CC - Agendas - City Council - REGULAR - 11/28/2017

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Although conceptual only, the antelope "preserve" recently proposed by local open space advocates could theoretically extend through a middle portion of the ASAP area that ties Glassford Hill to grasslands north of ASAP. Including and paralleling Granite Creek wash, such an open space band could provide regional drainage, wildlife habitat, a movement corridor, and an airport buffer. Game and Fish wildlife managers explain that mule deer (estimated at about 125 head), javalina, and various predators will travel along the washes, whereas the pronghorn antelope will generally resist enclosed areas. Antelope prefer the high flats or ridgelines from which they can see any approaching predators. Watering holes are a common need for all types of wildlife. Wildlife experts recommend that efforts be taken to maintain year-round water in some of the existing ponds, and that a perennial pond be created and supplied by the CVID effluent ditch. Any areas isolated by roads should also have a water source for wildlife or the animals will be pressed to move, in turn causing animal deaths and traffic accidents. Where new developments and roads occur, the Department recommends specific fencing designs friendly to antelope and other wild game. To educate the community, specifications could be added to building permits for fences and road signs could be erected warning of antelope. Roadside fence placement is recommended to allow antelope staging areas for safer road crossings. Reportedly, pronghorn will more readily cross roads where (or when) traffic levels are low and where fencing is safer and does not contribute to injury or predation. Any wildlife corridors should obviously be contiguous, contain adequate forage, and have as few barriers as possible. Fencing along wildlife corridors should be standard game fence; however more restrictive fencing should be used to contain domestic dogs. 13