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1910-1989
From 1910 to 1970, the area next to the Colorado River was used as the "city dump", where approximately 110 acres of the upper terrace was used as a solid waste landfill. Beginning in the 1980's there was an interest by Yuma citizens to convert the land used for a dump as a riverfront park.

1990s
In early 1990, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was contacted by the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area to obtain the needed steps required to be make use of the old dump for public use. After testing and monitoring the area, it was determined that covering the whole site with 6 to 8 feet of clean fill was the main requirement for reuse. It was accessed by the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area that in order to build the entire park, at least ten million dollars in funds needed to be raised to complete the park. In addition, a challenge was also presented to develop a plan for the design, cleanup, and tree planting of the park. An implementation team was also going to be needed to write grants, plan, and manage the construction of the project. The first success in obtaining funding was a $23,000 grant from Arizona Game and Fish Department.

In 1996, a fire caused by the extensive human encampment of the area burned native and non-native vegetation. The resources along the river would be completely lost and a hazard to local residents unless actions could be taken to reclaim this section of the river. (source?)

The development of the West Wetlands Park began in 1999 with the initial funding of the Riverfront Management Project of the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area Corporation (Flynn). The Riverfront project included several phases and locations for restoration, development, and use; the first of which was an area that use to be the city dump, the West Wetlands Park in Yuma, Arizona.

Congressmen secured a $1.45 million appropriation grant thought the Bureau of Reclamation. In the beginning, funding was a problem, but as soon as the 50-50 match came in, things started getting underway. Phase one occurred in October 1999 when the Yuma Crossing hosted a volunteer day, where 700 volunteers planted over 450 trees at the Millennium Tree Grow.

2000s
In 2001, an additional $500,000 was secured by Congressman Pastor through the Bureau of Reclamation, for the pilot re-vegetation project. Phase one of the parks development opened in December 2002. The pond was dug out in the Phase One project, was completed, filled, and opened in late 2003 with the additional Reclamation grant funds.

In 2005, Arizona Public Service (APS) partnered with the City of Yuma to develop a solar garden, which is a solar demonstration area. The solar garden consists of twenty-four trackers that produce 3,600 watts of power that will be directed to the City of Yuma electrical grid. An approximate of twenty homes can be powered with this energy. The output of a single tracker is displayed in the ramada in front of the solar garden. The panels are photovoltaic trackers that which are facing south. They rotate 80 degrees from the East in the morning to the West in the afternoon. They rotate by utilizing a clock system from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. After dark it utilizes a very small amount from the grid to move the panels to face the East. The solar garden is owned and maintained by APS.

The Army of the West statue was erected, funded entirely with private funds along with a commitment for ongoing maintenance in 2006. (source?)

In February of 2007 thousands of volunteers participated in the building of what came to be known as the Stewart Vincent Wolfe Creative Playground. The playground is commonly referred to as Castle Park, due to its creative design.

For the rest of 2007, the initial plan for West Wetlands from 1999, was updated by the Heritage Area and the City of Yuma.

Fishing
People of all ages fish in the pond and/or the Colorado River for a variety of fish such as Catfish, Blue Gill, Carp, Rainbow Trout, Red-ear Sunfish, Mullet, and Largemouth Bass.

Miniature Sail boating
Park visitors also sail miniature boats on the pond.

Playgrounds
West Wetlands has two playgrounds, the biggest and most visited being the Stewart Vincent Wolfe Creative Playground. This castle-like playground has many activities inside such as jungle gyms, monkey bars, fireman pole, sandbox, tunnels, swings, slides, toddler area, rock climbing wall, bridges, and sit-on planes, animals and trains.

River Activities
Along with fishing, a variety of other activities take place on the river ; for example, tubing, canoeing, kayaking, motor boating, jet skiing, and swimming. The park contains a boat launch ramp to facilitate putting craft into the water.

Sports
Runners, joggers, walkers, hikers, skaters, and cyclists regularly use the trails. On the open grassy areas, one can see kite flyers, yoga enthusiasts, as well as soccer, football, baseball, softball, and disc golf players.

Social Gatherings
People gather for picnics, parties, barbeques, field trips, geo-caching, club meetings, dating, weddings, memorial services, family reunions, and quinceañeras.

Miscellaneous Activities
People use the park for photography, bird watching, sightseeing, dog walking, painting, studying, reading, and just relaxing.

Special Events
Many special events take place in the park such as:


 * Walkathons/marathons Various 10k and 5k runs, Color Runs, the March of Dimes, the Diabetes Walk , Toro Loco and others.


 * Colorado River Balloon Festival


 * Two Rivers Renaissance Faire


 * Movies in the park


 * Blue Grass in the Park


 * Jazz on the Green


 * Catfish Rodeo


 * Annual Float-down Regatta


 * Rib Cook-offs

Habitat Restoration and Plant Species
Out of the 110 acres of the West Wetlands Park, approximately 30 percent is restored riparian habitat, known as the "Lower Bench". Prior to restoring the lower bench the area was deteriorated and overrun with trash and opportunist vegetation. Invasive plant species are generally found in wetland areas and are indicators of non-native plants being introduced to an already established ecosystem.

