures as well. The CTAPs equipment and software providers all have attached packages included in purchase of their equipment/software that provides the continued training and troubleshooting of each component and has thus far shown to provide effective help for needs beyond the staff capabilities. The management of the CTAP will be performed by the RIDâ€™s operations manager, Ken Craig, who has more than 30 yearsâ€™ experience with the district in management of water, well sites, and construction projects. Additional direction will be provided by both the Assistant Superintendent and the Superintendent of the district if any issues arise beyond the scope of the staff or management elected for the program. The Superintendent, Donovan Neese, is an experienced Professional Civil Engineer who has over 10 yearsâ€™ experience within the RID as superintendent, and worked as an engineer designing the RID facilities prior to his current position. Donovan holds an MBA from the University of Phoenix, as well as a Civil Engineering Degree from the University of Idaho. The Assistant Superintendent Taylor Howerter, has 8 yearsâ€™ experience in construction management, and some engineering experience in the design of the RID facilities. Taylor holds a bachelorâ€™s degree in Mechanized Systems Management from the University of Nebraska. Taylor is a graduate of the Agribusiness Water Council of Arizonaâ€™s Water Management Certificate Program.	The RID CTAP involves several complex features throughout each project site. The district intends to have the hardware and equipment providers to continue training, and provide additional staff training for operation of the projects within the overall program. Automation can be complex, and software of automation can be difficult to navigate. RID intends for the providers to complete the onsite training with all of the staff members involved during the construction period of the project sites within the program. RID believes that this training and continued training offerings from the companies providing the equipment to be satisfactory for operation of the CTAP. RID has seen a significant impact in reduction of labor and ease of management since the test bed site installation. The centralized CTAP SCADA incorporated into the RID main office technologically advances the RID into the 21st century. Management needs, labor needs and RID customer needs are all expected to see benefits from the better flow management and water accounting accuracy the CTAP will provide. The CTAP plan was chosen for the RID to help with labor shortages and reduction of load on the staff. No further staffing requirements or additional costs will be accrued from the CTAP implementation. Once the CTAP is fully operational, current RID staff will be more available to attend to other operations and maintenance needs, furthering the potential of indirect water savings. The vast area the RID covers leads to no shortage of issues for staff to manage, staff time is a very valuable resource and the CTAP is expected to enhance time management.	The Roosevelt Irrigation District strives to be a good neighbor. The surrounding municipalities and districts current water exchange agreements illustrate the RIDâ€™s future as a key member of the water community and its willingness to work with surrounding communities to manage the precious finite water resources of the area. The RID CTAP will highlight to other districts in the area the benefits to modernize and review a management program that works. The CTAPâ€™s ability to account for water more accurately will also promote other municipal entities to manage their water in a more community aware fashion. RID is hoping to bring these other entities to the table for water exchanges of effluent for reduced pumping further enhancing ground water savings to help the goals of the ADWR 5th management plan. Population in the Valley continues to grow at a high rate, RID, starting with the CTAP, hopes to be a leader in the community for water management and resource protection for the Valley and all of Arizona.	RID stakeholders have mentioned automating the RID system since the advent of the microcontroller. Many of the stakeholders have long since automated the majority of their on-farm management systems, from augers to heavy equipment to material storage. RID has reached out to these stakeholders for automation examples and suggestions for integration methods for the RID CTAP. Non-farm RID stakeholders such as other municipalities and districts have offered their research, suggestions, examples and approval for the proposed RID CTAP. The stakeholders have all seen great value in the program and look forward to realizing the many benefits the CTAP offers.	The high population, and awareness to water issues in the Phoenix AMA basin has led to many positive interactions and community support for the RID CTAP. The populace can see that every drop of water counts, and every dollar spent towards saving water will be beneficial to the state and local water supply in the future. The RID is involved in several community associations, the Irrigation and Electrical Districts Association, the Arizona Power Authority, Southwest Public Power Association, Colorado River Energy Distributors Association, Colorado River Water Users Association, just to name a few. All of these entities have shown examples, processes and other helpful ideas for automation implementation, along with other support for program development within the RID.	The Roosevelt Irrigation District plans on a follow up community outreach program once the CTAP is operational. The RID is excited to be a leader for the community with this program, as such, facility tours and CTAP operations will gladly be presented to the public and other district or municipality personnel for examples of water saving ideas. RID customers in the community will also realize many benefits of even, controlled flows preventing maintenance issues and interruptions of service.	The Conservation through Automation Program (CTAP) has been set up for implementation in a way that does not hinder RID system operation in any way for more than 24 hours. The minimally invasive installation features drop-in gates that can be placed while normal operational flows in the canals are occurring. The sensors are easily installed in high flow, low flow or no flow situations as well. The RTUs and auxiliary equipment will all be installed out of the way of normal operations crews and maintenance crews leading to an anytime availability for installation. Considering the parameters of installation of the CTAP within operational period, the feasibility of installation is high. The other units installed onto the well sites will also be able to be installed during a brief, one to two-hour shut down period for safety for the flow meter installation. Parts and materials will be ordered at the time of funding, and are available in stock as the program progresses due to the one project site at a time nature of the plan of implementation throughout the implementation stage of the Conservation through Automation Program.	The RID has constructed and tested several test bed locations along the main canal for demonstration and testing of viability in the process of review and analyzation of the Conservation through Automation Program. Due to the large nature of dollar and time investment for this program, RID decided this was the best way to prove the effectiveness of the CTAP addition to the RID system. The test bed sites are located near the end of the canal and incorporated into the storage ponds RID has constructed for a canal balancing feature. The system has proven quite effective at catching excess water in the canal and reducing runoff over the end of the system. The ponds and end of canal automation can only be so effective on their own, however. The location of the sites and the size of the system dictate that these systems can only manage local flows. Water entering the RID system at the beginning can take more than 24 hours to reach the end of the system. With the CTAP, problems can be anticipated and mitigated. The test sites only have so much capacity and has been maxed out due to the limited available control further upstream of the test sites. The proven viability of these test sites has encouraged RID to move forward with planning and implementation of the CTAP.	Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems have long been proven to be part of best management practices for multiple input operation systems. The CTAP implementation of SCADA to the RID system will not only be a best management practice for the RID, but also for stakeholders and the community. SCADA systems have a documented and published series of best management guidelines for use in implementation. The RID CTAP includes review of these SCADA best management practice guidelines, and integration into the Program plan. The suggested BMPâ€™s of SCADA include system adaptability, user friendliness, security, connectivity, and standardized equipment. The RID CTAP selects RTUs, sensors, hardware, and software that follow all of the SCADA BMP guidelines. Since RID plans to operate the CTAP many years into the future, it was important to include all of these guidelines into the scope of the CTAP plan.
57	Paloma Irrigation and Drainage District	PIDD System Modernization Program â€“ Phase III: Lateral D Modernization for Total Channel Control ...	Programs and projects that reduce water use Per A.R.S. 49-1332(B)(2)	Program	The current Paloma Irrigation District canal conveyance system operation is completely manual except for a few Rubicon gates and is inefficient and prone to uncontrolled releases, spills, overflows and requires constant overwatch and maintenance. The District has water rights on the Gila River dating back to the late 1800s. It is PIDDâ€™s overall strategy and goal to update our operational strategy and gradually modernize aging canal infrastructure with Rubiconâ€™s state-of-the-art flow control gates with real-time technology with automation, SCADA implementation, flow measurement, and regulatory off-line and in-line storage facilities throughout the entire irrigation district. The District has a vision and goal to be the Irrigation District Leader in Arizona, setting the example for others and demonstrating the heights that can be achieved in maximizing water use efficiency. The Paloma Irrigation District Modernization Project is a phased approach that has been initiated with the assistance of Rubicon America and George Cairo Engineering, an expert firm in modernization and rehabilitation of irrigation projects. The first Phase I of the modernization project was to collect data, complete some irrigation system studies, then design and install a single modern Rubicon gate. These gates are state-of-the art and can either maintain water levels, flows, and measure with integrated SCADA controls. The goal of this phase was to provide proof of concept and to convince stake holders the benefits of investing in system upgrades. Phase II was to continue to seek funding opportunities for additional system improvements, including a USBR Water Smart funder System Optimization Study. This work is in progress and has determined that the largest cost benefit and water savings are to implement a canal modernization of Lateral D. Therefore, Phase III and the proposed Water Conservatory Program Project in this application is for the PIDD Lateral D Modernization with Total Channel Control (TCC) Implementation Project. The installation of a Rubicon gate at the heading and every turnout structure along with a reliable inflow source will allow the application of TCC. TCC works using computer software, SCADA controlled Rubicon gates, and proper demand inputs to control an irrigation canal on a volume basis with the results being little to zero spill. If implemented it would be the first in Arizona, and most sophisticated canal from an operations basis, with more precision and flexibility than the CAP. The TCC system with Rubicon gates provides precision measurement and automation of the canal operations, it gives a pathway to recover water loss, while providing an equitable high standard of service to all farmers in the network and also providing operational efficiencies, which in turn reduces the Districtâ€™s operating costs. The water loss can be recovered through a combination of improved canal operations to provide constant water levels for more consistent flows through turnouts and the adoption of improved high-accuracy delivery measurement devices.	Gila Bend	Maricopa	3 7	3 23	Gila Bend Groundwater Basin			$2,071,497.00	$517,874.00	$2,071,497.00	2985	0.001440986881	In typical irrigation projects overall system conveyance losses are accounted for as structural deficit losses that include evaporation losses and seepage losses. Based on the overall system, water losses are approximately 15-16% for Lateral D: approximately 2% losses for evaporation, 3% losses for seepage, and 11% losses to manually operated gates causing spills. The Paloma Water District Main Lateral D uses approximately 27,134 ac-ft annually. Annual average losses are 15-16% for Lateral D, approximately 5% of these losses are due to evaporation and seepage, and about 11% due to manually operated gates and inefficiencies causing spills. Water loss recovery for this project will be approximately 2,985 ac-ft annually. Over the life cycle (25 years) of the project, this equates to saving about 74,625 ac-ft. The system delivers 188,000 ac-ft to farms, and there is presently about an 18,000 ac-ft gap in water supply losses, which are not recorded and billed as deliveries. These values were calculated based on historical pumping records and flow measurement records, with verification measurements at the Lateral spill locations. These flow calculations were validated by the District engineer.	The Paloma Irrigation District Modernization program Phase III includes the installation of an all-new Rubicon gates with integrated SCADA systems to replace eight manually controlled Jack Lift gates at check structures and twenty-three manually controlled slide gates at turnouts. In addition, structure modifications and new precast replacement structures needed to accommodate the new Rubicon gates are part of the Phase III and the Water Conservatory Project. The Rubicon gates have a specified 25-year design life. All the concrete structural elements have a 50-year design life. Therefore, the expected duration of the conservatory activity is 25-years from date of installation for the Rubicon gates, and 50-years for the structures.	The current Paloma Irrigation District canal conveyance system operation is completely manual except for a few Rubicon gates and is inefficient and prone to uncontrolled releases, spills, overflows and requires constant overwatch and maintenance. The District has water rights on the Gila River dating back to the late 1800s. It is PIDDâ€™s overall strategy and goal to update our operational strategy and gradually modernize aging canal infrastructure with Rubiconâ€™s state-of-the-art flow control gates with real-time technology with automation, SCADA implementation, flow measurement, and regulatory off-line and in-line storage facilities throughout the entire irrigation district. The District has a vision and goal to be the Irrigation District Leader in Arizona, setting the example for others and demonstrating the heights that can be achieved in maximizing water use efficiency. The Paloma Irrigation District Modernization Project is a phased approach that has been initiated with the assistance of Rubicon America and George Cairo Engineering, an expert firm in modernization and rehabilitation of irrigation projects. The first Phase I of the modernization project was to collect data, complete some irrigation system studies, then design and install a single modern Rubicon gate. These gates are state-of-the art and can either maintain water levels, flows, and measure with integrated SCADA controls. The goal of this phase was to provide proof of concept and to convince stake holders the benefits of investing in system upgrades. Phase II was to continue to seek funding opportunities for additional system improvements, including a USBR Water Smart funder System Optimization Study. This work is in progress and has determined that the largest cost benefit and water savings are to implement a canal modernization of Lateral D. Therefore, Phase III and the proposed Water Conservatory Program Project in this application is for the PIDD Lateral D Modernization with Total Channel Control (TCC) Implementation Project. The installation of a Rubicon gate at the heading and every turnout structure along with a reliable inflow source will allow the application of TCC. TCC works using computer software, SCADA controlled Rubicon gates, and proper demand inputs to control an irrigation canal on a volume basis with the results being little to zero spill. If implemented it would be the first in Arizona, and most sophisticated canal from an operations basis, with more precision and flexibility than the CAP. The TCC system with Rubicon gates provides precision measurement and automation of the canal operations, it gives a pathway to recover water loss, while providing an equitable high standard of service to all farmers in the network and also providing operational efficiencies, which in turn reduces the Districtâ€™s operating costs. The water loss can be recovered through a combination of improved canal operations to provide constant water levels for more consistent flows through turnouts and the adoption of improved high-accuracy delivery measurement devices. The elements associated with the PIDD System Modernization Program Phase III is summarized below: Phase III â€“ Lateral D Modernization for Total Channel Control Implementation: Scope of work includes the engineering design for the replacement of 8 manually controlled Jack Lift gates at check structures, and 23 manually controlled slide gates at turnouts that are inefficient, badly deteriorated, leaking, and poorly functioning, with new automated Rubicon SCADA controlled gates bringing PIDD into the 21st Century with state-of-the-art technology. Design includes modifications to existing structures, or replacement structures depending on condition and capability to retrofit with the new Rubicon gates, safety upgrades, and civil design. Engineer will also perform Construction Management for the project.	The District has water rights on the Gila River dating back to the late 1800s. The Districtâ€™s water source is approximately 35% surface water which is pumped out of the Gila River from its storage pool at Gillespie Dam, and 65% well water from wells located throughout the District. This project is located west of Gila Bend, Arizona at the end of the 34-mile-long Gila Bend Main Canal and delivers water to District farmland to grow crops such as alfalfa, cotton, and wheat.	The Paloma Irrigation and Drainage District facilities extend from Gillespie Dam to the north to lands west of Gila Bend, Arizona. The District is in western Maricopa County, which is a rural, low income, disadvantaged community because of its ethnic minorities, poverty level, and rural location. Urban sprawl from Phoenix and an influx in new residents (40% increase in 20 years), has unfortunately caused a large disparity between income, poverty, unemployment, and quality of life. Public health and safety will improve due to efficient groundwater use and economic growth opportunities are available resulting from reduced farming costs, allowing for more employment, and helping to create 2nd tier producers (value added products). Furthermore, Gila Bend is also adjacent to the Tohono Oâ€™Odham Nation San Lucy District which is a Native American disadvantage Community. Please see the attached table.	value1 value2 value3	The Water Conservatory Activity will achieve a long-term reduction in water use by improving irrigation water conveyance losses with the reduction of operational spills through leaking flow control gates, and manual operational mismatches. Reduced operational spills save water by decreasing the amount of water diverted into the system from the Gila River surface waters, and it reduces the amount of groundwater pumped from the local aquifer. Groundwater extraction will be reduced long term and make-up flows will not be required to address losses. The Water Conservatory Activity will also improve water use efficiency by providing improved water operational controls with the new canal gates. Through improved functionality and flow control of canal flows the gates will allow better service to irrigators delivering steady flows, in the amounts needed, when needed and shut off when needed, which translates to large improvements in on-farm efficiencies that yield savings not accounted for in the application. The Water Conservatory Activity installation will reduce the possibility of an irrigation system failure due to a failed canal flow control gate, or canal liner failure. Therefore, the improvements improve service and water reliability. Groundwater not pumped and left in the aquifer from these conservation measures also improve water supply reliability for the District and allowing it to be stored and used for drought resiliency in the future.	Water supply shortages Groundwater depletion Natural disasters that may impact water supply infrastructure	The PIDD Water Conservatory Project will benefit regional water supply shortages by reducing diversions from the Gila River with improved operational management and efficiency, less spills on the D Lateral mean less diversion and less groundwater pumping, on this project an estimated 2,985 acre-feet per year. With dairies and farm resource relocation from the urban core to areas like far western Maricopa County the conserved water will be very important in addressing future water shortages. Currently project groundwater wells are used to meet irrigation service demands, and to supplement system conveyance losses. Reduced system spills and conveyance losses will result in less groundwater extraction to off-set losses, therefore reducing groundwater extraction, protecting the aquifer. Protection of the groundwater aquifer and reduced pumping will preserve those groundwater supplies for future generations, or in the event of a natural disaster impacting infrastructure like the Gila River diversion and conveyance, Hoover Dam, or other elements of the Colorado River System, it will provide water supply reliability. Allowing natural recharge to occur with less pumping will improve the water quality of the local groundwater over time.	This project falls in line with the Federal USDA NRCS 30 X 30 initiative in protecting 30% of all land and water by 2030. Additionally, the Gila River provides 25% of the PIDDâ€™s water supply. It contributes water to the Lower Colorado River Basin (Confluence of Colorado River in Yuma) and is linked to GRIC and State of Arizona water supplies and storage behind Lake Mead. The project will benefit the Basin regionally and at the Lake level by reducing demands on the Gila River which reduces demands on the Colorado River and Lake Mead. Additionally, this project would benefit Federal Hydro Generation and associated contracts impacted by the drought.	The daunting issue at hand regarding water sustainability for the entirety of the agricultural community in the region is climate crisis and the historical major drought and climate change. The extreme more than 20-year long drought is now pressing at the door of many farmers and communities like Gila Bend and the PIDD with reduced available surface water supplies. This project will help conserve water that would otherwise be lost due to evaporation and operational losses. Conserved water stored and available for other uses results in improving the ecological resiliency for habitats, endangered species, and agriculture, yielding diverse and higher value crops. With the modernization of the manually operated and eroded gates, the system will provide an overall environmental benefit of less water leakage. The overall cost of the project is $4,071,497 with a $2 million dollar grant from the USBR via a Water and Energy Grant. PIDD is seeking $2,071,497 in matching funds via a WIFA grant award. The District would be responsible for $517,874 dollars through a combination of District funds and In-Kind services. The result of this investment is about 2,985 acre-feet per year or about 74,625 acre-feet over the life of the project. Improved management practices through automated controlled gates, will result in less O&M times, causing dirt roads to be traveled less, meaning the need for onsite maintenance will decrease, and preventing dust and air pollutants to further incubate the atmosphere. This will also cause a reduction in the growth of noxious and invasive weeds. Paloma has a history of collecting these weeds and setting them ablaze, causing further air pollutants such as CO2 and other harmful particles. In these unprecedented times, it is vital for Arizona to conserve water and leave behind as much water as possible in hydrologic systems and the Gila River in Arizona. This Phase of the program will help leave water behind Gillespie Dam, which benefit many other districts and communities surrounding PIDD, such as Yuma- which cultivates the stateâ€™s largest lettuce industry, and as a result generates income for the state and food for surrounding communities. With this program, multiple endangered species specific to Maricopa County will have a better chance at survival, such as Arizona agave, the Arizona cliffrose and even the Arizona bald eagle that tends to make its debut in the fall and linger throughout summer. Other species such as Alfalfa caterpillars soon metamorphose into vibrant yellow butterflies that pollinate the surrounding fields, while woodpeckers, owls and federally protected turkey vultures migrate through these lands, stopping for a sip of water or a bite to eat from the surrounding vegetation. Turkey vultures are vital to this ecosystem, as they help control and prevent disease that could otherwise be spread to livestock/vegetation through flies and carcasses. Species from as small as blister beetles to as large as oleander trees will reap the benefits of this project. One last ancillary benefit will be the educational and demonstrative benefit of a project like this that is technologically advanced that illustrates the state of the art in irrigation conveyance and water management. It can inspire a movement in the local and regional agricultural community.	PIDD will put a data collection and management program in place and use the data collected with the new flow control gates to compare annual water delivery volumes over the previous 10-year period with post-project water delivery volumes. Also, this information will be used with NRCS conducted farmer irrigation evaluations to determine impacts to application efficiencies of individual irrigation sets and irrigation seasons for local farms post system improvements. Data will help support District alignment with the NRCS 30 for 30 initiative. The modernized irrigation project will have the robustness and flexibility to be able to serve the pressurized and specialized irrigation needs of the future, which will be a measure of the Conservatory Activity our Phase III Project.	The Paloma Irrigation and Drainage Irrigation District is in a depressed economic condition and with the many challenges facing the District it cannot afford to take on financial debt and needs to find ways to leverage their limited funding to accomplish water conservation goals. Without cost share funding support from WIFA the District cannot complete the proposed project. Due to operational and financial impacts of the COVID 19 pandemic and the impeding major drought on the Colorado River, the district is not able to fund and implement the proposed water conservation activities without support and matching funds.	No, without funding support from WIFA the District cannot complete the proposed project. Due to operational and financial impacts of the COVID 19 pandemic and the impeding major drought on the Colorado River, and the Gila River, the district is not able to fund and implement the proposed water conservation activities at this scale. This grant will allow the District to leverage Reclamation grant funds to complete Phase III the Conservatory Project.	The District has actively been seeking aid for Capital Improvement Funds from the Bureau of Reclamation, with a total of five grant submissions in which the District has been awarded five, a testament to the District leveraging funding to enhance soil and water resources. One of the awarded grants is the WaterSMART Grants: Water and Energy Efficiency Grants for Fiscal Year 2023 which is helping to fund the PIDD System Modernization Program Phase III â€“ The elements associated with the Phase III - Lateral D Modernization for Total Channel Control Implementation, funding level of $2 million dollars. The overall project budget for Phase III is $4,071,897. The District responsibility for the Federal cost share is $2,071,497 and respectfully the WIFA grant request is $2,071,497 million dollars for our Program Phase III that will allow us to leverage the Federal funding source and move forward with the project. The PIDD is seeking $2,071,497 in matching funds via a WIFA grant award, and the District would be responsible for $517,874 dollars through a combination of District funds and In-Kind services.	