Colorado River Delta in Mexico

Representatives from the seven states that rely upon the Colorado River's flows are gathering information about the least understood portion of the river—the Colorado River Delta.

The delta is home to several endangered species, including the Yuma clapper rail, the vaquita porpoise and the totoaba fish. It has been the subject of debate among environmentalists, the government of Mexico and U.S. water officials.

Dams along America's portion of the Colorado River have greatly diminished water flows to Mexico. Although Mexico continues to receive its legal allocation of water as established in a 1944 treaty, environmentalists are concerned about declining wetlands habitat along the river's final leg.

While most people agree the delta would benefit from additional water, no easy solutions are at hand. Aside from determining how much water is needed, officials have to determine which of the Colorado River users would give up the necessary flows. Even then, officials would need to secure assurances that any additional flows would be used for environmental purposes, rather than to quench Mexico's growing agricultural and municipal thirst.

Facts about the Colorado River Delta:

• The delta wetlands currently cover about 150,000 acres, which is less than one-sixth of their historic size
  
  
• Located in the Pacific Flyway, the wetlands supports more than 200 species of birds
  
  
• The Colorado River eventually empties into the Gulf of California, which separates mainland Mexico from the Baja Peninsula
  
  
• Much of the native vegetation along the southern Colorado River has been replaced by saltcedar, which thrives in salty agricultural runoff