Habitats
The habitats that can found at West Wetlands park are the Hummingbird Garden (Habitat), Burrowing Owls, Solar Gardens   , Butterfly Garden, Bat Habitat, Mormon Battalion Statue Area, Great Horned Owl Habitat, Willow Fly Catcher Nesting Habitat, Millennium Grove, Beaver Pond, Lower Bench, and Cactus Garden.

Restoration and Plant Species
The invasive species were removed by grading (with a bulldozer) around non-native species, and manually around native species. Brush hogs, masticators, and or chemical herbicides are used to keep the invasive species under control. The restoration of the habitat of the lower bench is ongoing as the process to restore the East Wetlands has changed the manner in which the invasive species are controlled.

Native plant species
Some of the native species located at the West Wetlands Park:


 * One reed species, the Giant Reed -- Arundo donax
 * One plant species, Cattail -- Typha latifolia.

There are several shrub species such as:


 * Arrowweed -- Pluchea sericea
 * Coyote Willow -- Salix exigua
 * Four-wing saltbush -- Atriplex canescens
 * Quail bush -- Atriplex lentiformis
 * Seep-willow -- Baccharis salicifolia

Various tree species such as:
 * Cottonwood -- Populus fremontii
 * Goodding’s willow -- Salix gooddingii
 * Honey Mesquite -- [[Prosopis julifloravar, torreyana = v. glandulosa
 * Screwbean Mesquite Prosopis pubescens.

The elevation and habitat of these species is near streams, as in the case of Cattails a grass-like plant and near stream banks, arroyos as well as saline soil.

Invasive Plant Species
One of the main invasive trees in the West Wetlands Park is Tamarisk more commonly known as the Saltcedar tree -- Tamarix ramosissima.

Non-native Plant Species
Russian Olive

Animal Life
There are several man-made habitats within the park:

Burrowing Owl Habitat
In 2006, the City of Yuma received funds for the "Yuma West Wetlands Burrowing Owl Habitat” project. The project constructed viewing platform to allow for public observation and established 20 artificial burrows for relocation.

Ed Pastor Hummingbird Garden
The West Wetlands Park contains a Hummingbird Garden that was named after former Yuma district Congressman, Ed Pastor in appreciation of his great efforts in supporting the restoration and funding of the riverfront parks projects.

Arizona is home to 18 hummingbird species, and the West Wetlands Park is home to several of them in the Hummingbird garden, including:


 * Anna's Hummingbird -- Calypte anna
 * Black-chinned Hummingbird -- Archilochus alexandri
 * Costa's Hummingbird -- Calypte costae
 * Rufous Hummingbird -- Selasphorus rufus

Butterfly Habitat
The Butterfly Habitat contains:


 * Giant Swallowtail -- Papilio cresphontes
 * Monarch Butterfly -- Danaus plexippus
 * Queen Butterfly -- Danaus gilippus
 * Western Pygmy Blue Butterfly -- Brephidium exilis  or Brephidium exile
 * Orange Sulfer Butterfly
 * Painted Lady Butterfly
 * Fiery Skipper Butterfly
 * Funereal Duskywing Butterfly -- Hylephila phyleus
 * Snout Butterfly -- Libytheinae

Pond
The pond is stocked with several species of fish :
 * Sunfish
 * Catfish
 * Bass (fish)
 * Rainbow Trout

While fishing is allowed, there are limits and a fishing license is required.

Native Wildlife
The park has several native wildlife species, including:


 * Quail
 * Beaver
 * Fish
 * Cottontail Rabbits
 * Osprey
 * Dove
 * Ring-necked Duck
 * Round-tailed ground squirrel
 * Least Bitterns
 * Greater Yellow Legs Bird
 * Snowy Egret
 * Great Egret
 * Long-billed Curlew

Endangered/threatened
Endangered and threaned species include:


 * Migrant bird, Clapper Rail -- Rallus longirostris,
 * Neotropical migrant bird, Southwestern Willow Flycatcher -- Empidonax traillii,
 * Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo -- Coccyzus americanus, bird.

Geology
“Piezometer Yuma Area Logs” show that the area of the West Wetlands Park was approximately 12 to 17 feet of “junk” in 1971. The area was also silt, sand and clay, which is consistent with the sediments found commonly in areas that are near marine and ripirian environments. Additional sources can be obtained from the Bureau of Reclamation, Yuma Branch, where the geological Piezometer Clusters Yuma Area Logs, photos and water logs are being digitally archived. The geology of the West Wetalands Park was completed by then geologist, E. Uurnett, who has since left the Bureau and currently teaches at Arizona Western College as a Geology professor.

Gallery

 * http://www.joanannlansberry.com/fotoart/wwpark.html

Other Parks in Yuma Arizona

 * Area attractions
 * Featured in Sunset Magazine Website
 * Yuma Area

Category:Lower Colorado River Valley Category:History of Yuma County, Arizona Category:Yuma, Arizona