Anderson Mesa Pronghorn Plan 2003

 Accomplishments and Planned Activities
Compiled by Arizona Game and Fish Department Region II
January 23, 2003

 Strategy 1:  Improve forage diversity and health, and fawn hiding cover in pronghorn habitat.

 Task 1.1:  Test, and evaluate grassland burning on 1000 acres

 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

 FY 2002: CoconinoNational Forest completed NEPA for a grassland burning project on the Bar T Bar Allotment.  Contact person:  Carol Holland, Mogollon Rim RD.  For this and the project listed below, burn plans will be completed prior to burning, and evaluation will occur post-burn to assess burning feasibility and success on Anderson Mesa grasslands.

 PLANNED

 FY 2003: CoconinoNational Forest plans to complete NEPA and implement a grassland burning project on PickettLake and Anderson Springs Allotment:  Contact person:  Heather Green, Mormon Lake RD.

 FY 2003:  CoconinoNational Forest plans additional burning on the Bar T Bar Allotment. 

 Task 1.2:  Conduct 60,000 acres pronghorn habitat treatment

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

 FY 2001 and 2002:  About 400 acres of vegetation treatments on the Young’s Canyon Allotment were implemented by the CoconinoNational Forest.  Treatments included meadow maintenance, maintenance of old juniper pushes and thinning dense juniper. AGFD conducted 30 acres of the treatment with Grand Canyon Trust /TubaCityHigh School crew. Contact person:  Jeff Hink, Mormon Lake R.D., and Rick Miller AGFD

 FY 2002: Approximately 200 acres of small juniper were removed on the Pickett Lake Allotment, connecting existing openings and wetlands.  This was a Cost Share project with the CoconinoNational Forest and the Arizona Game and Fish Department called Pickett Agra Axe.  Contact person:  Heather Green, Mormon Lake R.D. Rick Miller AGFD

 FY 2003:CoconinoNational Forest conducted the 325-acre Ashurst Agra-Axe project.  This grassland maintenance was funded by Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation through the Flagstaff Habitat Partnership Committee on the Pickett Lake Allotment:  Contact person:  Heather Green, Mormon Lake R.D.

 FY 2003:CoconinoNational Forest completed NEPA for the 1,982 acre South Boot/North Yeager juniper maintenance cut on the Anderson Springs Allotment.  By December 2002, about 20 acres were treated with a Diablo Trust organized volunteer project.  Contact person:  Mike Hannemann, Peaks R.D.

 PLANNED

 FY 2003: CoconinoNational Forest plans to complete the Bar T Bar and Anderson Springs Draft Environmental Impact Statement.  This DEIS will include proposals for pinyon juniper treatment, meadow and opening maintenance, and wildlife corridor creation and enhancement. Slash treatments and burn plans are included as part of vegetative treatments as appropriate.  Contact person:  Beth Humphrey, Mogollon Rim R.D. 

 FY 2003: Coconino National Forest will complete and implement NEPA will be on approximately 300 acres of grassland maintenance and restoration on the Bar T Bar and Apache Maid Allotments.  Contact person:  Beth Humphrey, Mogollon Rim R. D.

 2003: Slash will be treated to reduce the height of down wood on the 325 acre Ashurst Agra axe project.  This is a potential volunteer project. Contact:  Rick Miller, AGFD or Heather Green Mormon Lake Ranger District.

 2003:  South Boot/North Yeager juniper maintenance cut. There are over 1,900 acres remaining on this project.  It is a potential volunteer project.  Contacts: Mike Hannemann, Peaks R.D., Rick Miller, AGFD.

 AGFD Region II has received a State Wildlife Grant for implementing the Anderson Mesa Pronghorn Plans. Approximate $30,000 is available for vegetation treatments.  This money is going to be used to hire CREC (CoconinoCountyParks and Recreation) Department crews for about six weeks of work starting in mid May ending in September. The crews will work on projects both on Forest Service land and on State and private lands.

 Task 1.3 and Task 1.4:  Burn 5000 acres of grassland and savannah

 PLANNED

 2003: The extent and timing of these burns are dependent on the results from the test burning described in 1.1.

 Task 1.5:  Conduct 20,000 acres of treatment on State Land Department, Hopi and private lands

 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Diablo Trust completed the first phase of a 940 acre grassland restoration project (removed marketable dead and down wood – around 600 cords to date) and began second phase of cutting juniper invasion.

