The Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge will hold a scoping meeting on Wednesday, December 6 from 7 to 8 p.m. at The Ajo Community Center at Bud Walker Park. The refuge will be accepting comments on a proposal to construct a forage enhancement plot for the endangered Sonoran pronghorn (Antilocapra americana sonoriensis ) in the San Cristobal Valley , in the Cabeza Prieta Wilderness. Within the six acre forage enhancement plot, supplemental irrigation will increase native plant production, providing a food and water source for Sonoran pronghorn during the hottest, driest portion of the year.
Project features include a well, pump, generator and distribution pipes. Forage enhancement plots are designed to significantly improve the survival of fawns during the hottest and driest portion of the year. Poor fawn survival has been identified as one of the most significant factors affecting the continued existence of the U.S. population of Sonoran pronghorn. Three forage enhancements have been developed within the non-wilderness area on the refuge and two plots have been developed on the Barry M. Goldwater Range to the north of the refuge.
Comments on the proposed action will be accepted until December 22. The refuge will then review the scoping comments and develop a draft Environmental Assessment which will be available to the public in February 2007.
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