AZ-Cibola+Valley+Conservation+Area


 * =Birding in Arizona=

La Paz County
=Cibola Valley Conservation Area= Cibola, Arizona 85328 Cibola Valley Conservation Area webpage

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Cibola Valley Conservation Area
Coordinates: 33.4106209, -114.6632338 eBird links: Hotspot map View details Recent visits My eBird links: Location life list Submit data

About Cibola Valley Conservation Area
In 2007, the Bureau of Reclamation secured 1,309 acres of land within the Cibola Valley Irrigation and Drainage District in southwestern Arizona and established the Cibola Valley Conservation Area (CVCA). In September 2007, the property was conveyed to the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AGFD) through an agreement among AGFD, Reclamation, the Mohave County Water Authority, and The Conservation Fund. Under the agreement, AGFD retains title to the property and leases the land and water rights to Reclamation until April 5, 2055 as part of the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program. Several farmers also have short-term leases on portions of the land for crop production.

Within the CVCA, Reclamation is planting former agricultural fields with native riparian cottonwood-willow, and mesquite habitats for species defined in the LCR MSCP Final Habitat Conservation Plan, including the southwestern willow flycatcher and yellow-billed cuckoo.

Cottonwood, willow, and honey mesquite are planted to create an integrated mosaic of habitats resembling riparian communities that were historically present in the Colorado River floodplain. When feasible, areas of standing water or moist soil, and open areas with ground cover and low shrubs are incorporated into the design.

The CVCA will be developed over a number of years through phased restoration activities. A phase-specific restoration plan is prepared each fiscal year, which documents the planning, design, planting, and monitoring requirements of that phase. An annual report is prepared each year summarizing restoration and monitoring activities conducted during the previous year.

To date, 6 phases of the site have been restored with riparian habitat, honey mesquite, and upland buffer areas in varying densities of trees per acre to help determine the most suitable planting methodology. Phases 1-3 were primarily planted with cottonwood and willow. Phases 4-6 were planted with primarily honey mesquite. No additional planting is scheduled until at least 2016 or until the long-term water requirements of Phases 1-6 both for maintenance and to meet species-specific performance standards have been quantified. From Cibola Valley Conservation Area webpage



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media type="custom" key="29254549" || L1190205 US US-AZ US-AZ-012 33.4106209 -114.6632338 Cibola Valley Conservation Area