# Survey: Your Opinion Needed on an 

# Arizona River Issue

Photo sequence showing reduced water at a location on the Santa Cruz River. At this location, it changed from having year
- round flow to being dry except during stormfl ows. Open this survey to learn more and to submit your opinion on Santa Cruz River management

. 

## Thank you **for your participation in this important survey!** Please write any comments you may have on this survey below. OM B Control No. 2090
- 0028 Approval expires 6/30/2015



## NOTE THA**T PA GE NUMBERS A**  **RE OUT OF SEQUENCE ON THIS**  **REVIEW DRA FT ELECTRONIC FILE SO THA**  **T IT WILL PRINT CORRECTLY DOUBLE**  **- SIDED** 2 

# THE SANTA CRUZ RIVER IN

**SOUTHERN ARIZONA**
This survey asks for your opinion on how to manage the Santa Cruz River. It is im portant for authorities to hear from all perspectives, so please take the time to read the background and answer the questions. Your responses will help authorities select the best option. This survey is being sent to randomly selected households in southern Arizona. **Question 15**  **:** Wh at year were you born? 19__ __ **Question 16 :**  Are you male or female? O Male O Female **Question 17 :**  How many years have you lived in Arizona? ______________ **Question 18 :**  Including yourself, how many people currently live at your

residence? ______________ **Question 19 :**  How many of th ose people are 18 or older? ________________ **Question 20 :**  Does anyone in your household belong to an environmental

organization (

such as Sierra Club, or National Audubon Society ) ? O Yes O No **Question 21 :**  **From the following options, do you consider yourself to be:**  O American Indian O Latino/Hispanic O Asian O W hite O African American O Other __________________________ **Question 22 :**  From the following income categories, please indicate the one that

include s your estimated household income for 2012. O Less than $20,000 O $80,000 to $99,000 O $20,000 to $39,999 O $100,000 to $149,999 O $40,000 to $59,999 O Above $150,000 O $60,000 to $79,999 

## We need the following ques **tions to ensure votes from all groups** 

**have been fairly**

**represented in this surve y.** 

2 3 The Santa Cr uz River is in southern Arizona . It flows north through several communities such as Rio Rico, Tubac, Amado, Green Valley, Sahuarita, Tucson, and Marana. It also flows through Tumacácori National Park near the border with Me xico

. The Santa Cruz joins the Gila River south of Phoenix which then joins the Colorado River at Yuma. People have lived in the Santa Cruz valley for thousan ds of ye ars, and water was found in the Santa Cruz River in some places all
- year. Pumping groundwater over the last 80 to 100 years lowered groundwater level s and dried up many of the wet areas along the river.**Effect on my answers for**  **questions 2**  **- 4**  **Very Low**  **Moderate Very**  **High**

. Wa nting m ore visible flow and or mo re forest 1 2 3 4 5 Wa nting to benefit river ecosystems 1 2 3 4 5 Wa nting to im prove recreational opportunities 1 2 3 4 5 Wa nting to improve river conditions close to m y hom e 1 2 3 4 5 Wa nting to pay m y fair share for the environment 1 2 3 4 5 W anting to im prove water quality 1 2 3 4 5 Wa nting to im prove river conditions for future generations 1 2 3 4 5 Wa nting to minimize increases in taxes or costs to m y household 1 2 3 4 5 Other________________________

____________________________ 1 2 3 4 5 Since the 1950’s, treated wastewater has been released into the Santa Cruz River in two places, in the North near Tucson, and in the South near the border with Mexico. At fi rst this was just a method of disposing of the treated wastewater. It was then foun d that the water is helping to provide wet river ecosystems, and associated plants and animals that are scarce in southern Arizona. The treatment is currently being upgraded to provide water of higher quality and to eliminate odor. Having wastewater of hig her quality raises new questions about how to best manage the water. **Question 1 4**  **:** How much did the following factors affect yo ur answers for Q 2 to Q6 ? Check one box for each.

2 2 

# TREATED WASTEWATER IN **THE SANTA CRUZ RIVER**

3 **NORTH** Treated wastewater now supports about 23 miles of flow, and about 160 acres of for est along the river. The flow starts in NW Tucson near Prince Rd and I
- 10 and flows past Marana.

**SOUTH** Treated w astewater now supports about 19 miles of flow, and about 490 a cres of forest along the river. The flow starts in southern Rio Rico and flows past Tubac.

