BajaNomad

Colorado River begins flooding Mexican Delta

Gypsy Jan - 3-27-2014 at 08:40 AM

From AP

LOS ALGODONES, Mexico (AP) — "Colorado River water has begun pouring over a barren delta in northwest Mexico, the result of a landmark agreement between the U.S. and Mexico that is being celebrated Thursday.

The gush of water in Mexico is an effort to revive the last 70-mile stretch of the river into the Sea of Cortez, which dried up decades ago

The river's most southern dam — Mexico's Morelos Dam, near Yuma, Ariz. — on Sunday began unleashing 105,392 acre-feet of water, enough to supply more than 200,000 homes for a year. The one-time release is expected to last until May 18.

Farms, businesses and homes in seven U.S. states — Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming — rely on the Colorado River, as do the Mexican states of Baja California and Sonora.

In 2012, the two countries that share the river water agreed on ways to share the pain of droughts and bounty of wet years, a major amendment to a 1944 treaty. Part of that agreement called for restoration of the Colorado River delta.

"Never before have we deliberately sent water below the Morelos Dam ... to benefit the environment," Jennifer Pitt of the Environmental Defense Fund, who helped negotiate the one-time flood, wrote on her blog this month. "By abandoning the old framework of 'who gets what' and establishing cooperative management of our shared resource, the U.S. and Mexico are achieving benefits for communities and nature alike."

The one-time release of water was achieved through water conservation projects by the U.S. and Mexico, according to the International Boundary and Water Commission. Officials from the U.S. and Mexico were scheduled to be at the Morelos Dam on Thursday for an event to mark the restoration effort.

Experts will monitor the flood to determine its effects on the environment. Conservationists hope the water will bring back trees, wildlife and aquatic life that were once abundant in the region when it was teeming with water decades ago."

Mulegena - 3-27-2014 at 08:48 AM

I do hope that this favors the natural environment and the health of the Sea of Cortez and its marine life is enhanced and restored.

Barry A. - 3-27-2014 at 09:52 AM

"Never before have we deliberately sent water below the Morelos Dam ... to benefit the environment," Jennifer Pitt of the Environmental Defense Fund, who helped negotiate the one-time flood, wrote on her blog this month. "By abandoning the old framework of 'who gets what' and establishing cooperative management of our shared resource, the U.S. and Mexico are achieving benefits for communities and nature alike."

Well, it is not encouraging when a spokeman for the project makes statements like the one above which is wrong. As has been previously noted, I know for a fact that there was a similar release (surge) in the early '80's because I was there and floated it for many days. It was done for the same reasons------to help restore the Delta, and it was a significant success.

Barry

1980s Release

MrBillM - 3-27-2014 at 10:38 AM

The Purpose behind that release, which flooded a huge area of Laguna Salada and threatened to destroy the Hwy 5 roadway across Laguna Salada as it bridged the road, was to alleviate the storage levels which had reached 90 percent of capacity during a wet period with a large snow mass yet to melt.

SO, the statement that it wasn't done for
Good Neighbor environmental reasons would be technically correct.

Bwana_John - 3-27-2014 at 10:44 AM

Quote:

I know for a fact that there was a similar release (surge) in the early '80's because I was there and floated it for many days. It was done for the same reasons------to help restore the Delta, and it was a significant success.


I thought the massive releases in the spring of 83 after the big El Nino event was because of the spillway that had to be shut down and rebuilt after it cavitated itself apart on the Glen Canyon Dam as Lake Powell filled up for the first time, and they really didnt have any choice?

David K - 3-27-2014 at 10:50 AM

1984 and again in 1992, I think... but I recall a lot of water on the Salada and Hwy. 5 got real distorted in the late 1970's... then they built the new, wider causeway, with bridges to allow the water to flow under the highway.

Barry A. - 3-27-2014 at 11:13 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by MrBillM
The Purpose behind that release, which flooded a huge area of Laguna Salada and threatened to destroy the Hwy 5 roadway across Laguna Salada as it bridged the road, was to alleviate the storage levels which had reached 90 percent of capacity during a wet period with a large snow mass yet to melt.

SO, the statement that it wasn't done for
Good Neighbor environmental reasons would be technically correct.


It would appear that I stand corrected---------I had forgotten the near-capacity situation on the up-river dams. Still, the buzz around the Environmental community was that the release was (at least partially) done for "Delta restoration" reasons, but perhaps that was simply a by-product of much needed and unavoidable water release of the entire Colorado reservoir system, as you say.

Thanks for keeping me honest.

