Friday February 19, 2010
Levee Construction Update on Agenda for March 3rd Public Meeting in Mercedes, TX
Source: International Boundary and Water Commission, United States Section
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Levee construction being carried out with funds from the American
Recovery and
Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) will be discussed at the March
public meeting of the
Lower Rio Grande Citizens Forum (LRGCF). The LRGCF was established by
the U.S. Section
of the International Boundary and Water Commission (USIBWC) to
facilitate the exchange of
information between the USIBWC and members of the public about
Commission activities in the
Lower Rio Grande Valley. The meeting will be held Wednesday, March 3,
4:00 - 6:00 p.m. at
the Commission office at 325 Golf Course Road in Mercedes, Texas. USIBWC Civil Engineer Rod Dunlap will give an update on the Recovery Act levee construction projects in the Lower Rio Grande Flood Control Project in Hidalgo and Cameron Counties. The projects will enhance flood protection in the Valley in accordance with standards established by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The presentation will include project completion updates on several levee construction contracts along the Rio Grande and off-river floodways affecting the communities of McAllen, Granjeno, Hidalgo, Pharr, San Juan, Alamo, Donna, Weslaco, Mercedes, La Villa, and La Feria. The purpose of the Recovery Act is to create and save jobs, promote economic recovery, and invest in infrastructure that will provide long-term economic benefits.
In other business, USIBWC Area Operations Manager Rodolfo Montero will
discuss
various operations and maintenance issues affecting the Lower Rio Grande
Flood Control
Project. He will recap work that has already been completed to raise 19
miles of Rio Grande
flood control levees in Cameron County. He will also give an update on
efforts to rehabilitate
drainage and irrigation structures at USIBWC levees. To comply with FEMA
criteria, work is
being performed to ensure that all structures are operable and capable
of controlling flood. He
will also discuss how the USIBWC coordinates with Mexico and the Texas
Commission on
Environmental Quality (TCEQ) regarding operation of Morillo Drain, a
water quality project in
Mexico that controls discharge of saline irrigation return flows from
Mexico into the Rio Montero will also explain the water accounting functions of his office, which include operation of cableways and gaging stations. To ensure compliance with the 1944 Water Treaty that allots the waters of the Rio Grande between the United States and Mexico, the Commission constantly measures Rio Grande flow. The Lower Rio Grande Project Office coordinates closely with TCEQ and USIBWC Headquarters on its water accounting operations. A complete meeting agenda follows. Members of the public who would like more information about the meeting may contact the USIBWC’s Lower Rio Grande Project Office at 956-565-3150 or the Public Affairs Office at sallyspener@ibwc.gov. For additional information about the Recovery Act, go to www.recovery.gov.
LOWER RIO GRANDE CITIZENS FORUM
If you have a disability that you wish to
self-identify confidentially that requires accommodation, For more information, call 956-565-3150. Contact: |