INVESTMENT

The other $20 million is being awarded to Topock Marsh at the Havasu National Wildlife Refuge.

“We are just so excited that we have this funding opportunity that’s going to mean so much for the East Wetlands,” said Cathy Douglas, YCNHA Executive Director. “We need to ensure the vitality of this site into the future. We were a little worried about how we were going to get funding, we know that a lot of our infrastructure is aging, and this is really like a godsend. We’re really looking forward to working with all of our partners to get the work done on the ground.”

The Yuma East Wetlands is one of 18 conservation areas under the watchful eye of the Lower Colorado River Multi-species Conservation Program (LCR MSCP) between the Hoover Dam and the Mexican border.

“This particular infrastructure funding is going to replace some of the aging ways we deliver water to the site and return water back to the river,” said Terry Murphy, Program Manager for LCR MSCP. “The goal is to get rid of the diesel-driven pumps that are here and replace those with electrical ones, so we don’t have the pollution associated with diesel engines running. It’s much quieter, and it’s a much nicer environment to be in.”

According to Murphy, the current diesel pump system at the East Wetlands is aging and starting to rust.

“The infrastructure is really the backbone of the conservation area,” he said. “The conditions that would have historically created a habitat

and maintained it don’t really exist

anymore, so we have to bring those artificially by the use of pumps.”

This is especially true for the Topock Marsh, which currently relies on gravity diversions from the Colorado River to cycle water through the marsh. Due to drought-related reductions in flow, the gravity diversion system is having a harder time diverting and trapping water from the river into the marsh.

The gravity diversion infrastructure is to be replaced by pumps to more reliably capture the water, accurately measure exactly how much enters the marsh, and then utilize that information to guarantee enough, but not too much, water is flowing to and from the marsh and the river.

“This particular funding, the bipartisan infrastructure law, is specifically to increase efficiency of the way we deliver that water, track the use of that water, and then return it back to the system,” Murphy said. “We realized that if we have to use water, that we only want to use the right amount of water that’s necessary.”

Murphy expressed that wildlife continues to thrive at the East Wetlands, so the goal of this project isn’t to create new habitat but to maintain the functionality of what’s there already.

“The quality of life for our region increases exponentially as we continue to reflect on our past and respect the environment that we’re in here along the river. The river is becoming more and more of a topic around the Southwest, and it’s one of those things that it’s more than just a water source, more than turning on a tap for us, it is truly life, and it’s what our community is built upon. We really appreciate the investment, and we look

forward to the continued working relationships with all the partners,” said Yuma Mayor Douglas Nicholls

Each speaker at Wednesday’s announcement expressed an emphasis on togetherness and partnership. Part of what makes the Yuma East Wetlands unique is its shared ownership, and each of the area’s managing entities will have the opportunity to share in the benefits of the Bureau’s investment.

“Our motto is ‘Together We Progress,’” said Ina Hall, Vice President of the Quechan Tribal Council. “With our partnerships, we’ve seen that today. We appreciate Commissioner Touton and the Biden administration’s investment of these funds through an overarching commitment to respecting tribal sovereignty and working with us as true partners as we work to ensure the Colorado River ecosystem remains a true and thriving homeland for the Quechan people and our neighbors.”

Politicians across the state are chiming in to applaud the Biden administration for this investment in the wildlife conservation of the Lower Colorado River Basin.

“The Yuma East Wetlands is a model for wetlands restoration and conservation,” said Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva of Arizona’s 7th congressional district. “This investment by the Biden administration is critical for maintaining this vital ecosystem and its abundance of biodiversity. I’m grateful for the Biden administration’s commitment to restoring and protecting our natural landscapes and making certain the Yuma East Wetlands can thrive for future generations.”

Construction of the new pumps is expected as early as summer 2025.