| Whitewater
Draw Wildlife Area |
| |
 Narrative
Description and Vegetation Types
The Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area lies within the Chihuahuan desert grassland
habitat type. Past land uses of the property included farming and ranching
with about 30% of the property being irrigated farmland. Much of this is
being returned to native grasslands through rest and active reseeding projects.
Another 50-acre portion will be managed under a cooperatively developed
project to install moist soil cells, which may be flooded throughout the
winter months. The next largest portion of the Wildlife Area is comprised
of native grasslands, most of which is being rehabilitated as well. Over
600 acres of the area is intermittently flooded wetland with two small
patches of riparian habitat. The surrounding agricultural community of
the valley enhances feeding opportunities for such species as sandhill
cranes, doves, Mexican ducks, mallards, pintails, collared peccary and
mule deer. The wetland and grassland communities on the wildlife area provide
feeding and loafing sites for sandhill cranes, waterfowl, and doves, in
addition to numerous other terrestrial game and nongame species including
plains leopard frogs, one of the most narrowly distributed of all Arizona
leopard frogs. Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area's leopard frog population
is the healthiest and most stable of the known Arizona plains leopard frog
populations.. The former farm included fields of corn, alfalfa, and sudan
grass, and pasture for livestock grazing. The property also includes 2
residences, storage sheds, a metal barn, corrals, and 11 wells.
- View a map of this wildlife
area
Management Objective
Goals
The goals for management of the Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area are to:
1) To conserve and enhance sensitive wetland, grassland, and riparian habitat
values associated with the Whitewater Draw Property and associated habitat
for conservation and management of waterfowl, migratory game birds and
nongame birds, native amphibians, and reptiles.
2) To provide public access, for hunting and watchable wildlife oriented
recreational activities, which is consistent with management of the wildlife
resource values to provide opportunities for appropriate wildlife, oriented
public education and research.
3) To provide additional and alternative roosting, feeding, and resting
areas for migratory birds, especially waterfowl and sandhill cranes, beyond
those currently available in the area.
4) To maintain water rights and water quality and abundance associated
with the property, both surface and subterranean.
Public Use Opportunities
and Resource Management Emphasis
The management emphasis for the Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area is to maintain
the wetland habitat for waterfowl, sandhill cranes, shorebirds, bald eagles,
and plains leopard frogs and manage the native grassland community in areas
adjacent to the wetland. This resource emphasis mayl facilitate re-establishment
of riparian growth along the drainage below the wetland and provide feed,
rest, nest, and roost sites for migratory birds, especially sandhill cranes
and waterfowl, and also for resident wildlife species.
Public use will include controlled opportunities for watchable wildlife
oriented recreation including bird watching, and photography as well as
hunting of migratory birds (sandhill cranes, waterfowl and doves [Zenaida
spp.]) and other resident game animals.
Wildlife Species
Floodplain/Wetland
Habitat Species
Nearly 50% of the Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area falls within a floodplain.
The several ponds and moist soil cells on the property create outstanding
waterfowl habitat. Numerous game species, primarily waterfowl, occur on
the wildlife area. These include American wigeon (Anas americana),green-winged
teal (Anas crecca),Cinnamon teal (Anas cyanoptera), blue-winged teal (Anas
discors), gadwall (Anas strepera), Mexican duck (Anas platyrhnychos diazi),
mallard (Anas platyrhnychos), northern pintail (Anas acuta), northern shoveler
(Anas clypeata), ring-necked duck (Aythya collaris), lesser scaup (Aythya
affinis), sandhill crane (Grus canadensis), snow goose (Chen caerulescens),
Ross' goose (Chen rossii), Canada goose (Branta canadensis), mourning dove
(Zenaida macroura),white-winged dove (Zenaida asiatica), Gambel's quail
(Callipepla gambelii), and scaled quail (Callipepla squamata). In the 1980s
and again recently, bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) have been observed
on the property. This is most likely in response to the abundant waterfowl
using the wetland. Wintering waterfowl and shorebirds also attract prairie
falcons (Falco mexicanus) and peregrine falcons (F. peregrinus), in addition
to the more common wintering hawks in the valley. Mammal species include
the collared peccary (Tayassu tajacu), mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus),
and desert cottontail (Sylvilagus audubonii). Amphibian and Reptile species
that potentially occur on or near the WA include the green toad (Bufo debilis),
desert box turtle (Terrapene ornate), and Mexican garter snake (Thamnophis
eques megalops).
Irrigated Farmland
Species
Waterfowl and sandhill cranes have likely always migrated through the Sulphur
Springs Valley. However, prior to agricultural development, the number
of birds wintering in the area was a function of fall and winter habitat
(water and feed) conditions. Mexican ducks commonly nest in ponds created
by farmers for the reuse of irrigation tail-water. The number of wintering
sandhill cranes has increased dramatically since the 1950s, probably in
response to the abundant food available in harvested grain fields; primarily
corn. Numbers of both mourning, and white-winged doves have likely also
increased since historic times as the result of agriculture. Peak populations
of doves probably coincided with the period of peak sorghum production
in the area, approximately 20-30 years ago, and are currently reduced from
that peak. Numbers of both mule deer and collared peccary have also increased
in response to increased food associated with agriculture.
Special Status Species occurring on or near the Whitewater Draw Wildlife
Area have been identified through the Department's Heritage Data Management
System, and are listed below. This includes the federally threatened Chiricahua
leopard frog (Rana chiricahuensis), and bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus).
| Special
Status Species - Species
Abstracts | Status
Codes |
| Common
Name |
Scientific
Name |
Status |
| Amphibians [View
abstracts] |
| Plains
leopard frogs |
Rana
blairi |
WSC |
| Chiricahua
leopard frog |
Rana
chiricahuensis |
LT,S,WSC |
| Birds [View
abstracts] |
| Bald
eagle |
Haliaeetus
leucocephalus |
LT,S,WSC |
| Reptiles [View
abstracts] |
| Desert
massasauga |
Sistrurus
catenatus edwardsii |
S,WSC |
| Texas
horned lizard |
Phrynosoma
cornutum |
SC,S1 |
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