Miles on the Trail, Water on the Mountain

The Latest Feature Articles Miles on the Trail, Water on the Mountain

By Matt Dwonch, WSF

In the desert, water dictates movement, distribution, and survival for wildlife. For desert bighorn sheep, which are well adapted to heat and sparse forage, reliable surface water can still be a limiting factor - especially during extended drought. That’s why water developments, or guzzlers, remain an important part of active management for wild sheep across the West.

In southern Nevada, a new addition to the desert bighorn guzzler system was completed in March 2026 through a collaborative effort involving nonprofit groups, agency personnel, private partners, and volunteers.

Nevada Water Guzzler Project with Go Hunt, NDOW, and Fraternity of the Desert Bighorn

Omar Lopez 100 Miles for Conservation 1

Omar Lopez 100 Miles for Conservation 2

Omar Lopez 100 Miles for Conservation 3

Omar Lopez 100 Miles for Conservation Finished

The origin of the project traces back to 2025, when a fundraising effort was organized with the goal of supporting wildlife conservation in Nevada. Rather than a traditional campaign, the effort centered on a 100-mile ultramarathon run by Omar Lopez of GoHunt. An experienced runner and dedicated outdoorsman, Omar saw an opportunity to use his skill set to fund a wildlife conservation project. The objective was straightforward: raise as much funding as possible for on-the-ground conservation work. WSF provided seed funding to help initiate the effort.

The response exceeded expectations. The run generated $35,000, supported by a network of donors and partners. Those funds were then directed toward a specific need identified in coordination with partners on the ground - a new guzzler installation in southern Nevada.

From there, the project moved into the planning and implementation phase. Organizations including GoHunt, Nevada Bighorns Unlimited – Reno, Fraternity of the Desert Bighorn, and the Nevada Department of Wildlife contributed to logistics, coordination, and execution.

As with many guzzler projects, the location presented logistical challenges. The site – located outside Las Vegas – is remote, with terrain that limits vehicle access and requires a combination of aerial and ground transport. Volunteers, tanks, piping, and structural components were moved into place using a helicopter provided by the Nevada Department of Wildlife.

Helicopter bringing in components for the GoHunt Guzzler in Nevada

Work was carried out over two days, beginning with a safety and coordination briefing at Echo Bay Airport. From there, volunteers and agency staff were deployed to the site via helicopter to begin assembly. Tasks included positioning tanks, installing collection and delivery systems, and ensuring that all components were properly fitted and secured.

Use of a helicopter was essential to the build. In terrain where roads are limited or nonexistent, aerial transport allows for movement of heavy or oversized materials that would otherwise be impractical to deliver. Once on site, crews handled installation under typical desert conditions - dry, exposed, and physically demanding.

GoHunt Guzzler Work 1

GoHunt Guzzler Work 2

GoHunt Guzzler Work 3

GoHunt Guzzler Work 4

GoHunt Guzzler Work 5

GoHunt Guzzler Work 6

GoHunt Guzzler Work 7

By the end of the second day, all eight tanks had been installed, completing the system. With a total capacity of 18,400 gallons, the guzzler is designed to capture and store precipitation, making water available over extended periods.

While desert bighorn sheep are the primary focus, developments like this are used by a range of species. Birds, small mammals, and other desert wildlife often utilize these water sources, particularly during peak summer conditions when natural availability is lowest.

From a wildlife management perspective, projects like this can help support population stability and expansion. In areas where suitable habitat exists but water is scarce, guzzlers can solve a limiting-factor problem, allowing animals to make use of otherwise underutilized range. This can also contribute to improved distribution across the landscape, reducing pressure on browse and existing water sources.

The project also reflects a broader pattern in wildlife conservation: reliance on partnerships. No single organization was responsible for all aspects of this effort. Funding, planning, and labor were distributed across multiple groups, each contributing based on capacity and expertise.

Volunteers working on Nevada GoHunt Guzzler

Volunteer involvement was another key component. In addition to reducing costs, volunteer labor allows for greater scale and frequency of projects. It also provides an opportunity for direct participation in conservation work, which remains an important part of the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation.

Completion of this guzzler represents the final step in a process that began with a personal passion fundraising effort and concluded with on-the-ground implementation. Funds raised through Lopez’s ultramarathon effort were applied to a defined project, resulting in a functional piece of infrastructure now in place on the landscape.

Projects like this are designed to be incremental. Each installation contributes to a larger system, with cumulative effects over time. In Nevada and throughout the desert Southwest, networks of guzzlers help sustain desert bighorn populations and other desert wildlife under variable environmental conditions.

As conditions continue to fluctuate, particularly in relation to precipitation and temperature, the need for reliable water sources remains consistent. Developments such as this one are intended to address that need in targeted locations where they can have the most impact.

With construction complete, the focus now shifts to long-term function. Properly built and maintained, guzzlers can operate for years, providing consistent water availability with minimal ongoing intervention. Monitoring and periodic maintenance will ensure that the system continues to perform as intended.

What began as a 100-mile run is now represented by a permanent addition to Nevada’s wildlife infrastructure. The outcome is straightforward: increased water availability in an environment deep in drought. The process - fundraising, coordination, and field implementation – is anything but straightforward. Seeing the project through from start to finish required impressive vision, determination, and follow-through. The finished guzzler is a testament to the extraordinary things that can be achieved for wildlife when diverse partners work together towards a common goal.

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