The Sonoran Institute Inc

What it reported doing in 2024

Colorado river delta program our vision for the Colorado river is a river that flows continuously to the sea, supporting both healthy ecosystems and thriving communities. The overall goal of the program is to restore a functional corridor in the Colorado river delta by creating a network of riparian and estuarine habitat sites that will sustain biodiversity and facilitate connectivity of river flows to the estuary. In fiscal year 2025, we evaluated progress towards achieving our goals and outcomes outlined in our current five-year strategic plan. Goal 1: the Colorado river connects to the sea; with water for both healthy landscapes and thriving communities. Our target was to increase supply of water in the Colorado river to 220 days of flow per year. The baseline was 147 days in 2020. In fy25 we accomplished an average of 207 days of connectivity between 2020-2024, representing 94% of our target. Goal 2: restore 2,860 acres of estuarine habitat. From a baseline in 2021 of 1,861 acres, we achieved 5,842 acres by 2025, representing 140% of the target. For laguna grande restoration area, our target was to restore 779 acres. By 2025 we accomplished 838 acres, representing 107% of our target. In fy25, eight small sites totaling 11.4 acres in laguna grande restoration area were selected and prepared to receive in channel flows from february to september in 2025 as part of minute 323. We also maintained and enhanced 838 acres of restored habitat, including the delivery of approximately 3,200 acre-feet of water for irrigation of restored sites. In terms of instream flows, we achieved the annual target volume: delivered 10,382 acre-feet of treated wastewater to the hardy river and upper estuary for environmental restoration. As part of the binational agreement minute 323, water deliveries began on march 21, 2025, and continued through october 3rd. Total volume to be delivered was 19,482 acre feet over that period, and approximately 70% of that was delivered by june 30,2025 in accordance with the delivery plan. As the previous year, longitudinally connectivity was approximately 31 miles promoting the expansion of open water habitat for wildlife, and the reduction of salinity in flooded areas of the main channel and in the upper estuary. Federal water deliveries significantly increased groundwater levels along 31 river miles up to 1.5 meters in some areas showing sustained improvements even after the water delivery period ended. As part of the binational agreement minute 323, prepared a plan to deliver 22,866 acre-feet of water to the Colorado river in calendar year 2026. The selected 2026 hydrograph will deliver 1.8 m/s for 155 days from march 21 through august 22, and is projected to generate flows of approximately 1 m/s at the upper estuary, community outreach: during fy25, we conducted a total of 15 guided tours at the laguna grande restoration site, reaching 244 attendees, including local families from mexicali and its valley, youth from high schools and universities, and visitors from other parts of the mexico, USA, and other countries. Through talks, workshops, expos, and educational materials, we reached an additional 2,560 students and community members with topics such as wetland conservation, bird watching, river restoration, composting, and climate change. In addition, our online waste management and recycling course has reached 215 students to date. Through our participation with our raise the river partners in events such as the annual agrobaja expo and raise the river festival, an additional 2,237 members of the community learned about the benefits of open riparian habitat and the importance of restoring rivers, wetlands, riparian habitats, and native species. As part of the work of mexicali fluye, 31 public meetings were held as open spaces for community dialogue and information sharing. Approximately 280 residents and local leaders participated in these meetings, later becoming active allies of the project. In addition,

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 91.2%; rating input score 91
• Program expense ratio: 84.4%; rating input score 84
• Fundraising efficiency: $9.97 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 37; 37th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 94.1%; rating input score 94; 23rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 1 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 17
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: 1 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 12
  • Claims monitoring procedures: Pass
  • Requires narrative reports: Fail
  • Conducts field audits: Fail
  • May suspend future funding: Fail
  • Requires financial reports: Fail
  • Conducts site visits: Fail
  • Requires grant agreements: Fail
  • May require repayment: Fail
• Grant itemization coverage: 49%; rating input score 49; 15th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 7 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 78
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Fail
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -5.9%; rating input score 19; 19th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.89; rating input score 33; 33rd percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.24; rating input score 39; 39th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 6.3%; rating input score 45; 45th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: -3.1% per year; rating input score 0; 7th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: -2.3% per year; rating input score 0; 6th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 1.6% per year; rating input score 100; 18th percentile among comparable filings