Society For The Conservation Of Bighorn Sheep

Programs: Satellite water monitoring: collect and provide data to california department of fish and wildlife biologists on water source information received from satellite monitoring systems installed om big game guxzzlers. This data is used to determine when water hauling or guzzler repairs are needed to support the wildlife.

satellite monitor repair and installation: purchase and install repair parts for satellite water monitor systems on big game water sources and report results to the california department of fish and wildlife biologists. This includes the replacemet of the existing system at the newly rebuilt cady big game gussler. Installation of a new monitoring system at the lava project on the 29 palms marine corps base as well as repairs at vermin and old did big game guzzlers.

water hauling to big game guzzlers during the crucial dry summer months: the big horn sheep are dependent on the man made water sources due to the fact that natural water sources such as springs have been diminished by ground water pumping and other types of human consumption as well as record drought conditions in 2017. Highways and other developments have also disrupted the historical migration routes use by the sheep to find water during the dry summer months. Volunteers ofter use their own vehicles to haul water to remote guzzler locations with small truck mounted tanks. Water was purchased and delivered to teresa spring.

additional water hauling: this organization applied for and received a california state grant to fund water hauling to the big game guzzlers over a three year period. In 2017 water was delivered to the bear claw, newberry, kerr, and cady big game guzzlers. ;

area captain program: coordinate with the california department of fish and wildlife, us bureau of land management, u s forest service, u s park service, california state park service and volunteers on various projects including installation, repair and maintenance of the big game guzzlers and natural springs. Conduct surveys and provide the results to the california department of fish and wildlife for the improvement of wildlife habitat. Coordinate with volunteer area captains to inspect and maintain over 48 big game guzzlers and various natural springs.

sheep sheet news letter: print and distribute the sheep sheet news letter that contains information on wildlife habitat improvement projects both past and future. It is distributed to members and volunteers

mojave preserve guzzler repair, replacement and maintenance project: there are sever big game guzzlers and developed springs within the boundaries of the mojave national preserve, some of which are the oldest installations built by volunteer labor working in conjunction with the department of fish and wildlife. In 1994, when the national preserve was created, control of the land use was given to the united states park service and management of the lands including the guzzlers and springs now falls under the jurisdiction of the superintendent of the preserve. In order to improve communication and expedite the approval process on repair, maintenance and replacement of the aging big game guzzler system, the organization has contracted with dr. Vernon bleich phd, biologist, to research and draft a document to explain the need for the big game guzzlers in the preserve and provide historical data on water use by the bighorn sheep. The information to be distributed to the superintendent of the preserve with the intention to create a letter of understanding so that the organization as volunteer agents for the department of fish and wildlife can perform repairs, maintenance and replacement of existing guzzler equipment on an as needed basis.

state lands commission/ state school lands: the big game gizzler sites planned for the state lands school sites in the mojave desert is still a work in progress; however one two and one-half acre site with an existing guzzler has been leased by the organization and it will be monitored and maintained by volunteers with the results being reported to the california department of fish and wildlife biologists. This site is located in the granite mountains in riverside county.

state lands commission / state school lands: around the turn of the 1900's, the entire state of california was surveyed and in every land township a parcel of land was set aside and control given to the state of california to be used for school purposes. Over 100 years have passed and some of the parceks of land have been surrounded by designated wilderness and can never be inhabited by humans. Some of the remote wilderness sites are in habitat well suited for bighorn sheer and the organization, in conjunction with the california depart of fish and wildlife, has developed a plan to lease from the state lands commission portions of the parcels for the purpose of installing big game guzzlers. As a part of the application process to lease these sections of land, a cultural resource study is required in order to nake sure no cultural or historical sites or resources are disturbed, this is a complex process because all 70 proposed sites have to be visited and researched. The organization has contracted with dr. Ala garfinkel gold of bakerfield to perform this work and provide study results to the state lands commission.

rebuild aging cady guzzler: the cady big game guzzler was very old and the rain water collection system had been damaged by flash flood waters. The original water storage tanks were in bad shape and destined to fail. So, in conjunction with the bureau of land management, the organization went to work to install a complete new guzzler system with three new rain catcher tanks. A larger rain mat and a satellite monitoring system. The old system was dismantled, cut up and removed and the site restored to appear as undisturbed desert.