Connor Catchment water project April 23-24, 2011

By John Koleszar

 In September, 2010, John Dickson, then Wildlife Manager of unit 22, submitted project number 10-606 to the Habitat Partnership Committee process for review and possible funding.   That project, Connor Catchment, had a cost figure of $48,701.00.  The description and justification of the project, the potential cooperators, and identified funding sources piqued the interest of the Arizona Deer Association’s board of directors and I met with John Dickson to discuss the details further. 

 In December, all the deer projects requests were released online and the Arizona Deer Association Habitat Committee met over the holidays to review and rate the submissions. The Connor Catchment was a very viable project to fund through deer tag funds, and it also represented an opportunity for our members to provide practical, hands-on support.  The ADA agreed to fund the project and at the HPC meetings, Connor Catchment was indeed funded. The Arizona Deer Association had been looking for a project that would honor Michael Bool, son of ADA past president Mark Bool, who had passed away a couple of years ago in a tragic accident. The project was perfect for that memorial and we were granted the permission to place a brass memorial plaque at the walk-in drinker honoring Michael.

Mike Bool was a dedicated hunter and conservationist.  He is shown here with a fine Coues buck that he shot.

This project was dedicated to Mike Bool, son of ADA past president Mark Bool.
Click on image to read plaque.

 Connor Catchment was originally scheduled to be worked in March 2011, but that conflicted with the Arizona Game & Fish Department’s Expo. We requested that the construction day be shifted, and the Department moved the construction to the only week-end that was available, April 23-23….. Easter weekend.

 During the preceding months, John Dickson had been promoted to work out of the Region 6 offices in Mesa. His replacement, Jarrod McFarlin, had taken over as the Wildlife Manager for unit 22 south, and served as the coordinator for the project. Without a doubt, working with Jarrod is always a treat. He is passionate about what he does and is as accommodating as anyone I know to help in the process.

 The Game and Fish Department’s Development Branch, headed by Ed Jahrke, began work Thursday April 21^st.  Throughout Thursday and Friday, Development Branch dug out the hole for the tanks and started erecting some of the fencing that would surround the catchment. By Saturday morning, when all the volunteers arrived, we were able to begin assembling the tanks while others finished placing cement in perfectly aligned holes for the fences. The assembly took place at a very rapid rate and, since many of the volunteers had worked on other catchments, instruction and down time minimal.  By the time a well deserved dinner was ready, the complete overlay was in place, the tanks had been sealed together and the pipes leading to the walk-in trough had been laid. The trough was placed about ten yards from the drain pipes and we cemented in the trough. At the head of the drinker we placed the memorial plaque to Michael and cemented it in place as well. We gave the Bool family an opportunity to be part of the project and were grateful that they were all there for the final setting of the plaque.

 Dinner Saturday night was a gourmet delight. Scott Streich, who had doubled as an expert welder, left the work site about two hours before quitting time to prepare a feast for all the hungry workers. Gathering around the dinner table provided plenty of time to go over the day’s activities. After dinner, many of the workers headed back to the valley to spend Easter Sunday with family. Those that remained were able to return to the site early and witness all the corrugated steel placed on the overlay to the catchment. The accompanying photos tell the story of all the hard work and how a dedicated work force of 28 volunteers can accomplish a tremendous project in a limited amount of time. Deer and elk can now access the waters, which were sorely needed. The catchment is not too far from either Payson or Rye, but still a significant distance from the road and nestled nicely in one of the remote draws away from the main traffic areas.

 Congratulations to all who participated and we will be looking for another volunteer participant project next year. Please visit our website for more information on projects, to find out more about any scheduled projects, or to review past projects. Thanks to the MSA, the AES, The Coconino Sportsmen as well as the ADA volunteers who all helped make this a great project.

Additional photos of the project are shown below.  Click on each image to see larger photo.

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