news releases

29 January 2019

Film Screening Explores Importance of Protecting the Colorado River



Category: News Releases

YUMA, ARIZONA – On Sunday, Jan. 6, Hispanic Access Foundation and Por la Creación Faith-based Alliance screened the film “Leche y Miel (Milk and Honey)” to 45 Latino youth, families and community members at Betania Church in Yuma. The future of the Lower Colorado River is especially important to the Latino community. One-third of the nation’s Latinos live, work or receive water from the Colorado River Basin. The importance of the river to Latino families’ faith, livelihood and future is showcased in the film produced by American Rivers and Hispanic Access Foundation.

The Colorado River system is one of the hardest working rivers in the country. It supplies drinking water to seven states from its source in Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park to Yuma, Arizona where it passes into Mexico. In the Lower Colorado River Basin the water helps irrigate millions of acres of farmland, including nearly 90 percent of the nation’s winter leafy vegetables. All in all, the river is the life source for more than 30 million people. Unfortunately, American Rivers named the Lower Colorado River America’s Most Endangered River® of 2017.

“Innovative water management solutions are needed to sustain the Lower Colorado River and its communities. The Drought Contingency Plan (DCP), an agreement between Arizona, California and Nevada to reduce each state’s river use as a way to deal with shortages in the water supply provided by the river it’s an important first step toward more lasting solutions,” said Chela Garcia, Director of Conservation Programs at Hispanic Access Foundation. “All stakeholders, working together, have the opportunity to build on the DCP and to think ahead in order to sustain the health of the Colorado River and the communities and economies that depend on it.”

The 14-minute film has been screened at various festivals, such as the Wild and Scenic Film Festival, the Americas Latino Eco Festival, the Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital, the Official Latino Film and Arts Festival and at numerous community events.

The full film is available at https://www.hispanicaccess.org/milk-and-honey-leche-y-miel and pictures available for publication can be accessed at https://www.dropbox.com/sh/jcsel3qst5cqbgi/AAAfVb0AIF58eEI8-c6obWRMa?dl=0

 

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