This spring, the inhabitants of the Mexicali Valley and San Luis Río Colorado witnessed an unprecedented event. Water flowed once again through the Colorado River, restoring life, vegetation and the presence of wild animals. This has modified the Colorado River Delta area in some places that for decades suffered from the lack of water in the river’s natural channel. The flow of the vital liquid brings wide beneficial effects, not just for the ecosystem and wildlife, but for the farmers and inhabitants of the region as well.
The presence of the water in the Colorado River Delta (the Baja California and Sonora´s section of the largest rivers in North America flows) is due to the delivery of water from the Morelos Dam in the town of Algodones in 2022. This came as a result of binational cooperation established by Act 323, of the international water treaty between both countries, in force since 1944. This is a binational strategy to counteract the effects of climate change in the Colorado River basin, considered one of the most vulnerable in our continent.
Vado Carranza, located in the Mexicali Valley, is one of the most popular places for the community to spend time with the family and get in touch with nature. However, it accumulates a large amount of garbage and other waste that affects the ecosystem. We work permanently to prevent contamination of the site, train the population and carry out cleanup campaigns.
Among the actions we carry out are workshops and training for students and teachers. Last June we visited the Fernando Montes de Oca Elementary School and the Agricultural Technical High School No. 9, both very close to Vado Carranza. More than 150 students participated in recreational activities to strengthen environmental awareness and learn all about the presence of water in the Colorado River. Yuli Dimas, Community Involvement Specialist of our organization, was in charge of this work. The students created illustrated posters with recommendations for visitors to the Carranza Ford, which will be placed to promote respect for nature.
Also, in collaboration with the Revive the Colorado River Alliance, we undertook a cleanup day at the Vado Carranza. For this we had the support of Ricardo Mozqueda, Head of the Municipal Delegation of Colonia Carranza. The delegation provided a truck for garbage collection and awnings to provide shade for the brigade that worked on the cleaning of the ford. The Nature Conservancy (TNC), represented by Edgar Carrera, gave T-shirts to the volunteers to encourage environmental awareness in the area.
Also part of the brigade was a team of officials from the State Public Services Commission in Mexicali (CESPM), headed by Mr. Jesús Armando Villaseñor. We were represented by the Junta Local de Mejoras de la Colonia Carranza-Reacomodo and conservation organizations such as Sonoran Institute, Restauremos el Colorado and Salvemos las Lagunas. Our team provided with tools, chairs, beverages and food for attendees, supported by Fundación Gonzalo Río Arronte and the Walton Family Foundation.
In the coming months, further maintenance will be carried out in the Vado Carranza, for the direct benefit of multiple species of animals. Some of the birds that inhabit the area are the Golden-toed Heron (Egretta thula), the Sergeant Thrush (Agelaius phoeniceus), the Green Heron (Butorides virescens) and the Pale Tyrant (Tyrannus verticalis). Among the native plants of the Delta, we can mention the Poplar (Populus fremontii), the Northern Willow (Salix gooddingii) and the Screw Mesquite (Prosopis pubescens).
We invite you to join us in the care and protection of the Colorado River Delta for the benefit of all.
