Rio Grande recedes, Presidio no longer in immediate danger

Avalanche Staff

Although the Rio Grande has dropped considerably

at Presidio-Ojinagua and Presidio

City is no longer in immediate danger from

flooding, the river is projected to continue

flowing at flood levels and water releases

from the Luis Leon reservoir will continue as

well.

“The water is receding. Ojinagua is still in

bad shape though,” said Cynthia Clark, Presidio

City Administrator. “The levee at their

port of entry is entirely washed away—the

Mexican customs office was completely underwater.”

Two or three homes near the river at Presidio

have been completely flooded. Their residents

have had to relocate. The Loma Paloma

Golf Course and fields of crops have are still

submerged as well.

“The mood here in Presidio is pretty upbeat.

Business is bad because the bridge is closed,

but were going on with our lives,” said Clark.

The International Boundary and Water

Commission (IBWC) is still maintaining a

presence in Presidio. “We’re going to have a

24 hour a day presence until the flood conditions

have subsided,” explained Sally Spener,

Public Affairs officer for IBWC.

The IBWC, which traces its roots back to

1848’s Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, is an international

commission dedicated to applying

water and boundary treaties and resolving any

disputes that arise.

Spener was asked if water releases from the

Luis Leon reservoir make this a “man-made

disaster”, as some local officials have stated.

“That’s a common misconception. People say, ‘Hey, Mexico, turn off the water!’ but this is a complex

system of flood control that has had to face extensive

rains in both Mexico and West Texas. Those releases

from Luis Leon were made to keep the integrity of the

dam intact—trust me, if the dam breaks on the reservoir,

it will spell an even worse flood for the Rio Grande area.

Also, Chihuahua has had flooding through August and

September—if the dam and reservoir system had not

been retaining water, we could have seen rapid and immediate

flooding of Presidio/Ojinagua even earlier.”

Spener then went on to comment on how the IBWC

will move forward from this point, “We’re going to do

a lot of fortification on the Presidio levees. There was

nearly a breach of a levee near Presidio’s downtown.

Congress has approved funding for this project and

we’re ready to start work.”

The IBWC expects long-reaching effects from the increased

flow of the Rio Conchos and Rio Grande. Levels

at the Amistad International Dam and Reservoir are projected

to be above conservation capacity, causing a probable

flooding of the Vega Verde Road.

“We fought alongside local, state and federal officials

day and night to save Presidio from flooding,” continued

Spener. “Our commissioners gave their lives for this

cause. The people down there sandbagging at the levee

know how hard we fought and how dedicated we are to

this.”

A memorial service for IBWC Commissioner Carlos

Marin will be held at the Chamizal National Memorial

in El Paso on October 10. Commissioner Marin died in

Chihuahua while inspecting flood conditions in a small

aircraft.

A good time had by all at Bull run: racing challenge draws drivers from across U.S, Canada

Mike and Cindy Perry / Avalanche Staff

Gerry Chase, Big Piney, Wyoming

Stuart Nichols, Canton, Ohio

Rio Grande recedes, Presidio no longer in immediate danger

Avalanche Staff

63nd Sul Ross NIRA Rodeo

Oct. 2-4 at S.A.L.E. Arena