what are some ecological problems in the sonora desert?

Answer 1

Because this is a desert, there is not enough available water to support the desert ecosystem as well as the needs of the people who want to live in the desert. Humans want water for agriculture (like in the Imperial Valley) and for growing cities--its a warm area that lots of people like. There is competition for Colorado River water and for groundwater.
There are many threatened and endangered species in the Sonoran desert. For example, some people steal the Saguaro cactus. Invasive fish species in the Colorado River are crowding out native fish species. The artificially created Salton Sea is drying up, endangering habitat for fish and migrating birds.
The Sierra Club considers livestock grazing to be a threat to the natural ecoystem of the Sonora desert.
Possible pollution from old mines and mine tailings are also a threat to surface and groundwater supplies.