Residents can take a guided tour of restored wetlands

Just east of the Ocean-to-Ocean Bridge, where stagnant, foul-smelling water full of salt-loving plants once infected the area, there is now native vegetation, wildlife and waterfalls in the Yuma East Wetlands.

Residents can walk through the restored wetlands area on a guided tour at 9 a.m. every Saturday, the first of which was this weekend.

"I love the outdoors, and I love walking," said Terry Snyder, a Yuma resident for over a year. "It was free ... and I really wanted to learn about different plants in the area and what direction everything's going ... how we're progressing ... I'm excited about all the progress that's been made."

Snyder was given a piece of a plant by John Mahkewa, restoration specialist and native cultural interpreter, that she tasted along the way and decided would be great to grow for salads.

"Everybody should come down and do this. If they learn more about it, they're more likely to participate in cleanup projects ... to restore the river back to the way it was," she said.

The progress has taken a lot of planning, funding and green thumbs. Ecological intern and volunteer outreach coordinator Clairisse Nash said removing invasive species along the Colorado River, such as salt cedar, became the priority once the river was dammed to stop the area from flooding.

She said salt cedar is not native to Yuma. It was brought here in the 1800s because the native trees had been depleted, and people needed a tree that would grow quickly.

"Salt cedar grows in a lot of water," Nash said. "The leaves are so salty, when they fall on the ground, they will inhibit other plants from growing."

The wetlands ground is layered with salt, which Mahkewa said is because of the underground saltwater.

Another plant being eradicated is the phragmites, also known as giant reeds, which are native, but they destroy the biodiversity.

"The chemical eats away the soil around it and destroys other plants," Nash said.

The reeds have an extensive root system that requires a lot of digging to remove the plants.

After the invasive plants and trees are uprooted, native trees are planted, such as cottonwoods, palo verdes and mesquites. Buffer systems are created with native plants around the channels and streams in the wetlands.

The area was designed by landscape architects, so every plant and tree has its place for a reason.

The planted trees and plants have been joined by native trees and plants that a

ppeared after the area was cleared.

"Once the native annuals have room to grow, they've been popping up," Nash said.

On Saturday, tourists saw the wildlife that has returned to the area, including ducks, an egret and the brandts cormorant. Other wildlife that has come back includes rabbits, coyotes, beavers, raccoons, snakes, deer and skunks. The area attracts birds, including quails, doves, raptors, hawks, osprey, swallows and mud hens - and fish such as bass, carp and crappie.

Another surprise work of nature occurred when the main water channel that flows through the wetlands widened considerably on its own.

"We will have designated trails and walkways with viewing platforms (soon)," Mahkewa said.

Guided walking tours will be held at 9 a.m. on Saturdays through the end of December at the upper parking lot of the Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park. A new time will likely be set for tours from January through April. Tours last from 30 minutes to over an hour, depending on how many questions the walkers have.

For more information, contact Nash by e-mail at cen3@toro.azwestern.edu or by phone at 782-5712.

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Nicole Squibbs can be reached at

nsquibbs@yumasun.com or 539-6855.