Old
Sawmill Spring Drinker Project
Reef
Townsite, Huachuca Mountains - Cochise
County, Arizona
May
9th and 10th, 2014
What: Volunteers from the Huachuca Gould’s Chapter
of the National Wild Turkey Federation recently assisted a local Boy Scout in
completion of his Eagle Scout project. A
trough and pipeline were installed and the water collection box cleaned out at
Old Sawmill Spring in the Huachuca Mountains.
This spring is near the Reef Townsite in upper Carr Canyon.
When: The dates were May 9th and 10th, 2014
Where: Old Sawmill Spring is in upper Carr Canyon of the Huachuca Mountains approximately 12 miles south of Sierra Vista, Arizona
General Information: Stephen Ponder (Eagle Scout candidate), Troops 445 and 444, adult assistants, and members of the Huachuca Gould’s Chapter modified an old water system for better wildlife use. As part of Stephen’s project a drinking trough and new pipeline were installed at Old Sawmill Spring in the Huachuca Mountains of southeastern Arizona. Old Sawmill is in the “Reef” area of upper Carr Canyon. The spring is located about 12 miles south of Sierra Vista.
Old Sawmill Spring was developed in the early part of the 1900s, probably even earlier, and to supply water to the Reef Townsite in upper Carr Canyon. A sawmill and mining operation were active periodically during that period. In the latter part of the 1900s, the Forest Service acquired the Townsite for public recreation. The spring system was improved further in the mid-1980s to provide water to the newly constructed campground nearby. Excess water at the spring box was allowed to flow onto the ground for wildlife. More recently, the system suffered damage from erosion following the Monument Fire of 2011.
What a welcome change in setting compared to past Chapter projects! This time the work site was at an elevation of 7600 feet. Although the tree canopy had been opened up by past fires, a pocket of Ponderosa Pine, Douglas-fir, White Fir, Gambel Oak and Choke-cherry still surround the spring. In the background was Carr Peak, partially covered with Quaking Aspen. At just over 9300 feet, this peak is the second tallest summit in the Huachuca Mountains.
Tom Fuller, Wayne Kaiser, and John Millican moved equipment and materials to the work site with their ATVs on May 9th. Assisting them were Stephen Ponder, William Ponder, Steve Ponder, and Tom Deecken. That effort was much appreciated. From the staging area at the trailhead to the spring is .5 of a mile in distance and about a 400-foot change in elevation!
The serious work took place the next day, May 10th. With the additional help of Randy Keiller, more equipment and materials were ferried up to the spring site early in the morning. A little later the rest of the troops arrived, ready and able. Helping Stephen with the project were Troops 445 and 444 and his friend Austin. In total, 27 people assisted that day.
Workers installed a 100-gallon trough and connected it to the spring box with about 100 feet of buried pipe line. The group even found time to clean out part of the spring box. Around noon, lunches and refreshments made for a welcomed break from the digging, leveling, and mucking.
By 1500, work was complete and the group headed back down the hill to their vehicles and home.
Two days later the trough was full, providing water once again to wildlife in the area.
Acknowledgements: Mary Kay and Steve Ponder; Ann Dunsmore; Troops 445 and 444; Wayne Kaiser, Tom Fuller, John Millican, Randy Keiller, and Tom Deecken from the Huachuca Gould’s Chapter; John Kraft and Glenn Frederick with the U.S. Forest Service; and Home Depot provided guidance and support for this project.
When: The dates were May 9th and 10th, 2014
Where: Old Sawmill Spring is in upper Carr Canyon of the Huachuca Mountains approximately 12 miles south of Sierra Vista, Arizona
General Information: Stephen Ponder (Eagle Scout candidate), Troops 445 and 444, adult assistants, and members of the Huachuca Gould’s Chapter modified an old water system for better wildlife use. As part of Stephen’s project a drinking trough and new pipeline were installed at Old Sawmill Spring in the Huachuca Mountains of southeastern Arizona. Old Sawmill is in the “Reef” area of upper Carr Canyon. The spring is located about 12 miles south of Sierra Vista.
Old Sawmill Spring was developed in the early part of the 1900s, probably even earlier, and to supply water to the Reef Townsite in upper Carr Canyon. A sawmill and mining operation were active periodically during that period. In the latter part of the 1900s, the Forest Service acquired the Townsite for public recreation. The spring system was improved further in the mid-1980s to provide water to the newly constructed campground nearby. Excess water at the spring box was allowed to flow onto the ground for wildlife. More recently, the system suffered damage from erosion following the Monument Fire of 2011.
What a welcome change in setting compared to past Chapter projects! This time the work site was at an elevation of 7600 feet. Although the tree canopy had been opened up by past fires, a pocket of Ponderosa Pine, Douglas-fir, White Fir, Gambel Oak and Choke-cherry still surround the spring. In the background was Carr Peak, partially covered with Quaking Aspen. At just over 9300 feet, this peak is the second tallest summit in the Huachuca Mountains.
