As is the case all along the Colorado, water management has and still does play a huge part in everyday lives.  The river, down to the very last drop, is dammed and channeled.  De-silting and desalinization plants have been installed to condition the hard working waters.  There is even a huge underground inverted siphon that carries water under the Colorado River bed from California to Arizona fields.  Riparian habitat conservation has not historically been a priority so most has been lost.  Only recently Yuma has begun restoration of riverfront in town with creation of wetlands parks.  It is a start but much more to do.