Use our easy-action form before July 13 to speak up for Big Bend and recreation access to the Rio Grande in Texas! Trips through iconic canyons like Boquillas, Santa Elena, and the Lower Canyons offer wild beauty and solitude but right now they are under attack! The onslaught of harmful border protection measures in the Big Bend region has continued. This time, the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol is accepting comments from the public on actions planned for Brewster County. Brewster County encompasses much of the greater Big Bend region, including all of Big Bend National Park and many of the Rio Grande’s most sought after river canyons.
The latest U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Smart Wall Map shows “vehicle barrier systems” across or adjacent to at least five critical river access points. The threat to river access is clear and there have been no assurances from the agency that public access to the river canyons will be protected, including ensuring access to existing river put-ins and take-outs, egress in emergency situations, allowing for river shuttles to occur, and communicating with river outfitters and the public regarding the specific changes to access roads and infrastructure. The proposed actions by the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol are unacceptable and threaten the local economy, irreplaceable multi-day boating opportunities, our bedrock environmental laws, and the safety of the American people.
We only have four more days to make our voices heard and we are asking for your help to make sure our message gets through to the agency in charge. We have made it super simple to take action using our easy-action form, but please, if you have time, take a few extra minutes to personalize your message and include any stories you have from trips on the Rio Grande through the Big Bend region.
This is the latest development in a longer series of threats to the Big Bend region. Read our last story on the Big Bend Border Wall here.