There are no cost-sharing opportunities identified at this time on this project. However, we intend to document the results of the project and use it to educate and develop stakeholder interest in the implementation of the larger District Modernization Program that will include similar improvements to maximize long term drought resilience and protect and best manage our water resources. We will continue to seek funding opportunities to implement our vision and partner with our growers. The District may also explore support from green energy philanthropic groups that are interested in the Canal Energy System concepts.	All funds for the WIFA grant matching requirements will be paid directly with Paloma Irrigation and Drainage District funds, and District in-kind services, a total of $517,874. In kind services are envisioned to include planning, design, construction support, and construction inspection activities. A Resolution by the Board approving a commitment to expend the matching funds is attached.	The PIDD is the Project Owner and will serve as the contact point for coordination with WIFA, Contractors, and Engineer. PIDD labor resources will be utilized for the specific tasks during the approximate 2-year project duration. For In-Kind, PIDD will utilize internal staff and vehicles and equipment. PIDD will be responsible for project management, site evaluation, permitting work, survey work, pre-construction work, partial construction work, construction management and inspection, responses to construction request for additional information, and commissioning work. It is PIDDâ€™s goal to do as much as in-kind internal staff and resources as possible on this project. PIDD will prepare bi-annual financial reporting and project status reporting as well as the final report required by the Federal funding. By using PIDD staff and equipment, costs will be reduced due to efficiency. In lieu of a commitment letter, the PIDD has provided the Official Resolution to show PIDDâ€™s commitment for the project and cost share commitment with the Districtâ€™s Board Members full approval. Construction activities will be performed by the District operation and maintenance staff that are experienced in the requirements of this project, including the removal and installation of canal gates and structures. Other work like canal lining replacement and civil works will be completed by Innova Water Construction, LLC, (INNOVA), an Arizona based firm that specializes in irrigation district related works. The District has historically used and will utilize George Cairo Engineering, Inc. (GCE) a local irrigation and water resources firm regionally recognized as experts in flow measurement, design, and modernization of irrigation systems. GCE will complete the technical services to include planning, design, and construction management. Work will be completed under the direction of George Cairo, Principal Engineer, and engineer of record for the District. Mr. Cairo is a Principal and co-founder of GEORGE-CAIRO ENGINEERING, INC. (GCE) and he has more than thirty years of experience in agricultural engineering, water resources engineering, and conveyance planning, design, and construction. He is responsible for the daily operations of the GCE Central Arizona Office and the Imperial Valley Office as well as providing project sponsor, and project/design management and engineering support as a member of multidiscipline teams on a variety of water resources, capital improvement, and conveyance projects. He has extensive experience in irrigation systems planning, design and operations, water resources engineering, supply and demand analyses, municipal and irrigation water conveyance and distribution, groundwater recharge, and water conservation. Furthermore, he has expertise in open channel design, pipelines, hydraulic structures, flow measurement, HEC-RAS steady, and unsteady state hydraulic modeling, irrigation reservoirs, on-farm irrigation systems, and agricultural water quality. As a principal engineer he is responsible for quality control and quality assurance reviews of all GCE Central Arizona and Imperial Valley project deliverables as well as development of firm design standards. Mr. Cairo is the district engineer of record for several irrigation, water, and power districts in Arizona and California and is recognized as an expert and leader in the protection and transition of irrigation districts associated with agricultural to urban land conversion, irrigation engineering, hydraulics, and water resources engineering.	The planned Water Conservation Activities associated with this grant will not have an impact on District management, conversely it will simplify and help reduce District personnel time and expense associated with the current facilities and water losses. The planned lateral flow control and automation and controlled deliveries isnâ€™t envisioned to impact the District and any impacts will be offset by the reduction in canal bank time expended by operators currently. These costs include labor and fuel expenses in addition to wear and tear on equipment. There will be a need to train operators and develop their comfort with non-manual operations. This task may include the provision of IPADs to communicate with the new modernized facilities. Although the District has some Rubicon gates the implementation of a full lateral is beyond the current scope of experience by District operators. Training for the gates is provided by the vendor as part of gate commissioning. If the current District staff is not adaptive there may be a need to hire more technically inclined canal operators.	PIDD continues to partner and work closely with NRCS and producers to work with our local growers. With strategic stepwise modernization of our irrigation systems, growers can then proceed with their own On-farm improvements funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)/Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). These partnerships between PIDD, NRCS, Federal Ag Agencies, BOR and producers are critical to our future. NRCS helps us plan and develop projects that complement each other, improving the overall system from diversions to the farm, especially in the Western states where drought, climate change and aging infrastructure greatly affect our daily operations. George Cairo Engineering is an NRCS Technical Service Provider (TSP) that engineers on-farm irrigation engineering as part of the EQIP support program. The District believes that the project will facilitate and help to promote collaborative partnerships, by using water and energy savings and improved service as an example of funded conservation results. In fact, the District is looking to develop a partnership with our growers to promote collaborative approaches to funding opportunities and implementation of District and on-farm Best Management Practices coupled with the use of modern technologies to best manage water resources. In these times of climate crisis and major drought it is imperative that we use the challenges to unify and promote partnerships, where there may not have been reason to work together in the past, there are many reasons before us now.	This project was developed with the involvement and input of local growers, the stakeholders in the District service area. The growers are the end users of the irrigation system and therefore, the better service level provided by the District it directly correlates to improved water management on the farm. The funds approved for use with the WIFA grant funds will directly impact these stakeholders, therefore their involvement and input were important in the process. The District working collaboratively with our engineer and the farmers developed a master list of projects for consideration including conceptual cost benefits. This was followed by the development of a selection criteria matrix and application of the projects to the selection matrix resulting in the proposed project elements in this grant application. Future projects larger in scale will increase the reach of the project and add stakeholders like NRCS, Reclamation, the Town of Gila Bend, Arlington Water District, Maricopa and Pinal County, Solar Energy Companies, and local agri-business.	There is not a planned formal public outreach program however all activities and results will be posted on the District web page. This will include a project description, a summary of the Water Conservation Activities, performance goals, and of course the results of the work and water and energy savings achieved. The District will also support tours and any public education and outreach opportunities.	Yes, the local farming community is in support of the proposed Water Conservation Activity. Please find attached letters of support from the local agricultural Community.	The proposed project is ranked high in our current SOR plan for water management due to its location, operational issues, leaking volumes at gates, lateral spills, and prioritization indexing. This Phase III project and funding has also been approved by the District Board. The Board and the PIDD Users are 100% supportive of this priority project to slowly improve the irrigation system and service to valley growers. The local farming community is in support of the proposed Water Conservation Activity. Please find attached letters of support from the local agricultural Community.	The Conservation Activity proposed in Phase III of the PIDD Modernization Project under this WIFA grant application is a continuation of the previously and on-going implementation of Phases I and II. These Phases were facilitated with Federal grants and are summarized below: March 2020 Project 1 â€“ Small-Scale Water Efficiency Projects (SWEP) to replace one 8-foot manually operative Jack Lift gate with a Rubicon gate (automated) that will serve as a model for future large-scale WEEG projects. (awarded) September 2020 Project 2 â€“ Water and Energy Efficiency Grant (WEEG) to replace 10 out of 99 manually controlled jack lift gates that are inefficient, badly deteriorated, poorly functioning, with ten (10) new automated Rubicon Flume Gates to help bring us into the 21st century. (awarded) March 2021 â€“ Project 3 â€“ Small Scale Water Efficiency Projects (SWEP) to install 3 new automated Rubicon SlipMeter turnout gates for water delivery to producers off the 34-mile-long Gila Bend Main Canal. (awarded) October 2021 â€“ Project 4 Water Conservation Field Services Program (WCFSP) for Paloma Irrigation & Drainage District System Optimization Review to study and optimize PIDD irrigation system. (awarded) April 2022 Project 5 â€“ Small-Scale Water Efficiency Projects (SWEP) to install 3 new automated Rubicon SlipMeter turnout gates for water delivery to producers off the 34-mile-long Gila Bend Main Canal. (pending review) The District with these grants and associated projects has installed new automated Rubicon SCADA controlled gates bringing PIDD into the 21st Century with state-of- the art technology. These types of improvements have demonstrated good performance and effectiveness in meeting the established goals of conserving and continuing to work toward the desired goal of being the most efficient and modernized district in Arizona.	Yes, the project will implement established Best Management Practices by the District. This includes the application of Canal Lining a BMP that reduces seepage, prevents waterlogging of surrounding lands, maintains water quality, and reduces erosion. Flow Rate Measurement a BMP at metering diversion canal gates. This provides information critical to making water management decisions, helps prevent runoff, and helps deliver the quantity of water required to farmers. It improves irrigation project efficiency, reduces spills, and can support SCADA technology. SCADA will be implemented to monitor and control the headwork gates for flow diversion and to manage the sluicing and trash management to ensure steady deliveries into the system. PM-10 BMP for unpaved operation and maintenance roads on canals are also supported due to improved water control which requires less traffic on dirt canal banks. Weed Maintenance and Control BMP the project will reduce spills in open areas reducing the growth of noxious and invasive weeds. This also will result in less burning of weeds and placing particulates airborne.
58	Sierra Vista City of	(Re)charging Ahead: A Program to Implement the Cochise Conservation and Recharge Network	Programs or projects to promote groundwater recharge and improved aquifer health.	Program	Funding is requested for a water conservation program, as proposed conservation activities span multiple agencies and locations and are recurring over multiple years. Activities span eight recharge and groundwater conservation project sites of the Cochise Conservation and Recharge Network (CCRN), located along 25 miles of the Upper San Pedro River.	Sierra Vista and surrounding communities	AZ	2	14	Upper San Pedro Watershed,.	N/A	N/A	$1,460,000.00	$365,000.00	$1,825,000.00	6198	0.003396164384	Total water benefit in 2022 was 6,198 AF, which CCRN expects to sustain annually throughout the three year grant period.	While funding is being requested for three years, CCRN projects are intended to operate long-term. The expected life of current CCRN infrastructure is 25 years, though future infrastructure upgrades are likely. Further, many of the CCRN project sites are protected with conservation easements that preclude future pumping in perpetuity.	Conservation activities will take place in the Upper San Pedro Watershed, within and adjacent to the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area (SPRNCA). In 1988, Congress designated SPRNCA as the nationâ€™s first Riparian National Conservation Area to protect this areaâ€™s unique natural and cultural resources. Spanning 43 miles along the river and managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the SPRNCA is located in Cochise County near the City of Sierra Vista and the U.S. Army post Fort Huachuca. The groundwater that Fort Huachuca and local communities use for homes, businesses, and agriculture is the same water source that keeps the San Pedro River flowing and sustains the riparian area. Local and federal partners of the CCRN have joined forces to develop innovative projects for a resilient water supply for both people and nature along the San Pedro River. With support from WIFA, the CCRN will accomplish activities that are critical to sustaining and advancing their collaborative mission and goals. Formed in 2015, CCRN implements effluent and stormwater recharge projects to increase groundwater recharge and protect groundwater resources in the most strategic places, thereby helping to ensure both the health of the riparian corridor and water security for communities. In addition to the City of Sierra Vista, CCRN members include Cochise County, Hereford Natural Resource Conservation District, The Nature Conservancy, the City of Bisbee, Fort Huachuca, and BLM. As of 2023, the CCRN consists of eight project sites totaling more than 6,000 acres along 25 miles of the San Pedro River. The sites benefit the aquifer and river through a combination of managed aquifer recharge, retired historical pumping, and precluded future pumping. Since formation of the CCRN in 2015, these projects have generated 23,617 acre-feet (AF) of recharge, 13,024 AF of retired pumping, and 10,861 AF of precluded pumping, with benefit to riparian health of the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area SPRNCA and neighboring communities. To achieve these successes, CCRN takes a science-based approach to project evaluation, design, and management. Members support a long-term monitoring network and conduct hydrologic modeling and engineering studies to illustrate locations and projects with the greatest benefit â€“ and, for future projects, potential benefit â€“ to regional groundwater supplies. Further, CCRN members are committed to the ongoing maintenance and management of existing project sites, to ensure that their benefits are maintained and enhanced into the future. The City of Sierra Vista is requesting WIFA support, acting as the fiscal agent for the CCRN, to: perform essential hydrologic impact monitoring and infrastructure maintenance of existing CCRN projects; pursue advanced and innovative hydrologic modeling to identify future recharge opportunities; perform critical due diligence for the implementation of proposed recharge projects; coordinate and facilitate the partnership; and develop CCRN public outreach tools. Proposed activities are discussed in additional detail below. Hydrologic Impact Monitoring and Infrastructure Maintenance: For over twenty years, water and riparian health monitoring have been foundational to the collaborative, science-based work taking place in the Sierra Vista Subwatershed. Since its founding in 2015, CCRN has built a robust network of monitoring instrumentation and diverse monitoring methods across its project sites that enable it to evaluate the impact of its various project types and cultivate benchmark data and lessons learned for future project development. The objectives of the CCRNâ€™s Hydrologic Monitoring Program are to quantify and continuously improve the design and effectiveness of CCRN aquifer recharge projects, to address legal and regulatory compliance, to calibrate hydrologic models, and to measure infrastructure performance. The City is requesting support from WIFA for CCRN to continue hydrologic monitoring and initiate new monitoring methods at three projects sites. Additionally, the City requests funds to support annual site maintenance activities that are critical in ensuring the projects continue to operate efficiently and generate water benefits into the future. All of these ongoing long-term costs are currently funded by the City and Cochise County, whose budgets are subject to uncertain annual allocations that make CCRN project planning challenging. The WIFA funds would provide immediate and essential funding for these ongoing expenses until a long-term Stewardship Endowment Fund for CCRN projects can be established through additional contributions from both public and private funding sources. The intent of the CCRN is to establish a sustainable source of funding for the long-term operation of these important projects by leveraging the resources of multiple partners. Proposed activities, to be contracted: A. CCRN Hydrologic Monitoring Program - Three years of monitoring at seven CCRN sites. While monitoring data typically includes precipitation, surface water runoff, and groundwater levels, data collection at each site is tailored to the site features and project goals to support design, improve operation, and track results. Monitoring efforts generally involve: o For stormwater recharge projects, collecting precipitation / barometric pressure data with rain gage and barometric pressure transducer; the purpose is to monitor precipitation events to analyze rainfall/runoff characteristics and estimate recharge. o For stormwater recharge projects, ephemeral streamflow monitoring with pressure transducers, flow photo monitoring (paired camera and staff gage), and weirs; the purpose is to: 1) estimate the stormwater flow into basins and in ephemeral channels, 2) estimate the average annual urban enhanced runoff available for capture and aquifer recharge, 3) estimate the natural flood flow regime, and 4) estimate amount of stormwater infiltrated onsite. o For stormwater recharge projects, collect soil moisture data with soil moisture sensor; the purpose is to assess movement of water in the vadose zone. o For stormwater and effluent recharge projects and retired pumping projects, collect groundwater level data with pressure transducers and sounder; the purpose is to track trends of local groundwater elevations in the vicinity of the project. B. Additional Hydrologic instrumentation - New hydrologic instrumentation will be purchased and installed at three CCRN sites where recharge projects are under development. One-time instrumentation needs are provided below, while associated on-going monitoring is captured in â€œAnnual Hydrologic Monitoringâ€� section. o Four stilling wells and re-location of an existing continuous slope area station at the Bella Vista Detention Basin o One automated pipe outflow measurement device with telemetry at the Bisbee effluent recharge site o One automated pipe outflow measurement device with telemetry at the Riverstone effluent recharge site - Infiltration test pits will be installed at two locations on the Riverstone site to help inform project design. C. Annual infrastructure maintenance - This request includes funding for three years of maintenance at five CCRN sites. Routine activities such as replacement of instrumentation, basin cleanout, infrastructure storm damage repair, and infiltration treatments cleanout/maintenance (dry wells and trenches) are anticipated. Hydrologic Modeling to Identify Recharge and Management Opportunities: Groundwater modeling is a tool used by CCRN to forecast how groundwater and surface water will respond to different recharge and management scenarios, and to understand the optimal location and amount of recharge water needed to benefit alluvial aquifer levels and riparian habitat in and adjacent to the SPRNCA. This predictive modeling helps CCRN identify the most effective locations and designs for future groundwater recharge projects and helps to ensure that the best investments are made in projects to meet desired goals and objectives. Modeling also helps to design projects for multiple benefits, such as those that decrease erosion and sedimentation, while also increasing groundwater storage and baseflows of the San Pedro River. CCRNâ€™s ultimate objective with hydrologic modeling is to predict the relative benefits to riparian habitats of various groundwater recharge project locations and volumes. Given that objective, CCRN has identified fully integrated MIKESHE hydrologic modeling as best suited to meet its needs. MIKESHE is an innovative, fully integrated hydrological modelling software produced by DHI that has been used by organizations worldwide for over 50 years to analyze complex interactions between groundwater, surface water, recharge, and evapotranspiration. With support from The Nature Conservancy, a preliminary Upper San Pedro Basin (USPB) integrated model, and a finer-resolution SPRNCA model, nested within it, have been developed for use by the CCRN. Support from WIFA is requested for further model development, and the assessment of specific project scenarios. This will be used to inform near-term project design decisions at CCRN sites and vegetation management goals in the SPRNCA and uplands by CCRN members and partners. Funding provided by The Nature Conservancy will contribute to a portion of the modeling activities proposed in this scope, which will serve as match for this proposal. Proposed activities, to be contracted: A. Revise inputs across regional USPB model; refine calibration B. Reconfigure subwatershed models C. Expand and update SPRNCA model; refine calibration D. Run up to eight CCRN recharge project scenarios and up to ten climate change scenarios Perform Critical Due Diligence for Proposed CCRN Projects: To advance the development of effluent recharge projects, coordination with Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) regarding water quality permitting requirements for these new facilities is an essential first step during early project design and engineering. In addition, binding agreements between different jurisdictions will be required for operation of the projects, including effluent lease agreements for recharge facilities and the agreed upon lease fees and associated costs. The requested funds will advance the development of additional recharge facilities by funding these essential components of project development. Proposed activities, to be contracted: A. Determination of permitting requirements - Work with ADEQ to determine water quality permitting requirements for two proposed effluent recharge projects - Proceed with securing permitting B. Secure effluent lease agreements - Work with local jurisdictions to secure effluent lease agreements for two proposed recharge projects CCRN Coordination and Facilitation With eight project sites and associated monitoring and maintenance activities, multiple hydrologic modeling initiatives, and the consistent pursuit of funding opportunities, contractor support has become essential to effective CCRN coordination. Funding provided by The Nature Conservancy will support three years of CCRN coordination and facilitation by an external consultant, which will serve as match for this proposal. Proposed activities, to be contracted: A. CCRN support - Schedule, attend, and facilitate 8 CCRN Regular meetings (with leadership and Project Team) per year; prepare supporting materials; document action items and agreements - Track and guide CCRN progress on 2020-2024 roadmap - Administer CCRNSanPedro.org website and post news updates B. Annual report, database, and communications - Participate in review of annual monitoring report and identification of key findings - Update Annual Report Database with annual data; maintain and update Annual Water Benefits reporting database - Prepare public-facing Annual Report; print and deliver up to 100 copies o Prepare support documentation such a press release or funding shortfall flier o Update website story map, text, and document repository with information from annual report o Prepare PowerPoint slide deck summarizing Annual Report C. CCRN project team support - Schedule, attend, and facilitate 22 CCRN Project Team meetings per year; prepare supporting materials; document action items and agreements - Track CCRN project status, action items, and funding opportunities for CCRN projects; maintain project implementation tables with updated schedule and cost information D. On-call support and technical advisory - Support may include additional meetings and site visits, technical reviews, GIS analysis, policy analysis of potential water transactions, project permitting support, grant application support CCRN Outreach: In addition to CCRN outreach activities (such as production of the Annual Report, website maintenance, and public presentations) that will be carried out by the CCRN management consultant, WIFA support is requested for the design, purchase, and installation of an interpretive sign at the Environmental Operations Park (EOP), a City-managed CCRN effluent recharge site. EOP is open to the public and has become a popular spot for bird watching. Despite it being the most-visited CCRN site, there are currently no interpretive signs at EOP. Like signage at other CCRN sites, it is expected that the EOP sign will describe the purpose of the facility and the significant ways in which it benefits local water supplies and the San Pedro River. Proposed activities, to be contracted: A. Design, purchase, installation of interpretive sign - The sign will be located at the EOP bird viewing platform at the wastewater treatment ponds and will describe the purpose and benefits of groundwater recharge to regional water supplies and the river.	This project conserves water in a Colorado River Basin tributary stream. The sources of water being conserved and managed are both groundwater and surface water, including stormwater runoff, and treated effluent in the Sierra Vista Subwatershed in Cochise County. The CCRN recharge projects help nature replenish groundwater with high quality effluent and accelerated stormwater runoff in key locations where they can most benefit the flows of the river and the near-stream alluvial aquifer. The CCRN also focuses on protecting groundwater through conservation easements that permanently restrict high-volume pumping and large-scale developments on key parcels of land.	