In 2007, the Bureau of Reclamation secured 1,309 acres of land
within the Cibola Valley Irrigation and Drainage District in
southwestern Arizona and established the Cibola Valley
Conservation Area (CVCA). In September 2007, the property was
conveyed to the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AGFD) through
an agreement among AGFD, Reclamation, the Mohave County Water
Authority, and The Conservation Fund. Under the agreement, AGFD
retains title to the property and leases the land and water
rights to Reclamation until April 5, 2055 as part of the Lower
Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program. Several
farmers also have short-term leases on portions of the land for
crop production. Within the CVCA, Reclamation is planting former
agricultural fields with native riparian cottonwood-willow, and
mesquite habitats for species defined in the LCR MSCP Final
Habitat Conservation Plan, including the southwestern willow
flycatcher and yellow-billed cuckoo. Cottonwood, willow, and
honey mesquite are planted to create