P H OTO : Jo n Wa terma n
T H E C O LO R A D O R I V E R D E LTA, C I R CA N OW
O P E N B O O K L E T TO S E E C H A N G E
RAISE THE RIVER RECONNECT THE COLORADO
1
OUR VISION
RAISE THE RIVER IS AN ENGAGEMENT CAMPAIGN LED BY LIKE-MINDED VISIONARIES
Raisetheriver.org sees a day when the Colorado River once again
flows into the Gulf of California, and the Delta is brought back to
life. By raising awareness, money and, ultimately, the water level of
the river, we will restore the wetlands and reconnect the river with
the Gulf.
C O LO R A D O R I V E R
P H OTO : Gua dalupe Fons ec a -M.
C O LO R A D O R I V E R B A S I N
S O N O R A N I N S T I T U T E R I PA R I A N R E S TO R AT I O N S I T E
COLORADO RIVER REGION OF INTEREST
RAISE THE RIVER RECONNECT THE COLORADO
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COLORADO RIVER
OVER 100 DAMS DIVERT
THE COLORADO RIVER
ORIGINAL FLOW INTO THE
GULF OF CALIFORNIA
TODAY LESS THAN 1% OF THE
RIVER’S FLOW REACHES THE
DELTA AND NO REGULAR FLOW
REACHES THE GULF
DELTA AREA, WHERE THE
COLORADO RIVER MEETS
THE GULF OF CALIFORNIA
STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE
The Colorado River Delta was once a lush region of 3,000 square miles
teeming with plant, bird and marine life. However, more than 100
dams on the river and its tributaries divert water to cities and farms,
reducing the Delta to a tiny remnant of its former self. The Colorado
River has not regularly flowed to the Gulf of California since 1960.
P H OTO : Sonora n Insti tute
Although it is now a mostly dusty, dry expanse with only a few surviving
stands of native trees and small marshes where agricultural drains,
leaks and shallow groundwater allow water to reach the river channel,
the Delta can be brought back to life. Restoration efforts and periodic
floods have shown that it has tremendous potential for renewal.
D RY C O LO R A D O R I V E R D E LTA
RAISE THE RIVER RECONNECT THE COLORADO
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NOW: THE COLORADO
RIVER VIRTUALLY ENDS
AT MORELOS DAM
GOAL: PROPOSED DELTA
RESTORATION REGION
P H OTO S : (1) Kotent F il ms / (2) Pete Mc Bri de / (3 ,4 ) Wi l l St a uffer-Norri s (5) Edi th Sa ntI a go-S. / (6) J orge R a m i re z -H.
GOAL: RECONNECT THE
COLORADO RIVER WITH
THE GULF OF CALIFORNIA
THE TIME IS NOW
Independent organizations have been working to restore the Delta
for years with some binational government and foundation support,
but they have lacked the ability to acquire and manage water and
habitat at a significant scale.
Now, for the first time in history, the United States and Mexico
have reached an agreement to restore water to the Colorado River
Delta. The Environmental Defense Fund, Pronatura Noroeste, The
Sonoran Institute and The Nature Conservancy will match each
country’s commitment to provide water for the Delta, and will use
water acquired through the Delta Water Trust, to implement habitat
restoration projects with help from the National Fish and Wildlife
Foundation and others.
While this agreement is historic, it is also finite. It expires in 2017
unless it is extended or replaced by a more comprehensive longterm agreement. The optimal time to restore the Delta is now.
[ 1 ] C O LO R A D O R I V E R H E A DWAT E R S , [ 2 ] C O LO R A D O R I V E R AT H O R S E S H O E B E N D , A R I Z O N A ,
[ 3] R E TA I N I N G WA LL AT M O R E LO S DA M, [ 4 ] S O U T H O F M O R E LO S DA M, T H E C O LO R A D O R I V E R WAT E R
B E C O M E S A N AG R I C U LT U R A L C A N A L , [ 5 ] D RY E S T U A RY , [ 6 ] N E A R T H E C O LO R A D O R I V E R M O U T H
RAISE THE RIVER RECONNECT THE COLORADO
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$450 BUYS 1 ACRE-FOOT
1 ACRE-FOOT OF WATER IS
APPROX. 90 YARDS OF AN
AMERICAN FOOTBALL FIELD,
1 FOOT DEEP
BE A PART OF HISTORY
WE AIM TO RAISE A TOTAL OF $10 MILLION BY 2017
We have a long-term vision to reconnect the Colorado River with the
Gulf of California. Our first step is to work with government agencies in
the United States and Mexico to provide 158,000 acre-feet of water for
the Delta over the next several years. This small amount of water—less
than 1% of the river’s average annual flow—is enough to physically
reconnect the Colorado River to the Gulf during a limited-duration
“pulse flow,” while also providing water year-round to support the
restoration of 2,300 acres of riparian forest and marsh habitat along a
70-mile stretch of river.