Fort Huachuca is Cochise County's largest employer and has a statewide annual economic impact of $2.9nbillion. The preservation of the missions of the Fort as well as the riparian habitat of the SPRNCA are inextricably linked for the economic and environmental sustainability of the region. The conservation of water in the Sierra Vista Subwatershed benefits surface flows and riparian vegetation, which provide habitat for ten threatened and endangered species as well as recreational opportunities for residents and visitors. These recreational opportunities are predominately environmentally focused and include hiking, horseback riding, hunting, and bird watching. Community demographics, as provided in the 2020 census, are below: Sierra Vista: - Hispanic/Latino: 25.5%, Black/American Indian: 8.7%; - Persons in Poverty: 11.1%; - Annualized Unemployment Rate: 4% Bisbee: - Hispanic/Latino: 27%; - Poverty Rate: 16.3%; Cochise County: - Hispanic/Latino: 35.9%; - Persons in Poverty: 17.1%; - Annualized Unemployment Rate: 7.2% Huachuca City: - Hispanic/Latino: 19.5%, Black: 7.47%; - Persons in Poverty-27.1%; - Annualized Unemployment Rate: 8.6%	value1 value2 value3	â€¢ Long-term reductions in water use Water benefits are tracked by year at each site to understand the overall impact of CCRN efforts on regional groundwater levels, as well as the effectiveness of specific project types. The benefits are a combination of managed aquifer recharge and calculated water savings. Water savings are calculated as to how much pumping in the future has been permanently prevented or precluded from restrictive conservation easements and is based on the previously allowed residential densities and current zoning. The permanent retirement of historical high- volume pumping is also calculated on previously irrigated lands that have been acquired and now have restrictive conservation easements. Several sites where pumping has been retired and/or precluded also serve as current or future recharge projects. The CCRN methodology for calculating the quantity of precluded pumping is generally consistent with the 2014 Biological Opinion for Fort Huachuca (Fort Huachuca, 2014); this calculation is based on the zoning density of the parcel with an average of 2.5 people per household, at a per capita usage of 118 gallons per day. Since the formation of CCRN in 2015, CCRN project benefits total 47,502 AF: 23,617 AF of recharge, 13,024 AF of retired pumping, and 10,861 AF of precluded pumping. Two of the projects, the Sierra Vista Effluent Recharge project at EOP and Three Canyons Conservation Site, are responsible for nearly 70% of the calculated water benefits accrued by the network. â€¢ Improvements in water use efficiency. The CCRN projects achieve water use efficiency by maximizing the beneficial use of various water supplies throughout the Sierra Vista Subwatershed. By taking an integrated and adaptive water management approach, CCRN harnesses the potential of once-disregarded sources including highly-treated effluent and accelerated stormwater runoff to optimize regional water supplies and create system-wide efficiencies. Further, retired and precluded pumping achieve total efficiency by eliminating future water uses and associated loss potential. â€¢ Improvements in water reliability The CCRN was founded to implement projects that could meet the areaâ€™s water needs and result in a healthy watershed, flowing San Pedro River, conservation of water resources, and a vibrant local economy. In addition to the many and broad benefits of regional water reliability to local communities and the environment, long-term water security and healthy groundwater-dependent ecosystems are essential for the continued success of the BLM-managed SPRNCA and the continued operations of the Armyâ€™s Fort Huachuca. By working to maintain groundwater levels, CCRN projects help achieve regional water reliability. Modeling scenarios performed by Lacher Hydrological Consulting project that operation of the full network of proposed CCRN projects would maintain groundwater levels in the alluvial aquifer and baseflow in the San Pedro River near or above 2003 levels through 2075.	Water supply shortages Reliance on non-renewable water supplies Groundwater depletion Water quality issues Natural disasters that may impact water supply infrastructure	â€¢ Water supply shortages The proposed three-year conservation program sustains and advances CCRN activities, creating water benefits for the Upper San Pedro Watershed. By increasing the reliability of regional groundwater supplies for communities, CCRN mitigates the potential for local water supply shortages. â€¢ Reliance on non-renewable water supplies By retiring or precluding pumping, CCRN projects reduce reliance on regional groundwater supplies. Further, effluent and stormwater recharge encourage the beneficial use of renewable water supplies. â€¢ Groundwater depletion The primary purpose of CCRN is to mitigate groundwater depletion and implement a network of water and land management projects that benefit groundwater levels in the Sierra Vista Subwatershed. Approved by consensus of CCRN members in 2020, the goals and objectives of the CCRN 2020-2024 Road Map are: o Goal 1: Groundwater Recharge â€“ Ensure continued operation of all network sites and begin implementation of 3 new recharge projects using local water supplies to sustain groundwater levels that preserve flows and habitats of the San Pedro River ï‚§ Objective 1.1 Design and/or construct 3 additional recharge infrastructure projects: Coyote Wash Urban Enhanced Runoff, Riverstone Effluent, and Bisbee Effluent. ï‚§ Objective 1.2 Continue the operation, maintenance, and hydrologic monitoring of all existing network sites, to quantify and continuously improve the design and effectiveness of projects, and to address legal and regulatory compliance. o Goal 2: Water Conservation â€“ Protect local sources of water while supporting the local economy ï‚§ Objective 2.1 Implement conservation and watershed health projects that are most effective at maintaining groundwater levels to support flow in the San Pedro River. ï‚§ Objective 2.2 Implement projects that maintain groundwater levels in the regional aquifer. ï‚§ Objective 2.3 Continue to use the groundwater model and other tools to evaluate the combined effects of recharge, water conservation, and watershed health projects to maximize the effectiveness of CCRN efforts. â€¢ Water quality issues: While water quality improvements are not a primary driver of CCRN activities, multiple project sites address water quality issues that are common in rural areas: sedimentation and E. coli. The Horseshoe Draw Sediment Control and Stormwater Recharge Project and the Coyote Wash Stormwater Management Project slow accelerated stormwater runoff, thereby mitigating erosion and the deposition of sediment and contaminants including E. coli in downstream tributaries and the San Pedro River. â€¢ Natural disasters that may impact water supply infrastructure: Accelerated stormwater runoff from urban areas can damage water supply infrastructure, as well as roads, bridges, and power lines that provide access to or support the infrastructure. CCRN projects such as Coyote Wash will help to slow accelerated runoff and mitigate the impacts to infrastructure in the watershed from upstream urbanization.	The proposed activities will directly contribute to the CCRN Road Map, the CCRNâ€™s strategic plan, which has specific goals for developing and maintaining projects. The Road Map covers a 5-year period and is reviewed annually to create project-specific work plans for the coming year. The initial CCRN Road Map covered 2015-2020; however, the main goals were largely accomplished by 2019, so a new 5-Year Road Map for 2020-2024 was adopted. The first goal of the 5-Year Road Map is â€œGroundwater Recharge: Ensure continued operation of all network sites and begin implementation of 3 new recharge projects using local water supplies to sustain groundwater levels that preserve flows and habitats of the San Pedro River.â€� The second goal of the 5-Year Road Map is â€œWater Conservation: Protect local sources of water while supporting the local economy.â€� In addition to alignment with the CCRN Road Map, proposed activities are strongly aligned with other regional water and natural resource management plans. In particular, CCRN projects generate water benefits that support BLMâ€™s SPRNCA Resource Management Plan (2019) and Fort Huachucaâ€™s 2014 Biological Opinion. Cochise County's Strategic Plan includes engaging partnerships for wildlife management in SPRNCA and supporting Fort Huachuca's environmental efforts as key activities in its priority to â€œPromote Environmental Solutionsâ€� (see: Strategic Plan at www.cochise.az.gov). The City of Sierra Vistaâ€™s current strategic plan includes a goal to â€œPlan for the future use of effluent and continue to partner with public and private agencies such as the Cochise Conservation & Recharge Network, Upper San Pedro Partnership, and Sentinel Landscapes, and pursue funding through programs such as the DoD Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration Program (REPI), for projects benefitting the Upper San Pedro River watershedâ€� (see www.sierravistaaz.gov). And lastly, the Fort Huachuca Sentinel Landscape Restoration Partnership Final Strategic Plan (2022) and Implementation Plan identify water security, riparian habitat restoration and recharge projects as key strategies and activities for climate resilience and protecting the missions of Fort Huachuca.	Water benefits are tracked by year at each site to understand the overall impact of CCRN efforts on regional groundwater levels, as well as the effectiveness of specific project types. To date, CCRN projects have generated 47,502 AF of water benefits for the San Pedro River and alluvial aquifer, and the habitats they support. The San Pedro River provides habitat for ten threatened and endangered species including Huachuca water-umbel, Northern Mexican gartersnake, and Yellow-billed Cuckoo. These water and ecological benefits translate to recreational benefits for residents and visitors, contributing to regional economic development.	Impact monitoring is a central component of the work proposed in this scope. Annual monitoring data allows the CCRN projects team to assess the effectiveness of each project site â€“ effluent and stormwater recharge, retired pumping, and precluded pumping â€“ in supporting alluvial aquifer levels. Monitoring activities are outlined in Question 8.	The proposed conservation activities are not eligible for funding from WIFAâ€™s Long-Term Water Augmentation Fund or Water Supply Development Fund.	Some hydrologic modeling activities and the EOP interpretive sign would not be otherwise implemented without this grant funding. Although the majority of activities proposed in this scope are essential to CCRN operations, they are subject to the approval of the annual budgets of local agency partners and implementation may be delayed until sufficient funding is available.	The Nature Conservancy is contributing private and federal funds as match for this WIFA grant proposal. The federal funding is provided by US Department of Defense, through a Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) Challenge grant awarded to TNC for Upper San Pedro hydrologic modeling. Additionally, while not being quantified as match, the City and all CCRN member organizations will be contributing significant staff resources to the proposed conservation program over the three-year grant term.	Yes, there are cost-sharing opportunities with other applicants. The Nature Conservancy is contributing $365,000 in matching funds to support activities outlined in this proposal. In addition, although not quantified as matching contribution, TNC and all CCRN members organizations will continue to contribute significant staff resources to the proposed tasks.	The Nature Conservancy is contributing $365,000 from private and US DOD funds awarded through the REPI Challenge program as match to this proposal. This contribution will support a portion of the proposed hydrologic modeling activities and all of the proposed CCRN administration and partner facilitation activities.	The City is a founding member of CCRN and has served as its fiscal agent since its inception in 2015. The City manages all aspects of the EOP recharge site, is leading the CCRN effort of the development process for the Riverstone recharge site and supports project and contract management for all CCRN activities. The City has no recorded managerial deficiencies and a history of excellent performance on grants. If awarded, this grant would be managed by the City of Sierra Vistaâ€™s Public Works Director, Sharon Flissar, in cooperation with colleagues from the CCRN. Ms. Flissar has been with the City of Sierra Vista for over 23 years, is a registered professional engineer in Arizona, and has managed a variety of multi-million-dollar projects in the course of her career. She has been attending CCRN meetings since the groupâ€™s inception, is the current chair of the USPP Technical Committee, and also co-chairs the Water/Riparian Subgroup of the Fort Huachuca Sentinel Landscape Restoration Partnership. All CCRN members have extensive experience in water and land management and are actively engaged in multiple regional conservation collaboratives.	No significant management impacts are expected as a result of the proposed conservation program, as many of the activities are currently on-going by CCRN.	The CCRN mission complements multiple other collaborative conservation efforts in the region. The hydrologic monitoring and modeling activities will further the science shared by regional collaboratives, while the CCRN project site management and maintenance activities will continue to generate water benefits that are shared priorities of the collaboratives. Regional collaboratives that CCRN engages with regularly include: Upper San Pedro Partnership (USPP) â€“ The CCRN is an outgrowth of the USPP (https://uppersanpedropartnership.org/), which was formed in 1998 as a consortium of 21 agencies and organizations working together to â€œmeet the long-term water needs of the Sierra Vista Subwatershed by achieving sustainable yield of the regional aquiferâ€� to preserve the Congressionally-designated SPRNCA and ensure the long-term viability of the Armyâ€™s Fort Huachuca. The USPP provides a forum for collaborative development of the hydrologic science for the region, including predictive hydrologic models, research, and monitoring programs, which have been used in developing CCRN projects. The USPP has provided the funding and support to agencies like DOIâ€™s US Geological Survey and USDAâ€™s Agricultural Research Service for research, monitoring and modeling of the San Pedro River and its environs. These collaborative efforts have resulted in science-based recommendations and plans for sustaining flows and riparian habitat in SPRNCA through conservation (i.e. conservation easements to preclude development, retired ag) and strategic infrastructure recharge projects using stormwater and treated effluent. The CCRN was formed in 2015 by a subgroup of the USPP to implement these strategies. Fort Huachuca Sentinel Landscape Partnership (FHSLP) â€“ In 2015, Fort Huachuca was designated a Sentinel Landscape (https://sentinellandscapes.org/landscapes/fort-huachuca/) based on the common and compatible land use goals of three federal agencies: U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Defense, and the Interior. The FHSLP is a forum for additional collaboration in the region on restoration, conserving working lands, and funding initiatives. The collaboration has resulted in the identification of land use management priorities and resilience goals that benefit the Fortâ€™s key mission capabilities, prevent encroachment, serve the agricultural community, and help conserve natural resources and the local environment. The CCRN is also represented in the Fort Huachuca Sentinel Landscape Restoration Partnership (SLRP) for the express purpose of working collaboratively with other agencies to further its recharge and conservation efforts along the San Pedro. This collaboration has been crucial in obtaining funding for the CCRNâ€™s recharge projects including a Department of Defense Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) Challenge Grant awarded in 2022 for the construction of the Coyote Wash Stormwater Management Project and another awarded in early 2023 for the final design and engineering of the Riverstone Effluent Recharge Project. SPRNCA Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) â€“ An MOU for Cooperative Monitoring and Management of the SPRNCA and Surrounding Areas between the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, Gila District; the U.S. Department of Defense, Department of the Army, U.S. Army Garrison, Fort Huachuca; Cochise County; and the City of Sierra Vista was signed in September 2021. The purpose of this MOU is to provide a coordinated and collaborative approach to implementing monitoring and management actions necessary to ensure the mutually shared goals of an ecologically viable SPRNCA, an operationally secure Fort Huachuca, and the economic prosperity of the City of Sierra Vista and Cochise County.	As noted above, the USPP and its 21 member organizations established in 1998, has served as a catalyst for monitoring, modeling and research of the subwatershed, while also vetting project recommendations and the science behind them through its Technical Committee. The USPP meetings are open to the public. Likewise, opportunities for public input on management, funding, and policy decisions are integral and often required in efforts by many of the USPP, Sentinel Landscape, and CCRN members.	In addition to ongoing CCRN outreach activities, the City seeks WIFA support to develop and install an interpretive sign at EOP, which has become a popular spot for bird watching in the wetlands associated with their wastewater treatment ponds. Like signage at other CCRN sites, it is expected that the EOP sign will describe the purpose of the facility and the significant ways in which aquifer recharge benefits local water supplies and the San Pedro River. Additionally, WIFA support will enable the continued production of CCRN outreach materials including the website and CCRN project storymap that describes all of their recharge and conservation projects (https://ccrnsanpedro.org/), the CCRN Annual report, and professional and public presentations about CCRN and its benefits to communities and the San Pedro River.	There is strong community and sector support for CCRN and the conservation program outlined in this scope. CCRN successes are shared with external audiences including water sector professionals, conservation professionals, elected officials, and the interested public through presentations and the CCRN Annual Report and other publications. Since projects have become operational, there has been a strong and growing sector support for CCRN projects, with many entities looking at these efforts as models for work in other watersheds. As local support is critical, CCRN members commit significant effort to making stakeholders and the public aware of planned projects and familiar with the purpose and benefit of existing projects. Further, public visitation to CCRN sites has grown over the years. Existing interpretive signs and the one proposed for EOP build a local understanding of the benefits of this work, and the connection between projects and the San Pedro River.	It is very feasible for the City and CCRN to complete the program activities proposed in this scope. Modeling has been a part of the Sierra Vista subwatershed for more than twenty years, and current efforts are merely expanding on work which has already been completed and used extensively. Other program activities are likewise expanding on existing efforts which have already been successfully implemented.	The proposed conservation program will continue and advance ongoing activities. CCRN project sites have successfully generated 47,502 AF of water benefit for the aquifer and San Pedro River, and the ongoing CCRN monitoring, maintenance, modeling, and administration activities have enabled this success	Since its founding in 2015, CCRN has become a leading example of water recharge and management. In addition to the lessons learned from its effluent and stormwater recharge projects, its robust hydrologic monitoring programming, innovative modeling, and collaborative structure provide examples that may be application in other watersheds. For guidance on project development, monitoring, and modeling, CCRN looks to the scientific expertise of its USPP partners, the conservation and natural resource management expertise of its FHSLP partners, and the technical expertise of its skilled consultants. Best practices in water and land management are being implemented and improved continually by these and other partner organizations in the region, and CCRN remains engaged and eager to take advantage of the lessons learned with every opportunity.
59	New Magma Irrigation District	Upgraded Flow Control Gates and Turnout Valves Project	Programs and projects that reduce water use Per A.R.S. 49-1332(B)(2)	Project		San Tan Valley	Pinal	5	15	East Salt River Valley	Yes, AMA 1	N/A	$250,000.00	$63,000.00	$250,000.00	1300	0.0052	The water conservatory activity estimated water savings aggregated over the three project elements is about 1,300 Acre-Feet per year. This is broken down as follows about 550 acre-feet conserved with the gate replacements, about 600 acre-feet conserved with the valve replacements, and an additional 50 acre-feet conserved from the liner repairs. Water conserved estimates do not include potential on-farm water conservation realized through better irrigation service. This was calculated using estimated leakage at the various gates and valves and historical operations of the facilities. These estimates were validated by system delivery flow add-on values required to provide intended service levels due to system losses, meaning how much extra flow needs to be turned into the system to account for losses above intended deliveries. Further validation of estimated spill flows and volumes was obtained by spot measurement of flows at outfall locations by the district and George Cairo Engineering our consulting hydraulic engineer. There are also the make-up flows required from supplemental groundwater wells that were evaluated as part of the analysis to estimate leakage volumes. Some individual leaking gates and valves were also isolated to estimate loss volumes by ponding and calculating loss volumes.	The three project elements including the valves, flow control gates, and the canal liner all have a 25-year design life. Therefore, the expected duration of the conservatory activity is 25-years from date of installation.	The irrigation system when originally constructed was a state-of-the-art concrete canal delivery system engineered to deliver CAP water augmented by groundwater to lands under surface irrigation. Over time the system has deteriorated, there are major impacts due to urbanization within the district, adaptation needed to deliver efficiently to more modern irrigation methods like sprinkle and drip. The impending major drought on the Colorado River Basin has also affected water supply and quality imposing demands on the system. District water conservatory activities are required to better manage and control water supply and adapt to the changing operational conditions due to drought impacts in a cost-effective manner. NMID has always worked to be a good steward of soil, water, and energy resources. The project elements associated with the NMID water conservatory activity can be broken down into three (3) distinct activities: Check Structure Flow Control Slide Gate Replacement â€“ The existing canal check structure flow control gates summarized below are in various conditions of degradation, they leak, and are in need of immediate replacement. Work activities include the following: Slide Gate Installation 1) Complete planning and engineering. 2) Purchase gates and all ancillary materials to install the gates. 3) Coordinate a water outage period with district operations. 4) Install dirt plugs for nuisance water. 5) Remove existing gate and salvage to district yard. 6) Blast and clean surface of structure. 7) Make any repairs to the structure as needed prior to gate installation. 8) Installation of new slide gates. 9) Commission and approve gate installations. NMID Lateral A System A-5 Turnout gate 34-inch A-6 Continuation gate 38-inch NMID Lateral C System C-Main Double Continuation Gate (2) 42-inch C-A Continuation Gate 38-inch C-1 Continuation Gate 24-inch C-2 Continuation Gate 24-inch C-8 Continuation Gate 24-inch C-11 Continuation Gate 40-inch C-16 Continuation Gate 50-inch NMID Lateral D-System D-1 Turnout Gate 36-inch D-5 Continuation Gate 36-inch 24-Inch Butterfly Valve Replacement- Existing pump discharge and conveyance pipeline flow control valves total of 3 summarized below are in various conditions of degradation, they leak, and are in need of immediate replacement. Work activities include the following: Valve Installation 1) Complete planning and engineering. 2) Purchase valves and all ancillary materials to install the gates. 3) Coordinate a water outage period with district operations. 4) Install in-line plugs or close valves as needed to protect from nuisance water. 5) Remove existing valve and salvage to district yard. 6) Inspect, prep and clean pipe connection location. 7) Make any repairs to the pipe connection area as needed prior to valve installation. 8) Installation of new 24-inch butterfly valves . 9) Commission and approve valve installations. Locations: DP1, DP2, and DP3 Turnouts Valves: 24-inch Butterfly Valves Canal Liner Repairs The canal liner repairs include the removal and replacement of about 360 lineal feet of concrete liner panels. This accounts for about 30 panels with a surface area of about 4,320 square feet that is seeping water 365 days a year. The repairs also include the repair of cracked panels with a State-of-the-Art sealant CCS 1500 to seal the concrete liner and prevent degradation and leakage, about 200 ft. Liner Installation 1. Sawcut and remove existing liner panel sections. 2. Refill and compact subgrade as needed. 3. Pour and place new concrete liner panels. 4. Blast and prep liner joints and liner cracks. 5. Seal all joints and cracks.	The source of water to be conserved is Colorado River surface water from Lake Mead supplied via the Central Arizona Project (CAP). A secondary water source is groundwater pumped into the canal system. The district is also working to develop reclaimed and treated effluent water supplies. The proposed conservatory activities will aid in better management of these water supplies that will directly allow the preservation of groundwater and reduce reliance on available surface water from the CAP.	New Magma Irrigation District is home to many low income and rural communities, which also includes the Hispanic population of 37.2% and Tohono Oâ€™Odham Indian Communities that are split to make up Gila River Indian Community and Salt River Indian Community. These low-income communities that are major consumers of irrigation water are historically being considered less than equal as agricultural workers, which in turn causes economic poverty, increased substandard housing rates, and an increase in generational health issues such as diabetes as shown in the attached table. The importance of continuing to make efforts of conserving water within the NMID system is directly correlated in making efforts to fight poverty and advocate for the livelihood of these economically disadvantaged communities.	value1 value2 value3	The Water Conservatory Activity will achieve a long-term reduction in water use by improving irrigation water conveyance losses with the reduction of operational spills through leaking valves, flow control gates, and leaking canal liner. Reduced operational spills save water by decreasing the amount of water diverted into the system from the CAP, and it reduces the amount of groundwater pumped from the local aquifer. The Water Conservatory Activity will also improve water use efficiency by providing improved water operational controls with the new canal gates. Through improved functionality and flow control the gates will allow better service to irrigators delivering steady flows, which translates to improved, on-farm efficiencies. The Water Conservatory Activity installation will reduce the possibility of an irrigation system failure due to a failed canal flow control gate, valve, or canal liner failure. Therefore, the improvements improve service and water reliability. Groundwater not pumped and surface water left in Lake Mead from these conservation measures also improve water supply reliability for the District and others.	Water supply shortages Groundwater depletion Natural disasters that may impact water supply infrastructure	The NMID Water Conservatory Project will benefit regional water supply shortages by reducing diversions from the CAP with improved operational management and efficiency, less spills mean less diversion and less groundwater pumping, on this project an estimated 1300 acre-feet per year. Improvements will also make it feasible to introduce other water supplies like treated effluent or municipal reuse water that would further help reduce diversion from the CAP. Currently project groundwater wells are used to meet irrigation service demands, and to supplement system conveyance losses. Reduced system spills and conveyance losses will result in less groundwater extraction to off-set losses, therefore reducing groundwater extraction, protecting the aquifer. Protection of the groundwater aquifer and reduced pumping will preserve those groundwater supplies for future generations, or in the event of a natural disaster impacting infrastructure like the CAP conveyance, Hoover Dam, other element of the Colorado River System, provide water supply reliability.	