Connectivity Initiative Collaboration with AZGFD
By Dana Warnecke
In 2016, WTMC launched its White Tank Mountains Regional Connectivity Initiative (CI) in support of our mission to inspire all to conserve and enjoy the natural and cultural resources of the White Tank Mountains. Critical to conserving the natural resources of the White Tanks is conserving wildlife movement and connected habitats between the White Tanks and outlying natural lands. The CI represents a broad collaboration between the WMTC, City of Buckeye, and other West Valley cities, landowners, developers, and key federal and state agencies to conceptualize a wildlife linkage footprint and implementation framework that could conserve wildlife movement across the region and sustain biodiversity in the White Tanks Mountains for decades to come. The goal of this work is to proactively plan for the needs of wildlife, people, recreation, open space, and urban infrastructure in a connected and complimentary fashion.
A key factor to this planning is understanding current wildlife distributions and movements prior to large-scale development. Wildlife research can help inform wildlife corridor alignment decisions that balance the needs of stakeholders while maintaining viable paths for wildlife movement.
In 2023, the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) became a partner with the WTMC to compile existing wildlife data for the region and conduct novel research on wildlife distribution and movement within our conceptual linkage area. Thanks to the generous funding of the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust and the Arizona Game and Fish Department, novel wildlife research has been ongoing in 2023 and 2024. The major categories of wildlife investigations completed and ongoing in the White Tank Mountains region include:
- Big Game Movement Studies (mule deer, bighorn sheep)
- Aerial Surveys of the Hassayampa Plains for large mammals
- Desert Tortoise occupancy surveys in the White Tank Mountains
- Nighttime Road Cruising and thermal detection surveys targeting mammals, reptiles, and amphibians
- Wildlife road mortality surveys along Sun Valley Parkway, Wickenburg Road, and Vulture Mine Road
- Camera Trap Studies to evaluate wildlife use of Hayden-Rhodes Aqueduct known as the Central Arizona Project (CAP) crossing structures.
- Wildlife track surveys at the Hassayampa River and Jackrabbit Wash CAP siphons
Complementary to the partnership with WTMC, the AZGFD also conducted novel wildlife research for the Flood Control District of Maricopa County’s update of the Sun Valley Area Drainage Master Plan. This plan will guide the future development of regional flood hazard mitigation practices that could facilitate urban development and conserve wildlife connectivity. This research also included novel research on Sonoran Desert tortoise occupancy in the northwestern region of the White Tank Mountains.
Examples of trail camera monitoring for wildlife crossings at structures spanning the Central Arizona Project canal. Photo credit: Colin Beach (AZGFD).
Collectively this research will inform linkage alignments and design and presents a unique opportunity to assess the impacts of urbanization over time and the future effectiveness of our collaborative work to conserve the White Tanks natural heritage. The WTMC is committed to finding and advocating for solutions that will conserve the natural heritage of the White Tank Mountains while supporting a 21st century economy and quality of life for regional residents.
