AWC and ADBSS volunteers joined forces in sweltering heart to tackle the New Water Mountains #1 Project
In March, the Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society (ADBSS) tackled the New Water Mountains #1 project, a much-needed redevelopment of an older catchment struggling to contend with drought and wildlife demand and forcing the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) to haul water frequently. The updated design called for a 20,000-gallon capacity and an upgraded apron and collection point.
ADBSS coordinated with the Alliance for Wildlife Conservation (AWC) in Minnesota to have their youth volunteers and staff join the project crew. ADBSS provided tents, cots, and meals and set up camp on a Thursday afternoon. AWC staff and twelve teens arrived that evening after hiking through Arizona's White Tank mountains in the heat. With a high of 109 degrees, this was one of the hottest projects in ADBSS history. The Arizona Game and Fish Department Development Branch brought a pop-up with a misting system attached and ADBSS volunteers brought in extra ice to provide cool air and cold water during breaks.
The medallion is set, cementing this project as one piece of a vital web of drinkers supporting desert wildlife
Over the course of three days, the crew completed the rock/concrete border around the drinker and set the medallion. They set the remaining upright for the apron and secured and welded the structure prior to setting the galvanized channels. The Development Branch and ADBSS worked on getting the gutter in place. Once that was complete, the teens and other volunteers carried the rest of the channels to the tubing to set in place and square them up so they could start to attach them to the tubing.
Afterward, the teens carried the sheets to the apron and slid them into place. After the first sheet was attached, everyone started setting the sheets with screw guns. After the decking was set, the AZGFD Development Branch sprayed it down with a hose to test the gutter and piping and get any errant screws off the deck.
The AWC crew poses for a quick photo in front of the water apron frame
A gift from nature arrived when a bighorn ewe came to the nearby rock dome and looked down at us. After a short time, she went up to the top of the mountain directly above the apron and stood there for quite a while, offering the crew a real sense of making a difference for our wild sheep.
A bighorn ewe stops to survey her new and improved water catchment
In addition to completing an important conservation project that weekend, the result was the development of a strong partnership between ADBSS and AWC, who have exciting plans in the works to continue cultivating young conservationists.
We could not have been more impressed by their youth volunteers. They worked hard in unseasonably hot weather they were not acclimated to with a willingness to learn, positive attitudes, and true grit.
Photos Courtesy of ADBSS
Tags: Desert Bighorn, Conservation