The Colorado River has been virtually nonexistent in Mexico since the 1960's. In the last 50 years, only on rare occasions has the Colorado River met the sea (Gulf of California). In May of 2014, as a result of a historic bi-national agreement between Mexico, the United States, and environmental groups, a pulse flow of approximately .7% of the total annual flow of the Colorado River was released from Morelos Dam to the dead Colorado River in Mexico. The goal of the pulse flow was to restore the Colorado River Delta by mimicking the way the River flowed when there were no dams in the Colorado River. What happened next has become probably one of the most inspiring sustainability stories of the decade: a vibrant, majestic Colorado River resuscitated, and cross-national economic vitality on the rise as a direct result of reclaiming our rich natural heritage. The pulse flow showed how all Colorado River water users – from the headwaters in the US to the Delta in Mexico - are connected, and how charismatic this River is. This is a story that needs to be told, and this remarkable initiative needs to continue. Reconnecting the River to the sea is the story of reclaiming our humanity by truly reconnecting ourselves with the wonder and promise of life.
Jennifer Pitt (Environmental Defense Fund); Karen Schlatter (Sonoran Institute); Nancy Saldaña (San Luis Rio Colorado); Jorge Figueroa (Western Resource Advocates); Kendra Sandoval (Sandoval & Sandoval).
