Community-Based Restoration of Desert Wetlands: The Case of the Colorado River Delta

Wetland areas have been drastically reduced through the Pacific Flyway and the Sonoran Desert， with severe consequences for avian populations. In the Colorado River delta， wetlands have been reduced by 80 percent due to water management practices in the Colorado River basin. However， excess flows and agricultural drainage water has restored some areas， providing habitat for several sensitive species such as the Yuma Clapper Rail (Rallus longirostris yumanensis). This has sparked community interest to explore different scenarios for the restoration of bird habitat. Three community-based restoration projects are currently underway in the delta， focusing on the restoration of marshlands， riparian stands， and mesquite bosque. The goal of these projects is to reestablish the ecological functions of the Colorado River delta， through an efficient use of available water for the conservation of biodiversity and the preservation of social and cultural values in the region. (In: Ralph， C. John; Rich， Terrell D.， eds. Bird conservation implementation and integration in the Americas: proceedings of the third International Partners in Flight Conference， March 20-24， 2002， Asilomar， California. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-191. Albany， CA: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture， Forest Service， Pacific Southwest Research Station: p.637-645)