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Baca, Joaquin
David Stewart; Ariel MacMillan
Fwd: San Bernardino NWR Border Infrastructure Issues
Friday, November 1, 2019 8:39:18 AM

fyi: disappointing is an understatement
---------- Forwarded message --------From: Radke, Bill <bill_radke@fws.gov>
Date: Thu, Oct 31, 2019 at 4:26 PM
Subject: San Bernardino NWR Border Infrastructure Issues
To: Juliette Fernandez <juliette_fernandez@fws.gov>
Cc: Joaquin Baca <joaquin_baca@fws.gov>, Tasha Dolgoff <tasha_harden@fws.gov>,
McIntyre, Julie <julie_mcintyre@fws.gov>
Hi Juliette;  I was disappointed today to see first hand that DHS and U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers (ACOE) did not abide by the (most recent) October 16, 2019 Fish and Wildlife
Service (FWS) request to minimize water withdrawal from the aquifer that supports all
wetlands on San Bernardino NWR.  Contractors are continuing to pump high volumes of
water from the Glenn Ranch well located about 1.5 miles west of the refuge, have not yet used
their newly drilled well located in the Roosevelt Reservation near milepost 9 about 4.8 miles
west of the refuge, and sadly did not heed our recommendation not to drill closer that 5-miles
from the east side of the refuge.  Instead, contractors have begun drilling their second new
well 480 FEET east of SBNWR (see photos), and it is on state trust land rather than within the
Roosevelt Reservation.  All this is in support of the 30-foot tall barrier that contractors began
erecting along the south side of the refuge yesterday (see photos).  There is also significant
road enhancement and water use (see photos) as part of the project.  
While DHS/ACOE stated that they would provide FWS updated water use numbers, they have
not presented those numbers yet.  This increases the concerns already identified within the
FWS risk assessment which was provided to DHS/ACOE on October 15, 2019 about border
infrastructure impacts to refuge wetlands and listed species.  We are monitoring refuge wells,
pond levels, water discharge rates, etc., and will be alert to expected changes so that we can
respond appropriately.   The pictures below were taken this morning.  Thank you for your
help, Bill Radke
-William R. Radke; Project Leader
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Buenos Aires, Leslie Canyon, & San Bernardino NWRs
P.O. Box 3509
Douglas, AZ 85608
Cell: (520) 508-7180
-Joaquin Baca
Regional Hydrologist
US Fish and Wildlife Service, Southwest Region

 Phone: 505 248-6622
Cell: 505 377-7549
Water Resources