To improve the quality of treated water and create a habitat for native and migratory species, the Cucapa Wetland was inaugurated at the Wastewater Treatment Plant in San Luis Rio Colorado (Sonora) in March 2018 under the banner of the 3rd World Water Day Forum.
Pronatura Noroeste collaborated in the wetland restoration design, with the view that it would be developed as a wildlife habitat in harmony with the wastewater treatment plant and the public recreational space.
The Cucapa Wetland is located inside the OOMAPAS Wastewater Treatment Plant, located nine kilometers south of the city. It comprises an extension of 25 hectares and is currently in its third construction stage.
This project joins the efforts of the City of San Luis Rio Colorado, the Municipal Drinking Water, Sewage, and Sanitation Operator Organization (OOMAPAS) of the city, sectors of citizens in the region, and Pronatura Noroeste A.C.
Dr. Osvel Hinojosa Huerta, Director of the Water and Wetland Conservation program for Pronatura Noroeste, said the Cucapa Wetland’s design integrates various habitats. In this area, lakes, marshes, riparian forests of willows and poplars, mesquite forests, and high-terrace forests will be created. In addition, a hallmark of this artificial wetland is the project’s architectural design, which was inspired by the Cucapa culture and the natural environment of San Luis and the Colorado River Delta.
The region is important for migratory birds and land birds associated with riparian systems, like the Vermillion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus), the Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus), and the Redhead Duck (Aythya americana), all species that have already been seen on the site. Since 2016, the Pronatura Noroeste team has observed 70 species of birds and recorded 22,000 individuals during seasonal monitoring in the Cocopah Wetland area, an indicator that the project is already providing environmental services during its first and second phases.
Wetlands improve water quality, provide both hydrological and ecological environmental services, and directly benefit the communities that depend on them. In these areas (temporal or partially flooded), water, plants, microorganisms, solar energy, substrate, and air interact to construct a stable ecological unit.