Diablo Trust enhanced 50 acres of winter browse habitat.

PLANNED

HPC proposals are being prepared by AGFD seeking funding for treatments using CREC and prisoner crews for July 2003 to June 2004. Contact Rick Miller AGFD.

Diablo Trust plans to treat approximately 1500 acres of pinyon juniper invasion in order to improve watershed and reduce erosion between Grapevine and DiabloCanyons.

Diablo Trust plans to restore grasslands and savanna in the Pinyon and juniper woodland between Canyon Diablo and GrapevineCanyon on up to 8,000 acres.  Before this project can happen a haul road needs to be build across Canyon Diablo at an estimated cost of $75,000 to $85,000. 

Diablo Trust plans to complete the wildlife browse enhancement on the toe of Anderson Mesa rim above Red Flat tank (approximately 110 acres remaining out of the original 200 acre project).

Diablo Trust Plans to complete the Deep Well juniper and pinyon cutting and burning project on approximately 800 acres.  Cut 30 to 50% of junipers and pinyon and push those trees into some of the remaining trees. Allow cut trees to dry for 4 to 6 months then burn.

Diablo Trust plans to restore open savanna woodland and two springs on Anderson Mesa near LewisPoint.  Approximate 240 acres would be on private land adjacent to 1,500 to 1,750 acres of treatment on CoconinoNational Forest.  Forest Service land treatments are included in Diablo Trust AMP NEPA decision and could proceed when that decision is final.   Treatments on either private lands or on Forest Service will require upgrading 2.5 miles of roads on Forest Service land which may require additional NEPA or clearances.  This work is intended to also benefit both Chavez spring and an unnamed spring/seep at the end of LewisPoint.

Diablo Trust Plans to control invasion into grasslands and old pinyon juniper pushes on 15,000 to 20,000 acres.  Much of this work will be done in a similar manner to the Deep Well project. Some portions possibly could be worked with volunteers (note volunteers are Rick Miller’s thought not in original wording.)

As noted in 1.2 above, AGFD Region II has received a State Wildlife Grant for implementing the Anderson Mesa Pronghorn Plans.  Approximate $30,000 is available for vegetation treatments. This money is going to be used to hire CREC (CoconinoCountyParks and Recreation) Department crews for about six weeks of work starting in mid May ending in September. The crews will work on projects both on Forest Service land and on State and private lands.

 Task 1.6:  Conduct 2000 acres of treatment on Raymond Ranch Wildlife Area

 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Planning has been completed for burning. Dry weather and unavailability of burn crews prevented completion of the burn.

 PLANNED

 Burning of approximately 600 acres should take place in the next twelve months. Contact John Goodwin AGFD.

 Task 1.7:  Continue use of hunt design established in 2001 season for reducing summer elk use of winter range

 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

2002 Hunt accomplished under a design similar to that used in 2001. Harvest results from 2002 are not yet available. Observations of summering elk on winter range in 2002 lower than in previous years. Contact John Goodwin AGFD.

 PLANNED

 2003 Hunts are currently being planned. Some consolidation of units has been suggested on the winter range. Contact John Goodwin AGFD.

 Task 1.8:  Support research and monitoring on grassland and savanna communities, grazing and fire effects

 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

 In 2001 and 2003, the CoconinoNational Forest contracted with NorthernArizonaUniversity for a pronghorn fawn observability study on Anderson Mesa.  Contact: Heather Green, Mormon LakeR.D.

 In 2002, the CoconinoNational Forest continued work with NorthernArizonaUniversity to establish elk exclosures at the ReedLake study site.  Contact person:  Mike Hannemann.

 In 2002, the Mormon Lake Ranger District wrote a letter of support for a grassland ecology research proposal submitted by NorthernArizonaUniversity.  The proposal requested funds to maintain the ReedLake study site and to purchase equipment to assist in landscape-level assessment of the effects of grazing on carbon, water and nitrogen cycles.

 In FY 2003, the Forest contracted with NorthernArizonaUniversity to monitor elk exclosures at the ReedLake study site on Anderson Mesa.  Contact:  Heather Green, Mormon LakeR.D.

