Pr. Krausman et Rc. Etchberger, RESPONSE OF DESERT UNGULATES TO A WATER PROJECT IN ARIZONA, The Journal of wildlife management, 59(2), 1995, pp. 292-300
Effects of water projects on ungulates in the arid southwestern United
States are poorly understood, but there are concerns that such projec
ts will displace native ungulates, influence movements, and increase m
ortality. One such project, the Hayden-Rhodes Aqueduct (HRA), traverse
s the habitat of desert mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus crooki) and big
horn sheep (Ovis canadensis) in southcentral Arizona. We contrasted ho
me range size, use of vegetation associations, and frequency of animal
locations within 500 m of the HRA for mule deer in the Belmont and Bi
g Horn mountains and for bighorn sheep in the Little Harquahala Mounta
ins during construction (1980-84) and after completion (1989-92) of th
e HRA. We also examined the distance of ungulates to water catchments
to determine if added water catchments attracted them. Home range size
and use of vegetation associations did not differ (P > 0.05) between
periods for deer and sheep. Deer and sheep were rarely within 500 m of
the aqueduct, but frequency of locations less-than-or-equal-to 500 m
of the HRA did not differ (P > 0.05) between, during, and after constr
uction of the canal. Female deer were closer (P < 0.05) to water catch
ments in spring and summer prior to completion of the canal but farthe
r (P < 0.05) from water catchments in summer after completion of the H
RA. Bighorn sheep were not attracted to water catchments. Data suggest
that the additional water was not important to the deer or sheep popu
lations. The HRA reinforced previously established barriers (i.e., hig
hways, fences, railroads) that fragmented habitat but did not alter us
e of habitats or movements of desert mule deer or bighorn sheep.