0 10 20 5 Miles 

# ±**Ac tivity**  **Not Somewhat Very Important Important Important**  

### Walking **1 2 3 4 5 Biking**  **1 2 3 4 5 Safe Partial Body** 

**Contact with Water (wading)**  **1 2 3 4 5 Safe Full Body** 

**Contact with Water (submersion)**  **1 2 3 4 5 Birdwatching**  **1 2 3 4 5 Horseback Riding**  **1 2 3 4 5**
**Off Road Vehicle Use 1 2 3 4 5** 
**Flood Vi ewing**  **1 2 3 4 5 Picnicking**  **1 2 3 4 5 Other_________________** 

**____ __________________**  **1 2 3 4 5**

4 21  About 10 % of the treated wastewater evaporates or is consumed by plants and animal s, the remaining 90 % becomes groundwater.

 Of the 10 % consumed, most of it is used by trees. An acre of forest along the river requires about as much water as 44 people per year. An acre is almost t he same size as a football field without the endzones. **Question 1 3**  **:** Rate the importance of different recreational activities for your household along the Santa Cruz River or along its riverbanks 

# WHAT HAPPENS TO THE WATER?

**10 %** 

**90 %**  **Evaporation, Plant Use, &**  **An imal Use** 

**To Groundwater**5

**Question 12 :** 

 How ofte n do members of your household engage in recreation where rivers, streams, canals, dry washes, or arroyos are an important part of the experience? Examples are a car trip to a river, or walking to a river. Just write “0” if there are no such trips and go to Q1 3

. _____________ trips per year.

 How many of those trips are within a 2 hour drive of your home? _____________ trips per year.

 How many of those trips are within your city or community? _____________ trips per year.

 How many of those trips involve any portion of the Santa Cruz River? _____________ trips per year. 

# WHAT DOES THE WATER MEAN **FOR THE ENVIRONMENT?** 

20  The constant release of treated wastewater supports a wet river ecosystem that used to be more common in southern Arizona.

 If a river does not have water year
- round there is still an ecosystem, just not a wet river ecosystem.

 The wet river ecosystem along the Santa Cruz River includes cottonwood and willow trees, tall shade trees dependent on moist soil. This is one of the rarest forest types in southern Arizona.

 In the desert, wet river ecosystems contain a large concentration of plant and animal species. Along the wet areas of the Santa Cruz River, there is a variety of birds and small mammals, and minnow
- sized fish have been found.

# YOU WILL BE ASKED TO VOTE ON THE

**FOLLOWING OPTIONS** 

 **EXPECTED FUTURE** : In the future, river flows are expec ted to be cut back to reduce the amount of water used by the river ecosystem. This would reduce the extent of river flow and the wet river ecosystem to 12 flow miles and 45 forest acres in the North, and 10 miles and 250 forest acres in the South. There wo uld still be trees, plants, birds, mammals, and minnow
- sized fish in the North and South. This option does not require new taxpayer costs.

6  Note that t here are less forest acres per mile of f low in the North than the

South.  In the South, treated wastewater results in 4 to 5 times more forest per mile of flow. This is because adding treated wastewater in the South allows tree roots to reach the groundwater which is relatively close to the surface there.  Refer to the photos on the next page to compare typical scenes of the North and South. Photos are also shown downstream of where water flows currently end. **Question 10 :**  If you voted for an option with more Flow & Forest than “Expected Future”, in Q2 to Q6 , why? **CHOOSE ONE A NSWER THA**  **T FITS BEST** O NEVER CHOSE more Flow & Forest than Expected Future. O Prefer visible flow in the river O Prefer more vegetation along the river O Prefer both more flow and more vegetation along the river O I was forced to choose Flow & Forest in order to get Full Body Contact O O ther reasons: ____________________________________

**Question 11 :**  If you voted for an option containing “Full Body Contact” in Q2 to Q6 , why? **CHOOSE ONE A NSWER THA**  **T FITS BEST** O NEVER CHOSE an option that included “Full Body Contact” O My household is interested in recreational contact with the treated water O I want other people to be able to recreationally contact the treated water O I was forced to choose Full Body Contact in order to get Flow & Forest O O ther reasons: ____________________________________  **FLOW & FOREST** : People can vote to maintain more miles of river flow and cottonwood and willow forest acres in the North and the South. This is in contrast to the Expected Future which cuts back flows and forest acreage. Again, the current condition is 23 flow miles an d 160 forest acres in the North, and 19 flow miles and 490 forest acres in the South. Choosing Flow & Forest more than the Expected Future would mean an increase in taxes to pay for the water consumed by the larger wet river ecosystem.

.  All options including the Expected Future include the new wastewater treatment upgrades that increase water quality and eliminate odor.

