Sensitive Natural Resource Areas. Just 68 miles (109 km) southwest of San Xxxx Río Colorado lies the beachfront town of El Golfo de Santa Xxxxx. The main attraction is the town’s harmonious combination of desert and sea, joined by a broad stretch of fine-sand beach that runs for some 30 miles (48 km). The town is located in an extensive area of more than 2,335,000 acres (944,923 ha) which constitute the Reserve of the Upper Gulf of California and the Delta of the Colorado River, one of the richest ecosystems in the world. Some 907 species of marine animals of biological and commercial interest have been recorded. A release or spill of a hazardous material into the Colorado River could drastically affect this marine life since the River flows through El Golfo de Santa Xxxxx with a final destination of the Gulf of California. Two of Mexico’s principal ecological reserves can be found in the desert region of Sonora. With a size of over 1,786,390 acres (722,913 ha), the Reserve of El Pinacate and the Gran Desierto de Altar is made up of volcanic craters, regions of dunes, ash obliques and outcroppings of solidified lava, as well as a variety of flora and fauna typical of the desert. Located in the same region is the Biosphere Reserve of the High Gulf of California and the River Delta of the Colorado River. Covering an area of over 2,335,000 acres, the Biosphere Reserve encompasses various communities and natural resources found in the states of Sonora and Baja California.
Sensitive Natural Resource Areas. The San Xxxxx River originates from storms on the high slopes of north central Sonora. The river travels north through the Chihuahuan and Sonoran Deserts, past the city of Cananea, Mexico and entering the United States south of Palominas, Arizona. The San Xxxxx River riparian ecosystem is of critical importance in maintaining regional biodiversity in the Chihuahuan Desert. Scientists consider it a biodiversity hot spot in that it contains one of the richest assemblages of species and supports one of the most important migratory bird habitats in North America. Binational Prevention and Emergency Response Plan Between Naco, Sonora and Cochise County, Arizona
