Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Wildlife Resources topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council authorizes IGA with Arizona Game & Fish for wildlife drinkers on Interbasin pipeline
Summary
The council approved an intergovernmental agreement with the Arizona Game and Fish Department to install five wildlife drinkers along the Interbasin waterline; Game and Fish will fund infrastructure and monitor tanks while the city will supply an estimated 100,000 gallons annually.
Flagstaff — The City Council on March 4 approved an intergovernmental agreement with the Arizona Game and Fish Department to restore and operate wildlife drinkers along the Interbasin pipeline.
Water services staff and Arizona Game and Fish representatives told the council the drinker program dates to the early 1990s, when three drinkers were established to support wildlife. After wildfire and erosion damaged infrastructure, Game and Fish proposed reestablishing those drinkers and adding two more. The department has completed environmental clearances and secured non‑city funding — including grant support from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the Arizona Elk Society — to pay for installation and equipment.
Colby Walton (Arizona Game and Fish) described the design: storage tanks tied to the waterline will be isolated by manual valves and monitored remotely by cellular/satellite telemetry; tanks will feed standard “rainmaker” wildlife drinkers controlled by floats. Walton said a 1,500‑gallon storage tank at each site should supply drinkers through dry periods; staff said the department expects to have monitoring and refilling procedures in place and will cover maintenance.
Water Services staff said the city will provide an estimated 100,000 gallons annually for the drinkers and that the IGA spells out responsibilities and monitoring roles. Council approved the intergovernmental agreement on a unanimous vote.
Why the program matters
- Officials said drinkers provide important year‑round water resources for wildlife, especially post‑wildfire when natural water sources and springs can be disrupted.
- The arrangement places installation and maintenance responsibilities with Arizona Game and Fish while formalizing the city’s role as water supplier and clarifying monitoring and operational duties.
Action taken
Council approved a resolution authorizing an IGA between the City of Flagstaff and the Arizona Game and Fish Department to establish and operate wildlife drinkers along the Interbasin pipeline. Vote: unanimous.
Ending
Representatives from Game and Fish and the city described the project as shovel‑ready given completed clearances, and they anticipated construction once city and Forest Service coordination is complete.