Barry

Bwana_John - 3-27-2014 at 11:16 AM

[QUOTE]1984 and again in 1992, I think... [/QUOTE]

The big releases on the Colorado River occurred in the spring after el Nino events of the winters of 82-83 and 92-93

wessongroup - 3-27-2014 at 11:19 AM

Better send it now ... as it won't be there to send latter

woody with a view - 3-27-2014 at 11:40 AM

"Experts will monitor the flood to determine its effects on the environment. Conservationists hope the water will bring back trees, wildlife and aquatic life that were once abundant in the region when it was teeming with water decades ago."

I'm guessing it's effects will be temporary. dormant seeds may sprout, then die once the water evaporates and animals may drown in the initial flood. what else are they expecting? I doubt any water makes it to the sea....

David K - 3-27-2014 at 11:48 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bwana_John
[QUOTE]1984 and again in 1992, I think... [/QUOTE]

The big releases on the Colorado River occurred in the spring after el Nino events of the winters of 82-83 and 92-93


Thanks... Do you have data for the flooding I recall from around 1977-1978?

Bwana_John - 3-27-2014 at 11:56 AM

"Thanks... Do you have data for the flooding I recall from around 1977-1978?"

I remember that 75-77 was a drought in the SW, and in February of 78 there was a lot of rain all at once. "Lobsters in the gutters of coastal SoCal as the flood control channels backed up"(not personally verified)

Barry A. - 3-27-2014 at 12:30 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by woody with a view
"Experts will monitor the flood to determine its effects on the environment. Conservationists hope the water will bring back trees, wildlife and aquatic life that were once abundant in the region when it was teeming with water decades ago."

I'm guessing it's effects will be temporary. dormant seeds may sprout, then die once the water evaporates and animals may drown in the initial flood. what else are they expecting? I doubt any water makes it to the sea....


Actually, in the early '80's "surge" a LOT of water made it to the SOC, and the incredible blossoming of the Delta area was spectacular, as we personally witnessed. You would have thought you were in Africa when out on the Delta in boats, and we saw tons of wildlife appear as if out of nowhere. My son and a friend later boated all the way out to the Montague Island area, and saw the tidal-bores from the SOC forging up-river at that time.

Barry

woody with a view - 3-27-2014 at 01:23 PM

:light:

N2Baja - 3-27-2014 at 08:39 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Barry A.
Quote:
Originally posted by woody with a view
"Experts will monitor the flood to determine its effects on the environment. Conservationists hope the water will bring back trees, wildlife and aquatic life that were once abundant in the region when it was teeming with water decades ago."

I'm guessing it's effects will be temporary. dormant seeds may sprout, then die once the water evaporates and animals may drown in the initial flood. what else are they expecting? I doubt any water makes it to the sea....


Actually, in the early '80's "surge" a LOT of water made it to the SOC, and the incredible blossoming of the Delta area was spectacular, as we personally witnessed. You would have thought you were in Africa when out on the Delta in boats, and we saw tons of wildlife appear as if out of nowhere. My son and a friend later boated all the way out to the Montague Island area, and saw the tidal-bores from the SOC forging up-river at that time.

Barry


Barry, did your son perchance get any pictures of the tidal bore? How fantastic that must have been to see!

Barry A. - 3-27-2014 at 09:08 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by N2Baja
Quote:
Originally posted by Barry A.
Quote:
Originally posted by woody with a view
"Experts will monitor the flood to determine its effects on the environment. Conservationists hope the water will bring back trees, wildlife and aquatic life that were once abundant in the region when it was teeming with water decades ago."

I'm guessing it's effects will be temporary. dormant seeds may sprout, then die once the water evaporates and animals may drown in the initial flood. what else are they expecting? I doubt any water makes it to the sea....


Actually, in the early '80's "surge" a LOT of water made it to the SOC, and the incredible blossoming of the Delta area was spectacular, as we personally witnessed. You would have thought you were in Africa when out on the Delta in boats, and we saw tons of wildlife appear as if out of nowhere. My son and a friend later boated all the way out to the Montague Island area, and saw the tidal-bores from the SOC forging up-river at that time.

Barry


Barry, did your son perchance get any pictures of the tidal bore? How fantastic that must have been to see!


He DID get pictures, but unfortuntely I don't have them, and he lives over in Independence in Owens Valley. The pics reveal that the "bore" was about 2 feet tall where they saw it progressing up stream, and it was moving at about 5 mph if I recall correctly. They were several miles upstream from Montegue Island, as I recall. They were camped out on the very low mud bank, and the water did slosh thru there camp for a few mins as the bore passed by..... My son, a surfer, regretted that he did not have his "board" saying that he was sure he could have ridden the "bore" upstream indefinitely, which would have been so cool!!! They were out on the Delta for 3 days, and saw no other folks while out there, but a LOT of animals and birds. They used a small inflatable boat with an outboard, to get there. I was unable to go with them as I was in Oregon on assignment at the time--- I have always regretted missing that adventure. The guy with my son was a scientist, and had studies the Delta for years, and knew pretty accurately when the bore would pass by them, so they were waiting for it. They actually did not know if it would happen, but it did, and right on schedule. Pretty neat.

