Date post: | 21-Dec-2015 |
Category: |
Documents |
View: | 219 times |
Download: | 0 times |
Yamilett Carrillo-Guerrero
University of Arizona, School of Renewable Natural Resources
Restoring Colorado River Delta Wetlands
Colorado River Delta, Mexico
SonoraBajaCalifornia
ArizonaCalifornia
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
70019
50
1952
1954
1956
1958
1960
1962
1964
1966
1968
1970
1972
1974
1976
1978
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
Year
Mm
3
Flows to the Colorado River Delta 1950-2000
CA
Mexicali
San Luis R.C.
BAJA CALIFORNIA
SONORA
AZ
Colorado River Riparian CorridorRio Hardy
Cienega de Santa Clara
El Doctor
Intertidal mudflats
Morelos DamNIB
SIB
Limitrophe ZoneÊÚÊÚ
ÊÚ
ÊÚ
ÊÚ
ÊÚ
ÊÚÊÚ
ÊÚ
ÊÚ
N
EW
S
10 0 10 20 30 40 50 Kilometers
Detections / detecciones
Riparian vegetation / vegetacion riparia
Saltcedar / pino salado
Emergent vegetation / vegetacion emergente
Mudflats / planicies lodozas
ÊÚ
Ecozones in the Colorado River Delta
• Critical migratory site and breeding area for sensitive species
• Recognition: Biosphere Reserve, Ramsar Convention, WHSRN, and NAWCA
The Colorado River Delta, Mexico
The Need for Restoration in the Colorado River Delta
* Major causes for wetland loss in the delta:
2. Agricultural expansion
1. Lack of instream flows
The Need for Restoration in the Colorado River Delta
* 76 % of delta wetlands were lost in last 100 years.
* Invasion of non-native species (Tamarisk spp.)
Protected Species in Mexico and US that occur the Colorado River Delta
• Yuma Clapper Rail• California Black Rail • Least Bittern• Least Tern• Bald Eagle• Peregrine Falcon• Prairie Falcon• Brown Pelican• Wood Stork • Savannah Sparrow• Willow Flycatcher
Natural Restoration of Riparian Areas
Water Management Policies and Regulations
Restoring the Colorado River Delta: A Binational Effort
Water Management
1) Estimates of 0.5% of annualized mean flow for Riparian Corridor.
• Three-month spring flow of 3 x 108 m3 every 4 years , and
• Perennial flow of 4 x 107 m3
Restoring the Colorado River Delta: A Binational Effort
2) Timing and consistency of excess flows.
3) Management Plan for Colorado River delta floodplain
2) Environmental quota.
Policies and Regulations
Restoring the Colorado River Delta: A Binational Effort
1) Recognition of ecosystem as user entitled to Colorado River water.
3) Commitment to secure instream flows in the delta.
4) Involvement of local communities in the restoration process.
Policies and Regulations
Restoring the Colorado River Delta: A Binational Effort
Restoration Initiatives from Local Communities
Proposals from Delta Communities
* Formal commitment of farmers not to take water out of river if an environmental quota was to be established by US and Mexico.
* The river and its banks should be declared a protected natural area.
* Restore riparian forests along the River.
* Each user should contribute to instream flow needs, proportionally to its use of water.
* Conservation easements
Proposals from Delta Communities
Pilot Projects of Restoration in the Delta
1. Environmental use of agricultural drainage water
2. Community wetland management and restoration
3. Farmland retirement for wetland restoration
GENERAL PURPOSE
To determine if a program to change land uses of
farmland could be established in the Colorado River
delta, Mexico, with the purpose of restoring wetland
areas.
OBJECTIVES
a) Assess landowners disposition to change land use from agriculture to wetland restoration projects
b) Determine landowners’ disposition to lease their water rights for wetland conservation
c) Estimate the costs of a program of retiring the agricultural land.
#
##
##
#
#
#
###
#
##
#
###
#
##
##
##
#
###
Riparian Potential
Marshland Potential
USA
MEXICO
MEXICO
2. SURVEY
* Personal interviews
* 32 Farmers contacted in Region 1 (38% area of study)
* 16 Farmers contacted in Region 2 (30% area of study)
* Duration: 15 min. questionnaire, 1 hour interviews
* Pre-tested with farmers outside study area
QUESTIONNAIRE
* Topics:
a. Farmers’ perception regarding the Colorado River
b. Farmland characteristics
c. Farmland retirement program
d. Rent of water-rights
Land and Water Availability and Costs
Region Land
(Ha)
$ Land
($US/yr)
Water
(Ha)
$ Water
($US/yr)
1- Riparian
229(566 acres)
$298,616 136.5(1,106 af)
$36,991.5
2- Marsh
115(284 acres)
$74,980 77(624 af)
$20,867
Total
344 Ha
850 acres $373,596
213.5 Ha
(1,730 af) $57,858.5
International Wildlife Refuge in the Limitrophe Area
•Proposed by Cocopah Indian Tribal Council
•Encompass Limitrophe Area-International Boundary(Arizona-Baja California)
•Purpose: Preserve the Riparian Corridor in the InternationalBoundary
•US Agencies supporting: USFWS, US Border Patrol•US Agencies against: IBWC, BOR?
•Mexico’s position: Federal Government do not know, Landowner’s in the area want the riparian corridor a protected natural area
Why an InternationalWildlife Refuge?
CONCLUSIONS
1. Ecosystem restoration is feasible in the Colorado River delta.
2. Restoration process could be embraced and maintained by local communities.
3. Farmers’ participation could yield more hectares restored than land purchases.
4. Rent of Water Rights in Mexico would not be enough to restore the delta.
As functions and values of wetlands in the Colorado
River Delta provide benefits that do not consider
political boundaries, management and restoration
of the delta ecosystem
should be worked out as
a bi-nationally shared
responsibility.
Sonoran Institute Pronatura Sonora
Wallace Foundation
This research was financed with grants from:
Environmental Defense