As the region's designated planning agency for water quality, PAG conducts and coordinates regional water quality management planning for the prevention of water pollution. PAG is required under the Clean Water Act (Section 208) to update the Areawide Water Quality Management Plan every five years or as needed to fulfill mandatory designated watershed planning responsibilities. The most recent plan was created in 2006. Since that time, changes have included amendments to the plan for new wastewater facilities and new designated management areas (DMAs). PAG plans to update, streamline and modernize the 208 Plan.
The guiding principles are to:
- Develop procedures for streamlining the PAG 208 Plan Amendment process.
- Verify and update obsolete information in the PAG 2006 AWQMP including new 208 Plan Amendment information.
- To save PAG, DMAs and private stakeholders time by easing navigation and increasing efficiency through the 208 Plan amendment process.
- To make clear the value of a regional planning process and municipal coordination which has steps to ensure stakeholder agreements are in place, reducing surprises or conflicts later.
The designated management agencies of the Town of Marana, Town of Sahuarita and Pima County assisted PAG in reviewing the scope of work. Westland Resources is on contract, approved by Regional Council on Feb. 23, 2017, to assist with the update. The effort is anticipated to span through fiscal year 2017-2018 with a planning, engagement, review and approval process.
Interested parties may contact Mead Mier, Lead Watershed Planner, at MMier@PAGregion.com, to join an advisory team. The Watershed Planning Subcommittee will have its first meeting regarding the update at 2:30 p.m. on May 22, 2017, at PAG. Updated scopes of work will be posted as needed with the WPS meeting packet.