Texas Border Business
The United States Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission (USIBWC) has scheduled a public meeting of the Lower Rio Grande Citizens Forum (LRGCF) for Wednesday, July 28 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. CDT via webinar. The purpose of the forum is to promote the exchange of information between the USIBWC and the community regarding Commission projects and related activities.
Eric Davila, P.E., Chief Development Engineer, Hidalgo County Regional Mobility Authority (HCRMA), will be speaking on the HCRMA capital projects. The HCRMA manages major transportation improvements along some of the southmost reaches of the U.S.-Mexico border in Hidalgo County, Texas. A rapidly expanding local population coupled with increasing transient travelers due to strong international trade bring a unique set of opportunities to expand our transportation infrastructure. The HCRMA will present their long-range plan and discuss the range of tools they use to develop, finance, and construct theseimprovements.
Leslie Grijalva, Environmental Protection Specialist, Texas Clean Rivers Program for the Rio Grande Basin, USIBWC, will be discussing the water quality of the Rio Grande in the Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas. The USIBWC Texas Clean Rivers program collects water quality information throughout the Rio Grande Basin. Routine monitoring has continued during the COVID-19 pandemic. Grijalva will also bediscussing monitoring activities for the program.
Joel Saldivar, Civil Engineering Technician, USIBWC, will give an update on the vegetation removal and restoration within the Arroyo Colorado Watershed as this relates to the USIBWC flood control mission.Saldivar will discuss the progress made to date and the goals of
the project. The vegetation maintenance is required over a 6.3-mile segment between Business 77 to Cemetery Road in Harlingen and Cameron County, Texas to help restore the Arroyo Colorado’s flood conveyance capacity. The project consists of removing problem vegetation along the arroyo overbanks and replacing it with native vegetation to restore the riparian corridor.
Ramon Macias III, P.E., Principal Engineer of Engineering, USIBWC, will provide an update of current progress by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of work to close the open gaps and complete construction along 13.4 miles of compromised Rio Grande flood control levees.
To join our Teams Meeting, click here or follow this link https://go.usa.gov/xs/WRT to Click on“Join.” If you do not have Teams installed on the device you will use to attend the meeting, it will work through any internet browser. If possible, it may be helpful for you to test connectivity on your own prior to the meeting by clicking on the Join link and ensuring your camera and microphone are functioning. Or join by phone: Call-in number: 915-320-4718 | Conference ID: 247 115 59#
For those connecting via phone, the presentations will be available before the start of the meeting here or use this link https://go.usa.gov/xs/WRT and look for the links for the 7/28/2021 meeting. If you would like to speak during public comment, then please sign up ahead of time by contacting Lori Kuczmanski at lori.kuczmanski@ibwc.gov or 915-494-6027 by noon on July 28.
LOWER RIO GRANDE CITIZENS FORUM
Wednesday, July 28, 2021
3:00 – 5:00 p.m. CDT
To join our Teams Meeting, go to our web page:
https://go.usa.gov/xsWRT and click on “Join”. If you do not have Teams installed on the device you will use to attend the meeting, it will work through any internet browser. If possible, it may be helpful for you to test connectivity on your own prior to the meeting by clicking on the Join link and ensuring your camera and microphone are functioning.
Or join by phone: Call-in number: 915-320-4718 | Conference ID: 247 115 59#
Agenda
- Welcome and Introductions – Melisa Gonzales, Citizens Forum Co-Chair
- Report on Hidalgo County Regional Mobility Authority Capital Projects – Eric Davila, P.E, Chief Development Engineer, Hidalgo County Regional MobilityAuthority
- Water Quality in the Lower Rio Grande: Annual Water Quality Update and Basin Advisory Meeting – Leslie Grijalva, Environmental Protection Specialist,Texas Clean Rivers Program for the Rio Grande Basin, USIBWC
- Update on the Arroyo Colorado Vegetation Management Project to Improve Flood Protection – Joel Saldivar, Civil Engineering Technician, USIBWC
- Update on Levee Restoration Work in the Rio Grande Valley
– Ramon Macias III, P.E., Principal Engineer of Engineering, USIBWC
- Public Comment (To make public comment, RSVP to Lori Kuczmanski, PublicAffairs Officer, lori.kuczmanski@ibwc.gov by noon on July 28)
- Board Discussion
- Suggested Future Agenda Items
