GEOLOGY: Rio Hardy and Colorado River Delta area

[CactusJackSlade]

It's incredible to think that nary a drop of Colorado River water makes it to the Sea of Cortez, Mexico except on an occasional VERY wet winter.

Here are some photos of the Rio Hardy in the Colorado River delta area, the Rio Hardy actually flows SOME water into Mexico, although it is very alkaline because of the decreased flow.

[CactusJackSlade]

Here is the Colorado River in the delta area about 60 miles south of the boarder, this is after it has converged with the Rio Hardy. At this point the water is brackish from the tides and minimal flow of fresh water... and any fresh water comes from the Rio Hardy, not the mighty Colorado...

When the water from the Colorado did flow, the Mexican government set up "lots" along the Colorado as it would be prime agriculture and fishing area... but no more.

You can see the rectangular lots in one of the photos... and a few locals trying to eek out an existance.

There was a proposal to let 1%... yes ONE PER CENT of the Colorado River water be mandated to flow to Mexico into the Delta area for re-habitation and the health of the delta region... it did not pass...

CJS

[quailbird]

Wow, I learned something new! I didn't realize that about the Colorado river! Thanks CJ!

[kd7ost]

Hey CJS,

I had heard one time, no confirmation though, that near the Boarder of Mexico years of erosion in limestone allowed much of the original water flow of the Colorado to flow underground to the Gulf of Mexico. I don't know the source but your pictures reminded me that I had heard that once. I'm thinking it probably isn't true else the water could be pumped out. Or that the flow has waned until like you pointed out, there isn't any left. In that case one wonders if there are underground lime stone river beds left behind?

Do you have any such knowledge of that or did someone tell me a Sci Fi story?

Dan

[CactusJackSlade]

I think that was in a Clive Cussler novel where the hero Dirk Pitt navigated the aquifer into the Sea of Cortez Mexico... :D

Seriously though, most of the water you see is not fresh water at all, but brackish fresh and sea water.

The remains of the Colorado River only 30 miles south of the boarder is a canal only 3 feet wide!

While there is no doubt that some of the Colorado River goes to replentishing under ground aquafers, it does nothing really to reduce the increased salinity of the Northern Sea of Cortez or the devistation of the once rich wetlands of the delta region...

I recently did a kayak trip in the delta area, I spend a fair amount of time in the Baja region... here are some cool photos on this new site, check out the video gallery too, great stuff.

http://www.bajatrekker.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=308

CJS


Hey CJS,

I had heard one time, no confirmation though, that near the Boarder of Mexico years of erosion in limestone allowed much of the original water flow of the Colorado to flow underground to the Gulf of Mexico. I don't know the source but your pictures reminded me that I had heard that once. I'm thinking it probably isn't true else the water could be pumped out. Or that the flow has waned until like you pointed out, there isn't any left. In that case one wonders if there are underground lime stone river beds left behind?

Do you have any such knowledge of that or did someone tell me a Sci Fi story?

Dan

[Airboatflyingshp]

Here is the Colorado River in the delta area about 60 miles south of the boarder, this is after it has converged with the Rio Hardy. At this point the water is brackish from the tides and minimal flow of fresh water... and any fresh water comes from the Rio Hardy, not the mighty Colorado...

When the water from the Colorado did flow, the Mexican government set up "lots" along the Colorado as it would be prime agriculture and fishing area... but no more.

You can see the rectangular lots in one of the photos... and a few locals trying to eek out an existance.

There was a proposal to let 1%... yes ONE PER CENT of the Colorado River water be mandated to flow to Mexico into the Delta area for re-habitation and the health of the delta region... it did not pass...

CJS

Sounds like the Aral Sea problem all over again :( still good pics :) ............. just think of all that sediment building up behind those Dams, that should solve the problem eventually ;)