In 2007, the first agreement was signed for Las Arenitas, Baja California, in which 30% of the total effluent of the Treatment Plant was designated for Río Hardy, a tributary of the Colorado River. To reaffirm the commitment, this year a new agreement of wills was signed with the aim of permanently increasing the freshwater flows to 50% and improving the quality of water released into Río Hardy – the only river used for ecotourism purposes – for the benefit of the environment, communities, and local economies.

The coalition formed by civil society organizations plans a series of activities to support the growing need for wastewater treatment in the area and proposes to increase the affluent of Río Hardy to achieve interconnection between the freshwater and saltwater flows in the Colorado River estuary.

“Having an estuary with a tidal exchange with fresh water is normal. If this happens, the ecotourism camps can begin offering their services again — a benefit for the community. There are not only ecological benefits,” said Gabriela Caloca Michel, Project Coordinator for the Water and Wetland Program.

In the agreement, the partners also contemplate making an investment to improve the Treatment Plant and the existing wetland, and to build an additional wetland to improve the quality of water released into Río Hardy.

The National Water Commission (CONAGUA), the State Public Services Commission of Mexicali (CESPM), the Users of the Hardy and Colorado Rivers Ecological Association A.C. (AEURYC), the Sonoran Institute, The Nature Conservancy México (TNC México), and Pronatura Noroeste participated in the signing on July 1st, 2019.

The committee, in which a member of each of the signatories participates, will identify a coordinator and secretary in the coming days who will liaise with CESPM to verify the delivery of water and have access to the analyses of the quality of the hydrological resource and, with it, ensure benefit to users and area inhabitants.