A court ruling in September said redevelopment of existing wildlife water sources on the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge near Yuma did not violate federal environmental policy laws. 

U.S. District Court Judge Mary H. Murguia ruled that a decision by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to allow redevelopment of two existing water catchments using motorized equipment did not violate the Wilderness Act and that the agency complied with the National Environmental Policy Act in allowing the work to occur.

The redevelopments were done to provide more dependable sources of water for wildlife in refuge areas where access to water was limited.

The ruling is a significant win for federal and state wildlife management authorities in their on-going effort to improve habitat conditions that help support healthy wildlife populations on the refuge.

Wilderness Watch and several other groups had filed a lawsuit in June 2007, trying to prevent continued operation of the wildlife water tanks. Safari Club International, the NRA, the Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society, the Foundation for North American Wild Sheep and other hunter-conservation organizations joined with the USFWS to argue in court that water should be provided to this dwindling herd of wild sheep.

For example, since 2000, Kofa’s sheep herd diminished from over 800 to less than 400. State and federal biologists concluded the area’s prolonged drought was a significant factor in the loss of the sheep population and determined that permanent water sources of water, like these artificial water developments, would help counteract the impact of the dry conditions and help increase, or at least stabilize, the population.

The Kofa National Wildlife Refuge consists of more than 665,000 acres, of which approximately 510,000 acres are designated as wilderness. It is home to a variety of wildlife including one of the most important desert bighorn sheep populations found in the Southwest. (Source: Arizona Game & Fish Department).

Plans are in motion to extend bighorn restocking efforts into Big Bend Ranch State Park and elsewhere in the region as part of a comprehensive Desert Bighorn Sheep Restoration Plan.

With the help of partners in Mexico, including Cemex Corp., and Texas partners (Texas Bighorn Society, Wild Sheep Foundation, Dallas Safari Club, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Wildlife Services, and private landowners), Texas Parks & Wildlife will be working to prepare the State Park and surrounding areas for the eventual restoration of desert bighorns.

The objective is for the State Park to have a population of 100 bighorns by 2025. However, before bighorns can flourish there, department officials say steps must be taken to pave the way, including reducing the numbers of exotic and feral animals to prevent disease and competition, limiting bighorn losses to population, and developing water sources. (Source: TP&W report).