L25-09020949 Habitat Improvement on tonto National Forest

The Arizona Game and Fish Department has awarded a Cooperative Stewardship Agreement to Lynn Martin of JF Ranch, located in Superior, Arizona, for habitat improvement efforts within the Tonto National Forest. The contract, identified as CTR078974, has a total value of $28,000 and spans a ten-year period from October 6, 2025, to September 9, 2035. The project focuses on water infrastructure enhancements to support wildlife habitat, specifically involving the rehabilitation of multiple wells and water systems including Nobel Well, Roblas Well, JF Well, Preston Well, and Mesquite Dirt Tank.

The scope of work includes comprehensive water system improvements such as replacing solar pumps, installing wildlife-friendly drinkers, adding storage tanks between 3,000 and 5,000 gallons, and clearing well shafts. The agreement requires JF Ranch to maintain year-round water availability for wildlife, regardless of livestock rotation. The project is funded through the Land and Resources Program (LRP) with a LRHEP FY2026 grant, and the contract is authorized under Arizona Revised Statutes 17-231(B)(7), with annual monitoring to assess the effectiveness of the habitat improvement efforts.