Our District implements a â€œWater Crisis Conservation Planâ€� which mandates that we periodically access our water delivery system and identify problems or needs as we adapt to meet changing conditions, identifying new technologies and strategies. NMID works diligently to improve our irrigation system with very little funding and resources. This project was identified as a priority by NMID, and a preliminary design has been completed by George Cairo Engineering, Inc. (GCE) who specialize in irrigation district modernization. The Upgraded Flow Control Gates, Turnout Valves and Liner Repairs Project will help the District to not only improve daily functions, but aids in the Districtâ€™s efforts to better manage water deliveries, lessen water loss due to spills and seepage, and to reduce groundwater pumping in an Active Management Area (AMA) while being in compliance with the AZDWRâ€™s Water Conservation Plan objectives, the Drought Contingency Plan which the District is a stakeholder, and the District and the project is in-line with the USDA NRCS 30x30 initiative in protecting 30% of all land and water by 2030. Additionally, this project falls in line with objectives stated in Section 9504(a) of the Secure Water Act (P.L. 111-11) and that align with priorities of the Biden administration, including E.O. 14008: â€œTackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroadâ€� and E.O. 13985: â€œAdvancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government.â€�	The Water Conservatory Project cost is estimated to be about $252,000. Benefits of the project include reduced operational and maintenance costs to the District, improved water management, better service to farmers for increased on-farm efficiencies. Conservation of water both surface and groundwater helping both Lake Mead and the local groundwater aquifer. Improvements will also help with planned expansion for use of recycled and treated effluent waters in the future, that will help with the overall water balance and reduce demands on CAP and groundwater. Environmentally, all efforts made to conserve water in the NMID system directly benefit conservation and protection of the Colorado River Project. In addition to conserving water for that can remain behind Lake Mead and all those environmental ancillary benefits, being able to reduce leakage and seepage from the NMID canal system works to reduce the abundance of noxious weeds that take over open areas of NMID. Noxious weeds not only consume water that can be used for irrigation crops, but they steal nutrients that crops and Irrigation workers have to make extra efforts to remove these weeds, requiring driving on canal banks, along with burning of weeds affecting air quality. Not only will flow control gates help with the conservation of water, but they will also result in minimal use of vehicles on site, minimizing dust/air pollution, and the use of fossil fuels. The Colorado River is home to a myriad of endangered species, and benefits species that are vital to the sacred desert ecosystem. Species such as the Gila Topminnow and Spikedace fish, which are endangered species that reside within the boundaries of Pinal County will reap these conservation efforts made by NMID. These species are aquatic animals that are vital to the ecosystem of the CAP due to regulating the algae build-up in the canal systems for better flow and less congestion. Arizonaâ€™s state bird, the Cactus Wren, is a year-round resident to the county. These species, to name a few, will reap the benefits of this project by having access to reliable water that makes the entire ecosystem flourish.	The district will measure the effectiveness of the water conservatory activity by monitoring and measuring spills at locations affected by the project and comparing those flows to historical values calibrated to current conditions. In addition, in a similar manner groundwater monitoring of well energy consumption and flow meter data will be compared to historical values. This summary data will be collected and analyzed on an annual basis to previous data and used in decision making and adaptive management, and to gain support from District management to fund more improvements. The District will also monitor O&M expenditures pre and post project.	The New Magma Irrigation District is in a depressed economic condition and with the many challenges facing the District cannot afford to take on financial debt and needs to find ways to leverage their limited funding. Without cost share funding support from WIFA the District cannot complete the proposed project. Due to operational and financial impacts of the COVID 19 pandemic and the impeding major drought on the Colorado River, the district is not able to fund and implement the proposed water conservation activities.	No, without funding support from WIFA the District cannot complete the proposed project. Due to operational and financial impacts of the COVID 19 pandemic and the impeding major drought on the Colorado River, the district is not able to fund and implement the proposed water conservation activities.	The District does not have a history of applying for grants and funding opportunities therefore unless we apply Drought Contingency Plan funds, we do not have funds to leverage against this grant funding. The District does plan on applying due to the need for upcoming Federal NOFO opportunities and it is our hope in the future to leverage those funds with WIFA funds and maximize water conservation and drought mitigation to address the climate crisis impacts.	There are no cost-sharing opportunities identified at this time on this project. However, we intend to document the results of the project and use it to educate and develop stakeholder interest in the implementation of a larger District Modernization Program that will include similar improvements to maximize long term drought resilience and protect and best manage our water resources.	All funds for the WIFA grant matching requirements will be paid directly with New Magma Irrigation District funds, and District in-kind services. In kind services are envisioned to include planning, design, construction support, and construction inspection activities.	The New Magma Irrigation District established under Arizona State Water Code serves about 16,900 acres, consisting of a system of canals, pipelines, wells, and irrigation structures. All facilities are maintained and operated by the District. The District operations and maintenance are managed by Shelton Van Allen who will be responsible for oversight of the Water Conservation Activity for the District, and the requested WIFA grant. Construction activities will be performed by the District operation and maintenance staff that are experienced in the requirements of this project, including the removal and installation of canal gates and pipeline valves. Other work like canal lining replacement will be completed by Innova Water Construction, LLC, (INNOVA), an Arizona based firm that specializes in irrigation district related works. The District has historically used and will utilize George Cairo Engineering, Inc. (GCE) a local irrigation and water resources firm regionally recognized as experts in flow measurement, design, and modernization of irrigation systems. GCE will complete the technical services to include planning, design, and construction management. Work will be completed under the direction of George Cairo, Principal Engineer, and engineer of record for the District. Mr. Cairo is a Principal and co-founder of GEORGE-CAIRO ENGINEERING, INC. (GCE) and he has more than thirty years of experience in agricultural engineering, water resources engineering, and conveyance planning, design, and construction. He is responsible for the daily operations of the GCE Central Arizona Office and the Imperial Valley Office as well as providing project sponsor, and project/design management and engineering support as a member of multidiscipline teams on a variety of water resources, capital improvement, and conveyance projects. He has extensive experience in irrigation systems planning, design and operations, water resources engineering, supply and demand analyses, municipal and irrigation water conveyance and distribution, groundwater recharge, and water conservation. Furthermore, he has expertise in open channel design, pipelines, hydraulic structures, flow measurement, HEC-RAS steady, and unsteady state hydraulic modeling, irrigation reservoirs, on-farm irrigation systems, and agricultural water quality. As a principal engineer he is responsible for quality control and quality assurance reviews of all GCE Central Arizona and Imperial Valley project deliverables as well as development of firm design standards. Mr. Cairo is the district engineer of record for several irrigation, water, and power districts in Arizona and California and is recognized as an expert and leader in the protection and transition of irrigation districts associated with agricultural to urban land conversion, irrigation engineering, hydraulics, and water resources engineering.	The planned Water Conservation Activities associated with this grant will not have an impact on District management, conversely it will simplify and help reduce District personnel time and expense associated with the current facilities and water losses. The planned flow and spill monitoring is not envisioned to impact the District and will be offset by the reduction in canal bank time expended by operators currently. These costs include labor and fuel expenses in addition to wear and tear on equipment.	The District believes that the project will facilitate and help to promote collaborative partnerships, by using water and energy savings and improved service as an example of funded conservation results. In fact, the District is looking to develop a partnership with our growers to promote collaborative approaches to funding opportunities and implementation of District and on-farm Best Management Practices and use of modern technologies to best manage water resources. In these times of climate crisis and major drought it is imperative that we use the challenges to unify and promote partnerships, where there may not have been reason to work together in the past, there are many reasons before us now.	This project was developed with the involvement and input of local growers, the stakeholders in the District service area. The growers are the end users of the irrigation system and therefore, the better service level provided by the District it directly correlates to improved water management on the farm. The funds approved for use with the WIFA grant funds will directly impact these stakeholders, therefore their involvement and input were important in the process. The District working collaboratively with our engineer and the farmers developed a master list of projects for consideration including conceptual cost benefits. This was followed by the development of a selection criteria matrix and application of the projects to the selection matrix resulting in the proposed project elements in this grant application. Future projects larger in scale will increase the reach of the project and add stakeholders like NRCS, Reclamation, Maricopa and Pinal County, and local municipalities.	There is not a planned formal public outreach program however all activities and results will be posted on the District web page. This will include a project description, a summary of the Water Conservation Activities, performance goals, and of course the results of the work and water and energy savings achieved.	Yes, the local farming community is in support of the proposed Water Conservation Activity. Please find attached letters of support from the local agricultural Community.	The project is 100 percent feasible and has been approved by the Board, see attached District commitment letter. If approved for funding of the proposed Water Conservation Activity the District will be able to complete the work within 90 calendar days of grant execution and notice to proceed from WIFA. The District has coordinated with vendors for the purchase of the gates and valves which are long lead items to have readily available within the planned timeframe. Also concrete for the liner repairs is now readily available with the recent fly ash shortage issue locally resolved. The District has the labor resources to commit to the project and we have a commitment from our engineer to support this important project.	The conservation activity proposed that includes replacing flow control gates, valves, and degraded canal liner is a project that is a continuation of similar improvements at a smaller scale. The District is in the process of developing a System Optimization Study that will lead to a planned District Modernization Program. These types of improvements have proven to be effective in meeting the established goals of conserving and helping manage water supplies and are envisioned to continue as part of the future program. Water and energy savings are realized immediately and measurable. The elements in our project are typical of irrigation projects but upgraded to current standards for performance and water control.	Yes, the project will implement established Best Management Practices by the District. This includes the application of Canal Lining a BMP that reduces seepage, prevents waterlogging of surrounding lands, maintains water quality, and reduces erosion. Flow Rate Measurement a BMP at canal gates and valves. This provides information critical to making water management decisions, helps prevent runoff, and helps deliver the quantity of water required to farmers. It improves irrigation project efficiency and can support SCADA technology. PM-10 BMP for unpaved operation and maintenance roads on canals are also supported due to improved water control which requires less traffic on dirt canal banks.
60	Buckeye Water Conservation and Drainage District	BWCDD Irrigation District Modernization and Water Storage Program: Phase I Diversion Intake Struc...	Programs and projects that reduce water use Per A.R.S. 49-1332(B)(2)	Program	Founded in 1922, the Buckeye Water Conservation and Drainage District (BWCDD) operates and maintains 23 miles of the Buckeye Main Canal, 7.5 miles of the Main South Extension Canal, and 14 miles of drainage ditch. The BWCDD system includes 200 miles of lateral ditches, 9 drain wells, and 54 production wells. It encompasses about 22,000 acres and is located near the town of Buckeye, in the Buckeye Valley, which is in the western part of Maricopa County, Arizona. On average, the BWCDD diverts about 151,381 acre-feet of water per year and their water sources include surface water, treated effluent water, and groundwater. The current irrigation system was constructed in 1885 and is over 136 years old and consists primarily of easily eroded earthen canals and laterals with manual controls. This system is inefficient and prone to uncontrolled releases, spills, overflows, and requires constant overwatch and maintenance. Additionally, with the current controls on these main canals and laterals about 23% of excess water is typically diverted to meet the required demand. Also due to drought impacts on the Federal Hydro Energy Generation the District electrical power supply is at risk. BWCDD Irrigation District Modernization and Water Storage Program involves the implementation of a Phased approach to achieving a system modernization that will conserve water and energy, reduce O&M, and improve overall water efficiencies for the District and the local growers. The project will help to provide climate crisis resiliency and help regional drought impacts on the Colorado and local groundwater. Phase I is the subject project and future Phases include: Phase II â€“ Canal Energy System (CES) Expansion: Phase II includes expansion of canal lining, the CES, modernizing flow control and turnout structures, SCADA, and a regulating reservoir to capture winter flows in the Gila River for reduced groundwater pumping during the growing season. Phase III â€“ Fortification of Historical Diversion Berm: Design and construction of a strengthened diversion berm and water impoundment for regulation storage in the Gila River. The proposed BWCDD Phase I Diversion Intake Structure Modernization and Canal Energy System (CES) project will help to remedy these issues. Project objectives include modernization of the system river diversion to provide accurate, reliable, and steady diversions to meet demands as well as improve District and on-farm efficiencies and reduce spills. With the implementation of micro hydro power and canal solar, a considerable amount of renewable energy generation will be used to power the diversion installation and off-set pumping costs, while excess power can be made available for distribution.	City of Buckeye	Maricopa	3	3	West Salt River Valley			$3,000,000.00	$750,000.00	$3,000,000.00	24974	0.008324666667	Buckeye Water Conservation and Drainage District manually operates an open canal gravity supply network which based on the average for the last 5 years of record diverts approximately 151,381 ac-ft per growing season to serve 22,000 acres. The system delivers 116,320 ac-ft to farms, and there is presently about a 35,030 ac-ft gap in water supply losses, which are not recorded and billed as deliveries. Every time water is delivered to a farm, the inadequacy of this manually controlled system is demonstrated by requiring an on-site person to constantly adjust flow rates to prevent flooding/overflows/erosion/water loss upstream. In addition to water impacts the labor cost to BWCDD is substantial. The proposed Phase I project will further modernize the BWCDD and save resources while being better stewards of the available natural resources. The Water Conservatory Activity that includes Phase I the modernization of the diversion structure will result in the savings of about 16,639 ac-ft to 24,959 ac-ft of water annually, or about 831,950 ac-ft to 1,247,943 ac-feet over the 50-year life of the structure. The larger value will be accomplished with the implementation of the BWCDD Irrigation District Modernization and Water Storage Program, which is planned to be developed over several Phases. Phase I is the subject project, and future Phases include the impoundment dike across the Gila River, canal lining, SCADA, Canal Energy Systems, well improvements, and rehabilitation of canal in-line structures. The canal spanning solar portion of this project as a direct result of funding and construction will conserve water by a reduction in evaporation and off-set thermo-electric water consumption. In the first phase of this multi-phased project, the initial 600 linear feet of the Buckeye Main Canal from the diversion downstream will be covered with solar panels. The installation would reduce evaporation in that reach of canal by an estimated 3.46 ac-ft annually, calculated using an evaporation model. Ultimately, the BWCDD goal is to cover enough of the remaining miles of the Main Canal to offset all groundwater pumping costs, and those installations would also reduce evaporation in the canal system annually. The thermo-electric water consumption offset due to the solar installations is represented by the amount of water that would be consumed in generating an amount of energy from the APS energy mix equivalent to what could be generated by the Canal-Spanning Solar Panel (CSSP) installation. We estimate that energy generated from the Phase I installation will directly offset about 11.05 ac-ft of water consumption, calculated based on the APS energy mix annually. The total water savings annually will be about 24,974 ac-ft annually and 1,248,700 ac-ft over the 50-year life.	There are multiple project elements for this Conservatory Activity: The irrigation diversion structure and appurtenant features have a design life of 50-years as they are engineered and constructed to regional irrigation standards. The canal liner has a design life of 25-years. The Canal Energy System inclusive of the Solar Over Canal system and the in-channel Micro Hydro-Power system have a 25-year design life. Therefore, the expected duration of the conservatory activity is 25-years and 50-years respectively depending on the project element from date of installation based on the project element.	Founded in 1922, the Buckeye Water Conservation and Drainage District (BWCDD) operates and maintains 23 miles of the Buckeye Main Canal, 7.5 miles of the Main South Extension Canal, and 14 miles of drainage ditch. The BWCDD system includes 200 miles of lateral ditches, 9 drain wells, and 54 production wells. It encompasses about 22,000 acres and is located near the town of Buckeye, in the Buckeye Valley, which is in the western part of Maricopa County, Arizona. On average, the BWCDD diverts about 151,381 acre-feet of water per year and their water sources include surface water, treated effluent water, and groundwater. The current irrigation system was constructed in 1885 and is over 136 years old and consists primarily of easily eroded earthen canals and laterals with manual controls. This system is inefficient and prone to uncontrolled releases, spills, overflows, and requires constant overwatch and maintenance. Additionally, with the current controls on these main canals and laterals about 23% of excess water is typically diverted to meet the required demand. Also due to drought impacts on the Federal Hydro Energy Generation the District electrical power supply is at risk. BWCDD Irrigation District Modernization and Water Storage Program involves the implementation of a Phased approach to achieving a system modernization that will conserve water and energy, reduce O&M, and improve overall water efficiencies for the District and the local growers. The project will help to provide climate crisis resiliency and help regional drought impacts on the Colorado and local groundwater. Phase I is the subject project and future Phases include: Phase II â€“ Canal Energy System (CES) Expansion: Phase II includes expansion of canal lining, the CES, modernizing flow control and turnout structures, SCADA, and a regulating reservoir to capture winter flows in the Gila River for reduced groundwater pumping during the growing season. Phase III â€“ Fortification of Historical Diversion Berm: Design and construction of a strengthened diversion berm and water impoundment for regulation storage in the Gila River. The proposed BWCDD Phase I Diversion Intake Structure Modernization and Canal Energy System (CES) project will help to remedy these issues. Project objectives include modernization of the system river diversion to provide accurate, reliable, and steady diversions to meet demands as well as improve District and on-farm efficiencies and reduce spills. With the implementation of micro hydro power and canal solar, a considerable amount of renewable energy generation will be used to power the diversion installation and off-set pumping costs, while excess power can be made available for distribution. This project is divided into two major Tasks. The first task will remove, modernize, and upgrade the existing concrete diversion intake structure on the Gila River with a new concrete diversion structure with Rubicon Gates and SCADA controls. The project also includes a new sluicing structure to move and sluice sediment and trash from the headwork gates and provide efficient diversion of river flows. In addition, the second Task on the project includes about 600 lineal feet of concrete canal lining and a Canal Energy System (CES) that includes canal in-line micro hydropower and canal spanning solar panels. Phase II of the Modernization Program includes expansion of canal lining, the CES, modernizing flow control and turnout structures, SCADA, and a regulating reservoir to capture winter flows in the Gila River for reduced groundwater pumping during the growing season.	On average, the BWCDD diverts about 151,381 acre-feet of water per year and their water sources include surface water, treated effluent water, and groundwater. Our water supply includes 54 wells (43%), surface water from the confluence of Gila Rivers and smaller tributaries (Salt, Verde, Agua Fria Rivers) (39%) and the City of Phoenix CAP Effluent Water and other effluent water (18%). The primary purpose of BWCDD is to deliver irrigation water to agricultural users and to relieve waterlogging within the District boundary. In addition, BWCDD provides irrigation to residential homes and construction water for development projects. BWCDD manages power distribution from purchase agreements with the Hoover Dam and the Southwest Public Power Agency to its agricultural and residential users.	Because of its ethnic minorities, poverty level and rural location, this area of Maricopa County is historically underserved, rural, low income and disadvantaged. Urban sprawl from Phoenix and influx of new residents (40% increase in 20 years) has caused a large disparity between income, poverty, unemployment, and subsequent quality of life. These people typically feel the extremities of climate change first, having to choose between the water bill, air conditioning, or food and even receiving lower quality water. Public health and safety will improve by better management of water, improved deliveries, and efficient water use. Economic Growth Opportunities are available through reduced farming costs allow for more employment and help create 2nd tier producers (value added products). See Attached Table.	value1 value2 value3	The Water Conservatory Activity will achieve a long-term reduction in water use by reducing the volume of water diverted from the River and reducing over delivering to downstream water users downstream of the BWCDD system. Further the canal lining will reduce seepage losses, and the solar over canal will reduce evaporation losses that further reduce diversion requirements effectively resulting in less water diversion and use by the District. Groundwater that is pumped to offset surface water demands and mismatches in the system will be reduced due to regulated and measured diversions resulting in a long-term reduction in groundwater use. Currently the District diversion structure is in immediate need of replacement and due to manual controls and local conditions diversions to the Main Canal vary with the flows in the river. This project will provide for automated, controlled, and measured diversions that will provide steady deliveries into the canal system and improve service levels to farmers. The proposed project will help improve water use efficiency, water conservation, reduced spills, while supplying accurate and reliable deliveries to meet demands. Automated Rubicon gates help with the diversion of accurate and regulated flows that will reduce canal water level fluctuations and provide a direct accounting of flows for water management use. Subsequently, this project will preserve water that can then be used by farmers, communities, and even neighboring cities such as Paloma and Arlington. This results in increased productivity and efficiency for crops, saved water and energy due to wells not having to run as long, promoting a locally driven circular Bio-Economy. This project will directly address the concerns above by creating a more reliable water source. New and improved automated gates grant us the ability to remotely open and close gates to better manage water for more efficient and accurate deliveries, preventing spills. This project also includes canal lining and canal solar panels. Canal lining prevents invasive weed growth and seepage, which is a potential problem for reduced water flow. With water savings and more regulated inflows, wells will not have to run as long to make up for lost water, and crops will be able to thrive. Energy and water will be saved and stored, tackling the effects of drought and climate change head on. Overall, the first Phase I project and the larger Multi Phased Program will improve water reliability by reducing groundwater extraction, reducing operational spills, leaving water in the Gila Rive for environmental and downstream benefit and use.	Water supply shortages Groundwater depletion Natural disasters that may impact water supply infrastructure	Water will remain in the system for longer periods of time by conserving the runoff water from the Gila River. Instead of water spilling or drying up in smaller streams, water will remain in the river corridor thus making water available for other natural uses as needed. In the future phases of this project water storage off and adjacent to the Gila River will create ecological habitat that will be made feasible by the design and installation of a new diversion structure for the BWCDD. Furthermore, the Solar Panels used in this project will prevent water from evaporating. The BWCDD Water Conservatory Project will benefit regional water supply shortages by reducing diversions from the Gila River with improved operational management and efficiency, less spills mean less diversion and less groundwater pumping help with water supply of all hydrologically linked stakeholders. The project will result in a reduced diversion amount of about 16,639 ac-feet per year off-setting what is pumped and will be left in the ground the quantity conserved that can be used for the intended purpose is about 7,329 ac-feet of diverted surface water for other intended purposes. Water conserved will directly offset groundwater pumping. It will be stored in the aquifer reducing groundwater depletion and used in the future to meet demands and afford resiliency against the drought. Reduced diversion volumes can then be used to address other demands downstream including those of the Gila River Indian Community, the San Lucy Village, Arlington Water District, and Paloma Irrigation and Drainage District. The Climate Crisis and change is causing abnormal effects on the water cycle, increasing the rate of evaporation, at a pace quicker than anticipated. Adverse weather conditions cause flooding to crop and flooding hazard to residential homes adjacent to the canal resulting in a lack of water to some growers. These challenges make it more complex to balance the needs of people, agriculture, fish, and wildlife that depend on irrigation diversions and a healthy flowing Gila River. This project will help conserve water from the Gila River and improve the accuracy of water deliveries while saving energy. The new diversion structure will in the event of a natural disaster like a large flood on the Gila River protect the water supply infrastructure including the diversion headworks and downstream canal system.	