Power In Partnerships: The Rinehart-Newlon Water Catchment Project

In the arid expanse of Arizona's Harcuvar Mountains, hunter-conservationists have partnered to expand the range's capacity for desert bighorn sheep. Spearheaded by the Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society (ADBSS) and fueled by a $40,394 Grant-In-Aid from the Wild Sheep Foundation (WSF), the Rinehart-Newlon Water Catchment project stands as a powerful example of what partnerships and passionate volunteers can accomplish.

 
The catchment, often called a "guzzler," is designed to provide year-round water for desert bighorn sheep and other wildlife along a crucial corridor some 10 miles from the Western Harcuvars and the Granite Mountain catchment. 
 
This area is particularly susceptible to drought, with rainfall so sparse that every drop counts. With a capacity of nearly 17,000 gallons sourced from three collection points and a large apron, the project ensures that water will be available in an area of extreme drought and heat.
 
But this is more than a feat of engineering. It's a story of people and purpose. At the heart of the initiative is James Rinehart, a ranch realtor and longtime Wyoming Wild Sheep Foundation member. In a move that showed a true heart for conservation, Rinehart donated a 40-acre mining claim to the ADBSS.
 
"I did this as a demonstration to show that public-private partnerships can make water for wildlife work," Rinehart said. "It wasn't just about the tax deductions. It was to demonstrate that we can get projects built and enhance wildlife habitat. This is strictly 100 percent private with the Sheep Society and myself."
 
The land, an old mining site once active before World War II, had long sat dormant. But its location in the western Harcuvars made it prime real estate for desert wildlife. 

"Agency projects typically take four to five years," Rinehart said.  "We did this in one."

 
Charlie Kelly, Chair of WSF and longtime ADBSS member, a veteran of many conservation projects, called it unprecedented. "This is the very first project we have built on private land that our organization owns," Kelly said. "In our 50-year history and over 200 catchments, this is a first and a huge step forward."
 
For TJ Baehre, past president of ADBSS, the project represents a full-circle moment in his decades-long conservation journey.

"We met James Rinehart at another project, and he told us he had this mining claim," Baehre said.  "He offered to donate it under the condition that we build a water hole and don't reopen the mine. It took some time with legal reviews and board votes, but here we are."

 
And it wasn't just paperwork. Volunteers hauled tanks and steel through remote terrain, carved out a massive apron, and contended with weather delays and inaccessible roads. Helicopters flew in supplies when four-wheelers couldn't. 
 

 
The project also relied heavily on the hunter-conservationist community's desire to pitch in. 
 
Keith Newlon, an ADBSS member and supporter, secured title work through his company Pioneer Title at no cost. He later purchased the project's naming rights at a fundraiser auction for $30,000, which contributed significantly to its total cost.
 
"Connectivity" is a buzzword in wildlife management circles. It refers to landscapes such as mountain ranges, prairies, and forests being connected by wild lands instead of blocked by interstate highways and developments. In this case, the availability of water has been a limiting factor in desert bighorn sheep movement. This guzzler provides connectivity across large areas of the range and is helping to build capacity for expanding herds there.
 
Dave McCasland, a longtime ADBSS volunteer with over 100 such projects under his belt, said this one stands apart. He emphasizes how the location serves as a "stepping stone" for connecting herds with available habitat.  "We're expanding the population by creating connectivity," he said.
 
This could include translocations from other parts of the range or even different areas in the future. While the primary beneficiaries are desert bighorn sheep, the catchment will serve a full spectrum of desert species.
 
"You can't find a project in the desert that doesn't have honey bees around it," said Charlie Kelly. "There are desert tortoises, quail, foxes, deer. Everyone benefits from this water source."

"The most impactful part of the Rinehart-Newlon project is the powerful partnerships that made it possible. It's not just about providing water. It's about working together to bring life back to a landscape that has the terrain and forage needed for desert bighorns, but lacked the critical water component to truly support them to inhabit more of the Harcuvar Mountains," said Gray N. Thornton, WSF President & CEO.

 


 
As the final fittings were placed and the water tanks sealed, it became clear that this was not only a conservation win but also a proof of concept. It is a living model that could inspire future landowners, volunteers, and wildlife advocates to consider how their own properties, passions, or resources could support wildlife in need.
 
"I think the biggest benefit that I've seen come out of this project is how partnerships made this happen," Kelly said.  "Partnerships are the way things get done. It's the model for the future."
 
The Rinehart-Newlon project is a powerful example of what can be achieved when vision, action, and collaboration come together. By enhancing water availability for desert bighorn sheep, this initiative supports WSF’s mission "to put and keep wild sheep on the mountain" and highlights the impact of private land stewardship and strong partnerships in advancing conservation efforts.
 

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Contributing Author: Chester Moore is an award-winning wildlife journalist, wildlife photographer, and lifelong hunter from Texas. He operates the Higher Calling Wildlife® blog and podcast and contributes to many outdoors publications.