Laserfiche WebLink
<br />). <br /> <br />002718 <br /> <br />Opportunities for Ecological Improvement Along the Lower Colorado River <br />Mark Briggs and Steve Cornelius <br />7/24/97 <br /> <br /> <br />fJJ <br />.... <br />('i) <br />... <br />... <br />\l:l <br />~ <br />'5 <br />'" <br /> <br />g <br />8 <br />~ <br />~ <br /> <br /> <br />Arizona <br /> <br />California <br /> <br />-------M~~li4lj--~----------- <br />Q.qq/ ce <br />-q/~/ <br /> <br /> <br />~ <br />f:J:' <br />~ .. <br />'SI~ .. .. .. <br />~' <br />~ <br />4~-9 Sonora <br /> <br />.. <br /> <br />.... <br /> <br />.. <br />.... <br /> <br />.... <br /> <br />Site #11 <br />Rio Hardy Wetlands <br />Backwater area of the Colorado <br />River <br /> <br />.... <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />Site #12 <br />Cienega de Santa Clara <br />Artificially-supported System <br /> <br />Figure 2. Idealized map of the Colorado River delta and location of sites considered in this <br />study. <br /> <br />METHODS <br />Background information was collected describing the current ecological condition of <br />the lower Colorado River, the degree to which that condition has changed, and some of <br />the principal reasons behind the ecological changes that have occurred. Maps and <br />aerial photographs were collected and past studies dealing with the river's ecological <br />condition were reviewed. Ecologists, hydrologists, natural resource managers, <br />restorationists, and others with lower Colorado River experience were interviewed to <br />better understand the challenges that will have to be overcome before significant <br />headway can be made in improving the river's ecological condition. <br /> <br />As a preliminary step to performing field work, a group of sites within the study area <br />were chosen for evaluation. Sites were selected in consultation with local experts with <br />regard to their natural significance or the information they may convey to future <br /> <br />Page 6 <br />