Our District has led a collaborative effort with neighboring irrigation districts and cities to develop and implement a â€œ20-Year Strategic Conservation Planâ€�. In efforts to fulfill their commitment, the District has directly funded a System Optimization Review (SOR) study in line with the approaches and requirements in the Reclamation funded SOR studies. The SOR will act as the roadmap of our Phased Modernization Program for the BWCDD. The Phase I subject project will address one of the highest prioritized items identified in the SOR. BWCDD has been engaging in the preliminary planning for the Districtâ€™s entire systemâ€™s headworks with George Cairo Engineering, Inc. (GCE) who specialize in irrigation district modernization. The BWCDD System Modernization Program is addressing an adaptation strategy identified in the Reclamation Basin Study including Changes to Agricultural Practices and Land Use (Improve Irrigation Efficiency) and Supply and Infrastructure Investments (New Infrastructure Water and Energy Supplies). Adaptive management in the Water Plan calls for development of projects that will conserve water for drought resilience and development of projects that are in-line with low carbon footprint goals. While BWCDD is not in an Active Management Area (AMA), the project looks to be in compliance with the AZDWRâ€™s Groundwater Initiative, Water Conservation Plan, Drought Contingency Plan, and adheres to the USDA NRCS 30x30 initiative in protecting 30% of all land and water by 2030. Additionally, this project falls in line with objectives stated in Section 9504(a) of the Secure Water Act (P.L. 111-11) and that align with priorities of the Biden administration, including E.O. 14008: â€œTackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroadâ€� and E.O. 13985: â€œAdvancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government.â€�	The Water Conservatory Project cost is estimated to be about $3,000,000. Energy savings associated with water conservation are quantifiable. Water conserved will result in a direct proportional amount of reduced groundwater use and associated pumping and energy use. These reductions in demand will also reduce the load on the Federal Hydro Power System affected by the drought. Based on estimated conservation values the modernization of the diversion structure will result in the savings of about 16,639 ac-feet to 24,959 ac-feet of water annually, or about 831,950 ac-feet to 1,247,943 ac-feet over the 50-year life of the Water Conservatory Activity. The larger value will be accomplished with planned Phase I modernization improvements. Groundwater pumping accounts for about 56% of the water supply therefore at a cost of about $9.76 dollars per acre foot this results in a reduction of energy consumption of about $90,942 annually to pump 9317.8 ac-feet, or about $4.6 million over the life of the diversion. Ancillary benefits of the project include reduced operational and maintenance costs to the District, improved water management, better service to farmers for increased on-farm efficiencies. Conservation of water both surface and groundwater helping both Lake Mead and the local groundwater aquifer. Improvements will also help with planned expansion for use of recycled and treated effluent waters in the future, that will help with the overall water balance and reduce demands on CAP and groundwater. Environmentally, this Conservatory Activity will help conserve water from the Gila River and improve the accuracy of water deliveries while saving energy. This program will help to retain water from the Gila River to improve the ecological resiliency of agriculture, endangered species, and communities. In the future phases of this program water storage off of and adjacent to the Gila River will create ecological habitat that will be made feasible by the design and installation of a new waterford type diversion structure across the Gila River for the BWCDD. Water will remain in the system for longer periods of time by conserving the runoff water from the Gila River. Instead of water spilling or drying up in smaller streams, water will remain in the river corridor thus making water available for other natural uses as needed. Furthermore, the Solar Panels used in this program will prevent water from evaporating. Water conservation and SCADA controls will require less man hours on the canal banks for operation and maintenance. This results in less vehicular travel time hours on the canal banks and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, and PM-10 fugitive dust released due to driving on canal banks. This program will help endangered species throughout the neighboring area such as the Arizona cliffrose and Arizona agave. Many migratory bird species fly through this location, including the threatened Lewisâ€™s woodpecker. Species like the Lesser long-nosed bat that use their elongated muzzles to pollinate the endangered saguaro cacti will also benefit from these improvements. This program will allow for the ecosystem to harmonize while encouraging biodiversity. BWCDD makes environmental benefits a priority for all current and future projects due to the protection of the surrounding communities and ecosystems.	The district will measure the effectiveness of the water conservatory activity by monitoring and measuring diversions from the new structure at a certified measuring flume station just downstream of the diversion, and also measuring spills at locations affected by the project and comparing those flows to historical values calibrated to current conditions. In addition, in a similar manner groundwater monitoring of well energy consumption and flow meter data will be compared to historical values. This summary data will be collected and analyzed on an annual basis to previous data and used in decision making and adaptive management, and to gain support from District management to fund more improvements. The District will also monitor O&M expenditures pre and post project.	The Buckeye Water Conservation and Drainage District is in a depressed economic condition and with the many challenges facing the District it cannot afford to take on financial debt and needs to find ways to leverage their limited funding. Without cost share funding support from WIFA the District cannot complete the proposed project. Due to operational and financial impacts of the COVID 19 pandemic and the impeding major drought on the Colorado River, the district is not able to fund and implement the proposed water conservation activities.	No, without funding support from WIFA the District cannot complete the proposed project. Due to operational and financial impacts of the COVID 19 pandemic and the impeding major drought on the Colorado River, the district is not able to fund and implement the proposed water conservation activities. This grant will allow the District to leverage Reclamation grant funds to complete the project.	The District has actively been seeking aid for Capital Improvement Funds from the Bureau of Reclamation, with a total of three grant submissions in which the District has been awarded two of the three. One of the awarded grants is the WaterSMART Grants: Water and Energy Efficiency Grants for Fiscal Year 2023 which is helping to fund Phase I â€“ Diversion Intake Structure Modernization and Canal Energy System (CES) of the BWCDD System Modernization Program, funding level of $5 million dollars. The overall project budget for Phase I is $10,149,472. The District responsibility for the Federal cost share is $5,149,472 and respectfully the WIFA grant request is $3 million dollars for our program Phase I that will allow us to leverage the Federal funding source and move forward with the project. The District would fund the remaining $2,149,472 with internal funds.	There are no cost-sharing opportunities identified at this time on this project. However, we intend to document the results of the project and use it to educate and develop stakeholder interest in the implementation of a larger District Modernization Program that will include similar improvements to maximize long term drought resilience and protect and best manage our water resources. The District may explore support from green energy philanthropic groups that are interested in the Canal Energy System concepts.	All funds for the WIFA grant matching requirements will be paid directly with Buckeye Water Conservation and Drainage District funds, and District in-kind services, a total of $750,000. In kind services are envisioned to include planning, design, construction support, and construction inspection activities. A Resolution by the Board approving a commitment to expend the matching funds is attached.	BWCDD is the Project Owner and will serve as the contact point for coordination with WIFA, Contractors, and Engineer. BWCDD labor resources will be utilized for the specific tasks during the approximate 2.5-year project duration. For In-Kind, BWCDD will utilize internal staff, vehicles for travel and equipment. BWCDD will be responsible for project management, site evaluation, permitting work, survey work, pre-construction work, partial construction work, construction management and inspection, responses to construction request for additional information, and commissioning work. It is BWCDDâ€™s goal to do as much as in-kind internal staff and resources as possible on this project. BWCDD will prepare bi-annual financial reporting and project status reporting as well as the final report required by the Federal funding. By using BWCDD staff and equipment, costs will be reduced due to efficiencies. In lieu of a commitment letter, the BWCDD has provided the Official Resolution to show BWCDDâ€™s commitment for the project and cost share commitment with the Districtâ€™s Board Members full approval. The construction and installation will be done by a pre-certified qualified and selected Contractor through BWCDD construction bidding process. The Engineering will be done by George Cairo Engineering, Inc. (GCE) and GCE will also provide support during construction. The District has historically used and will utilize George Cairo Engineering, Inc. (GCE) a local irrigation and water resources firm regionally recognized as experts in flow measurement, design, and modernization of irrigation systems. GCE will complete the technical services to include planning, design, and construction management. Work will be completed under the direction of George Cairo, Principal Engineer, and engineer of record for the District. Mr. Cairo is a Principal and co-founder of GEORGE-CAIRO ENGINEERING, INC. (GCE) and he has more than thirty years of experience in agricultural engineering, water resources engineering, and conveyance planning, design, and construction. He is responsible for the daily operations of the GCE Central Arizona Office and the Imperial Valley Office as well as providing project sponsor, and project/design management and engineering support as a member of multidiscipline teams on a variety of water resources, capital improvement, and conveyance projects. He has extensive experience in irrigation systems planning, design and operations, water resources engineering, supply and demand analyses, municipal and irrigation water conveyance and distribution, groundwater recharge, and water conservation. Furthermore, he has expertise in open channel design, pipelines, hydraulic structures, flow measurement, HEC-RAS steady, and unsteady state hydraulic modeling, irrigation reservoirs, on-farm irrigation systems, and agricultural water quality. As a principal engineer he is responsible for quality control and quality assurance reviews of all GCE Central Arizona and Imperial Valley project deliverables as well as development of firm design standards. Mr. Cairo is the district engineer of record for several irrigation, water, and power districts in Arizona and California and is recognized as an expert and leader in the protection and transition of irrigation districts associated with agricultural to urban land conversion, irrigation engineering, hydraulics, and water resources engineering.	The planned Water Conservation Activities associated with this grant will not have an impact on District management, conversely it will simplify and help reduce District personnel time and expense associated with the current facilities and water losses. Similar facilities and technology have been applied within the District. The planned flow and spill monitoring is not envisioned to impact the District and will be offset by the reduction in canal bank time expended by operators currently, pumping cost. These costs include labor and fuel expenses in addition to wear and tear on equipment. There will be a need to train operators and develop their comfort with non-manual operations. This task may include the provision of IPADs to communicate with the new modernized facilities. Although the District has some Rubicon gates the implementation of a the diversion gates and by-pass gates is beyond the current scope of experience by District operators. Training for the gates is provided by the vendor as part of gate commissioning. If the current District staff is not adaptive there may be a need to hire more technically inclined canal operators. The Canal Energy System Solar Over Canal is state-of-the-art and in-channel Micro Hydropower both will introduce new electromechanical and solar generation elements to the District. These will require contract hire support initially for maintenance of panels, hydro kinetic turbines, until the District is able to learn the Standard Operating Procedures and maintenance activities. These will be additional O&M related cost to the District, no specialized personnel are anticipated.	This project demonstrates collaboration between the water districts including Paloma Irrigation & Drainage District, Arlington Canal Company, City of Goodyear, City of Buckeye, the BOR, and the agricultural users. It can be used as an example of Best Management Practices to other water managers reflecting how assessment, planning, usage, need, storage, coupled with automation and new technology can be used to benefit a district, especially districts relying on multiple sources of water under various conditions (distance from source, seasonal fluctuations in supply, drought, and climate change. Also, as part of the Buckeye Water Conservation and Drainage Districtâ€™s commitment to their dynamic 20-Year Strategic Plan, the District intends to work with the local NRCS office to develop a Conservation Implementation Plan for water conservation improvements for our landowner agricultural fields. The District aim is to aid water users and farmers in future applications for NRCS project funding through EQUIP. District improvements coupled with on-farm improvements provide for greater soil, water, and energy management and conservation.	This project was developed with the involvement and input of local growers, the true stakeholders in the District service area. The growers are the end users of the irrigation system and therefore, the better service level provided by the District it directly correlates to improved water management on the farm. The funds approved for use with the WIFA grant funds will directly impact these stakeholders, therefore their involvement and input were important in the process. The District working collaboratively with our engineer and the farmers developed a master list of projects for consideration through the System Optimization Review process, including conceptual cost benefits. This was followed by the development of a selection criteria matrix and application of the projects to the selection matrix resulting in the proposed project elements in this grant application. Future projects pertaining to this Program will increase the reach of the project and add stakeholders like NRCS, City of Buckeye, Arlington Water District, and Maricopa County, and local municipalities. Although these future stakeholders benefit from this project.	BWCDD is one of the few districts in Arizona which provides water and power to its users and there are multiple interests in our approaches to improve existing facilities. The modernization of the intake diversion structure, downstream canal, planned addition of a regulating reservoir, and incorporation of improved metering and renewable technologies would be an opportunity to showcase the coupling of hydro and solar energies to improve water storage, efficiency, and generate supplemental power to become more energy independent. Investing in upgrading the head of the BWCDD system would exemplify to neighboring districts, current and potential future water users the District is committed to water conservation for present and future commercial and residential growth. There is not a planned formal public outreach program however all activities and results will be posted on the District web page. This will include a project description, a summary of the Water Conservation Activities, performance goals, and of course the results of the work and water and energy savings achieved. The District will also support tours and any public education and outreach opportunities.	The proposed project is ranked high in our current SOR plan for water management due to its location, leaking volume, and prioritization indexing. This Phase I project and funding has also been approved by the BWCDD Board. The board and the BWCDD Users are 100% supportive of this priority project to slowly improve the irrigation system. The local farming community is in support of the proposed Water Conservation Activity. Please find attached letters of support from the local agricultural Community.	The project is 100 percent feasible and has been approved by the Board, see attached letter from the District. If approved for WIFA funding of the proposed Water Conservation Program, the District plans to complete this project within 2.5 years (May 2023 â€“ December 2025, depending on the NTP date). The District is proceeding through the Awarded Grant Process with the Bureau of Reclamation and is waiting on the pending Notice to Proceed to take actionable preliminary steps toward the completion of Phase I of the Program. The District has the labor resources to commit to the project and we have a commitment from our engineer to support this imperative program. Your approved WIFA funding will only ensure our success on Phase I and build resources towards the next Phases that will maximize the benefits of the project investment.	The conservation activity is a continuation of the Districts on-going small piece meal approach to making improvements as urbanization impacts the District. The District is in the process of developing a System Optimization Study that will define a planned District Modernization Program, to be implemented in Phases. These types of improvements in Phase I have been proven to be effective in meeting the established goals of conserving and helping manage water supplies and are envisioned to continue as part of the future program. Water and energy savings are realized immediately and measurable. The elements in our project are typical of irrigation projects but upgraded to current standards for performance and water control. The conservation activity proposed that includes replacing diversion flow control gates, structures, and degraded canal liner is a standard practice. The wasteway structure will use a Radial Skimmer Gate design to sluice and manage trash. There is one other gate in Arizona like this on the SRP Granite Reef Dam. It has proven to be effective for the intended use. The Water Conservatory Project includes a Canal Energy System, a concept developed in Arizona by George Cairo Engineering that takes a canal corridor and harvest renewable energy that is available in the corridor including solar, wind, hydro, and biological in support of a circular bio-economy. This project will be the third in Arizona and provide an opportunity to showcase the coupling of hydro and solar energies to conserve water, apply multi purposing of land, reduce O&M, and generate supplemental power to become more energy independent.	Yes, the project will implement established Best Management Practices by the District. This includes the application of Canal Lining a BMP that reduces seepage, prevents waterlogging of surrounding lands, maintains water quality, and reduces erosion. Flow Rate Measurement a BMP at metering diversion canal gates. This provides information critical to making water management decisions, helps prevent runoff, and helps deliver the quantity of water required to farmers. It improves irrigation project efficiency, reduces spills, and can support SCADA technology. SCADA will be implemented to monitor and control the headwork gates for flow diversion and to manage the sluicing and trash management to ensure steady deliveries into the system. PM-10 BMP for unpaved operation and maintenance roads on canals are also supported due to improved water control which requires less traffic on dirt canal banks.
61	San Carlos Irrigation and Drainage District	SCIDD Phased System Improvements Program: Little Mountain Spill Water Conservatory Project	Programs and projects that reduce water use Per A.R.S. 49-1332(B)(2)	Program	In early 2010, SCIDD and its District engineer (George Cairo Engineering, Inc.) completed the planning and development to initiate the Districtâ€™s Master Plan for Phased System Improvements Program with specific goals to improve system operations and service, reduce overall maintenance costs, and conserve water for drought resiliency. The project was broken up into logical phases that include Reaches 1 through 4 and then continues with the Reach 5 the system laterals. This system-wide rehabilitation and modernization project began construction with limited Federal funding later in 2015 and was estimated to last over a decade. Aspects of the phased system modernization improvements have included: â€¢ Rehabilitation and modernization of the Ashurst-Hayden Diversion Structure â€¢ Construction of a settling basin at the headworks â€¢ Construction of sediment handling facilities. â€¢ Concrete lining of the Reach 1 Florence-Casa Grande about 3-miles with new flow control check structures, turnout structures, and flow measurement. â€¢ Concrete lining of Reach 2 the Florence Canal 10-miles with new flow control check structures, turnout structures, and in-line bridges. This project is currently under construction to be completed in the summer of 2023. â€¢ Currently completing environmental update and design of Reach 3 planning and design of 10-miles of canal lining and in-line structures and a system regulation reservoir. â€¢ The proposed Water Conservatory Project, the Little Mountain Spillway improvement project site resides in Reach 4 towards the end of the planned system-wide improvements. Little Mountain Spillway inlet structure, identified as the systemâ€™s primary spill location, negatively impacts SCIDDâ€™s operations due to its limited operational and maintenance capabilities which results in poor manual operation and water losses. Access to the site is troublesome and unsafe at times, and losses are significant and difficult to control with the 100-year-old manual structure that has exceeded its design life. During monsoon storm events or other operational scenarios, it is very difficult to operate and control spills with the use of manually placed wooden weir boards, this creates excessive spills and places the canal system at risk of failure due to overtopping. SCIDD has no means by which to recover flows sent down the spillway. This project will help to preserve spills and put them to beneficial use. Therefore, minimizing the spill equates to additional irrigation water that can be allocated elsewhere within this reach of the SCIDD canal system. There are approximately twelve customers that are served downstream of the spill site, but beyond these service points the water cannot be recovered by SCIDD. The planned next phase of the Little Mountain spill improvements will include some regulatory storage using data collected from the Water Conservatory Project that will expand the operational benefits and conserve more water.	Florence	Pinal	2 5	15 16	Eloy Watershed	Yes, AMA 6		$555,658.40	$138,914.60	$555,658.40	5792	0.01042367037	There is only one system primary spill location in the San Carlos Irrigation and Drainage District, the Little Mountain Spill from the Casa Grande Canal south of the City of Casa Grande, Arizona. The current losses experienced at the Little Mountain check and spillway location are approximately 7,240 acre-feet per year. Current losses have been calculated using an average of daily field measurements taken at varying times of the year. This average was then converted into an approximate constant spillage (existing) flow rate, in cubic feet per second, which was then converted into acre-feet per year. Spillage occurs about 300 days per year with spills as high as 20 to 25 cfs during higher flows and reduced spills during lower flow periods. The estimated water savings associated with the Little Mountain Spill Water Conservatory Project inclusive of modernized structures and installing a Rubicon Flumegate is approximately 5,792 acre-feet per year. The Rubicon FlumeGate will reduce losses to an approximate average flow rate of two cubic feet per second, with improved operations and water level control and measurement. The new spillage flow rate was then converted from cubic feet per second to acre-feet per year. Subtracting the new spillage flow rate from the existing spillage flow rate returns the estimated water quantity savings, in acre-feet per year. These calculations were verified by our District engineer George Cairo Engineering.	The three project elements including the check structure, spillway, and FlumeGates have a 25-year design life. Therefore, the expected duration of the conservatory activity is 25-years from date of installation. The San Carlos Irrigation and Drainage District Modernization Program which is Phased into system reaches and laterals includes the desired installation improvements at the Little Mountain Spill site in Reach 4 of the Program. The Water Conservatory Project includes concrete cast in-place structures needed to accommodate the new Rubicon gate and new canal gates. The Rubicon gate, canal gate and site appurtenances have a specified 25-year design life. All the concrete structural elements have a 50-year design life. Therefore, the expected duration of the conservatory activity is 25-years from date of installation for the Rubicon and canal gates, and 50-years for the structures.	