South Bay

What's the best way to see the Bay? It is definitely on an AIR BOAT!! I had never been on any type of boat.  To experience the Bay for the first time in a boat was amazing.  Many only drive over the bay and see it from afar, but to appreciate it you need to look at it closely and take a boat ride in it.  We were able to see white and grey Egrets, Pelicans, seagulls, sea grass,  fish in the water, and the Causeway from a different perspective (under it).   As beautiful and majestic as it was, it was unfortunate to see trash even in the most remote areas of the bay side.  This just goes to show that trash doesn't belong on the floor, the water, or on our land.  The water drifts it to remote areas as well as the wind.  The most important thing I got from these field trips is to appreciate what we have here in the RGV and take care of it.  Conservation and preservation is key to to help the environment.

Boca Chica Beach

Boca Chica beach was full of wildlife.  There were Grey Egrets, pelicans, and seagulls flying over head and many were fishing for their next meal.  Mexico was right next to us and the Mexicans were fishing on their side of the Rio Grande and on their part of the beach on the Gulf of Mexico.  Here is where we could see the mouth of the Rio Grande which opens up to the Gulf of Mexico.  All the connected tributaries and water sheds that feed into the River eventually end up here.  This is why is pertinent that we keep all our waterways clean.  Trash should be recycled or put in a trash can and not thrown in the water or the land.  This will only pollute our water and land and harm the wildlife that live around the area.  In fact, here at Boca Chica we found a net that was left in the water.  The net was broken and instead of putting it in the trash or recycling it, it was just left floating in the water, Unfortunately some small fish were caught in the net.  Dr. Greg Garcia had some scissors and was able to free two fish that still had life.  The others were not so lucky and died in the net.  

Riparian Woodlands

Sabal palms are the only palm tree that is native to the Rio Grande Valley. The palm grove sanctuary is  located in Brownsville Texas and it is the last remaining Grove. Around 1852 Sabal palms were found from the Gulf of Mexico and up to 8 miles inland, but in 1952 land was cleared for farming, which greatly reduced the number of Sabal palms. Today most of them are in the 32 acre Sabal palm sanctuary.  Through out the RGV you will see a Sabal Palm here and there, but seeing a grove is breathtaking.  Having learned the history of the Sabal Palm and of how their numbers have dwindled significantly through the years has made me appreciate that we still have them.  

Laguna Atascosa

Laguna Atascosa is a 98,000 acres of protected natural habitat. This National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1946.  It is mostly located in Cameron County and it is home to endangered and threatened species such as the Ocelot and the Jaguarundi. There are less than 50 ocelots in the US. Now thanks to this protective refuge and all the people that help take care of it, in 2014 two kittens were spotted in the cameras that are placed in and around the park. Hopefully with awareness and education about this park and its wildlife, the Ocelots may get a chance to grow in numbers. It is also home to 415 species of birds, including green jays, hummingbirds, egrets, and crows. Other animals that call Laguna Atascosa home are alligators, turtles, and deer...etc.

Arroyo Colorado and Rio Hondo lift bridge

                      

The Arroyo Colorado is a stream outlet of the Rio Grande River that begins over by Weslaco, Tx. It carries any excess flood water from the Rio Grande all the way to Lagun Madre. The Arroyo Colorado passes through the Estero Lano Grande Park. It is home to numerous types of fish and birds. From the trash found around the banks of the Arroyo Colorado it seems many find it to be a good fishing area. 

The Rio Hondo draw bridge is the last functioning lift bridge in the state it opened in 1953 it was important because it was the only crossing from Harlingen to Brownsville.  In order to have the Draw Bridge lifted and open for any barge or boats, the captains must call ahead 24 hours before they pass through before they get to the bridge. Before the draw bridge there used to be a swing bridge but it was replaced because it took too long to open.  That swing bridge now operates at Long Island in Port Isabel.

Los Ebanos Ferry

Vintage photograph of the Ferry

The Rio Grande

Sunflower seeds

El Chalan

The Lost Ebanos Ferry has been in operation since the 1950s and its hand operated by four to five men that pull it across the Rio Grande by using cables. It may sound like an easy job to just pull a barge with some cables but as you get closer you can see that they have to pull and tug at the cables in a particular way so that the barge goes across the river and not with the current or wind. The barge can carry up to three cars across the river. It is anchored by an Ebony tree on the US side of the border.  The ferry can transport vehicles or people across the border to Mexico to Ciudad Diaz Ordaz.  It is the last hand operated ferry in the Rio Grande Valley.