Eagle Pass hosts Colorado College Students studying Rio Grande

By: Miguel Munoz, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2016

The majestic 1,896 miles long Rio Grande River gently flows from the Canby Mountains within the San Juan Mountains near Creede, Colorado to the Gulf of Mexico at Boca Chica, Texas providing significant water supply to farmers, ranchers, industries, and communities in Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, and the Republic of Mexico.

Four Colorado College students accompanied by their professor, Dr. Mario Montano, and an elementary school science teacher, Robert Dolce, are doing almost a one month long journey down the Rio Grande to study its impact on communities in the Southwest United States, particularly the United States-Mexico border.

During September 18-20, 2016, the Colorado College group visited Eagle Pass, Texas as part of their almost month long study of the Rio Grande.  While in Eagle Pass, the Colorado College group visited several important community institutions, farmers, sites, and citizens to grasp an understanding of some of the salient issues affecting the Rio Grande at Eagle Pass, Texas and its sister city, Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico.

On Sunday, September 18th, local attorney and Eagle Pass Business Journal Publisher Ricardo E. Calderon hosted the Colorado College group with dinner at a local restaurant and a tour of the City of Eagle Pass, Texas and its significant City landmarks, including the two International Bridges and municipal parks on the Rio Grande.

Eagle Pass Water Works and Sewer System General Manager Jorge Barrera and Assistant General Manager Jorge Flores hosted the Colorado College group on Monday, September 19th, with a fascinating personal tour of the City of Eagle Pass Roberto Gonzalez Regional Water Treatment Plant on the banks of the Rio Grande.  Barrera informed the students that the local municipal water treatment plant serves approximately 95 percent of Maverick County residents, estimated 65,000 people, with its sole source of potable water derived from the Rio Grande.

Also on Monday, September 19th, Maverick County environmentalists George Baxter and Martha Baxter presented the Colorado College group with the local community’s opposition to the Dos Repbulicas Coal Partnership’s open surface coal mine known as “Eagle Pass Mine” and a perimeter tour of the coal mine site on the banks of Elm Creek, a direct water tributary of the Rio Grande.  A representative of Dos Republicas Coal Partnership’s coal mine operator, North American Coal Company, declined to provide a tour to the students of the coal mine due to previous commitments but did offer a tour in the future.

Maverick County Water Control and Improvement District No. 1 General Manager Cynthia Martinez hosted the Colorado College delegation on Tuesday, September 20th, with a presentation on the important water irrigation district system and its operations and distribution of water, derived from the Rio Grande, to local farmers, ranchers, industry, and citizens. Maverick County Water Control and Improvement District No. 1 Irrigation and Maintenance Supervisor Manuel Urteaga provided the students with a tour of the Headgate of the local water irrigation district on the Rio Grande in Kinnery County, Texas, the lateral canal water distribution system, and the Hydro-Electric Power Plant operated by the District.

Maverick County farmer and pecan orchard grower Michael Kyle Leonard provided the Colorado College students a tour of his family-owned pecan orchards and business in Eagle Pass, Texas and their use of water from the Rio Grande through the Maverick County Water Control and Improvement District No. 1.

Colorado College students Ally Fripp, Brianna Apodaca, Audriana Alvarado, and Colorado College Anthropology Department Paraprofessional Shanchuan Yin enjoyed learning about the diverse uses of Rio Grande water on the United States-Mexico border, particularly Eagle Pass and Maverick County.

The Colorado College group departed early in the morning of September 21st with a comprehensive and wealth of knowledge gained of the present and future water use and challenges in the Middle Rio Grande Region and U.S.-Mexico border, following the flow of the Rio Grande south to the Gulf of Mexico and fulfilling its 1,896 miles long trip along the Southwest United States.

Colorado College is a nationally recognized private liberal arts college in Colorado Springs, Colorado.