Founded on July 16th, 1928, the San Carlos Irrigation and Drainage District (SCIDD) is a private company classified under Water Distribution or Supply Systems for Irrigation. Around fifty-thousand acres of non-Indian land is occupied by SCIDD, extending south from Florence, east to Coolidge, and west to Casa Grande in the Central Arizona Valley. With water sources coming from stored water from the San Carlos Reservoir and the Ashurst-Hayden Diversion Dam on the Gila River, the natural flow of the Gila River, groundwater within SCIDD lands, and Central Arizona Project (CAP) water for Gila River, SCIDD is responsible for ensuring that the water is shared equally throughout its district. SCIDD provides service to roughly 1200 farmers, collectively in a 50,000-acre service area growing crops which include cotton, alfalfa, and small grains. The district is operated with manual controls, has earthen canals that leak, and is very inefficient with high system losses. In early 2010, SCIDD and its District engineer (George Cairo Engineering, Inc.) completed the planning and development to initiate the Districtâ€™s Master Plan for Phased System Improvements with specific goals to improve system operations and service, reduce overall maintenance costs, and conserve water for drought resiliency. The project was broken up into logical phases that include Reaches 1 through 4 and then continues with the Reach 5 the system laterals. This system-wide rehabilitation and modernization project began construction with limited Federal funding later in 2015 and was estimated to last over a decade. Aspects of the phased system modernization improvements have included: â€¢ Rehabilitation and modernization of the Ashurst-Hayden Diversion Structure â€¢ Construction of a settling basin at the headworks â€¢ Construction of sediment handling facilities. â€¢ Concrete lining of the Reach 1 Florence-Casa Grande about 3-miles with new flow control check structures, turnout structures, and flow measurement. â€¢ Concrete lining of Reach 2 the Florence Canal 10-miles with new flow control check structures, turnout structures, and in-line bridges. This project is currently under construction to be completed in the summer of 2023. â€¢ Currently completing environmental update and design of Reach 3 planning and design of 10-miles of canal lining and in-line structures and a system regulation reservoir. â€¢ The proposed Water Conservatory Project, the Little Mountain Spillway improvement project site resides in Reach 4 towards the end of the planned system-wide improvements. Little Mountain Spillway inlet structure, identified as the systemâ€™s primary spill location, negatively impacts SCIDDâ€™s operations due to its limited operational and maintenance capabilities which results in poor manual operation and water losses. Access to the site is troublesome and unsafe at times, and losses are significant and difficult to control with the 100-year-old manual structure that has exceeded its design life. During monsoon storm events or other operational scenarios, it is very difficult to operate and control spills with the use of manually placed wooden weir boards, this creates excessive spills and places the canal system at risk of failure due to overtopping. SCIDD has no means by which to recover flows sent down the spillway. This project will help to preserve spills and put them to beneficial use. Therefore, minimizing the spill equates to additional irrigation water that can be allocated elsewhere within this reach of the SCIDD canal system. There are approximately twelve customers that are served downstream of the spill site, but beyond these service points the water cannot be recovered by SCIDD. The planned next phase of the Little Mountain spill improvements will include some regulatory storage using data collected from the Water Conservatory Project that will expand the operational benefits and conserve more water. The elements associated with the Water Conservatory Project SCIDD Little Mountain Check and Spill Structures are summarized below: Little Mountain Spill Check Structure Removal/Replacement of the existing 100-year-old canal check structure and gates, and the spill structure is summarized below. The facilities have exceeded their design life and are in various conditions of failure, they leak, are manually controlled, and in need of immediate replacement. Work activities include the following: Canal Check Structure Removal/Replacement 1) Complete planning and engineering. 2) Environmental review and demolition planning. 3) Purchase gate and all ancillary materials to construct check structure, and roadway crossing. 4) Coordinate a water outage period with district operations. 5) Mobilize equipment for demolition and removal. 6) Install dirt plugs for nuisance water. 7) Demolish and remove existing check structure. 8) Prepare subgrade for new forms. 9) Construct forms, place pipe between headwalls, and coordinate concrete placement for new check structure. 10) Concrete placement and materials testing. 11) Removal of forms. 12) Installation of appurtenant features. Canal Spillway Structure Removal/Replacement 1) Complete planning and engineering. 2) Environmental review and demolition planning. 3) Purchase gate and all ancillary materials to construct spillway structure. 4) Coordinate a water outage period with district operations. 5) Mobilize equipment for demolition and removal. 6) Install dirt plugs for nuisance water. 7) Demolish and remove existing check structure. 8) Prepare subgrade for new forms. 9) Construct forms, place pipe between headwalls, and coordinate concrete placement for new check structure. 10) Concrete placement and materials testing. 11) Removal of forms. 12) Installation of appurtenant features. Canal Gate and Spill Gate Installation 1) Complete planning and engineering. 2) Purchase gates and all ancillary materials to install the gates. 3) Coordinate a water outage period with district coincident with structures. 4) Maintain dirt plugs for nuisance water. 5) Remove existing gate and salvage to district yard with structure removal. 6) Blast and clean surface of structure. 7) Make any adjustments to the structure as needed prior to gate installation. 8) Installation of new canal gates and Rubicon Flumegate. 9) Commission and approve gate installations. A chart summarizing the â€œProblems and Outcomesâ€� of the Water Conservatory Project is attached.	The District receives water from the San Carlos Project Irrigation (Project). The Project delivers water to the District and to the San Carlos Irrigation Project â€“ Indian Works (SCIP-IW), which also serves the Gila River Indian Community. This includes stored water behind San Carlos Reservoir, natural-flow water in the Gila River between the San Carlos and the project diversion at Ashurst Hayden Diversion, water from Project groundwater wells, and GRIC Central Arizona Project (CAP) water. There are five points where CAP water enters the irrigation project. This water is commingled with Project water, surface and groundwater described above, and is part of the water delivered through the District to Gila River. There are several sites where spills from District canals can occur; the Little Mountain Spill just south of Casa Grande spills frequently and is by far the largest and systemâ€™s primary spill location. It was determined that the rehabilitation of the spillway inlet structure would provide the largest gains in system-wide improvements for the least number of negative impacts to the continual operation of the system. The proposed Water Conservatory activities will aid in better management of these water supplies that will directly allow the preservation of groundwater and reduce reliance on available Gila River surface water and water from the CAP. The District after implementation of this project with conserved project spill water can potentially reduce the call for CAP water from GRIC, as their preferred choice is to take Gila River and natural flows, then CAP water, all augmented with groundwater as needed to meet demands.	San Carlos Irrigation and Drainage District is rich in productive soils and climate for agriculture and even richer in history. Native American Indigenous have called this District home for centuries, and the District inhabits the ancestral lands of the Hohokam and a monument to these great people at the Casa Grande ruins. Many remnants of Hohokam remain, today SCIDDâ€™s service area includes the Native population of the Akimel Oâ€™odham (Pima) and Piipaash (Maricopa) peoples in the Gila River Indian Community. With a history of being deprived of water, and fighting for water rights, it has made it harder for these communities to survive. SCIDDâ€™s service area population also includes a Hispanic population of 43.5%. These are low-income communities whose surrounding lands are major consumers of irrigation water are historically being considered less than equal as agricultural workers, which in turn causes economic poverty, increased substandard housing rates, and an increase in generational health issues such as diabetes as shown in the table attached. The importance of continuing to make efforts of conserving water within the SCIDD system is directly correlated in making efforts to fight poverty and advocate for the livelihood of these economically disadvantaged communities.	value1 value2 value3	The Water Conservatory Project will result in the introduction of automation at the Little Mountain Spillway inlet structure that will enhance delivery through stabilization of canal water surface elevations. By using the new state-of-the-art in flow control, measurement, and SCADA control Rubicon FlumeGate as an active water surface level control device, the canalâ€™s operating level will be normalized, which will in turn normalize delivery flows along the canal resulting in steady, predictable delivery flows to the farmers served in this area of the District. This results in an Overall Reduction In Use with the of spills and reduced diversions from the Gila River, groundwater pumping, and CAP water use will be reduced through the life of the project. If coupled with a reservoir in a future phase, then we could eliminate virtually all spills if managed correctly. This also will correlate directly with overall system conveyance and Water Use Efficiency by reducing diversion volumes, leaving water both behind San Carlos Reservoir, and in the aquifer for later use and drought resiliency. As the system is further rehabilitated canal celerity will increase meaning flow changes will be more rapid due to the increased velocity of water and the modernization of the Little Mountain Spill will be even more vital. Also, by using the new Rubicon FlumeGate as an active water surface level control device as planned with the new gate, the canalâ€™s operating level will be normalized, which will in turn normalize delivery flows along the canal resulting in steady, and predictable delivery flows to the farmers served in this area of the District. Steady delivery flows result in better on-farm irrigation efficiencies resulting in less diversion of water supplies and groundwater pumping improving Water Supply Reliability. Water Supply Reliability will be improved substantially with the Water Conservatory Project by minimizing spill volumes, additional water will be left in the canal for beneficial use making the system more reliable, by making it available for increased distribution to SCIDDâ€™s customers. With the knowledge that there will be less waste at this location, the operator of this Division will call for less water to be allocated to this area, thereby allowing additional water to be used in other areas of the SCIDD system. Those supplies not used in our water deficient project, can remain behind the dam, and stored for future use, or not pumped and left in the aquifer for future use. Both resulting in long term water supply reliability enhancement, and a reduction in energy consumption for the project.	Water supply shortages Groundwater depletion Natural disasters that may impact water supply infrastructure	The SCIDD Water Conservatory Project will benefit regional water supply shortages by reducing a portion of the diversions from the CAP for the GRIC with improved operational management and efficiency, less spills mean less diversion and less groundwater pumping, on this project an estimated 5,792 acre-feet per year. Improvements may also make it feasible to introduce other water supplies like treated effluent or municipal reuse water in parts of our system downstream of this project that would further help reduce diversion from the Gila River, reduce groundwater pumping, and reduce a portion of the GRIC CAP diversion. Currently project groundwater wells are used to meet irrigation service demands, and to supplement system conveyance losses, like the Little Mountain Spill. Reduced system spills and conveyance losses will result in less groundwater extraction to off-set losses, therefore reducing groundwater extraction, protecting, and helping the local aquifer. Protection of the groundwater aquifer and reduced pumping will preserve those groundwater supplies for future generations, or in the event of a natural disaster impacting infrastructure like the CAP conveyance, Hoover Dam, other element of the Colorado River System, provide water supply reliability. This is a major issue also tied to supply reliability with the local municipalities as reliable non-CAP supplies to the GRIC help with their independent water contracts.	Our District implements a â€œWater Crisis Conservation Planâ€� which mandates that we periodically assess our water delivery system and identify problems or needs as we adapt to meet changing conditions, identifying new technologies and strategies. SCIDD works diligently to improve our irrigation system with very little funding and resources. This project was identified as a priority by SCIDD, and a preliminary design has been completed by George Cairo Engineering, Inc. (GCE) who specialize in irrigation district modernization. The phased project includes this Water Conservatory Activity the Reach 4 Little Mountain Spill Gate(s) and Check Structure Upgrades Project, that will help the District to not only improve daily functions, but aids in the Districtâ€™s efforts to better manage water deliveries, lessen water loss due to spills and seepage, and to reduce groundwater pumping. The reduced pumping is in the Pinal Active Management Area (AMA) while being in compliance with the AZDWRâ€™s Water Conservation Plan objectives, the Drought Contingency Plan which the District is a stakeholder, and the District and the project is in-line with the USDA NRCS 30x30 initiative in protecting 30% of all land and water by 2030. Additionally, this project falls in line with objectives stated in Section 9504(a) of the Secure Water Act (P.L. 111-11) and that align with priorities of the Biden administration, including E.O. 14008: â€œTackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroadâ€� and E.O. 13985: â€œAdvancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government.â€�	The Water Conservatory Project cost is estimated to be about $596,000. With the current Climate Crises in the western United States and the Colorado River Basin Arizona is in an ongoing 20-plus year major drought, it is pertinent that the District conserve as much water as possible. Replacing deteriorating structures and manual outdated gates is a priority in the on-going efforts to modernize our District and conserve water becoming a more drought resilience Project, serving SCIDD and GRIC. This funding will help SCIDD to continue to be good stewards of our soil and water resources with the design and construction of the Water Conservatory Project and save about 5,792 acre-feet per year. Construction will help create jobs in the local depressed economy that has a high unemployment rate. After construction of the project the District will experience less spillage at the end of the system, that results in less expense for labor and equipment for maintenance currently required in the area. The project will result in better operational practices that will yield better service to farmers, a better service level results in better crop production and additional on-farm water efficiencies. Improved operational flexibility through automated controlled gates, will result in less O&M time required to operate the site facilities, this includes a large, improved safety component when access to the site is needed to make an operational change but not possible during a monsoon event, or a haboob events that have been amplified by the drought and less vegetation in the desert. Quick remote adjustments will be able to be made to help all these factors and save water as part of the proposed investment. Environmentally, all efforts made to conserve water in the SCIDD system directly benefit conservation and protection of the Gila River, Pinal County, the Gila River Indian Community, neighboring Tohono Oâ€™Odham Nation, and the Colorado River Project. In addition to conserving water that can remain behind both San Carlos Lake or Lake Mead and all those environmental ancillary benefits, being able to reduce leakage and seepage from the SCIDD canal system works to reduce the abundance of noxious weeds that take over open areas of the District. Noxious weeds not only consume water that can be used for irrigation crops, but they steal nutrients from crops, and Irrigation workers must make extra efforts to remove these weeds, requiring driving on canal banks, along with burning of weeds. The reduction in burning of weeds and operational improvement will result in reduced use of vehicles on dirt roads reducing dust/air pollution that improves air quality, lung disease, and the use of fossil fuels. The wildlife in the general project area includes species such as the Lesser nighthawk, and the endangered burrowing owl. Arizonaâ€™s state bird, the Cactus Wren, is also a year-round resident of the county. These species, to name a few, will reap the benefits of this project by having access to reliable water not otherwise put to beneficial use that makes the entire ecosystem flourish, and support a more biodiverse ecosystem.	The district will measure the effectiveness of the water conservatory activity by monitoring and measuring spills at the Water Conservatory Project (Little Mountain) and at deliveries and locations affected by the project comparing those flows to historical values calibrated to current conditions. In addition, in a similar manner groundwater monitoring of well energy consumption and flow meter data will be compared to historical values. This summary data will be collected and analyzed on an annual basis to previous data and used in decision making and adaptive management, and to gain support from District management to fund more improvements. This includes the planning and engineering to develop a cost benefit analysis for the water storage augmentation and construction of a reservoir either at the Little Mountain Spill, or a location upstream for maximum benefits. The District will also monitor O&M expenditures pre and post project.	The San Carlos Irrigation and Drainage District is in a depressed economic condition and with the many challenges facing the District cannot afford to take on financial debt and needs to find ways to leverage their limited funding. Without cost share funding support from WIFA the District cannot complete the proposed project, nor the planned system modernization. Due to operational and financial impacts of the COVID 19 pandemic and the impeding major drought on the Colorado River, the district is not able to fund and implement the proposed water conservation activities.	No, without funding support from WIFA the District cannot complete the proposed project. Due to operational and financial impacts of the COVID 19 pandemic and the impeding major drought on the Colorado River, the District is not able to fund and implement the proposed water conservation activities.	The District does not have a history of applying for grants and funding opportunities therefore unless we apply Drought Contingency Plan funds, we do not have funds to leverage against this grant funding. The District does plan on applying due to the need for upcoming Federal NOFO opportunities and it is our hope in the future to leverage those funds with WIFA funds and maximize water conservation and drought mitigation to address the climate crisis impacts. The District is looking to continue our phased System Modernization Program for long term water sustainability and will look to leverage all feasible funding resources.	There are no cost-sharing opportunities identified at this time on this project. However, we intend to document the results of the project and use it to educate and develop stakeholder interest in the implementation of the larger District Modernization Program that will include similar improvements to system laterals to maximize long term drought resilience and protect and best manage our water resources.	All funds for the WIFA grant matching requirements will be paid directly with San Carlos Irrigation and Drainage District funds, and District in-kind services. In kind services are envisioned to include planning, design, construction support, and construction inspection activities.	The San Carlos Irrigation and Drainage District (SCIDD) is a private company classified under Water Distribution or Supply Systems for Irrigation. Around fifty-thousand acres of non-Indian land is served by SCIDD, extending south from Florence, east to Coolidge, and west to Casa Grande in the Central Arizona area of Pinal County. All facilities are maintained and operated by the District. The day-to-day management of the District, and operations and maintenance are managed by Shane Lindstrom, General Manager who will be responsible for oversight of the Water Conservation Activity for the District, and the requested WIFA grant. Construction activities will be performed by the District operation and maintenance staff that are experienced in the requirements of this project, including the removal and installation of canal gates and site work. Other work including structure replacements will be completed by Innova Water Construction, LLC, (INNOVA), an Arizona based firm that specializes in irrigation district related works. The District has historically used and will utilize George Cairo Engineering, Inc. (GCE) a local irrigation and water resources firm regionally recognized as experts in flow measurement, design, and modernization of irrigation systems. GCE will complete the technical services to include planning, design, and construction management. Work will be completed under the direction of George Cairo, Principal Engineer, and engineer of record for the District. Mr. Cairo is a Principal and co-founder of GEORGE-CAIRO ENGINEERING, INC. (GCE) and he has more than thirty years of experience in agricultural engineering, water resources engineering, and conveyance planning, design, and construction. He is responsible for the daily operations of the GCE Central Arizona Office and the Imperial Valley Office as well as providing project sponsor, and project/design management and engineering support as a member of multidiscipline teams on a variety of water resources, capital improvement, and conveyance projects. He has extensive experience in irrigation systems planning, design and operations, water resources engineering, supply and demand analyses, municipal and irrigation water conveyance and distribution, groundwater recharge, and water conservation. Furthermore, he has expertise in open channel design, pipelines, hydraulic structures, flow measurement, HEC-RAS steady, and unsteady state hydraulic modeling, irrigation reservoirs, on-farm irrigation systems, and agricultural water quality. As a principal engineer he is responsible for quality control and quality assurance reviews of all GCE Central Arizona and Imperial Valley project deliverables as well as development of firm design standards. Mr. Cairo is the district engineer of record for several irrigation, water, and power districts in Arizona and California and is recognized as an expert and leader in the protection and transition of irrigation districts associated with agricultural to urban land conversion, irrigation engineering, hydraulics, and water resources engineering.	The planned Water Conservation Activities associated with this grant will not have an impact on District management, conversely it will simplify and help improve safety, reduce District personnel time and expense associated with the current facilities, and prevent water losses. The planned flow and spill monitoring is not envisioned to impact the District and will be offset by the reduction in canal bank time expended by operators currently. These costs include labor and fuel expenses in addition to wear and tear on equipment.	The proposed Water Conservation activity would allow for water savings to be maximized and utilized in support of future growth in a responsible manner. The District believes that the project will facilitate and help to promote collaborative partnerships, by using water and energy savings and improved service as an example of funded conservation results. In fact, the District is looking to develop a partnership with our growers to promote collaborative approaches to funding opportunities and implementation of District and on-farm Best Management Practices and use of modern technologies to best manage water resources. Future projects pertaining to this Program and System Modernization will increase the reach of the project and help to flourish partnerships with possible stakeholders like NRCS, USBR, SCIP BIA, Hohokam Irrigation and Drainage District, the University of Arizona CALS, developers, and local municipalities. In these times of climate crisis and major drought it is imperative that we use the challenges to unify and promote partnerships, where there may not have been reason to work together in the past, there are many reasons before us now.	This project was developed with the involvement and input of local users and growers as the stakeholders in the District service area. The growers are the end users of the irrigation system and therefore, the better service level provided by the District directly correlates to improved water management on the farm. The funds approved for use with the WIFA grant funds will directly impact these stakeholders, therefore their involvement and input were important in the process. The District working collaboratively with our engineer and the farmers developed a master list of projects for consideration including conceptual cost benefits. This was followed by the development of a selection criteria matrix and application of the projects to the selection matrix resulting in the proposed project elements in this grant application. Future projects pertaining to this Program and System Modernization will increase the reach of the project and help to flourish partnerships with possible stakeholders like NRCS, USBR, SCIP BIA, Hohokam Irrigation and Drainage District, the University of Arizona CALS, developers, and local municipalities.	There is not a planned formal public outreach program however all activities and results will be posted on the District web page. This will include a project description, a summary of the Water Conservation Activities, performance goals, and of course the results of the work and water and energy savings achieved.	Yes, the local farming community is in support of the proposed Water Conservation Activity. Please find attached letters of support from the local agricultural Community.	The project is 100 percent feasible and has been approved by the Board, see attached District Resolution. If approved for funding of the proposed Water Conservation Activity the District will be able to complete the work within 270 calendar days of grant execution and notice to proceed from WIFA. The District has coordinated with vendors for the purchase of the gates and valves which are long lead items to have readily available within the planned timeframe. Also concrete for the concrete structures is now readily available with the recent fly ash shortage issue locally resolved. The District has the labor resources to commit to the project and we have a commitment from our engineer and contractor to support this important project. The District has contracted with George Cairo Engineering to complete a preliminary design for the Little Mountain Spill check and spill structures. SCIDD is an active irrigation project therefore construction is done in canal during water outage periods, the next canal dry-up is scheduled for November 2023 through December 2023. This is the time frame envisioned to complete the proposed Water Conservation Activity.	The conservation activity proposed that includes the removal and replacement of the check structure, spillway, and control gates is a project that is a continuation of the Districtâ€™s Master Plan for System Improvements and was identified as a priority. These types of improvements have proven to be effective in meeting the established goals of conserving and helping manage water supplies and are envisioned to continue as we move forward to complete the program. Water and energy savings are realized immediately and measurable. The elements in our project are typical of irrigation projects but upgraded to current standards for performance and water control. The Rubicon Flumegate gate is a state-of-the-art technology developed in Australia as a response to the extended drought and is a proven science and applied technology with installations in Arizona and the Southwestern United States.	Yes, the project will implement established Best Management Practices by the District. This includes the application of Canal Lining a BMP that reduces seepage, prevents waterlogging of surrounding lands, maintains water quality, and reduces erosion. This will be done around the structure installations. Flow Rate Measurement a BMP at metering in canal flow with canal gates and the spills with the Rubicon Flumegate. This provides information critical to making water management decisions, helps prevent runoff, and helps deliver the quantity of water required to farmers. It improves irrigation project efficiency, reduces spills, and can support SCADA technology. SCADA will be implemented to monitor and control the flow control gates for flow diversion and to manage spills, sluicing, and trash management to ensure steady deliveries into the system. PM-10 BMP for unpaved operation and maintenance roads on canals are also supported due to improved water control which requires less traffic on dirt canal banks.
