Rio Grande River = Border

map courtesy wwf.panda.org

The 2nd longest river in the United States.

It forms the border between the United States (Texas)

and Mexico for approximately two thirds of its course, opening into a

small sandy delta at the Gulf of Mexico.

Through the stretch from Laredo/Nuevo Laredo to the mouth,

the river constitutes the primary source of drinking water for

communities in both Mexico and the United States.

Despite the rapidly growing economy, the basin is one of the

poorest regions in the US, where many live in shanties without access

to running water.

The Rio Grande basin is a globally important region for freshwater

biodiversity. The Rio Grande supports 121 fish species, 69 of which are found nowhere

else on the planet. There are 3 areas supporting endemic bird

species as well as a very high level of mollusk diversity.

WWF is working to promote more efficient irrigation

practices and restoration of environmental flows in

both the mainstem of the river and its most important

tributary, the Rio Conchos.

WWF is working to eradicate the waterhogging

invasive Salt Cedar and has restored former floodplain

habitat that had been infested with this species.

Salt Cedar (Tamarix)

Image courtesy of wikipedia

The invasive species Salt Cedar, has proliferated through

large portions of the Big Bend area (where the Rio Conchos

joins the Rio Grande), and is known to consume large

quantities of water. One monoculture of Salt Cedar is

believed to have choked 150 miles of the river corridor

downstream of El Paso/Ciudad Juarez and may be the most

extensive infestation of this species in the world.

text courtesy wwf.panda.org

this could be an ideal source of work for borderline colonia's people - get rid of the salt cedar. build boats for others to go up the stream and cut. timber trade.

politically diplomatic :)

as the rio grande is source of drinking water for both sides.

win win