CAWSF Sponsors Drinker Installation in 2022 — California Wild Sheep Foundation

It takes a lot of funds, and a lot of volunteer sweat to create a successful new Guzzler for wild sheep. This is the mission for Give a Lamb a Drink.

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This project was accomplished in partnership with SCBS. We are all proud to announce the successful placement of a brand new Raincatcher system, which was graciously funded by CAWSF’s “Give a Lamb a Drink” (GALAD) program. On February 25-28, 2022, a crew of 39 caravanned into the Fort Irwin National Training Center to install the first Big Game Guzzler within the boundaries of the expansive U.S. Army property near Barstow, California. It is a monumental achievement. This system will be known as “CC Tank”, named to honor past SCBS Presidents Dick Conti and John Carnakis, both of whom are military veterans.

Through a dusty windshield, a tan armored military vehicle passes a white pickup hauling a water tote on a dirt road — Not unlike hunting, often getting there is half the battle.

A yellow mini excavator digs a trench on a desert hillside while a trailer loaded with tan water tanks waits nearby — Heavy equipment makes things easier, thanks to partnerships with military and others.

Volunteers walk across a large tan mat laid over cleared desert ground, its edge weighted with rocks — Site Preparation is key and we are grateful for a great volunteer team and partnership with SCBS.

A worker in white coveralls and a respirator spray-paints two rock-shaped drinker housings to match the desert hills — Drinkers are designed to blend in with the natural environment as much as possible, while still being effective water collection and distribution mechanisms.

About thirty volunteers pose in rows on a rocky slope, a rock-shaped drinker housing and pipe fence behind them — We had a large, hard working crew to make this installation a reality.