Reyes invites the Chair of the Homeland Security Committee to tour Rio Grande
2/26/2007
El Paso, TX
News
Reyes invited Rep. Bennie Thompson, Chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security, to El Paso to tour the Rio Grande due to Reyes' funding request to de-silt the river in order to increase its capacity.
Coverage from the 2/26/07 El Paso Times:
By Erica Molina Johnson / El Paso Times
El Paso Times
Reyes spoke Sunday about the need to secure about $40 million to clean up miles of levees that have been left unattended for years, becoming clogged in some areas with silt and debris as deep as 9 feet.
"It's totally unacceptable," Reyes said. "The river is not going to be able to carry what it was designed to. If we get 3 or 4 inches (of rain) it could cause severe flooding."
Flooding in some areas could reach as far north as Interstate 10, he said.
Sunday, Reyes and Thompson visited one of the areas where the situation has become most serious, near the intersection of Fonseca Drive and the Border Highway. Reyes said much of the damage was exacerbated by last summer's severe rain that flooded several neighborhoods in the area.
"One of the big problems we have here is for many years it's been neglected. IBWC (International Boundary and Water Commission) didn't have the money to clean out silt.
In addition to viewing the levees, Thompson got a close look at the El Paso Intelligence Center, Joint Task Force-North and National Canine Facility.
He said that after his visit to El Paso, he will work with Reyes on flooding issues as well as border security.
Reyes said he hopes to get between $12 million and $20 million allocated to get the levee clearing project started.
He said the city of El Paso has agreed to take on the work, but the money must first be secured.
Reyes said he hopes an agreement can be reached within the next month to allow work to begin immediately after. Money may also be required to reconstruct the levees in some areas.
"It has to be done before this summer," Reyes said.
Money to clear the levees could be obtained from IBWC, the Federal Emergency Management Agency or other agencies.
"FEMA has an obligation because of the floods, and we need to make sure they live up to that obligation," Thompson said.
Reyes said Mexico has committed money to clean the levees on its side of the international border.
"I don't think any of us want to the chance that what what happened last August will happen again," Reyes said.
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