The Colorado River Delta and Estuary: What It Was and Could Be

Authors: Turner, Dale

Year: 2017 (xlix)

Abstract

The Delta of the Colorado River is an ecosystem of global importance, where a major river meets the sea in one of the world’s most arid regions Before most of its flow was diverted for upstream uses, the river brought fresh water and nutrients to the Gulf of California, provided nursery habitat for marine species, created nesting and feeding habitat for millions of birds, and formed a critical passage for wildlife and people The Delta and its estuary have lost many ecological functions due to changes in the river hydrology, but still remain important for fish, birds, and people I will present a brief natural, cultural, and scientific history of the Delta, along with an overview of recent conservation efforts and prospects for its future