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.
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!