I ’ve heard river calledpolluted . I ’ve even write about them becoming legalpersons . But the theme of a river that ’s endangered is raw to me .
Advocacy group American Rivers has been putting out a list of the most endangered river in the U.S. for 33 years now . This year , thelistof 10 include the Lower Rio Grande in Texas . Its critical threat ? Oh , you get it on , just President Donald Trump ’s proposed U.S.-Mexico border bulwark .
“ It ’s important to note that this is n’t a lean of the worst river or most contaminated rivers , ” Amy Kober , the home communications director for American Rivers , tell Earther . “ It ’s a inclination of the most menace rivers , so what we intend by that is a river front a critical menace . ”
While the Lower Rio Grande , a small portion of the 1,896 - nautical mile long Rio Grande river , has been on the list before , this is the first time the river ’s made it on because of the border bulwark . In the $ 1.3 trillion spending bill Congress passed last calendar month , official approvedmore than $ 1 billionto go toward construct a paries in Hidalgo and Starr counties in southern Texas , landing the Lower Rio Grande , also sleep with as the Rio Bravo in Mexico , on the list .
The levee bulwark and fencing would interrupt the water ’s flowing , according to The Texas Observer . This section of the river ishome tothe Texas tortoise , the Tayassu tajacu , and some 300 species of butterfly stroke , all of whose habitat would be in peril in the face of a forcible barrier . So would the people who live near this water . They’dbecome more susceptible to floodingas it becomes harder for river water to reach nearby floodplains .
There ’s also the ( very obvious ) human rights aspect to this whole matter : The wall ’s meant to keep out real , live , actual people because the presidentbelievesthey’re all homicidal drug dealers and gang banger when , in world , they’rescared kids and momsfleeing ferocity and poverty .
The Lower Rio Grande faced numerous threats before the rampart : destructive damsand excessivewater withdrawalsfor husbandry gaffer among them . This border wall , however , could finally push the river over the sharpness . Especially considering that the Trump administration hassecuredenvironmental review waivers for the infrastructure in California .
“ Without that limited review , we ca n’t even look before we leap , ” Kober pronounce .
In New Mexico , construction has begun where fomite barriers are nowbeing convertedto wall sections . Wall substitution have alsobegunin California . Will the Lower Rio Grande be next ? Probably not without a fight . American Rivers usually accompanies its list with campaigns to push Congress or local governing to protect river .
[ h / t Texas Observer ]
delimitation wallTexas
Daily Newsletter
Get the good tech , skill , and cultivation news in your inbox day by day .
News from the future , delivered to your present tense .
You May Also Like
