WATCHING THE RIVER FLOW: BINATIONAL SCIENTIFIC MONITORING IN THE COLORADO RIVER DELTA

The 2012 agreement (“Minute 319”) between the U.S. and Mexico called for the first transboundary environmental flow to the Colorado River Delta. The initial pulse flow occurred in March-April 2014. The agreement also required an evaluation of “the ecosystem response, most importantly the hydrological response and, secondarily, the biological response.” A monitoring team of more than 25 hydrologists, geologists, ecologists and remote-sensing specialists from government agencies, non-government organizations (NGOs) and universities in Mexico and the U.S. worked under the auspices of the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC). Many team members had worked on an earlier transboundary monitoring project, monitoring elsewhere in the Colorado River basin or knew each other through a Research Coordination Network. IBWC facilitated cross-border movement of both scientists and equipment. Data-sharing has been through two progress reports and a USGS-hosted website. Multiple funding streams presented challenges to overall management and accountability. Nevertheless, the monitoring team produced reports and hosted field excursions for officials in both countries. The team has documented the effects of the environmental flow, helped develop scenarios for future flows, and helped formulate criteria for the success of riparian restoration in the delta. Science and geologic setting affect only some elements of the transboundary water management of the Colorado River. Pre-existing policy, precedents, diplomatic relationships and evolving societal needs and values play larger roles. Science can best inform and help implement policy when it meets Cash et al.’s (2002) criteria of salience, legitimacy and credibility. The Minute 319 Delta Monitoring Team is doing a pretty good job of that.