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Cross Border Fish and Wildlife Recovery and Habitat Restoration in the San Bernardino Valley Valer Austin and Sadie Hadley

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Cross Border Fish and Wildlife Recovery and Habitat Restoration in the San Bernardino Valley Valer Austin and Sadie Hadley PART THR ee . STAK E HOLD E RS : CAS E S AND PE RS pe CTIV E S Cross Border Fish and Wildlife Recovery and Habitat Restoration in the San Bernardino Valley ValeR AUSTIN anD SADIE HaDleY Cooperation efforts are currently underway gion in the San Bernardino Valley, reflecting the impor- between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service tance of landowners’ participation in their effectiveness. (USFWS) and land owners on either side of It highlights the main achievements of the programs and U.S.-Mexico border who are promoting activ- explains how construction of the border barrier under- ities that will guarantee the perpetuation of mines the efforts and success achieved to date through habitat and water sources, promote scientific this means of cooperation. research and introduce populations of native The geographical region of the San Bernardino Valley fish and wildlife species into this broad region. comprises the four corners of the states of Arizona, New The results of these recovery actions, how- Mexico, Sonora and Chihuahua and is renowned for its ever, are being threatened by the U.S. Depart- enormous biological richeness on either side of the bor- ment of Homeland Security (DHS). der line. The San Bernardino Marsh has historically been This chapter describes the actions carried out regard- the largest wetland in the region and forms a valuable ing wildlife conservation and restoration in the border re- wildlife corridor between the Sierra Madre Occidental in Brownsville, U.S. Photo: Wendy Shattil 29 ila Monster, Cuenca Los Ojos. Photo: Krista Schlyer G Mexico and the Rocky Mountains in the north. At least These cooperation efforts have been expanded and 313 bird species have been documented within private reinforced on either side of the border. They have also properties in the valley, including many nesting species, secured the participation of other landowners who also 62 mammal, 42 reptile, 13 amphibian and 8 native fish acknowledge the fact that they are all part of a large land- species. These properties play a crucial role in ensuring scape and that preserving healthy ecosystems for plants, a sanctuary for at least 35 plant and wildlife species of fish and wildlife depends on all of them. Other innovative particular importance (included in the Mexico and/or the proposals have been implemented by the landowners and United States state and/or federal lists of threatened or the USFWS to contribute to the recovery of fish and wild- endangered species). life in the Valley of San Bernardino. These programs in- The USFWS has worked in conjunction with land- clude Conservation Easements, Safe Harbor Agreements, owners’ associations on either side of the border to im- and Habitat Conservation Plans. prove the ecological conditions of the landscape, with Over the years, through cooperation and the afore- several changes taking place as a result of these asso- mentioned programs, landowners have restored proper- ciations. These include: an increase in groundwater lev- ties, made improvements to the watershed, enhanced els in the Valley of San Bernardino; a permanent, con- livestock activity, reduced the invasion of non-native spe- tinuous flow of the San Bernardino river from the United cies and recreated the nesting conditions for water birds States to Mexico; permanent and seasonal lagoons along as well as feeding and resting conditions for other aquatic the San Bernardino River; the emergence of abundant ri- life forms, among others. These actions maintain the in- parian corridors along the banks of Silver Creek, the San tegrity of the transborder habitat, which is important for Bernardino River and Hay Hollow Wash, and the natural wildlife migration and dispersion. regeneration of wetlands in Mexico near the confluence However, although various strategies have been de- of Silver Creek and the San Bernardino river. veloped to protect the habitat and boost the recovery of 30 The Border Wall Mud turtle. Cuenca Los Ojos. Photo: Krista Schlyer threatened and endangered species on either side of the the fragmentation of the landscape and future population border, potential threats to DHS have led to the creation of discontinuity. new control measures along the border without adequate- Although erecting these infrastructures along the ly considering the associated environmental repercussions. border is regarded as a step backwards in terms of fish In 2008, DHS built roads and vehicle barriers along the and wildlife recovery, it is not an insurmountable prob- international border in the San Bernardino Valley. lem. Structures that have already been installed can be A great deal of time, effort and money has been modified to provide possible mitigation of environmen- spent on improving the ecological conditions of this re- tal impacts. DHS can still implement actions that con- gion, all of which is now threatened by the introduction tribute to the reconciliation of national security and the of exotic species, the alteration of natural water flows, environment along the international border in which the obstruction of the free passage of fish and wildlife, landowners are extremely willing to take part. Lessons • Shared interest in fish, wildlife and habitat restoration between landowners and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. • Common vision of the landscape-scale of the area that facilitates cooperation and communication between landowners of the area. • Continuous search for innovative ways of complementing each others work to complement individual strengths and weaknesses and catalyze their own progress. • Development of a proactive, cooperative management to recover endangered species. Cross Border Fish and Wildlife Recovery 31 32 The Border Wall.
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