Hydrological Connectivity and the Response of Flora and Bird Communities in Cañón El Descanso

Led by Carlos Adrian Ceceña Villegas

Grassy hills in Cañón El Descanso
Cañón El Descanso at kilometer 4
View along a green canyon with rocky slopes
Cañón El Descanso at kilometer 6
Boulders and a pool in a narrow canyon
Cañón El Descanso at kilometer 8

This project seeks to understand how changes in rainfall—particularly those associated with El Niño—affect water flow, plants, and birds in Cañón El Descanso, located in Playas de Rosarito, Baja California.

Nine sites along the canyon will be studied. The team will monitor streams, pools, soil moisture, water quality, and plant and bird diversity. Photographs and sound recordings will also be collected to document environmental changes.

The information gathered will be compared with rainfall records to understand how wet and dry periods impact the ecosystem. The results will provide a better understanding of the canyon and establish a baseline for monitoring changes over time.

The findings will also be shared with students, researchers, authorities, and local community members, promoting public participation and the exchange of local knowledge.

The project’s main objective is to understand how water sustains life in the canyon and generate useful information to protect its plants, birds, and natural resources for future generations.