62	Maricopa Water District	Beardsley Canal Flume and Control Gates Improvements Project	Programs and projects that reduce water use Per A.R.S. 49-1332(B)(2)	Project		Surprise	Maricopa	8 9	25 29 30	Agua Fria Watershed	(West) Phoenix AMA		$250,000.00	$63,000.00	$250,000.00	3000	0.012	The water conservatory activity estimated water savings aggregated over the two project elements is about 3,000 Acre-Feet per year. This is broken down as follows; about 600 acre-feet conserved with the gate replacements, and about 2,400 acre-feet conserved from reduced system spills with the flow measurement flume installation. Additional savings can be obtained with the use of the proposed flow measurement flume by using the data for reacting to stormwater in-flows to the Beardsley Canal feeding the information forward and reducing diversions from the CAP. Also, water conservation estimates do not include potential on-farm water conservation realized through better irrigation service. These water savings were calculated using measured leakage at the various gates identified for replacement as part of this Water Conservatory Activity. Further validation of estimated spill flows and volumes was obtained by spot measurement of flows at outfall locations by the district and George Cairo Engineering, our consulting hydraulic engineer. There are also the make-up flows required from supplemental groundwater wells that were evaluated as part of the analysis to estimate leakage volumes. Some individual leaking gates and valves were also isolated to estimate loss volumes by ponding and calculating loss volumes.	The project elements include a concrete measurement ramp flume, SCADA with sensors, Rubicon gate replacement with automation, and sensor installation with solar power sites. Therefore, the expected duration of the conservatory activity is 50-years for the concrete flume structure and 25-years for Rubicon Gates and appurtenances from date of construction and installation.	MWDâ€™s original delivery system consisted of the mainline Beardsley Canal and over 100 miles of concrete lateral ditches and delivery structures. The District has a pipeline connection to the CAP that outlets directly into the Beardsley Canal. There is also a network of wells that supplement flows as needed. As development has occurred within the district in urbanizing areas, open concrete ditches have been transitioned to pipelines with new irrigation structures. While there are fewer miles of aging and open concrete ditches, those that remain are part of a more complicated system that is inefficient and many of the structures have exceeded their original design life. Most of the facilities are still under manual control and prone to mis-matched flows, spills, and overflows, requiring constant overwatch by maintenance and operations. Many of the major structures are in need of repair and/or replacement, including canal check structures, canals liner, and multiple steel pipe bridge/flumes that cross 50 feet above drainage channels and the Agua Fria River. MWD is looking to develop a System Modernization Program to be implemented in Phases and make capital improvements to their facilities to restore surface water capacity and reduce supplemental groundwater pumping but are challenged with limited funds. The Beardsley Canal was designed to allow much of the drainage north of the canal to pass across the canal by use of elevated steel pipe flumes and inverted siphon crossings when the surrounding geography will allow such crossings. In addition to the large drainage crossings there are many smaller ephemeral wash locations where there is no other option than to allow the drainage to be directed into the Beardsley Canal. These smaller drainage inflows impound and accumulate north of the canal then spill into the canal - uncontrolled and unmetered. These smaller drainage inflows are difficult to quantify or estimate and vary by rain event and time of year. The in-flows can be as much as 200 cfs and if mismanaged can put the canal at risk of overtopping, and they also effectuate lots of spillage of charged CAP and groundwater water in the system. MWD needs to meter flows at a strategic location downstream of the drainage in-flows and use that flow measurement information to adjust inflows to the system to reduce system spill losses. These uncontrolled drainage inflows can be as high as 100 to 200 CFS, thus knowing these exact flows could help save MWD a considerable amount of water by utilizing these drainage inflows in lieu of taking CAP or Lake Peasant Aqua Fria water and utilizing the natural drainage inflows. There are also many deteriorated and leaking canal turnout delivery structure gates. The project includes the replacement of the three (3) canal leaking turnout gates located upstream of the new flow measurement flume location. The WIFA funding request is for a Water Conservatory Project that will help to conserve water, is a high priority, and will help to support the implementation of the proposed District Modernization Program. The project elements associated with the MWD Water Conservatory Activity can be broken down into two (2) distinct activities: Work activities include the following: Beardsley Canal Flow Measurement Flume Construction 1) Complete planning and engineering. 2) Mobilize equipment and materials onsite for ramp flume construction. 3) Coordinate a water outage period with district operations. 4) Install dirt plugs for nuisance water. 5) Sawcut existing lining and prepare subgrade. 6) Build forms for ramp flume. 7) Concrete placement and materials testing. 8) Removal of forms and hand place lining transitions between ramp flume and existing lining. 9) Seal joints and install flume gauge. 10) Commission and approve ramp flume. Canal Gate Replacement - Existing turnout structure canal gates are in a state of degradation, leaks, and are in need of immediate improvement. Work activities include the following: Canal Turnout Gate Installation 1) Complete planning and engineering. 2) Purchase gates and all ancillary materials to install the gates. 3) Coordinate a water outage period with district operations. 4) Install dirt plugs for nuisance water. 5) Remove existing gate and salvage to district yard. 6) Blast and clean surface of structure. 7) Make any repairs to the structure as needed prior to gate installation. 8) Installation of new canal gates. 9) Commission and approve gate installations.	Maricopa County Municipal Water Conservation District Number One (Maricopa Water District, MWD) is an agricultural irrigation and water conservation district that holds both certified surface water rights to the Agua Fria River and groundwater rights within the Phoenix Active Management Area. MWD also has rights to use In-lieu water from the CAP to reduce groundwater pumping. MWDâ€™s gravity-fed delivery infrastructure consists of the Beardsley Canal, which conveys water from Lake Pleasant through an interconnect with the Central Arizona Project, and approximately 100 miles of distribution laterals and sub-laterals made up of concrete ditches and pipelines. Forty-nine active wells are located throughout the district and connected to the ditch and pipeline distribution system. A supplementary water source is groundwater pumped into the canal system. Today, MWD can meet much of the irrigation demands with renewable surface water. Although sufficient surface water is available to meet demands, some areas of the district are unable to make full use of these resources due to a combination of capacity constraints, aging delivery infrastructure, and seasonal water demand. MWD is looking to make improvements to aging delivery infrastructure to enable a fuller utilization of our surface water supply and reduce groundwater use further. The proposed Water Conservatory activities will aid in better management of these water supplies that will directly allow the preservation of groundwater and reduce reliance on available surface water from the CAP.	MWDâ€™s Beardsley Canal has become a very important conveyance canal delivering water to the newly expanded White Tanks Regional Water treatment plant that delivers 33 MGD of potable water to west valley residents (500k+ people) within the cities of Surprise, Glendale, Goodyear, and Buckeye every day. The district also provides non-potable water deliveries to Sun City, the City of Surprise Spring Training baseball facilities that are home to the Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals, and multiple other developments including schools and subdivisions above and beyond their agricultural deliveries. The Maricopa Water District water creates economic opportunities to neighboring underprivileged rural communities that suffer from an economic wage gap due to the surrounding development areas. The importance of continuing to make efforts of conserving water within the MWD system is directly correlated in making efforts to fight the wage gap and advocate for the livelihood of neighboring economically disadvantaged communities as shown in the table attached.	value1 value2 value3	The Water Conservatory Activity will achieve a long-term reduction in water use by providing the ability to measure the uncontrolled drainage inflow resulting in considerable amount of water savings by utilizing these drainage inflows in lieu of taking CAP and Aqua Fria Lake Peasant water, or groundwater pumped from the local aquifer and utilizing the free drainage inflows and improving irrigation water conveyance losses with the reduction of operational spills. In addition, replacement of the canal check structure gates will eliminate leakage and losses. The Water Conservatory Activity will also improve water use efficiency by providing measurement and water balancing in the system, improved water operational controls with the new canal gates. Through improved operations and flow control the gates will allow better service to irrigators delivering steady flows, which translates to improved on-farm efficiencies. The Water Conservatory Activity installation will reduce the possibility of an irrigation system failure due to an unmonitored influx of upstream drainage water introduced to the system and failed canal flow control gate, assuring the canal system stays in service. Also, the improvements improve water management by eliminating spills and as a result groundwater is not pumped and surface water can be left in the CAP system behind Lake Mead, from these conservation measures water reliability for the District and other stakeholders is improved. The planned activity is connected to the local municipalities that are served by the Beardsley Canal and the regional water treatment plant providing urban water supply, dependent on the MWD conveyance to remain reliable.	Water supply shortages Groundwater depletion Natural disasters that may impact water supply infrastructure	The MWD Water Conservatory Project will benefit regional water supply shortages by reducing diversions from the CAP with improved operational management and efficiency, less spills mean less diversion and less groundwater pumping, on this project an estimated 3,000 acre-feet per year. Improvements may also make it feasible to introduce other water supplies like treated effluent or municipal reuse water in parts of our system that would further help reduce diversion from the CAP. Currently project groundwater wells are used to meet irrigation service demands, and to supplement system conveyance losses. Reduced system spills and conveyance losses will result in less groundwater extraction to off-set losses, therefore reducing groundwater extraction, protecting, and helping the local aquifer. Protection of the groundwater aquifer and reduced pumping will preserve those groundwater supplies for future generations, or in the event of a natural disaster impacting infrastructure like the CAP conveyance, Hoover Dam, other element of the Colorado River System, provide water supply reliability. This is a major issue also tied to supply reliability with the local municipalities that are served by the Beardsley Canal and the regional water treatment plant and urban water supply.	MWD continually works to improve our irrigation system with very little funding and resources. This project was identified as a priority by MWD, and the design is in the final stages prepared by George Cairo Engineering, Inc. (GCE) who specializes in irrigation district modernization. The Beardsley Canal Flume and Canal Gates Improvements Project will help the District to not only improve daily functions, but aids in the Districtâ€™s efforts to better manage water deliveries, preparedness for flood flows, lessen water loss due to spills and seepage, and to reduce groundwater pumping. While MWD is not in an Active Management Area (AMA), the project looks to be in compliance with the AZDWRâ€™s Groundwater Initiative, Water Conservation Plan, Drought Contingency Plan, and adheres to the USDA NRCS 30x30 initiative in protecting 30% of all land and water by 2030. Additionally, this project falls in line with objectives stated in Section 9504(a) of the Secure Water Act (P.L. 111-11) and that align with priorities of the Biden administration, including E.O. 14008: â€œTackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroadâ€� and E.O. 13985: â€œAdvancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government.â€�	The Water Conservatory Project cost is estimated to be about $278,450. The upper area of MWDâ€™s system is south of Lake Pleasant and includes the lake where our water is stored. Lake Pleasant is home to many ecosystems, one of which being the Arizona Wild Burros. If water levels drop too low, or fluctuate more than environmentally adapted, many ecosystems can become displaced, and species like the Arizona Wild Burro will not have as much environment to survive. Lake Pleasant is 1 in 4 places that Wild Burros can survive in Arizona. Not only is drinking water a crucial requirement for Wild Burros, but the flourishing vegetation that the lake water provides is a main source of food. Conserving water throughout MWDâ€™s system is a priority for maintaining supplies at Lake Pleasant for the surrounding ecosystems in addition to managing of the CAP energy costs, the single highest consumer of energy in the State of Arizona. Environmentally, all efforts made to conserve water in the MWD system directly benefit conservation and protection of the Colorado River Project. In addition to conserving water that can remain behind Lake Mead and all those environmental ancillary benefits, being able to reduce leakage and seepage from the MWD canal system works to reduce the abundance of noxious weeds that take over open areas of the District. Noxious weeds not only consume water that can be used for irrigation crops, but they steal nutrients that crops, and Irrigation workers must make extra efforts to remove these weeds, requiring driving on canal banks, along with burning of weeds affecting air quality. Not only will flow control gates help with the conservation of water, but they will also result in minimal use of vehicles on site, minimizing dust/air pollution, and the use of fossil fuels. The Colorado River is home to a myriad of endangered species, and benefits species that are vital to the sacred desert ecosystem. Species such as the Gila Topminnow and Spike dace fish, which are endangered species that reside within the boundaries of Pinal County will reap these conservation efforts made by MWD. These species are aquatic animals that are vital to the ecosystem of the CAP due to regulating the algae build-up in the canal systems for better flow and less congestion. Arizonaâ€™s state bird, the Cactus Wren, is a year-round resident of the county. These species, to name a few, will reap the benefits of this project by having access to reliable water not otherwise put to beneficial use that makes the entire ecosystem flourish.	The district will measure the effectiveness of the water conservatory activity by monitoring and measuring spills at locations affected by the project and comparing those flows to historical values calibrated to current conditions. In addition, in a similar manner groundwater monitoring of well energy consumption and flow meter data will be compared to historical values. This summary data will be collected and analyzed on an annual basis to previous data and used in decision making and adaptive management, and to gain support from District management to fund more improvements. The District will also monitor O&M expenditures pre and post project.	The Maricopa Water District is in a depressed economic condition and with the many challenges facing the District cannot afford to take on financial debt and needs to find ways to leverage their limited funding to accomplish their goals of being good stewards of their water resources. Without cost share funding support from WIFA the District cannot complete the proposed project. Due to operational and financial impacts of the COVID 19 pandemic and the impeding major drought on the Colorado River, the district is not able to fund and implement the proposed water conservation activities.	No, without funding support from WIFA the District cannot complete the proposed project. Due to operational and financial impacts of the COVID 19 pandemic and the impeding major drought on the Colorado River, the district is not able to fund and implement the proposed water conservation activities.	The District does not have a history of applying for grants and funding opportunities therefore we do not have other grant funds to leverage against this grant funding. The District does plan on applying due to the need for upcoming Federal NOFO opportunities and it is our hope in the future to leverage those funds with WIFA funds and maximize water conservation and drought mitigation to address the climate crisis impacts. The District is looking to establish a System Modernization Program for long term water sustainability and will look to leverage all feasible funding resources.	There are no cost-sharing opportunities identified at this time on this project. However, we intend to document the results of the project and use it to educate and develop stakeholder interest with the municipalities served by the District in future projects that will include similar improvements to maximize long term drought resilience and protect and best manage our water resources.	All funds for the WIFA grant matching requirements will be paid directly with Maricopa Water District funds, and District in-kind services. In kind services are envisioned to include planning, design, construction support, and construction inspection activities.	Maricopa County Municipal Water Conservation District Number One, commonly known as Maricopa Water District (MWD), is an irrigation and water conservation district that serves approximately 60 square miles in northwest Maricopa County. MWDâ€™s original delivery system consisted of the mainline Beardsley Canal and over 100 miles of concrete ditches and delivery structures. Historically dominated by agricultural production, MWDâ€™s service area has seen significant commercial and residential development over the last two decades. As development has occurred within the district a significant portion of open concrete ditches have been transitioned to pipelines and new structures. All facilities are maintained and operated by the District. The District is managed by Glen Vortherms, an engineer who will be responsible for oversight of the Water Conservation Activity for the District, and the requested WIFA grant. Construction activities will be performed by the District operation and maintenance staff, or certified contractors that are experienced in the requirements of this project, including the removal and installation of canal gates and canal lining. Other work like flume construction and canal gates replacement will be completed by a certified contractor. The District has historically used and will utilize George Cairo Engineering, Inc. (GCE) a local irrigation and water resources firm regionally recognized as experts in flow measurement, design, and modernization of irrigation systems. GCE will complete the technical services to include planning, design, and construction management. Work will be completed under the direction of George Cairo, Principal Engineer, and engineer of record for the District. Mr. Cairo is a Principal and co-founder of GEORGE-CAIRO ENGINEERING, INC. (GCE) and he has more than thirty years of experience in agricultural engineering, water resources engineering, and conveyance planning, design, and construction. He is responsible for the daily operations of the GCE Central Arizona Office and the Imperial Valley Office as well as providing project sponsor, and project/design management and engineering support as a member of multidiscipline teams on a variety of water resources, capital improvement, and conveyance projects. He has extensive experience in irrigation systems planning, design and operations, water resources engineering, supply and demand analyses, municipal and irrigation water conveyance and distribution, groundwater recharge, and water conservation. Furthermore, he has expertise in open channel design, pipelines, hydraulic structures, flow measurement, HEC-RAS steady, and unsteady state hydraulic modeling, irrigation reservoirs, on-farm irrigation systems, and agricultural water quality. As a principal engineer he is responsible for quality control and quality assurance reviews of all GCE Central Arizona and Imperial Valley project deliverables as well as development of firm design standards. Mr. Cairo is the district engineer of record for several irrigation, water, and power districts in Arizona and California and is recognized as an expert and leader in the protection and transition of irrigation districts associated with agricultural to urban land conversion, irrigation engineering, hydraulics, and water resources engineering.	The planned Water Conservation Activities associated with this grant will not have an impact on District management, conversely it will simplify and help reduce District personnel time and expense associated with the current facilities and water losses. The planned flow and spill monitoring is not envisioned to impact the District and will be offset by the reduction in canal bank time expended by operators currently. These costs include labor and fuel expenses in addition to wear and tear on equipment.	The proposed Water Conservation activity would allow for water savings to be maximized and utilized in support of future growth in a responsible manner. This idea in collaboration partnership with the District has been studied by the USBR, and WESTCAPS Members (Arizona State Land Department, Arizona Water Company, Town of Buckeye, Citizens Utility Company, City of Glendale, City of Goodyear, Litchfield Park Water Service Company, City of Peoria, City of Phoenix, Sunrise and West End Water Companies, City of Surprise, and West Maricopa to strategically transport CAP water through the Beardsley Canal without impact MWDâ€™s water demands to provide a reliable, high quality water supply to underserved communities in the west Salt River Valley identified as the â€œCone of Depressionâ€�. The District believes that the project will facilitate and help to promote collaborative partnerships, by using water and energy savings and improved service as an example of funded conservation results. In fact, the District is looking to develop a partnership with our growers to promote collaborative approaches to funding opportunities and implementation of District and on-farm Best Management Practices and use of modern technologies to best manage water resources. In these times of climate crisis and major drought it is imperative that we use the challenges to unify and promote partnerships, where there may not have been reason to work together in the past, there are many reasons before us now.	This project was developed with the involvement and input of local users and growers as the stakeholders in the District service area. The growers are the end users of the irrigation system and therefore, the better service level provided by the District it directly correlates to improved water management on the farm. The funds approved for use with the WIFA grant funds will directly impact these stakeholders, therefore their involvement and input were important in the process. The District is working collaboratively with our engineer and the farmers developed a master list of projects for consideration including conceptual cost benefits. This was followed by the development of a selection criteria matrix and application of the projects to the selection matrix resulting in the proposed project elements in this grant application. Future projects pertaining to this Program will increase the reach of the project and add stakeholders like NRCS, WESTCAPS, Arizona American Water Treatment Plant, and local municipalities.	There is not a planned formal public outreach program, however all activities and results will be posted on the District web page. This will include a project description, a summary of the Water Conservation Activities, performance goals, and of course the results of the work and water and energy savings achieved.	Yes, the local farming community is in support of the proposed Water Conservation Activity. Please find attached letters of support from the local agricultural Community.	The project is 100 percent feasible and has been approved by Board Resolution, see attached. If approved for funding of the proposed Water Conservation Activity the District will be able to complete the work upon grant execution and notice to proceed from WIFA. The District has contracted with George Cairo Engineering to design a ramp flume flow measurement structure for the Beardsley Canal. MWD is an active irrigation project construction and does in canal work during water outage periods, the next canal dry-up is scheduled for December 2023 through February 2023. This is the time frame to complete the proposed Water Conservation Activity.	The conservation activity proposed that includes the construction of the Beardsley Canal flow measurement flume and replacement of canal gates is a project that is a continuation of similar systemic improvements at a smaller scale. The District is in the process of developing a System Optimization Study that will lead to a planned District Modernization Program. These types of improvements are effective in meeting the established goals of conserving and helping manage water supplies and are envisioned to continue as part of the future program. Water and energy savings are realized immediately and measurable. The elements in our project are typical of irrigation projects but upgraded to current standards for performance and water control.	Yes, the project will implement established Best Management Practices by the District. This includes the application of Canal Lining a BMP that reduces seepage, prevents waterlogging of surrounding lands, maintains water quality, and reduces erosion. Flow Rate Measurement a BMP at metering diversion canal gates. This provides information critical to making water management decisions, helps prevent runoff, and helps deliver the quantity of water required to farmers. It improves irrigation project efficiency, reduces spills, and can support SCADA technology. SCADA will be implemented to monitor and control the headwork gates for flow diversion and to manage the sluicing and trash management to ensure steady deliveries into the system. PM-10 BMP for unpaved operation and maintenance roads on canals are also supported due to improved water control which requires less traffic on dirt canal banks. Weed Maintenance and Control BMP the project will reduce spills in open areas reducing the growth of noxious and invasive weeds. This also will result in less burning of weeds and placing particulates airborne.
63	Environment Friendly	Construction of groundwater storage facilities	Projects facilitating coordinated water management, including groundwater storage and recovery.	Program	These three program sites will store approximately 33 Million Gallons of groundwater, surface water and clean water in a constant flowing motion throughout three separate systems.	Maricopa	Maricopa	All districts	All districts	Maricopa			$3,000,000.00	$0.00	$3,000,000.00	100000	0.03333333333	based on 11 million gallons of water per location	20 years	These three program sites will store approximately 33 Million Gallons of groundwater, surface water and clean water in a constant flowing motion throughout three separate systems. Because of this past drought, Arizona discovered that it is very vulnerable and dependent on the Colorado River. Environment Friendly will build a 33 million gallon groundwater and surface water storage plant, and it will not require outside power, thus being the only water storage plant in the world that is completely self-sufficient and operated through clean energy.	This programs may be placed anywhere, including the Colorado River and the Central Arizona Project. They can also be placed where we dig deep for groundwater. We can draw the water from any surface or groundwater location.	Any community would benefit for this water storage, as we plan to clean the water as well.	value1 value2 value3	These systems control the intake and exhaust water that is being stored, and conserved and will be available and reliable.	Water supply shortages Reliance on non-renewable water supplies Groundwater depletion Water quality issues Natural disasters that may impact water supply infrastructure	These programs are designed for most natural disasters, and have a constant motion and flow of water. We bring in the water from any source, where the water is covered, thus conserving that amount of water as it flows thought the filtration system.	This conservation program will be the first step in storing and conserving our water, which can be done in multiple locations throughout the state of Arizona.	These huge storage facilities are held in with a plastic.	Through the volume of water that is passing through the storage location.	No, those funds are perfect with the interest of the State of Arizona.	No. This activity is costly and though used many times before, cities do not want to spend money on conservation of water.	This water conservation activity will also be utilizing clean energy and clean water.	Yes, most cities and other communities will want to get involved once these see it.	From other cities or Indian Communities	As a General Contractor, we will utilize only Arizona State subcontractors for the labor, and all US States for the equipment.	No, the staffing requirements have already been placed in the Grant Fund Amount.	Yes, everyone will be wanting to get in on the Conservation Systems.	Stakeholder involvement will be the 25%, unless they want to take a more active role.	Yes, we can show them how the conservation process works, and they can come visit the plants. Water can not be evaporated through this plastic and other systems.	There will be great support from the community once they see the programs.	It is very feasible to complete, as the subcontractors are available to begin right away, and can complete within a year. So, we can start the acceptance of water very quickly.	Under the conservation activity, we will want to bring in solar equipment to make the plant self-sufficient. And, bring in a desalination system to clean the water for immediate use.	The proposed conservation activity will implement an established Best Management Practice as most all employees will be sub-contractors, depending on their specialty.
