City of Eagle Pass Bulldozes Rio Grande River Island to Build Security Post, Changes River Flow
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2023
Citizens of Eagle Pass, Texas personally witnessed City of Eagle Pass heavy machinery equipment and personnel bulldozing a long-standing Rio Grande River Island adjacent to the Boat Ramp at Shelby Park, changing the Rio Grande’s water flow, while building a new border security land post on the river during the month of June 2023.
The Rio Grande River is the official international boundary line between the United States and Mexico since 1848 after the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo following the U.S.-Mexican War.
The International Water Boundary Commission (IBWC) by treaty between the United States and Mexico is the authority that governs the Rio Grande River. According to the Treaty Relating to the Utilization of the Waters of the Rio Grande River of 1944 between the United States and Mexico, the jurisdiction of the IBWC extends to the border sections of the Rio Grande, the land boundary between the United States and Mexico, and works located upon their common boundary. Each country, however, retains jurisdiction over the works in its territory.
Local citizens have raised many questions whether the City of Eagle Pass, State of Texas, or federal government obtained permission from the International Water Boundary Commission to bulldoze the natural river island and build a new security land post on the river. One citizen queried whether an environmental impact study was done before destroying the long-standing island and building upon it a new security land post. Another queried whether the appropriate permits were obtained from IBWC or the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality or the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Another citizen queried whether the City of Eagle Pass City Council formally approved a resolution, ordinance, or written agreement authorizing City-owned heavy machinery equipment and/or personnel to destroy the long-standing river island and build a new security land post in its place.
In addition, local citizens have complained that access and use of the City-owned Shelby Park has been closed to the general public by Texas Department of Public Safety Troopers guarding the entrance to the public park for several weeks now due to security reasons, denying citizens’ use and enjoyment of the public park for recreational, fishing, boating, canoeing, kayaking, and sports activities.
Local citizens complained that the previously public Shelby Park has been converted into a fortified border security land post under Operation Lone Star. Local citizens and press have been denied use and access to the public park while selected national conservative or right-wing news media and political figures are provided exclusive use and access to Shelby Park and the Rio Grande River.
Eagle Pass Mayor Rolando Salinas, Jr. has publicly stated that “our border security is a priority.” Mayor Salinas is a fervent supporter of the controversial multi-billion dollar Operation Lone Star border security program implemented by Texas Governor Greg Abbott under the auspices of the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas National Guard.
These and other questions will be addressed by concerned citizens at the next public meeting of the Eagle Pass City Council.
