| Arlington
Wildlife Area |
| |
 The
Arlington Wildlife Area (AWA) is located
along the west bank of the Gila River approximately
3-1/2 miles south of Arlington and 15 miles
southwest of Buckeye in Maricopa County,
Arizona. AWA is approximately 1500 acres,
being composed of lands owned by the Arizona
Game and Fish Commission and lands owned
by other governmental agencies but managed
for wildlife by Game and Fish under long-term
agreement.
- View
a map of this wildlife area
Narrative Description
and Vegetation Types
The wildlife area has two ponds totaling approximately 10 acres, an extensive
stand of salt cedar, and about 4 miles of river channel including running
water, cattails and other emergent vegetation, sand and gravel bars and
riparian trees such as cottonwood, willow and salt cedar. The soil is classified
as Gila loam, and the elevation is 800 to 900 feet. Rainfall averages about
eight inches per year, and temperatures range from 75°F to 120°F
in the summer to 30°F to 70°F during the winter.
Management Objective
Goals
To optimize the habitat potential of the property for wildlife and for
present and future generations of the public to enjoy wildlife-oriented
recreation.
Public Use Opportunities
and Resource Management Emphasis
AWA was established with an emphasis on waterfowl, and is particularly
favorable as a location where limited mobility hunters can gain access
for duck hunting. This area also has a very high value for its dove nesting
habitat and the federally endangered Yuma clapper rail is a regular nesting
species in the ponds and along the river. The objectives for AWA are:
A. To maintain habitat for waterfowl, doves, Yuma clapper rails and other
wildlife that use AWA.
B. To provide compatible hunting, wildlife viewing, and other wildlife
oriented recreational opportunities.
Wildlife Species
The open water ponds attract numerous waterfowl and shorebirds. Yuma clapper
rails (Rallus longirostris yumanensis) nest on site. The salt cedar bosque
provides nesting habitat for red-winged blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus),
doves, and other riparian bird species. The salt cedar bosque also provides
cover for various mammals, amphibians and reptiles. The area is used by
quail, doves, egrets, herons, geese, coyote (Canis latrans), fox, bobcat
(Felis rufus), common raccoon (Procyon lotor), skunks, small mammals, reptiles,
amphibians, raptors and wetland associated species.
Special Status Species occurring on or near the Arlington Wildlife Area
have been identified through the Department's Heritage Data Management
System, and are listed below. This includes the federally endangered Yuma
clapper rail (Rallus longirostris yumanensis), and the Western yellow-billed
cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus occidentalis), a federally listed candidate
species.
| Special
Status Species - Species
Abstracts | Status
Codes |
| Common
Name |
Scientific
Name |
Status |
| Amphibians [View
abstracts] |
| Lowland
Leopard Frog |
Rana
yavapaiensis |
SC,S,WSC |
| Birds [View
abstracts] |
| Western
Yellow-billed Cuckoo |
Coccyzus
americanus occidentalis |
C,S,3,WSC |
| Yuma
Clapper Rail |
Rallus
longirostris yumanensis |
LE,WSC |
| Fish [View
abstracts] |
| Roundtail
Chub |
Gila
robusta |
SC,S,WSC |
| Reptiles [View
abstracts] |
| Sonoran
Desert Tortoise |
Gopherus
agassizii |
SC,WSC |
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