 Ongoing monitoring:  Key area utilization monitoring is conducted in Mexican spotted owl and goshawk habitat.  Livestock utilization monitoring is conducted in every grazed pasture.  Wildlife personnel conduct informal monitoring of wetlands, springs, and grasslands. 

 Task 1.9:  Alter grazing as needed to implement recommendations for improving nutrition and fawn hiding cover

 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

 FY 2002: CoconinoNational Forest rested 63,896 acres from cattle grazing in 2002: 

Anderson Springs Allotment 10,855, Walnut Canyon Allotment 11,200 acres, Pickett Lake Allotment 18,530 acres, Apache Maid Allotment 13,359 acres and Bar T Bar Allotment 9,952 acres.  These acres include Boot Pasture on the Pickett Lake Allotment, South Grapevine, West Melatone, and Diane’s, West Boundary Pastures on the Bar T Bar Allotment and North Boot and Northeast Pine Hill on the Anderson Springs Allotment.  On the Apache Maid Allotment, the Pine Mountain East and Hutch East Pastures were rested.  In 2002, 19,286 acres were deferred from grazing from August 15 to June 15: Anderson Springs Allotment 8,070 acres, and Pickett Lake Allotment 11,216 acres.  These acres include Ducknest Pasture on the Pickett Lake Allotment and Southeast Pine Hill Pasture on the Anderson Springs Allotment.  On the Bar T Bar Allotment, the East Boundary and West Boundary Pastures were rested.

 By implementing the above rest and deferral, forage availability was improved in the following wetlands/closed basins:  BootLake, Replacement Tank, East Tank, McDermott Tank, East McDermott Tank, DucknestLake, BreezyLake, LongLake, DryLake, Little Boot Tank, Young’s Lake, Judy Tank, DazeLakeCornerLake, Tony’s Tank and Coconino Dam Reservoir. Contacts:  Mike Hannemann, Peaks R.D., Jerry Gonzales, Mogollon Rim R.D.

 Diablo Trust voluntarily sent livestock to Oklahoma in order to rest pastures during the drought.

 PLANNED

 FY 2003: At a minimum, Boot, North Boot and Northeast Pine Hill Pastures are again planned for rest and Ducknest and Southeast Pine Hill Pastures are planned for deferral.  On Bar T Bar, the same pastures are planned for rest as listed for 2002.  On the Apache Maid,  Pine Mountain East  will be rested and Hutch East will be deferred from August 15 to June 15.

 Task 1.10: Investigate the possibility of using range fertilization, nutritional supplements for pronghorn, forage seeding and other techniques that might be suggested

 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

 FY 2002: CoconinoNational Forest investigated the feasibility of range fertilization and concluded this is not a viable option.  The potential for introduction of exotic species, the possibility of chemical contamination and the prohibitive cost are all factors that led to this conclusion. Contact:  Rodger Zanotto

 Task 1.11: Conduct nutrition and disease investigations on pronghorn in this area

 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

 Overview of data collected thus far (1-23-03) for pronghorn recruitment study

 Overview: We have selected 6 study areas for this work; three areas had high fawn recruitment (> 25 fawns per 100 does) as a mean over the last decade and three areas had low recruitment (< 15 fawns per 100 does) as a mean over the last decade.  High recruitment areas are: 1. Unit 1-Grasslands Wildlife Area, 2. Unit 8-Garland Prairie, and Unit 34B-Empire Ranch.  Low recruitment sites are: Unit 2B-Coyote Hills, Unit 5B-Anderson Mesa, and Unit 36B-Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge. 

 Component 1:Nutrition.The goals of this component are to describe the diet composition of pronghorn populations at several sites in Arizona, to evaluate the nutritional quality of those diets, to evaluate the ability of those diets to meet the nutritional needs of the pronghorn populations, and to determine if pronghorn in sites with low fawn recruitment are on a lower plane of nutrition than pronghorn in areas of high fawn recruitment.  We divided sampling into 4 time periods for pronghorn—late gestation, parturition, lactation, and conception.  As close to 20 pellet groups as possible will be collected during each critical time period in each study area.  Diet analyses will be conducted on pellet groups.  Plants will be collected as well to determine the nutritional content of those diets.  During 2002, we collected over 425 pellet piles from pronghorn on the 6 study areas. In addition, we collected plants associated with each pellet pile. 

