[Statewide_MWS] AZGFD 3 volunteer opportunities to help wildlife habitat

Thu Jun 4 07:30:21 MST 2009

Help improve wildlife habitat: Three volunteer opportunities are available
over the next two weekends
June 3, 2009 

Outdoor enthusiasts seeking opportunities to get outside and pitch in for
wildlife and habitat are encouraged to take advantage of three
volunteer projects over the next two weekends:

Mohave Sportsman Club¹s 17th annual Adopt-a-Ranch cleanup at the Boquillas
Ranch.
Saturday, June 6, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.  The Mohave Sportsman Club sponsors this
annual one-day cleanup event in cooperation with the Arizona Game and Fish
Department on the sprawling 730,000-acre Boquillas Ranch west of Seligman in
northwestern Arizona. Volunteers will meet at Pica Camp at 8 a.m. and
receive gloves, trash bags, tools and maps, along with information and an
orientation. The volunteers will then disperse across the ranch in their own
vehicles to collect litter while exploring the area before bringing what
they¹ve collected back to Pica Camp at the end of the day for transfer to an
Arizona Game and Fish Department trailer. This project is a great
opportunity to help clean up habitat, see wildlife and scenic landscapes,
and mingle with other outdoor enthusiasts. It will also help maintain public
access on or across private property to public lands and help improve
relations between landowners and the public.  To get to the meeting site,
take State Route 66 west out of Seligman to milepost 123.5, turn north
through the gate and go two miles to Pica Camp.  The Mohave Sportsman Club
will be camping at Pine Canyon. If you would like to camp with the group, go
north from Pica Camp on Rhodes Canyon Road about 8 miles. Turn left and
travel a couple of miles east to the camp. Please note that the Boquillas
Ranch does not allow ATVs. For more information, contact Troy Christensen,
public access program coordinator for the Arizona Game and Fish Department,
at (623) 236-7492 or tchristensen at azgfd.gov.

Cleanup at Woods Canyon Lake to help nesting bald eagles.
Saturday, June 6, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.  The Arizona Game and Fish Department and
the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests are offering an opportunity at Woods
Canyon Lake (on the Mogollon Rim between Payson and Heber in central
Arizona) for the public to learn about nesting bald eagles and osprey while
helping remove shoreline garbage and monofilament fishing line. Participants
will meet at 9 a.m. at the Woods Canyon Lake store and be provided with
garbage bags and areas of shoreline to cover. Be sure to bring water,
sunscreen and your camera or binoculars.  As an added feature, biologists
will also present a bald eagle and osprey natural history program starting
at 1 p.m. at the Woods Canyon Lake amphitheater. Also, June 6 is National
Free Fishing Day, so volunteers can bring their fishing gear and pursue some
trout after the cleanup project The lake is situated atop the Mogollon Rim
in central Arizona, about 5 miles north of State Highway 260 between Payson
and Heber. For more information, contact Dan Groebner at the Arizona Game
and Fish Department¹s Pinetop office at (928) 367-4281.

Arizona Elk Society Burro Creek fence removal and 26 Bar Adopt-a-Ranch work
project.
Saturday, June 13 and Sunday, June 14. Volunteers are needed to help with
two Arizona Elk Society (AES) work projects, south of Eager in eastern
Arizona. AES will split the volunteers to tackle both projects that will
benefit wildlife. An Adopt-a-Ranch project in cooperation with the 26 Bar
Ranch will involve repairing a 20,000-gallon water catchment. The other crew
will remove up to 6 miles of fence from the Burro Creek Allotment east of
Big Lake. About 80-100 volunteers are needed to accomplish these projects.
The projects will involve hiking and physical labor. Training will be
provided. Please bring pliers, gloves, and wire cutters if you have them.
Some of these items will also be provided. The location will be near Big
Lake, so be prepared for cool mornings and possibly rain. Make sure you
bring appropriate hats, long-sleeve shirts and sunblock for sun protection.
Old clothes are recommended for those grinding on the tanks. Rubber boots
will be needed for those that can work in the tanks. Due to the remote
location, it is suggested that volunteers come up on Friday and camp. Be
sure to R.S.V.P. because AES will provide dinner on Friday evening, three
meals on Saturday, and breakfast on Sunday morning. Breakfast on Saturday
will be at 7 a.m. Volunteers will meet at camp at 8 a.m. to begin work and
should plan on working until late afternoon on Saturday. Crews may also work
on Sunday morning. The Arizona Elk Society is a family oriented
organization; however, these projects are potentially dangerous, working
with barbed wire, power tools and vehicles. Kids under 18 must be supervised
by an adult. Main camp will be at Rudd Knoll campsite 3 miles north of
Crescent Lake, southwest of Springerville. From Show Low, take Highway 260
east toward Springerville, turn south on paved Highway 261 (3 miles west of
Springerville), and head south 17 miles. Look for signs at the campsite on
the left side of the road. This is primitive camping - there are no
facilities. Camping is also available at Big Lake campground. Meals and
meetings will take place at Rudd Knoll camping area. Please R.S.V.P. to Tom
Schorr at thomas.schorr at fcssw.com or call (602) 431-4131. Please advise if
you would like to carpool to save on expenses and driving. There may also be
extra sleeping areas in tents or trailers available.

 The Arizona Game and Fish Department prohibits discrimination on the basis
of race, color, sex, national origin, age, or disability in its programs and
activities. If anyone believes that they have been discriminated against in
any of the AGFD¹s programs or activities, including employment practices,
they may file a complaint with the Director's Office, 5000 W. Carefree
Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086-5000, (602) 942-3000, or with the Fish and
Wildlife Service, 4040 N. Fairfax Dr. Ste. 130, Arlington, VA 22203. Persons
with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation or this document in
an alternative format by contacting the Director's Office as listed above. 

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