1 91 8 **Question 7** : Before reading this survey were you aware of the location of any part of the Santa Cruz River? O Yes O No

**Question 8** : Before reading this survey w ere you aware that the Santa Cruz River has water all
- year in the two places shown on page 3 ? **CHOOSE ONE A NSWER THA**  **T FITS BEST** O Aware of the water in the North O Aware of the water in the South O Aware of the water in both the North and the South O Not aware of the water in the North or the South

**Question 9** : If you ever voted for “Expected Future” in Q2 to Q6 , why? **CHOOSE ONE A NSWER THA**  **T FITS BEST** O N ever chose “Expected Future” O No ability to pay O Other options were not worth it to my household O Prefer to make a donation than to increase taxes O Don’t think the other options are realistic O Other

_____________________ _ __
7 

## North Downstream of Water Flow North With Wa ter Flow

South With Water Flow South Downstream of Water Flow  Photos show the changes that could happen in the North and South if a part of the river no longer receives treated wastewater.**Location & Effect Expected Future**  **Option A**  **Option B**  

## North **Flow & Forest** 

# 12 flow miles



# 45 forest acres 

# 17 flow miles



# 95 forest acres 

# 12 flow miles



# 45 forest acres 

## North **Full Body Contact** 

# No Yes Yes

**South Flow & Forest**  

# 10 flow miles



# 250 forest acres 

# 19 flow miles



# 490 forest acres 

# 10 flow miles



# 250 forest acres 

## South **Full Body Contact** 

# No Yes No **$ Cost to your**  **Household per Year** 

# $0 Increase in Annual Taxes 

# $ **50** Increase in Annual Taxes 

# $ **20** I ncrease in Annual Taxes **HOW WOULD YOU VOTE?**  **(CHOOSE ONE ONLY)**  

### I vote for

**Expected Future** I vote for **Option A**  I vote for

**Option B**  This concludes the description of the options. Different options for “Flow and Forest” and “Full Body Contact” are possible for the North and South. You will have an opportuni ty to vote on different options, including “Expected Future”. 

## Question **6**
**.** Given a choice between **Expected Future** , **Option A**  **,** and **Option B** for the Santa Cruz River , how would you vote?

1 7  **FULL BODY CONTA CT**  : During stormflows, the water quality is not considered safe for any type of human contact. However, during low
flow times the water in the North and South is currently considered safe for wading. Wa ter quality could be improved to be considered safe for full body contact such as submersion during low
- flow times. This would require further controls on bacteria, which would mean an increase in taxes to pay for th ese controls.

8**Location & Effect Expected Future**  **Option A**  **Option B**  

## North **Flow & Forest** 

# 12 flow miles



# 45 forest acres 

# 23 flow miles



# 160 forest acres 

# 17 flow miles



# 95 forest acres 

## North **Full Body Contact** 

# No No Yes

**South Flow & Forest**  

# 10 flow miles



# 250 forest acres 

# 15 flow miles



# 385 forest acres 

# 19 flow miles



# 490 forest acres 

## South **Full Body Contact** 

# No Yes No **$ Cost to your**  **Household per Year** 

# $0 Increase in Annual Taxes 

# $ **15** Increase in Annual Taxes 

# $ **20** I ncrease in Annual Taxes **HOW WOULD YOU VOTE?**  **(CHOOSE ONE ONLY)**  

### I vote for

**Expected Future** I vote for **Option A**  I vote for

**Option B**  **Location & Effect Expected Future**  **Option A**  **Option B**  

## North **Flow & Forest** 

# 12 flow miles



# 45 forest acres 

# 23 flow miles



# 160 forest acres 

# 12 flow miles



# 45 forest acres 

## North **Full Body Contact** 

# No No No

**South Flow & Forest**  

# 10 flow miles



# 250 forest acres 

# 10 flow miles



# 250 forest acres 

# 19 flow miles



# 490 forest acres 

## South **Full Body Contact** 

# No No No **$ Cost to your**  **Household per Year** 

# $0 Increase in Annual Taxes 

# $ **20** Increase in Annual Taxes 

# $ **20** I ncrease in Annual Taxes **HOW WOULD YOU VOTE?**  **(CHOOSE ONE ONLY)**  

### I vote for

**Expected Future** I vote for **Option A**  I vote for

**Option B**  

# EXAMPLE VOTE

**questions will look like the sample below**

1 6 9 

## Question **5**
**.** Given a choice between **Expected Future** , **Option A**  **,** and **Option B** for the Santa Cruz River , how would you vote?

**If y ou prefer**  **Expected Future ,**  **check here If y**  **ou prefer Option A**  **, check here**  **If y ou prefer**  **Option B ,**  **check here Location & Effect**  **Expected Future Option**  **A Option**  **B** 

## North **Flow & Forest**  

# 12 flow miles



# 45 forest acres 

# 12 flow miles



# 45 forest acres 

# 12 flow miles



# 45 forest acres 

## North **Full Body Contact** 

# No No No

**South Flow & Forest**  

# 10 flow miles



# 250 forest acres 

# 15 flow miles



# 385 forest acres 

# 19 flow miles



# 490 forest acres 

## South **Full Body Contact** 

# No Yes No **$ Cost to your**  **Household per Year** 

# $0 Increase in Annual Taxes 

# $ **10** Increase in Annual Taxes 

# $ **5** I ncrease in Annual Taxes **HOW WOULD YOU VOTE?**  **(CHOOSE ONE ONLY)**  

### I vote for

**Expected Future**  I vote for **Option A**  I vote for

**Option B**  **Location & Effect Description**  

## North **Flow & Forest**  

## Approximate Miles of year
- round flow; &

Approximate Acres of cottonwood/willow forest along the river , tall shade trees dependent on wet soils. 