 Component 2: Disease surveillance. The goals of this component are to collect pronghorn blood samples from hunters in study areas each fall for 4 years, to test blood samples for antibodies against various diseases that may cause epizootics in pronghorn, to document areas where particular disease agents have been active over the course of the study, to determine which disease agents could potentially influence pronghorn populations in Arizona, and to determine if antibody levels from pronghorn in GMUs with high fawn recruitment differ from levels in pronghorn from GMUs with low recruitment.  After two hunt seasons, it appears that pronghorn statewide are exposed to hemorrhagic disease viruses but that these viruses are not causing declines in populations.  Animals are exposed and probably produce antibodies against the viruses and do not become clinically ill.

Component 3: Water quality and quantity. Goals of this component are to locate sources of free water in each study site and GPS locations for use in GIS database, to determine water availability at each water source during periods when pronghorn are in the third trimester of pregnancy, after parturition, during lactation, and just prior to conception, to determine water quality at sites where water is available, and to determine if availability and quality of free water differ between sites of high fawn recruitment and low fawn recruitment. Last summer, we measured total dissolved solids, salinity, and pH on several water sources in all six study areas. Data are being analyzed at this time.

Component 4: Predators. The goals of this component are to determine relative predator abundances for the 6 study sites during peak pronghorn fawning periods and during peak lactation using scat transect methods, and to compare predator indices for low pronghorn fawn recruitment sites with indices in high recruitment sites.   First year data show that predator indices in 34B and 36B are 8 to 10 times higher than those indices in the northern study areas.

Component 5: Fawn hiding cover. The goals of this work are to determine overall cover in potential pronghorn bedding sites in 6 study areas, to determine visual obstruction in potential pronghorn bedding sites in 6 study areas, and to determine if sites with high fawn recruitment differ from sites with low recruitment in regard to cover and visual obstruction at potential pronghorn fawn bedding areas.  Since pronghorn fawns are found within 1 km of a water source, we took fawn bedsite measurements from random sites within 1 km of water.  Preliminary data show that units 34B and 36B have the greatest percentage of optimal fawn hiding cover (cover from 10 to 30 cm) and units 2B and 5B have the lowest percentage of such cover. 

Component 6: Recreational use. Our goals are to determine the relative recreational use by motorized vehicles on each study site using HOBO^® units on cattle guards, and to determine if sites with high fawn recruitment are exposed to higher recreational pressures than sites with low fawn recruitment. Cattle guards have been identified on all 6 study areas and HOBO^® units will be put out in March 2003.

Component 7: Shrub and tree density. Goals are to determine if relative densities of shrubs and trees from 0-20 cm tall, 20-40 cm tall, 40-60 cm tall and those taller than 60 cm differ among sites, to determine if relative tree and shrub diversity differs among sites, to determine if fawn recruitment differs with relative density of vegetation in any of the height classes in objective 1, and to determine if fawn recruitment differs with relative diversity of trees and shrubs in the height classes in objective 1.  Data collection for this component will begin in 2003.

Component 8: Fence structure. The goals of this component are to determine the types of fences contained in each study area, to determine fence density on each study area, and to determine if fawn recruitment differs with fence density and structure on 6 study areas.  Data collection will begin on this component in 2003.

Component 9: Soil Health.  We aim to measure Se, Cu, P, K, N, Mg, Ca, S, Fe, Mn, Na, Cl, and Zn levels in soils from 6 study areas, to measure the amount of organic matter in soils from 6 study areas, to determine if correlations exist between mineral levels in plants and soils in 6 study areas, and to determine if fawn recruitment differs with mineral level or organic matter in the soil.  We will collect soil samples in August 2003.

PLANNED

 Continue research project

 Task 1.12: Upgrade, repair, or replace as needed, fences on Ducks Unlimited Projects on the Mesa

 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

 Ducks Unlimited projects:  The Mormon Lake Ranger District worked with the Arizona Game and Fish Department in the fall of 2002 to authorize replacement of the cattle exclosure around LongLake.  Contact: Mike Hannemann, Peaks R.D.

 AGFD interns maintained fences and installed goat bars at VailLake, HorseLake, and FisherFryLake.

