LOS ALGONDONES, Mexico — Colorado River water has begun pouring over a barren delta near the U.S.-Mexico border, the result of a landmark bi-national agreement 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. The delta dried up decades ago. Conservationists hope the water will bring back trees, wildlife and aquatic life.
The river’s most southern dam — Mexico’s Morelos Dam, near Yuma, Ariz. — on Sunday began unleashing 105,392 acre-feet of water. The one-time release is expected to last until May 18.
“Historically in the West, everyone has approached water with an ‘us against them’ mentality,” said Jennifer Pitt, director of the Colorado River Project. “Now we’re talking about how we can share water, conserve water, and invest in new water projects and the health of the river itself.”
