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Contact: Jessica Pope, 520-387-6849, ext. 7301
Ajo Arizona – Park staff and contractors at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument (ORPI) will replace the man-made liner at Quitobaquito Pond beginning April 11, 2022. The pond requires a new liner to stop water seepage.
This project is anticipated to take four weeks with an approximate completion date of May 6, 2022. Completing the work safely will require a Temporary Closure Order of the Quitobaquito site as well as the access road to it from the junction of South Puerto Blanco and North Puerto Blanco Drives. A map of the closure area is attached.
In recent years, the previous liner has started to fail. As continued spring flow declines are projected, stopping further leakage is necessary to ensure sustainable pond levels for the survival of the endangered Sonoyta Mud Turtle and the Quitobaquito (Desert) Pupfish. Replacing the old liner will stabilize the pond by stopping leakage, providing habitat for these and other species that rely on this precious water source. Stream flow reductions, increased sedimentation in the pond and vegetation incursions have also contributed to seasonal pond level reductions and several extreme pond drying events.
“We are excited to be able to implement this important restoration project, and appreciate the continued collaboration with our partners,” said Scott Stonum, park superintendent.
The project is funded in part through donations, including a $100,000 donation coordinated by the International Sonoran Desert Alliance (ISDA). The National Park Service is funding the balance of the project.
“This project is necessary to protect aquatic habitat that is vitally important to the conservation of Endangered and other wildlife species,” said Danny Martin, park wildlife program manager “We anticipate the reconstructed pond to be more resilient to more frequent and severe droughts, higher temperatures, and decreased spring flow in the coming decades.”
Quitobaquito is an oasis in the desert; a sacred site to many whose ancestors have called this place home for generations. Humans have lived on and passed through this area for at least 12,000 years. The area around Quitobaquito is associated with a prehistoric trade route known as the Old Salt Trail. The route was used to obtain salt, obsidian, seashells, and other commodities from the salt beds on the Gulf of California coast in Sonora, Mexico. O’odham people have lived here for thousands of years, and contemporary members continue to use this sacred site.
Other groups assisting the NPS with this project include U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Arizona Game & Fish Department, University of Arizona, Tohono O’odham Nation, ISDA, and the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.
Last updated: March 29, 2022