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The critical achievement of this program has been to guarantee the allocation of a portion of the flow of the Colorado River for the maintenance of its wetlands. Pronatura Noroeste has acquired the irrigation rights to 160 hectares, the equivalent of 1.6 million m3 per year, destined in perpetuity for the delta wetlands. In Baja Calfornia, we have negotiated the allocation of 30% of the effluent flow from the La Arenitas Water Treatment Plant for the restoration of the Río Hardy. This represents a flow of 800 liters per second, which increased the volume of the Río Hardy by 100%. In Sonora we participated in a binational group to assure the maintenance of the return flow of agricultural water that feeds the Santa Clara Swamp, the most important marsh in the Sonoran Desert. Community participation in this area has allowed for the reforestation of more than 50 hectares of native forests and the restoration of 600 hectares of wetlands. This program has established strong alliances with governmental agencies, in particular, with the National Water Commission and the International Commission of Limits and Water. These alliances have generated a framework from which to search for innovative solutions to protect wetlands and rivers in northwestern Mexico.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION OF THE COLORADO
RIVER By Charles W. Flynn, Executive Director/ Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area
On the 10th and 11th of April, the American agency, Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area, and the Mexican environmental organization, Pronatura Noroeste A.C., together with the Arizona-Mexico Commission, hosted a two-day conference in Yuma, Arizona, to discuss the restoration of a stretch of 37 km of the Colorado River that serves as a border between the two countries. The conference program included field visits, presentations and technical workshops that took place on the 10th of April. The conference concluded the following day in Yuma’s town hall with a round table composed of representatives from various governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, farmers and ranchers from both the United States and Mexico. The purpose of the conference was to bring to light various innovative efforts undertaken by the Yuma community for the restoration of the Eastern Wetlands of Yuma, and to determine the manner in which to utilize those efforts in the Limitrophe Zone of the Colorado River. This trench, measuring 37 km along the river, has suffered great environmental deterioration and has withstood high levels of criminal activity along the border. On the 11th of April, the round table discussion concentrated on three main topics: public safety, the creation of jobs and technical support for the restoration of the river in addition to their applications on both sides of the border, corresponding to the proposed section of the river. *Law enforcement. The Sheriff of Yuma County, Ralph Ogden, together with Border Patrol Agents, praised the efforts undertaken to ecologically restore the Eastern Wetlands of Yuma. They noted that the removal of vegetative cover consisting of invasive species over a span of 202 hectares-and their subsequent restoration with native vegetation-has helped to reduce wildfire risk, the dumping of garbage and the establishment of squatter camps. They also were in favor of a similar restoration efforts along the border as part of measures to make the border more secure. They stated that the recuperation of control over this area and a reduction in indiscriminate border crossing, would help to control the activities of criminal groups in Mexico. *An effort for massive restoration in this section of the river could represent the creation of jobs that are badly needed on both sides of the border, in the areas of cleaning, planting, irrigation and the management of native trees. The round table participants also commented that Yuma has generated invaluable knowledge, both in terms of techniques and technology, within the growing ecological restoration industry. * The highlight of the conference was the announcement of a plan for the restoration of 405 hectares, developed in conjunction with Yuma Crossing National Hertiage Area and Pronatura Noroeste A.C. The proposed area for the project is located between miles 2 and 4 of the Colorado River and is known as “Hunter’s Hole” in the United States and as “Colonia Miguel Alemán” in Mexico. The plan consists of environmental restoration on both sides of the border and includes a visual corridor to help in the efforts for public safety. The conference concluded with the Joint Declaration, officially solidifying the promise of both organizations to begin the implementation of pilot projects along the border in 2009. Both groups declared their interest in turning the event into an annual conference of “Common Interests” that will be held alternatively in Arizona and in Baja California, Mexico. Perhaps the most significant result of the conference was the promise elaborated in the Joint Declaration to “promote the spirit of ‘Common Interests’”, with the conviction that our border lands should be a shared attraction not a “desolate land”. The recuperation of our shared heritage of the Colorado River could serve as a model in the new era of border relations. For more information, please contact: Javier Morales – Analyst Osvel Hinojosa – Program Director,
Conservation of Water and Wetlands
In 2007, we made important efforts to promote community involvement in the conservation of the Colorado River Delta that successfully achieved the participation of teachers and students in several projects related to the construction of interpretative trails, the improvement and restoration of natural habitat and group training. Throughout this process, we have trained 400 technicians, biologists, students and community members in monitoring, restoration, management and avitourism techniques, by means of 15 training workshops. (Photo of students: Meredith de la Garza) |
Photos: Pronatura Noroeste Office in Sonora
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Despite
the impact of dam construction and water diversion over the last 100
years, the Colorado River Delta continues to be of great importance
for the conservation of biodiversity and for the economy of the region.
During the 10 years of efforts spent for the conservation of this ecosystem,
Pronatura Noroeste A.C. has promoted the interest, support and involvement
of governmental agencies, local users, the Cucapá indigenous community
and civil associations, through a solid scientific foundation and the
design and establishment of legal instruments required for the implementation
of conservation initiatives. 
The
leadership of urban and rural school teachers has demonstrated itself
to be the fundamental component in the search for community solutions
to local environmental problems. Incorporation environmental education
into the official curriculum of the Secretary of Public Education, we
have facilitated the training of more than one hundred teachers, collaborating
in the environmental education of more than 2,000 primary school children
and their communities.