HIIT Springs Fence Project: Mission Accomplished

After several weekends of hard work, challenging weather and plenty of teamwork, the Arizona Elk Society’s HIIT Springs fence project was officially completed on August 2nd.

So, why build this fence? HIIT Springs is an important water source for wildlife, and protecting the spring is essential to maintaining this valuable habitat. The new fence is designed to keep both wild and domestic animals from accessing and damaging the spring itself, helping preserve the water source and surrounding habitat for the wildlife that depend on it. This project is another example of how AES volunteers are working to protect and improve critical wildlife habitat across Arizona.

Our final weekend began Friday, July 31, with a small crew arriving at camp and quickly getting everything set up before heading to the project site. The focus for the weekend was installing the final 20-foot single rails, bringing the fence to its planned height of seven feet. With several new volunteers joining the crew, we spent some time getting everyone familiar with the fence design and construction process. Once everyone found their rhythm, the crew made great progress and completed two sides of the top rails before calling it a day.

Back at camp, volunteers enjoyed a hot dinner before gathering around the campfire for some well-earned conversation and camaraderie.

Saturday brought additional volunteers and a larger work crew. After breakfast, everyone headed to the project site early and divided into teams. The temperatures climbed into the 90s, and recent monsoon rains brought out plenty of mosquitoes, but neither was enough to slow down the crew. Volunteers worked through the heat and insects, making significant progress throughout the morning.

After lunch and a short break, everyone returned to the job site for the afternoon work session. By Saturday evening, the crew had used the last of the single-rail pipe. Knowing additional material was available at the ranger station in Williams, the team made a plan to pick it up Sunday morning. Despite the heat and challenging conditions, volunteers had pushed the project to the finish line.

Sunday morning, a small crew headed to Williams to pick up the remaining pipe while the rest of the volunteers cleaned up and tore down camp. Once the material arrived, the crew headed back to the project site for one final push. By approximately 1 p.m., the last rail was in place and the HIIT Springs fence project was officially complete.

This project presented its share of challenges, including extreme heat, thick mosquitoes, equipment issues and material shortages. But every obstacle was met with determination and teamwork. Most importantly, our volunteers never stopped working toward the goal.

The completed fence represents much more than posts and rails. It is the result of countless hours of volunteer labor and a commitment to improving Arizona’s wildlife habitat. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who came out, worked hard, and helped make this project a success.

Thank you to all of our HIIT Springs volunteers. Your time, effort and dedication made a lasting difference for Arizona’s wildlife!