Van Horn Exclosure Maintenance
and Wakefield Trough Escape Ramps Installation
Bear Creek, Huachuca Mountains
Cochise County, Arizona
May 20th, 2019
Activity Description:
On May 20th, 2019 volunteers from the Huachuca Gould’s Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation repaired the water gap on the Van Horn Exclosure in the Bear Creek drainage of the Huachuca Mountains. Swing out pipes and connecting wires were re-strung. The suspension pipe holding up the water gap was reinforced with 2 stout, upright steel brackets. Additionally, the bottom of refurbished gap was held down with finer wire wrapped around rocks. This finer wire will easily break during high water flows, allowing the gap to swing up undamaged, and will prevent livestock from entering the fenced spring exclosure. Follow up repair will then be much easier.
The wire fence around the remainder of the exclosure was inspected and repaired where needed.
Van Horn Exclosure was constructed in the early 1980s by the Forest Service to prevent livestock from damaging the wet seep and associated vegetation. The Huachuca Gould’s Chapter installed an improved water gap in 2003 after the original failed several times. Invasive plants, such as bamboo, that were choking out important native plants have been removed by the Forest Service as well.
At a nearby livestock water trough in the Wakefield Camp area, escape ramps were installed. These ramps will make water in the trough more accessible for wildlife, especially Gould’s Turkey. Small mammals and birds will avoid drowning, also.
The Bear Creek drainage on the southern flank of the Huachuca Mountains is very important for Gould’s Turkey. This drainage, along with nearby Sunnyside and Scotia Canyons provide water, roost sites, and feed throughout the year.
Dave Inman, Bob Pourier, Dave Kemnitz, Dave Winiesdorffer, Wayne Kaiser, John Millican, and Tom Deecken completed the necessary water gap repair and escape ramps installation.
Future monitoring will ensure that the Van Horn Exclosure is functional and the nearby escape ramps remain in place.
On May 20th, 2019 volunteers from the Huachuca Gould’s Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation repaired the water gap on the Van Horn Exclosure in the Bear Creek drainage of the Huachuca Mountains. Swing out pipes and connecting wires were re-strung. The suspension pipe holding up the water gap was reinforced with 2 stout, upright steel brackets. Additionally, the bottom of refurbished gap was held down with finer wire wrapped around rocks. This finer wire will easily break during high water flows, allowing the gap to swing up undamaged, and will prevent livestock from entering the fenced spring exclosure. Follow up repair will then be much easier.
The wire fence around the remainder of the exclosure was inspected and repaired where needed.
Van Horn Exclosure was constructed in the early 1980s by the Forest Service to prevent livestock from damaging the wet seep and associated vegetation. The Huachuca Gould’s Chapter installed an improved water gap in 2003 after the original failed several times. Invasive plants, such as bamboo, that were choking out important native plants have been removed by the Forest Service as well.
At a nearby livestock water trough in the Wakefield Camp area, escape ramps were installed. These ramps will make water in the trough more accessible for wildlife, especially Gould’s Turkey. Small mammals and birds will avoid drowning, also.
The Bear Creek drainage on the southern flank of the Huachuca Mountains is very important for Gould’s Turkey. This drainage, along with nearby Sunnyside and Scotia Canyons provide water, roost sites, and feed throughout the year.
Dave Inman, Bob Pourier, Dave Kemnitz, Dave Winiesdorffer, Wayne Kaiser, John Millican, and Tom Deecken completed the necessary water gap repair and escape ramps installation.
Future monitoring will ensure that the Van Horn Exclosure is functional and the nearby escape ramps remain in place.
001 Work Starts at Van Horn Exclosure- Bob Pourier, Dave Inman, Dave Kemnitz, and John Millican (left to right) slide the new support braces into place
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002 Attaching Vertical Pipes on Water Gap - Wiring an upright piece of the water gap to the old suspension pipe is Dave Kemnitz
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003 Securing New Suspension Braces- Dave Inman and John Millican (right) secure the old suspension pipe to a new brace with a few wraps of wire.
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004 The Work Crew- Volunteers from the Huachuca Gould’s Chapter participating in the Van Horn Exclosure project were Wayne Kaiser, Dave Inman, Dave Winiesdorffer, John Millican, Dave Kemnitz, and Bob Pourier (left to right). Tom Deecken took the picture of this no-nonsense crew.
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005 Water Gap Up and Working Again- The water gap on the Van Horn Exclosure was successfully re-attached and strengthened
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006 Earlier View of Van Horn Exclosure- Looking at the water gap and condition of vegetation from a similar perspective in January of 2004, a little over 15 years previously
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007 Installation of Escape Ramps at Wakefield Trough- Dave Winiesdorffer, John Millican, and Dave Kemnitz (left to right) bolt the new wildlife escape ramp to the supporting “T” posts
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008 Custom Fit- Using precision instruments, Dave Kemnitz expands the hole in the ramp for insertion of the new “U” bolt
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009 Escape Ramps Installed- The new in and out ramps on the Wakefield cattle trough will allow easier access to the water by wildlife as well as provide a way out for small mammals and birds