 PLANNED

 Funding and contract is in place. Implementation was delayed when contract fence crew was diverted to repair a fence at Raymond Ranch Wildlife Area. As soon as access is good in the spring LongLake fence should be replaced.

 Task 1.13: Modify fences as needed to permit passage by pronghorn and to improve durability

 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

 2001:  Arizona Game and Fish Department and U.S. Forest Service put ‘goat bars’ on 40+ miles of fence on the Anderson Springs and Pickett Lake Allotments.  Note: It is standard operating procedure for the Anderson Springs Allotment to only charge electric fences when the cattle are in the pasture.

 FY 2002:CoconinoNational Forest Bottom wire modification occurred on 10 miles of fence on Anderson Springs/Pickett Lake Allotments, bringing the fence to the smooth bottom wire 18” minimum height standard.  Goat bars were installed where needed.  Contact person:  Mike Hannemann, Peaks R.D.

 FY 2002:CoconinoNational Forest Fence inventory was conducted on 28 miles of fence to assess durability and suitability for wildlife passage.  ‘Goat bars’ were installed on 46 miles of fence.  One mile of sheep fence was removed and replaced.  Bottom wire modification occurred on 5.5 miles of fence on the Bar T Bar Allotment.  Contact person:  Beth Humphrey, Mogollon Rim RD.

 FY 2002:CoconinoNational Forest on the Apache Maid Allotment, 8 miles of fence was contracted and built to Forest Land Management Plan fence standard.  Contact person:  Jerry Bradley, Red Rocks R.D.

 During the summer of 2002 AGFD interns modified approximately 25 miles of fence. Volunteers and Boy Scout projects modified approximately four miles of fence.

 PLANNED

 FY 2003:CoconinoNational Forest On the Anderson Springs and Pickett Lake Allotments, bottom wire modification is planned on 10 miles of fence.    Contact person:  Mike Hannemann, Peaks R.D.

 FY 2003: Coconino National Forest On the Bar T Bar and Apache Maid Allotments, bottom wire modification is planned on 10.0 miles of fence.  Contact:  Beth Humphrey, Mogollon Rim R.D.

 Task 1.14:  AGFD (primarily WMs) and Forest record use of ephemeral wetlands by pronghorn when incidentally observed to provide information about the timing of use

 Some observations reported but not compiled.

 Task 1.15:  Monitor vegetation change in ephemeral wetlands

 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

 FY 2002 and early FY 2003: Coconino National Forest completed field inventory of wetlands on Anderson Mesa, using the Coconino Land Management Plan, the Forest Service Manual, the USDA Forest Service Publication titled “ Management of Wetlands at High Altitudes in the Southwest”, National Wetlands Inventory, field observations and research.  Using precipitation, hydric soils and hydrophytic vegetation, wetlands were categorized into one of the following seven groups:  permanent wetland (reservoir), semi-permanent wetland, seasonal wetland, temporary wetland, ephemeral wetland, closed basin and stock tank wetland. 

 FY 2002: Coconino National Forest The Forest established seven elk monitoring exclosures on the Anderson Springs and Pickett Lake Allotments.  Six of these are on the edge of Anderson Mesa wetlands and one of these in an upland associated with a wetland.  Contact person is Mike Hannemann, Peaks R.D.

 PLANNED

 FY 2003:CoconinoNational Forest Three additional elk monitoring exclosures are planned in wetland areas on Anderson Mesa.  Contact person is Mike Hannemann, Peaks R.D. 

 FY 2003: Coconino National Forest Inventory wetlands to gather additional information on hydric soils and hydrophytic vegetation. 

 Strategy 2.  Improve distribution of pronghorn, access to migration routes and access to forage by improving fences

 Task 2.1: Complete inventory of fences on Forest Service and private (with permission) land on AndersonMesa and bring fences into compliance with standard of 18 inch smooth bottom wire.

 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

 2001:  With the Arizona Game and Fish Department, the Forest completed 200 miles of fence inventory on Anderson Mesa.

 2002 AGFD inventoried and improved approximately 25 miles of fences around perennial waters.

 See also accomplishments in Strategy 1.13

 Task 2.2:  Bring fences on the Forest in compliance with Forest Service standard of having bottom wire 18 inches high

 See Strategy 1.13

 Task 2.3:  Meet or exceed eighteen inch bottom wire standard on all fences on Raymond Ranch Wildlife area

 Summer 2002 AGFD and volunteers removed all interior fences except horse pasture fences, from Raymond Ranch Wildlife Area.  All boundary fences are substantially in compliance however some portions still have a barbed bottom wire. Replaced approximately 3 miles of boundary fence.

