Friends of the Tonto National Forest - Water Source Inventory Project. Friends of the Tonto National Forest is a 501(c)3 non-profit volunteer organization whose primary mission is support of the Tonto National Forest. The Water Source Inventory project is being undertaken in cooperation with TRAL to assist the Forest Hydrologist and other forest specialists by collecting data related to developed water sources on the forest. Throughout its history, the Tonto National Forest applied for hundreds of water rights. The Forest is now compiling a database of current information on the developments at every water source in order to maintain these rights. Developed water sources were constructed for use by livestock and wildlife. Three types of developed water sources to be inventoried are: windmills, springs and stock tanks.

You can help Friends inventory developed water sources on the Tonto National Forest. The Tonto will create an accurate map of water locations and their construction from the data collected and use this information for future environmental analyses as well as for the adjudication of water rights by the State of Arizona. You will need a 4WD high clearance vehicle on most of the Forest Roads that lead to the sites. In addition, an iPhone or Android device to run the Collector mapping software on, and a satellite GPS unit, such as a Bad Elf capable of locating a water source development. Some sites will require short hikes.

Two ways to participate

With a Friend

Grab a friend as we recommend this activity for at least two participants working together. Preferably with two vehicles. Schedule data collection at your convenience.

Group Outing

Friends of the Tonto will organize one group run per month (possibly two) to specific areas of the forest, where there are high concentrations of un-inventoried sites. Depending on the size of the group, we will split up into smaller teams and collect in neighboring areas. We will use CB radios for vehicle to vehicle communication. We will be out of phone contact in many locations in the forest. We plan to have a couple of loaner CB radios available.

How do I get involved?

The Tonto National Forest Hydrologist, Kelly Mott La Croix will hold a 45 minute virtual training session, followed by a 15 minute question and answer session on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 at 7PM. We will follow this with a field day which is tentatively planned for Saturday, May 8, 2021. Detail connection information will be provided to those who respond.

If you are still interested, please let me know and I will make sure you are invited to the training.

If these dates do not work for you let me know that as well and we'll work something out. We have an option to have this April 29th, but I’m afraid that if we push this out any further Kelly will be working on a fire. I’d like to try to make these dates work if possible.

Virtual Training Tuesday, April 20, 2021 at 7PM

Field Training Day Saturday, May 8, 2021 9AM-2PM?

Contact Trent Shue at trent@friendsofthetonto.org