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838 NATURAL RESOURCES JOURNAL [Vol. 40 Fa1l2000] MANAGING ECOSYSTEM CONSERVATION 839 information and public participation at a regional level-on priority projects of their environmental agencies78 The Border Environmental Cooperation Commission (BECC) was established at the same time as NAFrA, although not formally as a component of NAFI'A or its related environmental side accord.79 BECC is desigJled to promote and certify "environmental infrastructure" projects i,n the U.s.-Mexican border region, and while it neither develops nor manages the projects, it aids local communities in their efforts to improve environniental conditions, including developing their water-supply, wastewater-treatment, and solid-waste management infrastructures.80 3. National Agencies Both the United States and Mexico acknowledge the importance of Delta ecosystems in domestic and international policy arenas. In 1993, parts of the Delta and the upper Gulf of California were declared a Biosphere Reserve81 by the Mexican government. Natural resource agencies from both nations cooperate on projects in the Delta, including revegetation in the Delta riparian area and technical support for local ecotourism efforts.82 National agencies with programs in the border region include several U.S. agencies, the Environmental Protection Agency (EP A) and Department of the Interior (001); and Mexico's Secretariat of the Environment, Natural Resources, and Fisheries (SEMARNAP). In Mexico, SEMARNAP has jurisdiction over environmental protection, natural resource management, and the management of marine resources, and it helps develop and implement the nation's Ecology Law.83 SEMARNAP's National Institute of Ecology (INE) carries out environmental research and development, evaluates Mexico's environmental policies, and implements its natural resource programs. INE administers the "National System of Protected Natural Areas" and is responsible for establishing and managing all natural areas, including the Biosphere Reserve in the upper Gulf of California and the Colorado River 84 ' delta. The Biosphere Reserve's management team includes law enforcement, as well as staff for the research station in the Golfo de Santa Clara. Although none have been established in the Delta as yet, INE also oversees the System of Wildlife Management Units, which establishes small wildlife refuges that can be managed for the economic benefit of local 't' 85 cOmmuro les. . .. C;.'" Also Within SEMARNAP IS the National Water Commission 0 (CNA), which has nearly complete jurisdiction over water resources and W planning in Mexico. CNA builds potable water, sanitation, wastewater- ~ treatment, irrigation, drainage, and flood control systems. It administers en Mexico's system of water rights and pumping permits, and shares (with INE) responsibility for the nation's water quality. CNA has recently attempted to decentralize its decision making by establishing local watershed councils. State and municipal governments have little local control over water resources.86 In the United States, several federal agencies have some jurisdiction over activities in, or impacting, the Delta. The EP A regulates water quality, and has supported research on selenium in Delta waters.S7 In addition, two 001 agencies play critical roles. The Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) administers the Endangered Species ActBB and is mandated to review federal actions for adverse impacts to endangered species.89 The BOR operates the dams on the Colorado River in the United States and has stated it is planning to conduct a needs assessment of the Colorado River delta in cooperation with Mexican agencies under the auspices of the IBWC/ClLA although no action has yet been taken.90 ' 84. Other protected areas include national parks, national marine parks, areas for protection of vegetation and wildlife, and natural monuments. 85. Land protected by regulation under the Wildlife Management Units (known as UMAs) includes public, private, and common holding (Le., ejido) lands. See V ALDS5-CAS1LLAS ET AL., supra note 12, at 72. 86. In an attempt to enhance the influence of user groups and allow some local control of water resources, Mexico has established District Water Committees (Comitls Hidr4ulicos) composed of water users. In addition. River Basin Councils were created in 1992 to help decentralize water management. CNA sits on both the irrigation district committees and the river basin councils. See MUMME, supra note 73, at 1.1.3 87. Jaqueline Garcia-Hernandez, Bioaccumulation of Selenium in the CW\ega de Santa Clara, Colorado River Delta, Sonora, Mexico (Feb. 26, 1999) (unpublished manuscript on file with author). 88. 16 U.S.C. 55 1531-1543 (1994) (amended in 1978 by Pub. L. No. 95-632, 92 Stat. 3751). 89. See MUMME, supra note 73, at m.2.8.2. 90. Telephone interview with Robert Johnson. Regional Director, Lower Colorado Region Office, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Feb. 1999). 78. The CEC funds projects through the North American Fund for Environmental Cooperation. See Stephen P. Mumme .k Pam Duncan. The Commission on Environmental Cooperation and the U.S.-Mexican Border Environment, 5 J. ENv'T &: DEv. 197, 197-215 (1996). 79. The commission was conceived as a mechanism to win support for the trade pact among U.S. border states, the rationale being that environmental infrastructure improvements could mitigate any potential environmental degradation associated with NAFrA's promised economic development. See id. at 5. SO. See MUMME, supra note 73, at IV.4. 81. See CeNTRO DE lNVEsnCACIONBSCIEN'!1J:ICAS V'I'ECHNOLOGICAS DE LA UNIVERSIDAD DE SoNORAET AL., PROCRAMADE MANEJo DE LA BIOSFERA DELALTOGoLFODECAUFORNlA V DELTA DEL RIo COLORADO 4 (1995). 82. See U.S. Dep'tof the Interior, U.S.-Mexico Sonoranand Chihuahuan Desert Wtiatives, (Feb. 9, 2000) (unpublished. activities report, on file with author). 83. Ley General de Equilibrio y la Protecd6n al Ambiente. See MUMME, supra note 73, at 1.2.