Designed to reflect the beautiful physical qualities of the Verde River and its watershed, the VWA logo was originally created by a student. VWA members scrapped the idea of a professional design in favor of outreach to students and education. The design process encouraged ownership by the stakeholders.

History
The Verde Watershed Association (VWA) was organized in 1993 to help bring people together within the watershed to learn about the watershed and its resources and to work toward achieving common goals. The following are the mission and goals of the VWA:

Mission

The Verde Watershed Association is founded on the principle that wise and sustainable use of water resources is best accomplished by a voluntary association of members of the watershed communities, working together to understand both the watershed and each other. Such understanding will be the basis for resolving conflicts and promoting cooperative use of the water resources.

Goals

To preserve and protect the Verde River and its watershed, by means of local initiative and control, while using its water resources in a sustainable productive way, avoiding long-term damage or loss of productivity through misuse or overuse.

Activities

The VWA has been a forum to bring together both citizens, user groups and representatives of agencies to better understand the watershed. Using a philosophy that could be described as "helping bring people and science together," the VWA has participated in a number of activities including:

•Provided a forum for dialogue between regulatory agencies and affected publics by sponsoring and facilitating public meetings to bring them together on specific issues such as water quality evaluation and planning and endangered species habitat along the river.

•Provided general water resource and watershed information for public through a monthly newsletter – Confluence, and later Verde Currents

•Presentations at meetings of local citizens groups throughout the watershed and through the media.

•Provided advice and counsel on water and watershed issues to a number of decision makers on specific plans and proposals, e.g., wastewater treatment systems, major developments in or adjacent to streams, golf course water use, etc.

•Evaluated proposals and provided recommendations for funding projects through the Arizona Water Protection Fund

•Analyzed and developed list of information and research needs for Verde Watershed, with participation and input from agencies, universities, communities, and user groups. This became known as the "Planning Questions."

•Provided impetus to interests on both sides of the Verde watershed which helped lead to the

formation of the Yavapai County Water Advisory Committee and its Technical Advisory Committee

•Establishment of the Yavapai County Water Advisory Committee (WAC) and its Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) have resulted in some of the technical information analysis and dissemination previously done by VWA being done by this entity. Several VWA officers were appointed to the Technical Advisory Committee and former Chairperson Tom O’Halleran is now in the Arizona House of Representatives (where he currently chairs the committee dealing with water and other natural resources).

Because of the effects of these changes, in December 2000 it was decided to temporarily discontinue the monthly general meetings, but to continue meetings of the Natural Resources Committee and, when necessary, have combined meetings of VWA and its Natural Resources Committee. In addition the meetings were changed to daytime, the morning of the third Wednesday of the month to facilitate attendance at both VWA and the Yavapai County Water Advisory Committee (WAC) which meets on the afternoon of the third Wednesday. Meetings have been held in the same community (and sometimes the same facility) as the WAC meetings.

Organized the first forum on Feb. 11, 2006, for the establishment of a Verde River Basin Partnership.

Sponsored installation of two low flow stream gages on the Verde River in order to increase the accuracy of measurement. One is at the Black Bridge in Camp Verde, the other near Verde Falls below Camp Verde. More accurate information will help us to better determine whether continued development in the watershed and/or changes in climate affect the flow of the river in critical periods.

Continuing dissemination of technical information via technical presentations at Natural Resource Committee meetings, participation in Verde River Days, technical exhibits at Arizona Rural Watershed and NAU Drought Symposium meetings.

Coordinated the preparation and submission of application for multi-year grant for the Verde Watershed from Environmental Protection Agency. Grant funding would have accelerated scientific studies on the Verde River and its sources.

Continued participation in Executive Committee of Arizona Watershed Alliance.

Provided financial scholarships for representatives of several citizens’ groups within the watershed to participate in the Arizona Rural Water Conference in December, 2002.

Other activities include:  Participation of President Loyd Barnett in the 2004 Arizona Town Hall on Water, held at the Grand Canyon.

Future Goals
The Verde Watershed Association is an inclusionary organization. Everyone in the watershed is invited to participate. We invite you to join us ….we've got some exciting ideas and plans.

Contact VWA for more information