Tom Fuller, Wayne Kaiser, and John Millican moved equipment and materials to the work site with their ATVs on May 9th. Assisting them were Stephen Ponder, William Ponder, Steve Ponder, and Tom Deecken. That effort was much appreciated. From the staging area at the trailhead to the spring is .5 of a mile in distance and about a 400-foot change in elevation!
The serious work took place the next day, May 10th. With the additional help of Randy Keiller, more equipment and materials were ferried up to the spring site early in the morning. A little later the rest of the troops arrived, ready and able. Helping Stephen with the project were Troops 445 and 444 and his friend Austin. In total, 27 people assisted that day.
Workers installed a 100-gallon trough and connected it to the spring box with about 100 feet of buried pipe line. The group even found time to clean out part of the spring box. Around noon, lunches and refreshments made for a welcomed break from the digging, leveling, and mucking.
By 1500, work was complete and the group headed back down the hill to their vehicles and home.
Two days later the trough was full, providing water once again to wildlife in the area.
Acknowledgements: Mary Kay and Steve Ponder; Ann Dunsmore; Troops 445 and 444; Wayne Kaiser, Tom Fuller, John Millican, Randy Keiller, and Tom Deecken from the Huachuca Gould’s Chapter; John Kraft and Glenn Frederick with the U.S. Forest Service; and Home Depot provided guidance and support for this project.
001 Rendezvous on the 9th- Wayne Kaiser and Tom Fuller unload their ATVs at the Perimeter Trailhead early on May 9th for the first stage of “moving day”.
003 Repack for the Last Leg- Once at the Old Sawmill Spring Trailhead, everything has to be repacked for transport to the work site. Tom Fuller, John Millican, and Wayne Kaiser (behind John) strap down the new drinking trough.
006 Pad and Trough Team- One crew works on the pad for the new trough on May 10th, the main work day. Tom Fuller leads this group of Scouts and adults.
008 Trench Work- Steve Ponder (right) works with the “pipe line crew”. Steve is the father of Stephen Ponder, the Eagle Scout candidate. A new, 100-foot water line buried in their trench will connect the trough to the collection box at the spring.
009 Lunch Break- Mary Kay Ponder (center) makes order out of chaos at lunch time. Those were great sub sandwiches, chips, cookies, and drinks!
011 Group Portrait- At the end of the work day on May 10th, the “group” stands in front of the new trough at Old Sawmill Spring.
013 Open for Business- The local birds quickly take advantage of the improved water source 2 days after installation. Here a Black-headed Grosbeak sips from the edge of the trough.
015 Some of the Principals- During an earlier scouting trip to spring Steve Ponder, Stephen Ponder, William Ponder, and John Millican (left to right) discuss Stephen’s Eagle Scout project. The Huachuca Gould’s Chapter assisted William with his Eagle Scout effort previously. John Millican is president of the Huachuca Gould's Chapter.
As always we can never give enough credit to Tom Deecken, for without Tom' continued dedication to the forest, wildlife, and the Huachuca Gould's Chapter these stories and beautiful photos would never exist. Thank you so much for bringing your wonderful life of photos to us to share.... HGC Board Members.
|
002 The Road to the Top- From the Perimeter Trailhead it is another 6 miles up Carr Road to the start of the Old Sawmill Spring Trail. What a winding, dusty, narrow, rocky, and steep 6 miles that is! Who can forget those memorable switchbacks, either?
004 A Little Ways Still to Go- Now the ATVs must negotiate the final .5 of a mile and 400-foot climb to Old Sawmill Spring. Carr Peak, at around 9300 feet in elevation, dominates the horizon above the spring.
005 Final Planning- Tom Fuller, Wayne Kaiser, and John Millican (left to right) discuss final plans for installation of a new trough and pipe line at the spring.
007 Does It Fit?- Tom’s crew does a final check of the fit and level for the new drinking trough before putting the dirt back in the hole around it.
010 Upper Valve Crew- After lunch, another crew works on the pipe line closer to the spring box. Randy Keiller (white “T” shirt) and the Scouts use rocks to protect the line from further erosion.
012 The Results- Another view of the new trough now filled with water on May 12th.
014 Overflow Seating- Included in the design of the new trough was a smaller saucer to collect the dripping overflow. An Indigo Bunting gets ready to try out the “bath” facilities on May 12th. The larger critters, such as Bear and White-tailed Deer, should soon be using the new water source as well.
016 View from the Top- In this view from the summit of Carr Peak, the Carr Reef fills the mid-ground. Beyond it in the San Pedro River Valley are Sierra Vista and Fort Huachuca. Can you locate Old Sawmill Spring? The picture was taken in 2005, 6 years before the Monument Fire.
|
11 June: Tom Deecken has made his way back up the mountain to see progress / activity around the Old Saw Mill Spring drinker and it shows some more activity... Enjoy!
Acorn Woodpecker
Look how clear the water is today!
|
Cliff Chipmunk
Northern Flicker
|
Whitetail Deer