East Wetlands upkeep plan presented

What was once a wasteland of trash dumps, transient camps and invasive species has been transformed into a high-quality riparian habitat and recreational area.

It took years of planning, effort and various funding sources to create the Yuma East Wetlands. Now it would be nice to keep it that nice, noted Charles Flynn, executive director of the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area, as he outlined a long-term maintenance plan during a briefing for the Yuma City Council work session Tuesday evening.

"The Heritage Area didn't want to do all that restoration and not be able to maintain it," Flynn said. Nor did the organization intend to create a "significant financial burden" on the city, he added.
  Fortunately, there is another answer.

The Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Project has approached the Heritage Area with an offer to assist with the long-term maintenance and operation of the wetlands, Flynn told the council.

"We've been in negotiations with the MSCP to provide 70 percent of the maintenance costs," Flynn said. MSCP has committed to providing $250,000 the first year, increasing the support to $350,000 the next year.

Flynn explained that the MSCP is a 50-year program funded by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to protect the Lower Colorado River by restoring habitat while ensuring the continuation of existing river water and power operations.

Under the proposal that Flynn outlined for the council, the city of Yuma, Heritage Area and Quechan Indian Tribe would each provide 10 percent of the costs. That would amount to $33,333 each the first year and increasing to $50,000 in subsequent years.

Flynn noted that the project is eligible for funding from the city's 2 percent hospitality tax, a portion of which is dedicated to the Yuma Crossing.

In addition, the city and the Quechan Tribe would provide the water needed for maintenance of the Yuma East Wetlands. Flynn said the city's share would be 1,000 acre-feet per year while the Quechan Tribe would provide 1,500 acre-feet.

The Heritage Area would manage the maintenance on behalf of all the partners, such as weeding and irrigation.

And each year, the Heritage Area would work with the partners to develop a work plan and budget, he said.

Flynn said he has also briefed the Quechan Tribe's council and is hopeful the partners can reach a consensus on the maintenance proposal.

He also invited the council and community residents to visit the wetlands and see the improvements for themselves.

"I think people would be startled," he said.

In some before and after slides, he demonstrated the changes made in recent years.

Before 2002, the North Channel was the site of transient camps, trash dumping and fires. Since then, the area has been cleaned up and cleared of salt cedar trees, to be replaced by acres of native trees that now attract an abundance of birds and other wildlife, Flynn said.

The wetlands also provides a haven for humans. It serves as a venue for canoeing, bird watching, fishing and outdoor recreation. Plans for this year include the addition of five miles of public hiking trails through the restored area.

In an earlier progress report, Flynn said the Yuma East Wetlands has become a model for other restoration projects in the Southwest.