Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area reports growth, seeks funding for $8.7M East Wetlands project
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Summary
Kathy Douglas told the council the Heritage Area logged strong programming and visitor numbers in FY2025 and is planning an $8.7 million infrastructure project at East Wetlands to electrify pumps and improve water delivery; staff also seek to add a liquor license at the prison for ongoing revenue.
Kathy Douglas, executive director of the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area, told the Yuma City Council during the Jan. 20 work session that the organization managed two state parks and the East Wetlands, hosted events and school programming, and is pursuing capital and preservation funding to address aging infrastructure.
Douglas said the heritage area reported roughly $2.9 million in revenue in fiscal year 2025, including a $500,000 annual National Heritage Area federal allocation, and leveraged an estimated $6.15 in additional support for every $1 of that federal funding. She said the organization hosted 75 special events and more than 114 free school field trips that served more than 6,200 third- through fifth-grade students.
The most consequential project Douglas described is a planned $8.7 million East Wetlands capital-improvement program, funded in part through a Bureau of Reclamation grant routed through the city. "This project will replace the diesel pumps with electric," Douglas said, and will extend a canal line to improve water delivery into marsh areas and replace aging on‑site infrastructure; the project is slated for completion in February 2028.
Douglas also highlighted recent grant awards and operations detail: Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management grants to address invasive vegetation ($124,000 in 2025 and $90,000 for 2026), and Bureau of Reclamation funding for the wetlands ($218,000 for 2025; $227,000 for 2026). She noted volunteer contributions (3,594 hours, valued at about $121,000) and new interpretive exhibits at the Yuma Territorial Prison and Colorado River State Historic Park.
On preservation needs, Douglas said the heritage area continues to press for historic-preservation funding and has applied for congressional community-directed spending in prior cycles. "We did apply again for fiscal year 26," she said, "but the project was not taken up by Sen. Kelly or Rep. Gallego." Douglas reported, however, that Congress included $500,000 for the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area in the Department of Interior FY2026 allocation.
Douglas also told the council the Heritage Area has applied for a Series 7 beer and liquor license for Yuma Territorial Prison — an item on the next day’s council agenda — as a potential daily revenue stream to help operations, with special-event service of hard liquor to require separate permits.
Council members praised the field-trip program, asked about funding sources and temporary lighting at the riverfront, and raised signage questions for an Education Grove feature. Douglas said the free school trips are primarily funded by the National Park Foundation and private donations, not by the $500,000 annual federal allocation.
The council took no formal vote on Heritage Area funding during the work session; staff and the Heritage Area said they will continue seeking grants and potential state and federal support for preservation and infrastructure work.
