In the remote Sonoran Desert near the US-Mexico border, water scarcity is always felt. Plants and animals adapted to desert conditions rely on rare desert springs to survive. Over time, very specific habitats have formed around the areas where water can be found.

The Quitobaquito springs in the state of Arizona (Quitobaquito) are one such life-sustaining oasis. The area around the springs is home to both the Sonoyta mud turtle (Sonoyta mud turtle) and a rare fish (Quitobaquito pupfish), both of which are included on the US list of endangered species. The North American migratory bird route also passes over the springs, providing a natural resting place and refreshment for migratory birds.

In 2020, the water level in the ponds fed by the aforementioned springs dropped sharply. Environmental experts and representatives of the local Native American tribe, for whom the springs are an ancient sacred site, linked the fluctuations in water levels to the construction of the border wall between the US and Mexico, which had been approved by President D. Trump. During the construction of the wall, significant deviations from standard environmental requirements were observed.