Yamilett CarrilloGuerrero

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Restoring Colorado River Delta Wetlands
Yamilett Carrillo-Guerrero
University of Arizona, School of Renewable
Natural Resources
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Colorado River Delta, Mexico
California
Arizona
Sonora
Baja California
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Ecozones in the Colorado River Delta
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The Colorado River Delta, Mexico

• Critical migratory site and breeding area for
  sensitive species
• Recognition Biosphere Reserve, Ramsar
  Convention, WHSRN, and NAWCA

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The Need for Restoration in the Colorado River
Delta
Major causes for wetland loss in the delta
1. Lack of instream flows
2. Agricultural expansion
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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.)
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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

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Natural Restoration of Riparian Areas
Water Management
Policies and Regulations
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Restoring the Colorado River Delta A Binational
Effort
Water Management

• 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

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Restoring the Colorado River Delta A Binational
Effort

• Timing and consistency of excess flows.
• Management Plan for Colorado River delta
  floodplain

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Restoring the Colorado River Delta A Binational
Effort
Policies and Regulations

• Recognition of ecosystem as user entitled to
  Colorado River water.

2) Environmental quota.
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Restoring the Colorado River Delta A Binational
Effort
Policies and Regulations

• Commitment to secure instream flows in the delta.
• 4) Involvement of local communities in the
  restoration process.

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Restoration Initiatives from Local Communities
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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.
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Proposals from Delta Communities
Restore riparian forests along the River.
Conservation easements
Each user should contribute to instream flow
needs, proportionally to its use of water.
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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

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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.
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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.
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MEXICO
USA
Riparian Potential
MEXICO
Marshland Potential
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2. SURVEY
Personal interviews
Duration 15 min. questionnaire, 1 hour
interviews
32 Farmers contacted in Region 1 (38 area of
study)
16 Farmers contacted in Region 2 (30 area of
study)
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QUESTIONNAIRE
Pre-tested with farmers outside study area
Topics
a. Farmers perception regarding the Colorado
River
b. Farmland characteristics
c. Farmland retirement program
d. Rent of water-rights
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Land and Water Availability and Costs
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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
  International
• Boundary
• US Agencies supporting USFWS, US Border Patrol
• US Agencies against IBWC, BOR?
• Mexicos position Federal Government do not
  know,
• Landowners in the area want the
• riparian corridor a protected natural
  area

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Why an International Wildlife Refuge?

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CONCLUSIONS

• 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.
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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.
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This research was financed with grants from
Sonoran Institute
Pronatura Sonora
Wallace Foundation
Environmental Defense