## North **Full Body**

**Contact** 

## Yes it is safe for full body contact at low
- flow times, or

No , it is only safe for wading at low
- flow times.


## South **Flow & Forest**  

## Approximate Miles of year
- round flow; &

Approximate Acres of cott onwood/willow forest along the river , tall shade trees dependent on wet soils. 

## South **Full Body**

**Contact** 

## Yes it is safe for full body contact at low
- flow times, or

No , it is only safe for wading at low
- flow times. 

# $ **Cost to your**  **Household per Year** 

## How much the option will cost your household in

unavoidable taxes per year. These taxes would not increase or decrease over time.

1 5 10 

# THIS SURVEY IS SIMILAR TO

**A PUBLIC VOTE Question**  **4**
**.** Given a choice between **Expected Future** , **Option A**  **,** and **Option B** for the Santa Cruz River , how would you vote?

The questions starting on the next page askyou how you would vote for different options for the Santa Cruz River. Effects of each Option will be described with the following information:**Location & Effect Not Somewhat Very**  **Important Important Important** 

## North **Flow &**  **Forest 1 2 3 4 5**  

## North **Full Body**

**Contact 1 2 3 4 5**  

## South **Flow & Forest**  **1 2 3 4 5** 

## South **Full Body**

**Contact 1 2 3 4 5**  

# $ **Cost to your Household per Year**  

### 1 2 3 4 5 **Location & Effect Expected Future**  **Option A**  **Option B**  

## North **Flow & Forest**  

# 12 flow miles



# 45 forest acres 

# 17 flow miles



# 95 forest acres 

# 17 flow miles



# 95 forest acres 

## North **Full Body Contact** 

# No No Yes

**South Flow & Forest**  

# 10 flow miles



# 250 forest acres 

# 10 flow miles



# 250 forest acres 

# 10 flow miles



# 250 forest acres 

## South **Full Body Contact** 

# No No No **$ Cost to your**  **Household per Year** 

# $0 Increase in Annual Taxes 

# $ **5** Increase in Annual Taxes 

# $ **10** I ncrease in Annual Taxes **HOW WOULD YOU VOTE?**  **(CHOOSE ONE ONLY)**  

### I vote for

**Expected Future**  I vote for **Option A**  I vote for

**Option B** 

1 4 11 

## Question 1. Rate each of the following in terms of their importance to you r household . For each, use “1” for the least important, and “5 ” for the most important. 

# HOW WOULD YOU RATE **THE IMPORTANCE OF THESE EFFECTS?**  **Question 3** 
**.** Given a choice between **Expected Future** , **Option A**  **,** and **Option B** for the Santa Cruz River , how would you vote?**Location & Effect Expected Future**  **Option A**  **Option B**  

## North **Flow & Forest** 

# 12 flow miles



# 45 forest acres 

# 17 flow miles



# 95 forest acres 

# 23 flow miles



# 160 forest acres 

## North **Full Body Contact** 

# No Yes No

**South Flow & Forest**  

# 10 flow miles



# 250 forest acres 

# 15 flow miles



# 385 forest acres 

# 19 flow miles



# 490 forest acres 

## South **Full Body Contact** 

# No Yes No **$ Cost to your**  **Household per Year** 

# $0 Increase in Annual Taxes 

# $ **35** Increase in Annual Taxes 

# $ **15** I ncrease in Annual Taxes **HOW WOULD YOU VOTE?**  **(CHOOSE ONE ONLY)**  

### I vote for

**Expected Future** I vote for **Option A**  I vote for

**Option B**  

# AS YOU VOTE, REMEMBER THESE **IMPORTANT DETAILS**

 There are 3 voting questions, each on a different page.

 Each question describes a different tradeoff to help us better understand your household’s opinion

.
 Review each question carefully. Your votes are important and will help determine the best option for the Santa Cruz River

.
 Costs to your household will range from $0 to $ 5 0 per year , depending on the option . All funds are legally guaranteed to be used for the designated purpose
.
 The “ Expected Future ” option shows the expected future at no added cost

. Choose this if other options are not worth it to your household.

12 13 

## Question 2. Given a choice between **Expected Future** , **Option A**  **,** and **Option B** for the Santa Cruz River , how would you vote?