64	Creighton Elementary School Dist.	Kennedy Elementary School Water Conservation program	Education and research programs on how to reduce water consumption, increase water efficiency or increase water reuse.	Project		Phoenix	Mairicopa	3	5	Middle Gila	See The New School - Water Conservation Strategies located in Additional Supporting Documentation	Same as above - The New School - Water Conservation Strategies	$3,000,000.00	$750,000.00	$3,750,000.00	3970796	1.058878933	Existing Flood Irrigation: 7,550,118 gallons per year / 23.2 acre feet per year - Proposed Design: 3,579,412 gallons per year / 11.0 acre feet per year â€¢ Water Conservation Reduction: 3,970,769 gallons per year / 12.2 acre feet per year (53% reduction)	Development activities will begin in Summer 2023 and are expected to be completed by Summer 2024, with permanent annual utilization reductions, after which implementation of educational programming will begin on an ongoing basis indefinitely.	The water conservation activity that we propose to fund with grant monies is the Creighton Community Water Conservation Education program. This program will be implemented on the Larry C Kennedy campus, which is part of the Creighton Elementary School District. The program will focus on educating students, teachers, and community members about water conservation practices and will use the campus as an example of sustainable water conservation features that can be replicated in homes and future school developments. The Larry C Kennedy campus will be re-developed to include various sustainable water conservation features that will be used for educational purposes. These features include wetlands for rainwater harvesting and recycling, an eco-friendly play area that will reduce the amount of field-irrigated space by 50%, and water-efficient Creighton Conservation Center urban food areas that will use 90% less water than traditional garden beds and urban agricultural approaches. These features will serve as tangible examples of water conservation practices that can be used in daily life. The educational program will utilize the newly re-developed campus to teach students, teachers, and community members about sustainable water conservation practices. The program will include workshops, training sessions, and educational materials that will highlight the various water conservation features on the campus and provide hands-on experience to participants. This program will also encourage participants to adopt water conservation practices in their daily life, which can help conserve this precious resource.	Water conservation will involve municipal water conservation with a typical metropolitan Phoenix proportion of Central Arizona Project water, as well as flood irrigation water from the Salt River Project.	PROFILE OF THE DISTRICT The District is one of 58 public school districts located in Maricopa County, Arizona. It provides a program of public education from preschool through grade eight. Creighton Elementary School District No. 14 is located in the central portion of Maricopa County, Arizona. The District encompasses an area of approximately twelve square miles. A major portion of the area lies within the City of Phoenix. The Town of Paradise Valley overlaps the northern portion of the District. In 2022, the population of the District was estimated to be approximately 70,576. The Districtâ€™s boundaries are located three miles northeast from the downtown Phoenix business area. The District is primarily a residential area. No employment figures are available for the District; however, figures provided by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that non-farm employment for the Phoenix metropolitan area stood at 2,321,900 for 2022. Major Initiatives: â€¢ Creighton District voters renewed the $2.9M District Additional Assistance (Capital) override in November 2020. Creighton's District Additional Assistance Override provides funding for curriculum and assessment tools aligned with Arizonaâ€™s state academic standards as well as technology to support those standards. These technology resources have proven critical to learning shifts during the current pandemic. The District also adopted new Math textbooks and online resources during Fiscal Year 2022 and plans to begin the process for adopting new Science resources during Fiscal Year 2023. â€¢ The District has fully implemented the use of portable devices to provide students a more efficient and accessible learning environment. The District is well under way with improvements to the infrastructure to further support this initiative. Recent expansion pilots include digital video conferencing, which became a critical toolset for distance learning initiatives during the pandemic, and continues to evaluate and increase cyber security measures with support from The Trust that provides the Districtâ€™s insurance program as well as additional outside experts. Additionally, the district refreshed Teacher laptops and student 1-to-1 iPads during the 2021-2022 Fiscal Year, ensuring the inclusion of video conferencing and virtual classroom capabilities for every teacher and student. â€¢ In November of 2016 Creighton District voters authorized an $85M dollar bond for the purpose of: construction or renovation of school buildings; improvements to school grounds; furniture, fixtures, technology and equipment; replacement of oldest student transportation vehicles; replacement of major systems. The final Bond Sale of three was completed in November of 2021. A variety of projects have been started or completed, including the replacement of 17 buses, new high efficiency air-conditioning units for three schools, restroom remodels at all schools, new furniture at all schools, space remodels for enhanced learning use at several schools, outdoor learning environments at all schools, construction of a gymnasium and newly remodeled middle school wing at one school, and the transformation of the District's flagship school into The Creighton Academy, a completely reimagined flexible learning facility supporting a dual-language, multi-age, constructivist approach that opened in Fall of 2020. A district wide energy and water conservation upgrade project was also completed during the 2020-2021 fiscal year and a new energy management and facilities management was implemented during Fiscal Year 2021. A Design Team began work in 2020 on reimagining Kennedy School, the old school was demolished during the 2021-2022 fiscal year, and an Architect and General Contractor were selected to work with the Design Team and construct a reimagined school campus for opening in the fall of 2024. â€¢ Federal Pandemic Relief Funds provided through ESSER I, II, and III, as well as other grant programs through the American Recovery Plan Act (ARP) are also in use to address pandemic disruption and student learning loss, as well as staff retention challenges. Major initiatives include before and after school student care programs, social emotional learning supports through staffing and resources, summer school, additional teachers to maintain reduced class sizes and focus on reading, and staff retention stipends. â€¢ The Governing Board adopted a Strategic Plan developed by stakeholders in 2016. This plan includes the Vision that, â€œCreighton neighborhood schools inspire adventurous thinkers, collaborative learners, and kind-hearted leaders.â€� This vision includes stewardship of resources at its core and has inspired a variety of initiatives in recent years, including focuses on project based learning, social emotional learning, customer service, a family resource center, and authentic school programs developed through community engagement. Progress on strategic plan goals is reviewed annually by the Governing Board, Strategic Plan Steering Committee, and a broad range of stakeholders at Creighton's Community Council. In 2021, the Governing Board hired new strategic planning facilitators to support revisiting and refining the Districtâ€™s Strategic Plan. The Districtâ€™s Governing Board is organized under Section 15-321 of the Arizona Revised Statutes (A.R.S.). Management of the District is independent of other state or local governments. The County Treasurer collects taxes for the District, but exercises no control over its expenditures/expenses. The membership of the Governing Board consists of five members elected by the public. Under existing statutes, the Governing Boardâ€™s duties and powers include, but are not limited to, the acquisition, maintenance and disposition of school property; the development and adoption of a school program; and the establishment, organization and operation of schools. The Board also has broad financial responsibilities, including the approval of the annual budget, and the establishment of a system of accounting and budgetary controls. The financial reporting entity consists of a primary government and its component units. A component unit is a legally separate entity that must be included in the reporting entity in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. The District is a primary government because it is a special-purpose government that has a separately elected governing body, is legally separate, and is fiscally independent of other state or local governments. Furthermore, there are no component units combined with the District for financial statement presentation purposes, and the District is not included in any other governmental reporting entity. Consequently, the Districtâ€™s financial statements include only the funds of those organizational entities for which its elected governing board is financially accountable. The Districtâ€™s major operations include education, student transportation, construction and maintenance of District facilities, and food service. The annual expenditure budget serves as the foundation for the Districtâ€™s financial planning and control. The objective of these budgetary controls is to ensure compliance with legal provisions embodied in the annual expenditure budget approved by the Districtâ€™s Governing Board. The expenditure budget is prepared by fund for all Governmental Funds, and includes function and object code detail for the General Fund and some Special Revenue and Capital Projects Funds. The legal level of budgetary control (that is, the level at which expenditures cannot exceed the appropriated amount) is established at the individual fund level for all funds. Funds that are not required to legally adopt a budget may have over expenditures of budgeted funds. The budget for these funds is simply an estimate and does not prevent the District from exceeding the budget as long as the necessary revenue is earned. The District is not required to prepare an annual budget of revenue; therefore, a deficit budgeted fund balance may be presented. However, this does not affect the Districtâ€™s ability to expend monies. FACTORS AFFECTING FINANCIAL CONDITION The information presented in the financial statements is perhaps best understood when it is considered from the broader perspective of the specific environment within which the District operates. Local Economy The retail industry is the largest employment sector in the county, with medical and service industries and industrial/manufacturing. CREIGHTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 14 PRINCIPAL PROPERTY TAXPAYERS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR AND FISCAL YEAR NINE YEARS PRIOR Please see attached Additional Supporting Documentation Economic Activities.	value1 value2	a) Support Long-term reductions in water use: The proposed site developments have several features that would support long-term reductions in water use: Wetlands for rainwater harvesting and recycling: The inclusion of wetlands on the Larry C Kennedy campus allows for the collection and storage of rainwater. Educational resources in this area will illustrate natural water landscapes and interactions, flood plain behaviors, municipal water processes, and water capture and reuse techniques, including how harvested water can be reused for various purposes such as irrigation, toilet flushing, or other non-potable uses, and with extensive featuring of water and educational connections to historical Arizona wetland areas, this site will provide both experiential play and observation of water ecosystems, as well as emphasize waterâ€™s scarcity and critical role in the Sonoran desert. Water conservation integrated eco areas: Campus eco-friendly play areas will integrate climate adapted, drought-tolerant, and often native species vegetation, tree canopy supported understory microclimates with water conservation impacts for underlying vegetation, artificial turf, or other water-efficient landscaping methods. By minimizing the area that requires irrigation, eco areas reduce water demand and provide integrated experiential learning across the community spectrum from youth to professionals. Water-efficient LEHR garden beds and food forest areas in the community food zone: The installation of water-efficient LEHR (Low Elevation High Rainfall) garden beds further promotes long-term reductions in water use. These garden beds are designed to minimize water loss through evaporation and runoff by delivering water directly to the plant roots at a slow and steady rate. The 90% reduction in water use compared to traditional garden beds significantly decreases water consumption while still allowing for the growth of vegetation. Extensive site-wide rainwater harvesting. Through-out the campus the Arizona Waters program will integrate rainwater harvesting on roofs and hard surfaces, and directly into ecosystem areas as well as below ground and above ground cisterns depending on the area and intended use. A broad pervasive presence of rainwater capture mechanisms will create on-going educational displays and education about approaches and best practices. Turf Play (turf reduction and turf education/research area): Finally, the integration of alternative outdoor experiential play and learning areas will allow this urban school campus to execute a radical reduction in outdoor irrigated turf space, and alongside this reduction, the site in partnership with academic researches will instrument turf grass area for monitoring, experimentation, and development of knowledge on turf grass best practices in the Sonoran desert while simultaneously creating an observational resource for two purposes: as youth STEM learning around water consumption and turf, and for community awareness about turf grass water consumption costs and opportunities to pursue alternatives or improve watering practices. By implementing these sustainable water conservation features, the Larry C Kennedy campus sets an example for long-term water reduction practices. Students, teachers, and community members who engage with these features will gain practical knowledge about sustainable water use and will be more likely to adopt similar practices in their homes and future developments. b) Improvements in water use efficiency: The site developments also contribute to improvements in water use efficiency: Rainwater harvesting and recycling: The wetlands designed for rainwater harvesting and recycling demonstrate an efficient use of water resources. Rather than allowing rainwater to run off and be wasted, it is captured, stored, and repurposed for irrigation or other non-potable needs. This approach maximizes the use of available water and minimizes reliance on potable water sources. Eco-friendly play area design: By reducing the amount of field-irrigated space by 50%, the eco-friendly play area design optimizes water use efficiency. Through the use of drought-tolerant vegetation and water-efficient landscaping techniques, the need for regular watering is minimized. This design ensures that the available water resources are utilized efficiently and that there is minimal water wastage. Water-efficient LEHR garden beds: The LEHR garden beds offer significant improvements in water use efficiency. With a 90% reduction in water use compared to traditional garden beds, water is delivered directly to the plant roots, reducing evaporation and runoff. This targeted delivery system ensures that water is used efficiently and effectively, promoting healthier plant growth while minimizing water waste. Extensive site-wide rainwater harvesting: Turf Play: Overall, the combination of rainwater harvesting, eco-friendly play area design, and water-efficient LEHR garden beds demonstrates a commitment to water use efficiency. By incorporating these features into the campus development, the Larry C Kennedy campus sets an example for efficient water management, educating participants about the importance of optimizing water use in daily life.	Water supply shortages Reliance on non-renewable water supplies	a) Addresses water supply shortages: The proposed site developments on the Larry C Kennedy campus address water supply shortages in the following ways: Wetlands for rainwater harvesting and recycling: The inclusion of wetlands allows for the collection and storage of rainwater, providing an additional water supply source. By harvesting rainwater, the campus reduces its reliance on traditional water sources, such as groundwater or municipal water supply, which may be limited or strained during water shortages. The stored rainwater can be used for various purposes, reducing the demand for freshwater and alleviating pressure on the existing water supply. Eco-friendly play area reducing irrigated space: The eco-friendly play area design reduces the amount of field-irrigated space by 50%. This reduction means less water is required to maintain the outdoor areas of the campus. During water supply shortages, reducing the irrigated space helps conserve water by minimizing the overall demand for irrigation. By implementing water-efficient landscaping techniques and using drought-tolerant vegetation, the campus demonstrates responsible water use and contributes to addressing water supply shortages. Water-efficient LEHR garden beds: The use of water-efficient LEHR garden beds significantly reduces water consumption compared to traditional garden beds. By delivering water directly to the plant roots at a slow and steady rate, water loss through evaporation and runoff is minimized. This approach ensures that the available water supply is used efficiently and effectively, addressing water supply shortages by reducing overall water demand. b) Addresses reliance on non-renewable water supplies: The site developments also address reliance on non-renewable water supplies in the following ways: Rainwater harvesting and recycling: The wetlands designed for rainwater harvesting and recycling provide an alternative to relying solely on non-renewable water supplies. By capturing and reusing rainwater, the campus reduces its dependence on water sources that may be finite or unsustainable in the long term. The emphasis on rainwater as a renewable resource promotes the conservation of non-renewable water supplies for essential uses, such as drinking water. Water-efficient LEHR garden beds: The water-efficient LEHR garden beds contribute to a reduced reliance on non-renewable water supplies. By utilizing 90% less water than traditional garden beds, these beds minimize the need for frequent irrigation and, consequently, reduce the demand for non-renewable water sources. This approach promotes responsible water use and encourages the utilization of sustainable water resources for gardening and landscaping purposes. Through the combination of rainwater harvesting, eco-friendly play areas, and water-efficient garden beds, the Larry C Kennedy campus showcases sustainable water conservation practices that can be replicated in homes and future school developments. By educating students, teachers, and community members about these practices through the proposed educational program, the campus contributes to addressing water supply shortages and reducing reliance on non-renewable water supplies, fostering a more sustainable and responsible approach to water management.	Fundamental to the City of Phoenix Water Resource Management Plan 2021 (https://www.phoenix.gov/waterservicessite/Documents/2021%20City%20of%20Phoenix%20Water%20Resource%20Plan.pdf) are strategies for Demand Management through pro-active, non-incentivized community alteration of water utilization practices (5.2.1) including landscape design, of which the conservation practices within this proposal are fundamentally illustrative. Moreover, the Arizona Waters program directly implements two of four key strategies identified in section 5.2.2: 1) Reduce City water use and lead by example, and 2) Increased education and outreach to customers. While the Arizona Waters project is not a City entity, the challenge within City water reductions and leading by example is that City practices are often low visibility to City residents, and happen within City practices without being noticed. The Arizona Waters program at Larry C Kennedy school - as a water utilization reduction program at a key public community resource - has much greater visibility through on-going interactive engagement with a substantial community in east central Phoenix. Moreover, as a school, we are substantially educational across a spectrum of recipients from the child to their family members and neighbors.	Costs and benefits of the water conservation activity, including environmental impacts: Need to revisit and identify concrete costs following development of water utilization reductions from prior bills. Costs: Initial Investment: There will be costs associated with the redevelopment of the Larry C Kennedy campus to incorporate sustainable water conservation features. This includes the construction of wetlands, eco-friendly play areas, and water-efficient LEHR garden beds. The cost will depend on the scale of the project, materials used, and labor involved. Educational Program Expenses: The implementation of the education program will require resources for workshops, training sessions, and educational materials. Costs include curriculum development, instructor salaries, materials, and maintenance of educational resources. Benefits: Water Conservation: The primary benefit of the water conservation activity is the reduction in water consumption. The implementation of sustainable water conservation features, such as wetlands for rainwater harvesting, eco-friendly play areas, and water-efficient garden beds, promotes responsible water use and encourages participants to adopt water-saving practices. This can lead to significant water savings both on the campus and in participants' daily lives, contributing to water resource preservation. Educational Impact: The education program provides knowledge and awareness about water conservation practices to students, teachers, and community members. By highlighting the sustainable water conservation features on the campus, participants gain a better understanding of the importance of water conservation and how they can apply these practices in their own lives. The program's hands-on experience and workshops further enhance the learning process. Replicability: The water conservation features implemented on the campus serve as tangible examples that can be replicated in homes and future school developments. By showcasing these sustainable practices, the program encourages participants to adopt similar measures elsewhere, leading to broader adoption of water conservation practices in the community. Environmental Impacts: Reduced Water Demand: By incorporating sustainable water conservation features, the activity aims to reduce the overall demand for water. This helps alleviate stress on water sources, particularly during periods of drought or water scarcity. Preservation of Natural Ecosystems: The wetlands designed for rainwater harvesting contribute to preserving natural ecosystems. By capturing and reusing rainwater, the activity minimizes the extraction of water from natural bodies such as rivers or groundwater sources, which can have negative ecological impacts. Efficient Water Use: The eco-friendly play area design and water-efficient LEHR garden beds promote efficient water use by reducing the need for extensive irrigation. This helps conserve water resources and minimizes potential environmental impacts associated with excessive water consumption.	To measure the effectiveness of the conservation activity, several key indicators will be used: Knowledge, awareness, and behavioral changes: Conduct pre- and post-program surveys to assess the participants' understanding of water conservation practices and their awareness of the specific features and benefits of the sustainable water conservation elements on the campus, and how this has impacted their own behaviors at home and within the community. This will help determine if the program successfully increased knowledge and awareness among students, teachers, and community members, and changed their behavior outside of site activities. Replication and implementation: Monitor the extent to which the sustainable water conservation features showcased on the Larry C Kennedy campus are replicated in homes and future school developments within the Creighton Elementary School District. This can be done through surveys or site visits to assess the adoption and integration of these features in other settings. Participation and engagement: Measure the number of participants attending workshops, training sessions, and educational programs. Additionally, assess participant feedback and satisfaction to gauge the level of engagement and the perceived value of the program. Higher participation rates and positive feedback can indicate increased effectiveness. Environmental impact: Assess the overall impact of the conservation activity on water resources and the environment. This can include monitoring water savings achieved through the implemented features, such as reduced water consumption and increased rainwater harvesting. Additionally, evaluate any changes in local ecosystems resulting from the sustainable water conservation practices. By analyzing these indicators, it will be possible to evaluate the effectiveness of the Creighton Community Water Conservation Education program in terms of knowledge dissemination, behavior change, replication of sustainable features, participant engagement, and environmental impact.	As this project specifically involves conservation, and education to support behavioral changes in Arizonanâ€™s water conservation practices in our metropolitan area, we believe this conservation activity is specific to the WIFA Water Conservation Grant Fund and not aligned with Water Augmentation or Water Supply Development Funds.	The new Kennedy school design was drawn up as an outdoor learning experience with an ECO play area and a wet lands area No. While the District funds school site remodels through capital bond funds, and has access to ESSER funds for program development, and these resources are available as match as we develop the infrastructure and programming, funds are insufficient to complete water conservation programming for the campus at the scale proposed within the Arizona Waters program. Any vastly more limited site water conservation features that we may be able to execute without WIFA assistance, would therefore not have pervasive presence in the campus, nor be integrated with education and learning.	The proposed Arizona Waters project will directly leverage a $22M capital bond remodel of a public school site into durable, lasting water conservation programming that directly serves the schools 700 kids annually and many thousands of other students and community members through field trips and community learning.. We cannot imagine greater leverage.	The Creighton Committee Foundation is planning to commit $250,000.00 to our match funds.	Creighton School District capital bond funds and ESSER funds, in the amount of $750,000	Creighton School District currently plans facility aging with replacement plans for 40 year life cycles, informed by public school operational cost models and best practices. Consequently, we carry out campus remodel projects for our 9 school campuses approximately every 4 to 5 years, but have remodeled 3 campuses already within the past decade at an average facility cost of $20M. We operate with well established practices for capital construction execution, in adherence with state standards for management. Please see attached 5E model.	Creighton ESD will work with curriculum and facilities to establish Smart Irrigation Controllers and Sensors to help students monitor water based on plant water need compared to traditional automatic system timers, which irrigate on a user-determined fixed schedule. Smart irrigation technology uses weather data or soil moisture data to determine the irrigation need of the landscape and/or use of the rain water collection. Additionally, Wi-Fi will be extended out to the locations for student to use with iPad to make notes take photos to help validate information gathered.	ASU, Creighton Community Foundation, Chasse construction, City of Phoenix, SRP, Trees Matter, Az Sustainability, Weddle Gilmore Architects, Facility Management Group etc.	Stakeholders are involved in all facets of environmental and conservation project planning and management often involve striking a balance between student education and the protection and use of natural resources on campus. District in collaboration with Creighton instructional team and stakeholders decide what natural resources should be part of the educational conservation project on campus. Stakeholders bring together a variety of perspectives, motivations, past experiences, and interests to the Kennedy project to help a unique educational program for students and staff. All the while understanding and helping preserve natural resources.	The Arizona Waters program, after it enters permanent operation following initial infrastructure installation and program launch, is estimated to reach more than 5,000 K-8 students and 700 staff and faculty annually within the district, further extending its reach to 15,000 surrounding youth in neighboring districts, charters, and Phoenix Union and Scottsdale high schools such as Camelback, North, and Arcadia. This broad reach underscores the potential for the AW project to influence water conservation behaviors at a community level. Beyond the immediate educational community though, the project's infrastructure investments and design aim to make it a valuable resource for extended community learning and professional development. The Creighton Conservation Center, a partner center slated to operate within the adaptive handicap accessible community food space, is expected to provide formal education and training for community practitioners across various disciplines, further promoting environmentally adapted growing approaches and sustainable practices. The proposed AW program by CSD is an ambitious initiative that addresses the critical need for water conservation in Arizona. It leverages the community role of K-8 schools to provide experiential education in water conservation, influencing community behaviors and practices. The programâ€™s broad reach and focus on professional development further underscore its potential as a transformative resource for the community and the state at large. The AW program also provides a unique solution to urban water conservation challenges. By situating an outdoor learning "center of excellence" within an urban school campus, the project creates a direct, accessible connection between low-income urban communities and a variety of natural ecosystems and conservation practices.	Existing community support for the conservation activity for Kennedy as wells all Creighton schools consists of a wide range of local support. Letters of support from ASU, Weddle Gilmore Architects and Creighton Community Foundation can be found in the Additional Supporting Documentation section of this grant. â€¢ Weddle Gilmore has been working with the District for over a year to help design Kennedy school in such a way that we can conserve natural resources and still provide for outdoor learning. â€¢ The Creighton Wellness Policy Committee ran by Britney Oâ€™Connell is dedicated to seeing sustainable gardens in all school. Committee helps with finding and writing grants that align with the groups concern with the health and well-being of students, families and staff. â€¢ Loma Linda Neighborhood Association, Mac McDonald, former president and Barbara Damiani have done an amazing job over the last 15 years of supporting Loma Linda School Gardens and orchard. There conservation efforts and direct use of rain water runoff has helped to offset the need for sprinklers during certain times of the year. â€¢ Creighton Education Foundation supports all school sites with grants to help with gardens, instruction and conservation. Additionally, they gather neighborhood partners to help with grounds and gardens management helping aide the sustainability of our programs. â€¢ The Creighton Community Foundation has also provided great resources for the district including grant opportunities, donated material to multiple sites, local community gardens and feeding programs on weekends that help with families less fortunate. â€¢ Eleana Ortiz a Parent volunteer at Biltmore Prep has provided multiple Grant opportunities and has experience working with our district and others. â€¢ Sprinkler world in the past has donated drip systems and irrigation to several District properties reducing time needed to make crucial repairs to any systems. â€¢ AZ worm Farms has expressed interest in donating soil and raised garden bed mix for future projects after our last order for The Creighton Academy. â€¢ Greg Petersons Urban Gardens has donated a large amount of material and also offered discounts on products. The new garden at BPA was donated by Greg Peterson. â€¢ ASU, Dr. Zuiker has helped District wide with grants, conservation of resources, overseeing garden programs and research gardens in school environments.	New construction of the Kennedy property begins June 2023 with a completion August 2024. Water reduction measures are 100% feasible with the help of this grant and a properly managed student instructional model, this will insure continued success of our conservatory project for years to come.	All aspects of water conservation within this site are existing practices in common use across many sites and locales with broadly demonstrated efficacy, with the exception of the Turf Play area partnership wherein we anticipate developing a unique partnership with Arizona State University research faculty to instrument and observe real world turf management practices and create a dynamic, on-going learning lab and demonstration environment. Even so, the mechanisms to be utilized have previously been demonstrated in academic research carried out with the City of Phoenix on 3 different City Parkâ€™s turf areas.	Yes, with a WIFA award for the Arizona Waters program, this program site will extensively meter, measure, and manage water utilization in different zones and across the campus, utilize water conserving fixtures and practices, and recapture substantial rain water.
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