 Task 2.4:  With permission and cooperation, inventory fences on StateLand, Hopi Tribe and private lands.  Prioritize areas of pronghorn seasonal movements

 Diablo Trust raised bottom wire on approximately 4 miles of winter country fence.

 Task 2.5: Investigate the potential for removing or modifying fences (such as let down panels) in movement corridors

 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

DiabloTrust enhanced entrances and exits of wildlife migration corridors.

 Task 2.6:  Monitor pronghorn use of pastures with or adjacent to electric fence

 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

 A promised research report on effects of fencing was received from Wyoming Game and Fish.

 PLANNED

 FY 2003: CoconinoNational Forest will coordinate with AGFD and permittees to gather existing data.

 Strategy 3.  In conjunction with other strategies, use predator management when appropriate to reduce predation with the emphasis on predation on pronghorn fawns

 Task 3.1:  Implement predator management when surveyed does drop below 200 for three out of five years, or if fawns per 100 does drops below 25 for more than two years out of any five years in GMU 5A and 5B combined

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

 USDA Wildlife Services flew coyote control on Anderson mesa south of JaycoxMountain, Red Hill area, and Bar T Bar State and private land.  Flights occurred on April 22-May 1 and May 13 –May 18. Results were 56 coyotes were killed in 43 hours of flying. During standard surveys, the fawn to doe ratios in coyote control area was 14 per hundred and in surrounding area without coyote control was 9 per hundred.

 PLANNED

 Coyote control is planned for 2003 on the same terms as in 2002.

 Task 3.2:  Investigate using predator swamping strategies to reduce coyote predation on pronghorn fawns as an alternative to coyote control

 No progress reported

  Task 3.3:  Monitor pronghorn fawn recruitment on predator management areas

 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

 During standard surveys, the fawn to doe ratios in coyote control area was 14 per hundred and in surrounding area without coyote control was 9 per hundred.

 PLANNED

 Monitoring is planned for 2003 on the same terms as in 2002

Strategy 4.  Evaluate pronghorn locations during breeding and fawning and reduce, as needed, disturbance during those periods. 

 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Task 4.1: monitor pronghorn fawn recruitment inside and outside motorized vehicle closure areas

Low fawn numbers as observed from monitoring flight did not permit meaningful analysis.

Task 4.2:  Locate breeding areas by recording observations of pronghorn bucks during the breeding season.

No observations reported.

Task 4.3: Monitor human use of pronghorn breeding areas after they are identified

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

No breeding areas identified yet.  Information collected on levels of road use in Unit 6A, which can be used as a comparison.

Task 4.4:  Initiate a fawning season motorized vehicle closure on the Pine Hill Closure Area

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

 FY 2002: CoconinoNational Forest continued the existing motorized vehicle closures in the Pine Hill and Hay Lake Closure Areas.

 PLANNED

 FY 2003: CoconinoNational Forest Using fawn recruitment and breeding location information gathered by AGFD, the Forest plans to work with AGFD to evaluate the effectiveness of the Pine Hill Closure and consider needed changes.  Contact:  Heather Green, Mormon LakeR.D.

 Task 4.5:  Initiate additional fawning season survey to identify sites selected by does

 Additional Pronghorn Surveys flown in Units 5A and 5B.

Date	Bucks seen	Does seen	Fawns Seen	Total seen
May 1, 2, 3	43	161	1	205
May 20,22,23,24	53	132	6	191
June 11,12,14,21	Not completed due mechanical problems with aircraft and smoke from wild fire

 Standard Survey was flown July 12,13,20,21,23. We observed 65 bucks, 181 does, and 20 fawns 266 total.

 Strategy 5

 Task 5.1:  Consider water distribution system for Pine Hill, which may minimize water-hauling efforts.

 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Water distribution discussions on the Anderson Springs Allotment have continued, resulting in the identification of additional locations and options to improve water availability in this area.  Contacts: Mike Hannemann, Peaks R.D.

