SIERRA VISTA —  Ensuring the San Pedro River survives gets down to federal dollars, but U.S. Sen. John McCain said that resource in Washington, D.C., “is scarce.”

Listening to a presentation and questioning members of the Upper San Pedro Partnership, McCain remarked that while he knows the organization has done excellent work in studying the waterway, more must be done.

“I’m all for studies,” but more studying and monitoring is not the only thing to do, the Republican senator said. He noted that such activities sometimes do not answer the question of what must be done to save the river.

“When the Titanic was sinking, somebody was monitoring it (the situation),” McCain said.

Holly Richter, who was the main briefer to bring him up to date, and others on the partnership said there have been actions taken, based on reports the organization has sponsored, many of them funded by members. The partnership is a consortium of federal, state and local agencies, as well as environmental groups and one private company involved in land dealings.

Before McCain met with the partnership members, he met with city officials, including Mayor Bob Strain, Mayor Pro Tem Rick Mueller, City Manager Chuck Potucek and Assistant City Manager Mary Jacobs, in a meeting that was closed to the public and the press.

While Jacobs said the meeting was not posted and therefore not open, based on some of the discussions at the partnership event it came out that the river was one of the concerns in the earlier meeting.

Richter, who is with The Nature Conservancy, presented a slide show, outlining the partnership’s successes and continuing concerns.

McCain would occasionally stop the presentation to ask questions or make comments, which led other members of the group to respond or provide additional information.

One area that was highlighted as a success by Richter was the work done by Fort Huachuca in lowering water use.

Speaking to Fort Huachuca Garrison Commander Col. Melissa Sturgeon, the senator asked her if the post could accomplish much more water savings.

Sturgeon noted that over the years the fort has taken many actions to lower water use and in the beginning the water savings numbers were high. But she said that while the post continues to save water, the gains in water savings aren’t “as much of a significant amount as in the past.”

The colonel said those living and working on the fort still look for ways to save water.

Expressing concerns of population growth in the unincorporated areas of Cochise County, McCain wondered if enough emphasis is being made to ensure water use is being addressed.

Richter and others said the county, as well as incorporated areas within the area encompassing the San Pedro National Riparian Conservation Area, must continue to find ways to address growth issues.

Tom Whitmer, representing the Arizona Department of Water Resources, said that when it comes to the unincorporated areas knowing exactly how much water is pumped, it is difficult because private wells are not monitored.

When it comes to certain types of water-using vegetation, action must taken to reduce areas of mesquite, Whitmer said. But that requires burning, and that is difficult in a time of drought.

When McCain asked how many acres of mesquite have been eliminated, he was told 770. When he asked how many more acres need to go, the response was 20,000.

Sturgeon said many high-water-use trees on the fort, such as cottonwoods, have been removed.

The senator also expressed concern about what is happening to the San Pedro River in Mexico. The river has its major headwaters in the state of Sonora.

Richter said an equivalent to the partnership has been established in Mexico.

Strain said additional help is needed to have the Sonoran government to take actions, and McCain said perhaps he can write a letter to the Sonoran governor, who is a friend.

Turning to Tricia Gerrodette, who was representing the National Audubon Society, McCain asked her view of the river in the past 10 years.

“The flow is down,” she responded.

McCain then asked her “What do we need to do?”

Before Gerrodette could respond, Judy Gignac, who represents Bella Vista Ranches, said, “We (the partnership) can give you a list.”

After the meeting, Gignac admitted she jumped in and took over the question from Gerrodette, to which Gerrodette said, “I was really stunned.”

Gerrodette said she wanted to tell McCain “that the locals could do a lot more before we expect the federal government to provide money.”

However, in responding to McCain’s question, Gignac said, “We are struggling to get funding. As you know, it takes money.”

Saying he understands the need for funding and promising to work with other members of the Arizona congressional delegation, McCain said, “I still want to know what has to be done.”