Whitewater Draw State Wildlife Area COA

This COA is dominated by an ephemeral lake, patchy marshlands, and semi-arid Chihuahuan desert grassland and also contains two small patches of riparian habitat. More than 600 acres are intermittently flooded to support the wetlands and riparian habitat. A large portion of this AZGFD-owned Wildlife Area consists of native grasslands, most of which is being rehabilitated. The wetland and grassland habitats on the Wildlife Area provide feeding and loafing sites for a large wintering colony of sandhill cranes (both the lesser and greater subspecies), as well as many species of waterfowl, doves, and plains leopard frogs. Each winter, the Wildlife Area attracts visitors to see wintering cranes which can number more than 20,000 individuals.

Conservation Goals

• Conserve and enhance sensitive wetland, grassland, and riparian habitat values associated with the Whitewater Draw Property for the benefit of waterfowl, migratory game birds and nongame birds, native amphibians, and reptiles.
• Provide public access, for hunting and watchable wildlife-oriented recreational activities and provide opportunities for appropriate wildlife-oriented public education and research.
• Maintain water rights and water quality and abundance associated with the property, both surface and subterranean.
• Ensure groundwater pumping does not adversely affect the subflow zone.