 Task 5.2: Determine location, quality and reliability of waters in pronghorn fawning habitat

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

AGFD monitored availability of water by recording which tanks still had water on pronghorn survey flights in May and June.  Mapping and analysis of the flight data is not yet completed.

Task 5.2b:  Develop and/or improve waters in areas where needed, in cooperation with Forest Service, Hopi Tribe, ranchers and stakeholders. 

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

FY 2002: Coconino National Forest The Mogollon Rim Ranger District hauled water to water troughs and trick tanks in the East and West Boundary Pastures, and the Trick Tank Pastures on the Bar T Bar Allotment during the drought (for wildlife). Contact:  Cathy Taylor, Mogollon Rim R.D.

FY 2002: Coconino National Forest The Forest authorized road maintenance on the Anderson Springs Allotment to facilitate permittee water hauling efforts during the drought (for livestock and wildlife).  Contact: Mike Hannemann, Peaks R.D.

Diablo Trust hauled approximately 6 million gallons of water during the spring summer and fall.

Bar T Bar sacrificed their sod farming operation to run the ditch system to service about 15 dirt tanks in the winter country.

Diablo Trust maintained water in pipelines all summer in both the summer and the winter country.

Diablo trust set up a “Bog Patrol System” to monitor drying water areas for stuck wildlife and livestock.  They fenced 20+ bogs to keep animals from getting stuck and provided alternative water sources.

PLANNED

FY 2003: CoconinoNational Forest Five new waters and maintenance and reconstruction of others are proposed in the DEIS for the Anderson Springs and Bar T Bar Allotments.  Contact:  Beth Humphrey, Mogollon R.D.

FY 2003: CoconinoNational Forest A new water source with well and pipelines on the Padre Canyon Allotment is part of the Environmental Assessment for this project.  NEPA completion is expected in 2003.  Contact:  Mike Hannemann, Peaks R.D.

Task 5.4:  Improve access to waters by modifying water lot fences in pronghorn habitat in cooperation with ranchers

Due to the severe drought emphasis was placed on maintaining water this summer.

Strategy 6: Improve the ability of pronghorn to travel between habitat areas

Task 6.1:  Open passages through pinyon-juniper and ponderosa pine stands between adjacent grassland and shrub habitats

Diablo trust enhanced approaches and entrances to wildlife corridors. Also see accomplishments in Task 1.2.

Strategy 7:  Consider increasing guidelines for Buck: Doe ratio in 5A and 5B

Task 7.1:  Consider raising buck/doe ratio guidelines in other GMUs where it may be possible to detect the effect

The suggestion was passed on to Game Branch in Phoenix.

Strategy 8:  Supplement population

Task 8.1:  If does on surveys drop to below 200 animals for two years and if fawn doe ratio is below 25 for the same two years, supplement the population with pronghorn from other areas

Consideration was given to transplanting pronghorn from the Fain Ranch to Anderson Mesa south of Jaycox’s  

Contributors:

Heather Green, District WFRP Staff Officer, MormonLake and Peaks R.D.

Mike Hannemann, DistrictRange Staff Officer, Peaks, MormonLake & Red Rocks R.D.

Jerry Bradley, DistrictRange Staff Officer, Red Rocks R.D.

Beth Humphrey, District WFRP Staff Officer, Mogollon Rim R.D.

Cathy Taylor, District WFRP Staff Officer, Mogollon Rim R.D.

Carol Holland, Analysis Group Leader, Mogollon Rim R.D.

Jeff Hink, District Watershed Staff Officer, MormonLake and Peaks R.D.

Dick Fleishman, District Watershed Staff Officer, Mogollon Rim R.D.

Rory Steinke, Watershed Program Manager, Coconino N.F., Supervisor’s Office

Rodger Zanotto, Forest Stewardship Officer, Coconino N.F., Supervisor’s Office

Jerry Gonzales, DistrictRange Staff Officer, Mogollon Rim R.D.

Sarah Jaycocks, Diablo Trust

Jack Metzger, Diablo Trust

Rick Miller, Arizona Game and Fish Department, Region II, Flagstaff

John Goodwin, Arizona Game and Fish Department, Region II, Flagstaff

Ron Sieg, Arizona Game and Fish Department, Region II, Flagstaff

Shelli Dubay, Arizona Game and Fish Department, Research