July 15, 2024 Newberry Water Haul

July 15, 2024 Water Haul: SCBS Volunteers met at the Newberry Springs Community Center at 07:00 to fill tanks with water. We did have a brief meeting regarding safety and tortoise awareness. Note that the Society for the Conservation of Bighorn Sheep (SCBS) does pay for the water used. The hose crew met at the guzzler site at 06:30 to set up pump, note that the hose was stretched out the previous day. After filling, SCBS volunteers drove the approximate 5 miles on pavement to the dirt road cut-off on National Trails Highway. From pavement, the volunteers drove approximately 6.5 miles of travel south on dirt. The route through wilderness is an existing “two track” within an active/braided wash. Water haulers arrived at the drinker to offload water beginning approximately 08:30. Water pumping operations were completed by 11:30 and the hose was rolled up for departure approximately 12:20. The high temperature reached approximately 105*F as we were departing the site.

Highlights:

- 3275-gallons of water filled in trucks at the Newberry Springs Community Center.

-Fifteen sheep (15) sheep were sighted Sunday and one (1) ewe spotted on Monday.

-Covey of chukar came in for a drink while we were pumping water.

Expenses: Breakfast burritos for volunteers donated by Del Taco, Barstow. Watermelon & Drinks by Butch Rhodes and Doug Appel Water donated by SCBS from the Newberry Springs Community Center All fuel, mileage and vehicle wear and tear donated by the Volunteer participants.

Personnel/ Volunteers: Sunday Hose Lay Crew Butch Rhodes, Barstow, CA (~45-miles) Johnny Soto, Barstow, CA (~45-miles Jasper Soto (12-years old) Jesse Chicon, Barstow, CA (~45-miles) Luke Chicon (12-years old) Monday Water-haul Crew Hose/Pump Butch Rhodes, Barstow, CA (~45-miles) 325-Gal Doug Appel, Glendora, CA (~280-miles) Hose/Pump Craig Stewart, Irvine, CA (~460-miles) 275-Gal David Dickinson, Victorville, CA (~200-miles) Maryanne Stauber (carpooled) 275-Gal Rick Halter, Newberry Springs, CA (~45-miles) 275-Gal Monte Hammer, Banning, CA (~340-miles) 200-Gal Bill Baquet, Upland, CA (~280-miles) 275-Gal Tim Hayes, Tehachapi, CA (~240-miles) 550-Gal John Nelson (Big Red), Santa Clarita, CA (~360-miles) 275-Gal Ana Solberg (CDFW), Bishop, CA (~500-miles) 275-Gal Shelton Hatfield (CDFW), Bishop, CA (~500-miles) 275-Gal Art Miller, Jr., Yucca Valley, CA (~200) Mike Schaefer (carpooled) 275-Gal Scott Gibson, Joshua Tree, CA (~240-miles) Kathleen Gibson (carpooled) Willow Gibson (carpooled)