Barry

Barry A. - 3-27-2014 at 10:07 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by soulpatch
Can you imagine the fishing from such a sustained environment?
Well, gotta keep those lawns green....


We (CA) should have NEVER let Arizona steal any unless they could figure out a way to get it out of the Grand Canyon!!! Once out of Grand, it's OURs (maybe a little for Las Vegas).

Yes, the Delta was a World Treasure but then so is SoCAL. WE need to cap the population tho, like China does, except for those of us that are Native Californios (like me and mine). :spingrin:

Barry

David K - 3-27-2014 at 10:18 PM

That water grows a lot more food and cotton than waters lawns! The Imperial and Mexicali Valley feeds a lot of people and the dams also produce clean hydro electric energy.

N2Baja - 3-27-2014 at 10:48 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Barry A.
Quote:
Originally posted by N2Baja
Quote:
Originally posted by Barry A.
Quote:
Originally posted by woody with a view
"Experts will monitor the flood to determine its effects on the environment. Conservationists hope the water will bring back trees, wildlife and aquatic life that were once abundant in the region when it was teeming with water decades ago."

I'm guessing it's effects will be temporary. dormant seeds may sprout, then die once the water evaporates and animals may drown in the initial flood. what else are they expecting? I doubt any water makes it to the sea....


Actually, in the early '80's "surge" a LOT of water made it to the SOC, and the incredible blossoming of the Delta area was spectacular, as we personally witnessed. You would have thought you were in Africa when out on the Delta in boats, and we saw tons of wildlife appear as if out of nowhere. My son and a friend later boated all the way out to the Montague Island area, and saw the tidal-bores from the SOC forging up-river at that time.

Barry


Barry, did your son perchance get any pictures of the tidal bore? How fantastic that must have been to see!


He DID get pictures, but unfortuntely I don't have them, and he lives over in Independence in Owens Valley. The pics reveal that the "bore" was about 2 feet tall where they saw it progressing up stream, and it was moving at about 5 mph if I recall correctly. They were several miles upstream from Montegue Island, as I recall. They were camped out on the very low mud bank, and the water did slosh thru there camp for a few mins as the bore passed by..... My son, a surfer, regretted that he did not have his "board" saying that he was sure he could have ridden the "bore" upstream indefinitely, which would have been so cool!!! They were out on the Delta for 3 days, and saw no other folks while out there, but a LOT of animals and birds. They used a small inflatable boat with an outboard, to get there. I was unable to go with them as I was in Oregon on assignment at the time--- I have always regretted missing that adventure. The guy with my son was a scientist, and had studies the Delta for years, and knew pretty accurately when the bore would pass by them, so they were waiting for it. They actually did not know if it would happen, but it did, and right on schedule. Pretty neat.

Barry


Wow, I'm envious of your son! What an adventure that must have been. And to be with a friend who had such knowledge of the area is priceless.

To have surfed the bore would have been Epic!!

Well, if he finds his pictures while cleaning out the attic, it would be cool to see them! :yes:

Tidal Bore Surfing (Amazon River)

David K - 3-27-2014 at 11:20 PM

1540 Bore on the Colorado?

David K - 3-27-2014 at 11:45 PM



Illustration from the book:

THE ROMANCE OF THE COLORADO RIVER

By Frederick S. Dellenbaugh

Member of the United States Colorado River Expedition of 1871 and 1872

bufeo - 3-28-2014 at 07:26 AM

Kevin Fedarko has written quite an interesting book, The Emerald Mile, which is now in bookstores. It's the account of Kenton Grua's record-setting 'drift' in a dory with two crew members through the Grand Canyon during that winter of '83-'84 surge from Glen Canyon Dam.

Although the story itself is fascinating (not to mention exhilarating for any who have done any whitewater boating) there's quite a lot of information about the El Niño that winter as well as the amount of water descending to Lake Mead and ultimately on down to Mexico.

I recommend it to anyone who likes outdoor adventure and it doesn't hurt that it's relative to this current topic...though not precisely concerned with the environmental benevolence to Mexico.

Allen R

BajaBlanca - 3-28-2014 at 07:58 AM

What an interesting read!