Taos Pueblo Department of Natural Resources Donation
Project ID: 5458
Status: Completed
Fiscal Year: 2020
Submitted By: 860
Project Manager: Riley Peck
PM Agency: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
PM Office: Northern Region
Lead: Sportsmen for Fish & Wildlife
WRI Region: Salt Lake Office
Description:
This is a donation to assist the Taos Pueblo Department of Natural Resources with bighorn sheep management issues. Specifically, to construct a fence along the southern boundary of Tract A that will prevent bighorns from crossing the Rio de Peublo de Taos and potentially commingling with their nearest domestic sheep operation.
Location:
Taos Pueblo Tact A, New Mexico
Project Need
Need For Project:
We are working to collaborate with Taos Pueblo Department of Natural Resources (TPDNR) to translocate bighorns to Antelope Island Utah. These animals are very important to the Taos people for a number of reasons and they want to make sure that their herd remains healthy long into the future. The TPDNR has a number of issues that they would like to address to improve the health and sustainability of their bighorn sheep program, but funding is often difficult for them to procure. In our discussions, they identified three specific issues... 1. Vehicle access to their Alpine herd. 2. Guzzler/well repairs for the Alpine herd 3. Protective fencing for the Gorge herd (Tract A). They identified the fence as being the most pressing project. The fence would hopefully prevent bighorns from crossing the Rio de Pueblo de Taos to the south of Tract A and potentially contacting domestic sheep operations approximately 7 miles to the south. TPDNR has obtained a quote for this project that exceeds the amount that we would be involved donating. They are working to secure other funding, but have agreed to use this donation contribute to the funding needed for this protective fencing project.
Objectives:
Donate funds that would be used explicitly for the protective fencing project on the south end of Tract A (see attached map, quote, and cooperative agreement). This fence will hopefully prevent commingling between bighorns and the nearest domestic sheep. 1 - Establish positive working relationship with TPDNR-SFW-UDWR 2 - Provide a source herd for future DWR translocations
Project Location/Timing Justification (Why Here? Why Now?):
N/A
Relation To Management Plan:
Bighorn translocations are an important management tool listed in in our management plans. Working together with TPDNR will provide DWR future opportunities to enhance our BHS populations in Utah by having a source herd for future translocations.
Fire / Fuels:
N/A
Water Quality/Quantity:
N/A
Compliance:
N/A
Methods:
Donation combined with cooperative agreement between TPDNR and SFW (the donating entity).
Monitoring:
TPDNR will be able to use the funds to their discretion for the fencing project.
Partners:
SFW TPDNR
Future Management:
An agreement will be in place between UDWR and TPDNR to translocate up to 50 bighorn sheep in 2020 and 2021.
Sustainable Uses of Natural Resources:
Translocated bighorn sheep will be managed to propagate as a sustainable resource.
Budget WRI/DWR Other Budget Total In-Kind Grand Total
$0.00 $37,500.00 $37,500.00 $0.00 $37,500.00
Item Description WRI Other In-Kind Year
Other Donation. $1.50 Restricted Expo Funds. Direct Pay $0.00 $37,500.00 $0.00 2020
Funding WRI/DWR Other Funding Total In-Kind Grand Total
$0.00 $37,500.00 $37,500.00 $0.00 $37,500.00
Source Phase Description Amount Other In-Kind Year
SFW Expo Permit ($1.50) $1.50 Restricted Expo Funds. Direct Pay $0.00 $37,500.00 $0.00 2020
Species
Species "N" Rank HIG/F Rank
Bighorn Sheep N4 R2
Threat Impact
Not Listed NA
Habitats
Habitat
Project Comments
Completion
Start Date:
02/20/2020
End Date:
02/21/2020
FY Implemented:
2020
Final Methods:
A donation was made to the Taos Pueblo Department of Natural Resources.
Project Narrative:
A collaboration with Taos Pueblo Department of Natural Resources (TPDNR) to translocate bighorns to Antelope Island Utah was an important goal that provided great opportunities for antelope island. Unfortunately, the bighorns that we intended to translocate were not healthy enough to be released. The relationship with TPDNR was maintained despite the failed project. The money donated to the TPDNR will still be beneficial to the future management or bighorns on Taos lands.
Future Management:
The donated money will go a long ways to improving the bighorn sheep management on Taos Lands. With our positive relationship, there may be future opportunities to work with TPDNR.
Map Features
N/A
Project Map
N/A