RESACA SYSTEM

Resacas

Resacas, also known as oxbow lakes, are remnant river channels unique to the area. Resacas aid in flood control, water storage, and add an aesthetic character to the city. The Brownsville PUB pumps raw water into the area’s resaca system, such as Resaca de la Guerra that meanders throughout the city, as needed, provided there is surplus water available. This water serves as habitat for an array of species of fish such as Thilapia, Alligator Gar, and Largemouth Bass, as well as hundreds of species of birds and waterfowl. The Brownsville PUB is currently working on a Resaca Restoration Project, with an aim to dredge the main resacas in Brownsville.

Resaca Restoration Project

The Resaca Restoration Project is a joint project between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the City of Brownsville and Brownsville PUB. The goal of this project is to increase storage capacity for Brownsville resacas. This will improve water quality and enhance watershed management capabilities.

The project will be implemented when a Feasiblity Report is submitted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and after congressional authorization is obtained for funding. The total cost of the project will be $50 million.

This project is currently in the Feasibility Phase, where there will be further planning and evaluation of alternative solutions to water resources problems. The estimated cost of this phase is $3.9 million, half of which, the City of Brownsville is providing. Soil samples are being gathered from the different resacas for study. The estimated completion time for the Feasibility Phase is 44 months.

Restoration of the resacas will provide additional water storage capacity and improve flood control, as well as restore habitat for species common to the area.