The Bureau of Reclamation lined 50 miles of the Coachella Canal bordering the Chocolate Mountains. The "Chocolates" are home to mule deer, desert bighorn sheep, burros, and many other smaller animals and birds. After the concrete lining was installed we lost approximately 200 deer, which almost wiped out the herd along this section of the canal. The lining prevented the mule deer from being able t
o drink from the canal without falling in and drowning. A small group of dedicated sportsmen went into the desert and began installing permanent water sources. Eventually we discovered the windmills needed constant maintenance, so new types of water systems were developed requiring little maintenance and a longer lasting water supply. In early 1997, U.S. Representative, Duncan Hunter asked Leon Lesicka to head the Citizen's Congressional Task Force for the New River clean-up. Two Wetland Projects have been completed and studies are being monitored including general water chemistry, selenium, pesticides, nutrients, silt, and water quality. When monitoring proves the projects are successful, wetlands will be constructed in other selected sites.
