Laserfiche WebLink
<br />M <br />N <br />'-Q <br />N <br />o <br />o <br /> <br />-"'.'-' <br /> <br />Without protection ~ management of lands adjacent to the <br />river, over-graz1.tIi.l'!roHreraticiri of private camps, and possible <br />development of vacation'liome suhdivisions will intensify. These <br />factors will adveraely affect rare plants and wildlife habitat, <br />resulting in loss of vegetation, increased siltation, soil loss <br />and soil compaction in high use areas. <br /> <br />The canyons of the Rio Grande contain numerous historical <br />and archeological sites which constitute a non-renewable source <br />of data concerning man's presence in the region over the last <br />10,OOO years. Archeological sites range from Paleo-American <br />hunters, and Neo-American hunte.s and gatherers, to Coahuiltecan <br />Indians and Apaches. Typical historical sites include evidence <br />of presidios, trails, candelilla wax planta, villages, railroad <br />construction campa, mines, and ranching. Lack of adequate protec- <br />tion for these archeologic and historic sitea will result in in- <br />creased disturbance and/or destruction of an irreplaceable <br />resouree. <br /> <br />Overall, without adoption of the proposal, many of the <br />natural, scenic and recreational attributes of the R10 Granda Wild <br />aOd Scenic River would be lost. <br /> <br />Problem Area 3, ASA 1305. Water supply and related problems' <br />in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. <br /> <br />The Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas includes Starr, Willacy, <br />Hidalgo and Cameron CounJ:!,es, encompassing 4,241 square miles. This <br />area, due to its favorable climate, unique recreational and retirement, <br />po~ent1al and port facilities, has the capacity for significant econo- <br />mic growth and improvement in the quality of life of its residents. <br />Although the economy is heavily agriculturally oriented, other ,economic <br />sectors have gained significantly in recent years - most notable <br />are textiles, food procesaing and packaging, and petroleum refining and <br />petro-chemical production. The port of Brownsville consistantly ranks <br />near the top among the Nation's ports in value of fishery products <br />landed, principally shrimp. The most important industriea in the <br />Valley are irrigated agriculture, petroleum refining and petrochemical <br />production aynthetic textile production, and food processing, all of <br />which a':'l intensive water using sectors of the economy." <br /> <br /> <br />Water supplies, available to the Lower Rio Grande Valley include <br />a small quantity of ground water in the Rio Grande alluvium and the <br />flow of the Rio Grande, most of which is available from storage in <br />International Amistad and Falcon Reservoirs, Groundwater in the Rio <br />Grande alluvium is generally too saline for municipal and most indust- <br />rial uses. The limited supplies which are available are principally <br /> <br />25 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />