Environmental groups say water use at border wall threatening endangered species in Arizona

August 14, 2020

An environmental group said a government assessment it acquired shows use of a water well to construct a border wall along the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona has led to low water levels in local wildlife habitats.

The Defenders of Wildlife published a government assessment written in June that said use of millions of gallons of water from the Glenn Ranch Well, believed to be used to make concrete for the wall, is “significantly impacting” wells located at San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge, about 18 miles east of Douglas, Arizona.

“These analyses provide additional evidence that pumping at Glenn Ranch Well is significantly impacting wells located at San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge, leading to immediate and significant loss in pressure at Mitigation Well within a week,” the report stated. “This correlates with why some ponds at the Refuge are void of water, and why it is so difficult to maintain water levels at other ponds that currently have threatened or endangered fish species.”

The refuge’s primary role is to provide recovery for the native fish in the Rio Yaqui watershed, located in southeastern Arizona and parts of Mexico.

The refuge is home to three endangered fish species, the Huachuca water umbrel, Yaqui chub, and Yaqui topminnow.

Environmental groups say water use at border wall threatening endangered species in Arizona

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