NWTF Huachuca Gould's Chapter - Sierra Vista, Arizona - Conserve, Hunt, Share
  • Goulds Home
    • About the NWTF
    • Gould's Leadership (Officers & Board Members)
    • Save the Habitat - Save the Hunt
    • Become a Mentor, Volunteer, Member, or Donate >
      • Mentor or Volunteer
      • New Local Chapter Member
      • JAKES or Xtreme JAKES Member
      • Women in the Outdoors Member >
        • * Women in the Outdoors
    • Awards / Bragging Page >
      • 2020 NWFT National Recognition
      • 2019 NWTF Award - John Millican
      • Forest Service Southwestern Region Award
      • NWTF volunteer named Field & Streram 2013 Hero of Conservation
  • "Current Events"
    • 2022 31-day Raffle
    • Our Chapter's Upcoming Events
    • AGFD Calendar of Events
    • want to be on our email list? let us know!
  • Chapter Events
    • Hunting Heritage Banquet Stories & Photos >
      • 2022 Hunting Heritage Banquet
      • 2021 Hunting Heritage Banquet: Story & Photos
      • 2020 Banquet Cancelled
      • 2019 Banquet Photos & Story
    • Scholarship Notices >
      • 2022-2023 NWTF Scholarship
      • 2021-2022 NWTF Scholarship Notes
      • 2020-2021 NWTF Scholarship Article
    • Turkey Hunter's Care >
      • 2021 Turkey Hunter Care
      • 2020 Turkey Hunter Care
      • 2019 Turkey Hunter Cares
    • Adopt-a-highway >
      • 2021 Nov Adopt-a-highway
      • 2021 May- Adopt-a-highway
      • 2019 Nov Adopt-a-Highway
    • Southern AZ Quail Forever Assistance >
      • 2023 SAQF Family Day
      • 2022 SAZQF Family Day
      • 2021 Quail Fest
      • 2020 Quail Family Day - Youth Hunt
      • 2019 Quail Fest
      • 2019 Quail Family Field Day
      • 2018 Quail Fest
    • SCI Event Support >
      • 2019 SCI Event
      • 2018 SCI 30th Anniversary
    • Turkey Survey Event >
      • 2022 Turkey Survey
      • 2021 Turkey Survey
      • 2019 Turkey Survey
      • 2018 Turkey Survey
    • JAKES Events >
      • 2022 JAKES
      • 2021 JAKES Event
      • 2019 JAKES Day
      • 2018 JAKES Story and Gallery
  • Chapter Projects
    • Captures/ Translocations/Bulletin >
      • Canelo Turkey Capture 2018
      • Turkey Capture 8-10 April 2016
      • Turkey Capture: 19-20 Jan 2015
      • Turkey Capture Feb 2014
      • Turkey Translocation - February 2013
      • Turkey Translocation 2012 & 2011
      • Gould’s Wild Turkey Bulletin
    • Project Maintenance Needs / Dates
    • Bear Creek - Van Horn Exclosure
    • Brown Canyon
    • Canelo Water Project 2012
    • Carr Canyon Drinkers >
      • Pig Wallow
    • Collins Canyon 2010
    • Comfort Springs
    • Ft Huachuca Water Projects >
      • FTH Unit T1/T2
      • FTH Unit T2/T3 2012
    • Kelly Springs Maintenance >
      • Kelly Springs Repair (July 2017)
      • Kelly Springs November 2011
      • Kelly Spring 2016
    • Korn Canyon >
      • Korn Canyon Update 2017
      • Korn Canyon Ridge 2004
    • Neighbors Springs Fence May 2022
    • Old Saw Mill Springs Drinker Project
    • Scotia Canyon 2004
    • Sunnyside 2011
    • Sycamore Springs Review
    • Upper Turkey Creek 2008
  • Turkey Sightings and Credits - Thanks to you
  • NM Antelope exchanged for AZ Gould's Turkey - Jan/Feb 2014
  • Other Groups that Partner with us to make our Activities Successful - Webpages
  • External Links
  • Support with a Sportman's License Plate
  • Board Members Only Reminders & Notes
    • Board Member Projects Extra Information

Comfort Spring Drinker Project
Upper Carr Canyon, Huachuca Mountains - Cochise County, Arizona - May 7th, 2016

What:  Volunteers from the Huachuca Gould’s Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation recently repaired the old water development at Comfort Spring in upper Carr Canyon of the Huachuca Mountains.

When:  May 7th, 2016

Where:  Comfort Spring is in upper Carr Canyon of the Huachuca Mountains approximately ½ mile west of the Ramsey Vista Campground and 12 miles southwest of Sierra Vista, Arizona     

General Information:  Comfort Spring is an important water source in the upper Carr Canyon watershed of the Huachuca Mountains near Sierra Vista, Arizona.

