ARIZONA – In the Southwest, large bodies of water are relatively uncommon. Most desert water sources are ephemeral, available only during monsoons. If there are any permanent water sources, they are often difficult to access. This resource scarcity creates a challenge when wildlife, livestock and fire suppression crews all require available and accessible water. The Forest Service has addressed this challenge as part of the habitat restoration and goals supporting the Wildfire Crisis Strategy. The creation and restoration of aquatic habitat improves the systems’ resiliency to environmental stressors, like wildfires. Aquatic habitat restoration also encourages the conservation of several native species, such as the threatened Chiricahua leopard frog. 

Coronado National Forest recently renovated several stockponds, enabling them to function better as multi-use resources. Human-made ponds provide water for wildlife, livestock and create a suitable habitat for the Chiricahua leopard frog around the artificial ponds. The stockponds are also used as “dipsites” for water retrieval during wildfire suppression activities. The Forest Service stockponds are placed strategically in locations accessible to helicopters. This placement helps ensure a safe and reliable water source for fire suppression crews. Water storage tanks are located next to the ponds allowing them to remain a permanent resource while supporting multiple uses during dry conditions. 

CNF Biologist John Kraft, frog program specialist with the Arizona Game, along with Fish Department Ian Latella and Fish and Wildlife Service Biologist Ethan Seavey, helped the stockpond projects come full circle by translocating CLF to these new sites on the CNF. The hope is that many eggs will survive to complete metamorphosis, reach adulthood and successfully reproduce. Well-established CLF populations help increase the threatened frog populations in the CNF and make the entire population more resilient. These restoration projects are only made possible by collaboration within agencies and local communities. 

In order to be good stewards of public land, the Forest Service seeks to improve and provide resources that benefit people, domestic animals and wildlife for a sustainable future.