Ecosystem-Based Management in the Colorado River Delta

The Colorado River Delta (CRD) is only 8% of its
original size and is
mainly sustained on agricultural run-off.
Ecosystem-based
management (EBM), the process of controlling human
activities to
protect, conserve, and enhance the quality of
ecosystems to meet
current and future needs, provides a way forward.
This study
uses nine common EBM principles to analyze
legislation, research,
management plans, and community actions of six major CRD
institutions, establishing a governance baseline.
Specific resulting
recommendations include extending Intentionally
Created Surplus to Mexico, testing Mexico s National
Water Law
amendments, and adding a Minute to the U.S.-Mexico
Water Treaty
to make EBM functional. Furthermore, the EBM
principles of
ecosystem valuation, the precautionary approach, and
adaptive
management can be made more operable through cooperative
restoration, experimentation, and demonstration,
strengthening the
CRD governance system. There is currently a window of
opportunity
to dedicate an instream flow to the CRD and encourage
EBM.

Autorentext
Karen Hyun has a Ph.D. in Marine Affairs from the University of Rhode Island and a M.S. and B.S. in Earth Systems from Stanford University. This work is a product of her dissertation research, which would not have been possible without the patient, untiring, and committed people who live and work in the Colorado River Delta.

Klappentext
The Colorado River Delta (CRD) is only 8% of its original size and is mainly sustained on agricultural run-off. Ecosystem-based management (EBM), the process of controlling human activities to protect, conserve, and enhance the quality of ecosystems to meet current and future needs, provides a way forward. This study uses nine common EBM principles to analyze legislation, research, management plans, and community actions of six major CRD institutions, establishing a governance baseline. Specific resulting recommendations include extending Intentionally Created Surplus to Mexico, testing Mexico's National Water Law amendments, and adding a Minute to the U.S.-Mexico Water Treaty to make EBM functional. Furthermore, the EBM principles of ecosystem valuation, the precautionary approach, and adaptive management can be made more operable through cooperative restoration, experimentation, and demonstration, strengthening the CRD governance system. There is currently a window of opportunity to dedicate an instream flow to the CRD and encourage EBM.