The spring is a well-known landmark along the trail from Ramsey Vista to Hamburg/Ramsey Canyon.  Early in the 20th century, it once served as a woodcutter’s camp.  Unfortunately during a severe winter in the 1930s, several men living in a cabin there died of pneumonia. (Leonard Taylor’s Hiking Guide to the Huachuca Mountains, 1991)  While the cabin is now gone, an old concrete trough still stands at the site.    

For decades the developed spring was a reliable, year-round source of water.  More recently, one wall of the concrete trough and the supplying pipeline from the spring box were damaged to the point where no water was available to hikers, hunters, and wildlife alike.
At an elevation of 7200 feet, the relative coolness of the site compared to the San Pedro Valley floor below was a welcome relief. Although the tree canopy had been opened up by past fires, a pocket of Ponderosa Pine, Douglas-fir, White Fir, Gambel Oak and New Mexico Locust 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.

After almost 2 years of planning and coordination with the Coronado National Forest, 11 members of the Huachuca Gould’s Chapter repaired the trough and installed a new, buried 45 foot pipeline from the spring box.  As Comfort Spring is in the Miller Peak Wilderness, all materials, tools, lunches, and refreshments were backpacked in by the volunteers.  While the one way distance was fairly short (½ mile) the elevation change of 300 feet in the first ¼ mile provided a memorable climb back to the parking area!    
About 10 days later, the valve on the pipe line was opened and water once again flowed into the trough at Comfort Spring.  For now the flow from the spring box is a steady trickle.  A little water is even dribbling over the lip of the reformed trough.  The volume of flow is expected to increase after the summer and winter rains recharge to the supply source. 

Acknowledgements: 
Assisting in the project were Huachuca Gould’s Chapter members Bowie Clemens, Stephanie and Dave Johnston, John Millican, Wayne Kaiser, Randy Keiller, Ryan Catlett, Dave Inman, Dave Kemnitz, Rene Dube, and Tom Deecken. John Kraft and Dave Mehalic provided Forest Service oversite.
Picture
001 Early Morning Assembly- The work group meets in lower Carr Canyon before the drive up the mountain. Those breakfast fajitas filled the spot! Left to right are John Millican, Wayne Kaiser, Randy Keiller, Dave Inman, Dave Kemnitz, and Rene Dube.
Picture
002 Point Of No Return- It’s all smiles and giggles at the Comfort Spring Trailhead before the hike in starts. From left to right are Bowie Clemens, Dave Kemnitz, Stephanie Johnston, Ryan Catlett, John Millican, Rene Dube, Dave Johnston, Randy Keiller, Wayne Kaiser, and Dave Inman.
Picture
003 The Hike In- Everything has to be carried into Comfort Spring from the trailhead. Dave Inman hikes through a stand of Arizona Pine on the way to the spring.
Picture
004 A Pleasant Stop Half Way There- Running water at the 2nd trail crossing provides a mid-way rest stop during the trek.
Picture
005 Streamside Color- Yellow Columbine adds a little color at the mid-way point on the hike to Comfort Spring
Picture
006 Work Begins At Comfort Spring- John Millican (kneeling) fills in the forms for the new wall on the trough. Dave Johnston (left) and Bowie Clemens (white shirt) look on.
Picture
007 Trench Work- Excavation progresses along the path of the new buried pipe line between the concrete trough and the spring box. Dave Johnston does the shoveling while Tom Deecken (left), Stephanie Johnston, and Wayne Kaiser (right) do the supervising.
Picture
010 Lunch Is Served- With work almost done, lunch is quickly consumed by the crew. Those subs, chips, and refreshments tasted great. Thank you Wayne Kaiser for bringing them. Now just don’t think about the climb back up that hill to the vehicles.
Picture
012 Water Flows Once Again- With the valve open on the new pipe line water begins to fill the reformed trough at Comfort Spring.
Picture
008 Stretching Out The Pipe- Dave Kemnitz pulls the new pipe uphill while Dave Inman feeds him more. The “reserves” wait in the wings.
Picture
009 Joining Old to New- Tom Deecken preps the new pipe connection at the spring box. Dave Inman steadies the pipe while Ryan Catlett (left), Dave Johnston (rear), and Wayne Kaiser offer support.
Picture
011 Trough Work Part II- John Millican removes the wall forms on the trough at Comfort Spring about 10 days after the May 6th work day.
Picture
013 Another Visit- Later in May the trough is full of water with a little seeping out. On this visit a rock escape ramp was installed for use by small wildlife.
Picture
014 Success!- Another look at the now filled water trough at Comfort Springs. With the coming summer rains, flow should be even better. Yes that is Milo you see.
Another great project to assist the wildlife in the woods, we are not picky as to who or what drinks from this watering hole, we are just glad to know there is water present for all to share.. turkeys, deer, cats, and bears alike.
***************************************
Thanks to Tom Deeken for another great story  about the Huachuca Gould's Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF).
© NWTF Huachuca Goulds Chapter - Sierra Vista, Arizona - Conserve, Hunt, Share