Columnist Barb Henderson: Water development destroyed by vandalism

Barb Henderson

Friday, Feb. 7, 2003 | 9:33 a.m.

Barb Henderson is an outdoors enthusiast, freelance writer and producer/host of outdoors radio television programming. Her column appears Friday in the Sun.

Vandals have destroyed a wildlife water development north of Las Vegas.

On Jan. 24 during one of his regular checks, a member of the Fraternity of the Desert Bighorn (a wildlife conservation organization) discovered there had been severe damage to one of the water development projects.

The members of the Fraternity routinely check on the water developments, which include measuring and recording the amount of water holding inside the huge storage tanks and checking to make sure the valve and pipes are working properly.

Although this water project had been constructed primarily for the desert bighorn sheep, it will affect other wildlife such as kit fox, coyotes, bobcats, golden eagles, red tail hawks, jack rabbits, cottontails, quail and passerines.

Hopefully, the sheep will roam the area and locate an adjacent water development. But the loss of this water project will be devastating for the smaller critters.

In light of the recent drought, this senseless act could not have come at a worse time, according to Craig Stevenson, Nevada Division of Wildlife biologist.

"When destroyed the guzzler held approximately 3,200 gallons of its 4,800 capacity. It took two to three years of rainfall to reach that level," Stevenson said.

"Every drop of water is critical in the desert and with no natural springs in the area, wildlife depend on the guzzler as a reliable water source."

The 3,200 gallons would have been an entire year's supply of water for the wildlife in that particular area.

Constructed in 1986, the water development will need to be rebuilt at a cost of about $25,000, with the process taking almost an entire year.

Once construction is ready to begin, the ground will be cleared, and an apron (a huge tarp-like material or metal roofing panels) will be laid down. Pipes are placed in the ground running downhill from the apron toward the tanks. After precipitation gathers in the apron, it flows in a downward slope toward the pipe that leads to the holding tank.

These huge holding tanks can store many gallons of water. The water eventually will drain down from the tanks into the drinker; a valve controls the water being released from the tanks to the drinker.

NDOW along with the Fraternity of the Desert Bighorn are seeking the public's help in catching the vandals and are offering a reward of $5,200 for information that leads to the conviction of those responsible. Information can be reported anonymously to the Operation Game Thief hotline at (800) 992-3030.

Briefly

Until next week, enjoy the great outdoors.