P H OTO : Fra nci sc o Z amo ra -A.
This demonstration will provide valuable information for a long-term
recovery plan. By using the best available science during this period,
we will gain necessary information about how to manage flows
for maximum benefits over the long run and prove that it is possible
to reconnect the river’s critical native habitat for birds and wildlife.
Success in this effort will show the promise of this new binational partnership for restoration of the Delta, and is an essential step in securing
a long-term agreement between the U.S. and Mexican governments.
S U C C E S S F U L P I LOT R E S TO R AT I O N P R O J E C T I N T H E D E LTA
RAISE THE RIVER RECONNECT THE COLORADO
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1,250 TREES PER ACRE
AVERAGE RESTORATION AMOUNT
$4 PER TREE
AVERAGE COST OF TREE
$5,000 PER ACRE
AVERAGE RESTORATION COST
8 ACRE-FEET OF WATER
AVERAGE PER ACRE FOR RESTORATION
BACK TO LIFE
LIFE ACROSS THE REGION WILL BENEFIT FROM A REVIVED DELTA
Freshwater flows to the Delta will create critical spawning grounds for
fish and shrimp in the Upper Gulf of California, helping restock fisheries
that communities rely on for food and income.
For indigenous groups in the region, particularly the Cocopah tribe—
whose name means “people of the river”—a restored river could lead
to a resurgence of their cultures and traditions, including subsistence
fishing and hunting.
Restoration projects will create job opportunities for local communities
through increased hunting, fishing and other tourism activities associated
with healthy habitat.
[ 1 ] G U LF O F CA LI F O R N I A F I S H E R M E N , [2] G R E AT H O R N E D OW L AT R I PA R I A N R E STO R AT I O N S I T E,
[ 3 ] P L A N T I N G N AT I V E T R E E S AT R E STO R AT I O N S I T E, [4] R E M N A N T W E T L A N D S I N T H E D E LTA,
[5] LO CA L F I S H E R M A N O N T H E R I O H A R DY, A T R I B U TA RY O F T H E C O LO R A D O R I V E R
P H OTO S : (1 ,3) Edith Santi ago -S. / (2 ) Gua dalupe Fons ec a -M . / (4 ,5) So nor an Ins titute
Enhanced riparian and marsh habitat will support 380 bird species,
including more than 200,000 migratory water birds that travel along the
Pacific Flyway and rely on the Delta as an oasis in the desert.
RAISE THE RIVER RECONNECT THE COLORADO
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300 ACRES NOW
CURRENT RESTORATION AMOUNT
2,300 NEW ACRES BY 2017
OUR GOAL RESTORATION AMOUNT
THE GROUNDWORK HAS BEEN LAID
Nearly two decades of collaborative work on the part of nonprofit
organizations, government agencies and community groups on both
sides of the border have created a solid foundation for large-scale
restoration of the Delta. Working together, we have already restored
300 acres of riparian habitat in the Delta and acquired the water rights
needed to maintain and establish native vegetation.
Although these efforts have been significant, they are just the beginning.
There is still a lot of work to be done. Large-scale restoration of the
Delta is now possible through the collaborative efforts of two countries,
nonprofit organizations, scientists, countless individuals and you.
P H OTO : Edith Santi ago -S.
Your donation will be used to purchase permanent water rights for the
Colorado River Delta, put native trees in the ground, and engage local
communities in restoration actions.
LO C A L C O M M U N I T Y M E M B E R S A N D O R G A N I Z AT I O N S WO R K TO G E T H E R TOWA R D R E S TO R AT I O N
RAISE THE RIVER RECONNECT THE COLORADO
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Though the Colorado River Delta has been severely depleted, it is not
too late. Working together, we can bring the Delta back to life.
Please help us restore this precious natural resource.
DONATE TODAY.
www.raisetheriver.org
P H OTO S : ( FA R R I G H T ) Berna be Ri c o- H. / ( N E A R R I G H T) Sono ra n I nsti tute
YOU CAN HELP
C O LO R A D O D E LTA S U N S E T S U P E R I M P O S E D W I T H WO R K S U P P O R T I N G R E S TO R AT I O N
T H E C O LO R A D O R I V E R D E LTA , C I R C A 1 9 0 5
P H OTO : Edw ar d Al phonso Go ldma n; c o ur tes y o f Smiths oni an Ins tituti on Archi v es
an d the San Di ego Na tura l Hi stor y Mus eum.