(We were working on a story about the Santa Rita Ranch on Military Highway and wandered off north on El Carmen Road to take pictures of the cotton harvest when we passed by the sign indicating the location of the Resaca De la Palma State Park. After years up in the Midwest, we didn't even know this facility was there. Upon investigation we found that the park is one of the most unique birding and natural habitats left in South Texas. We take this information from its website and hope you get a chance to visit. It is only a few miles west of Brownsville.)
By World Birding Center
The Land
Long before humans recorded its work, the Rio Grande was shaping Resaca de la Palma. Abandoned coils of river bed, known locally as resacas, create wildlife-attracting ponds here when full. Along the natural levees of these shallow ponds are dense stands of banco woodlands and marsh vegetation. Elsewhere, drier Tamaulipan thorn woodlands include classic mesquite and anacahuita.
Our Birds
Resaca de la Palma promises to be an especially rich birding environment. Colorful neo-tropical and nearctic migrants — like the Summer Tanager, American Redstart, and Yellow-breasted Chat – have been noted here more often and in higher numbers. When resaca levels are controlled for the benefit of wildlife, species like the Least Grebe, Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Purple Gallinule and various herons, as well as migrating waterfowl in their seasons, should also congregate here. The property’s dense ground-level vegetation is especially attractive to species like the Olive Sparrow , Long-billed Trasher, and White-eyed Vireo, along with all the “Valley specialties.”The World Birding Center visitors’ center is the portal to over 6 miles of trails, 4 decks that overlook the 4 miles of resaca, and a 3.2 mile tram loop that winds through the park, a tram leaves the visitor center every hour. Visitors need to park in the parking lot; private vehicles are not allowed within the park. Resaca’s many trails can be accessed by tram, hiking, biking or walking.
Among the amenities that visitors can enjoy are Resaca Observation Decks, a Butterfly Garden, 6+ Miles of Trail Systems, Tram Tour & Bicycle Trails, 1,200 Acres of Wildlife Viewing, Meeting Space & Gift Shop
Thursday – Sunday 8:00am-5:00 pm
Office is open 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. DailyPark Grounds open every day Sunrise-Sunset. Please help us track visitation by using Self-pay station at main gate when Visitors’ Center is closed.
Night hikes every Friday by RSVP
Admission
General – Adults $4.00
Children 12 and under Free
1 comment:
Was Lucio Mendoza given a job at BISD to get much better cookies from the 529 Million BISD budget?
Mission, Texas school board approves $800K security upgrade
BY JACQUELINE ARMENDARIZ
SOURCE: THE MONITOR, MCALLEN, TEXAS
CREATED: JUNE 17, 2013
Money to be used to install more than 380 surveillance cameras
June 17--MISSION -- The contract approved by the Mission school board for hundreds of cameras this past week is the largest chunk of an overall plan to upgrade district security infrastructure.
After a May bidding process, American Surveillance was chosen by the school board Wednesday night. The board approved the purchase of cameras and software from the Brownsville-based company at a price tag of $801,319 to come from the general fund.
The sum, less than the original amount of $848,111.78 first proposed by the company, landed in the middle among the bids submitted by three companies, according to school board documents.
The proposal from American Surveillance lists a total of 384 cameras to be installed inside and outside.
That's just phase two of the Mission school district's plan that officials said they believe is among the foremost in the Rio Grande Valley. The upgrade will likely approach a cost of more than $1 million, they said.
Lucio Mendoza, assistant superintendent for finance and operations, said he believes the only other place in the country that a similar security system might be found is the Los Angeles Unified School District.
The discussion to ramp up security infrastructure began four years ago, he said.
"Finally, I think the incident at Sandy Hook is when we took it to the board," he said.
In December, the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut shook the nation to its core when a gunman claimed the lives of 26 people.
Mendoza said shortly after the start of this coming school year, 60 percent to 70 percent of the cameras should be installed at a remaining 20 or so campuses. The board has also authorized the creation of a command center manned by technicians who will monitor the cameras.
In March, the district had already invested about $360,000 in camera systems, according to Monitor archives. Other items in phase two include $69,000 in projected costs for rolling electric gates, about $87,000 for wireless panic buttons and $180,000 for magnetic locks to automatically close doors to buildings, according to Monitor archives.
Mendoza said the district is exploring the placement of the panic buttons in classrooms and security footage DVR recorders have also been replaced.
"They are at the point where they're basically dying," he said of the recording equipment.
Since March, every classroom is locked from the outside at all times per district policy. Part of the focus is to limit movement and control campus access, Mendoza said, funneling all traffic to the front office of a campus.
With the Mission school district's location on the U.S.-Mexico border, Mendoza and district spokesman Craig Verley acknowledged law enforcement works with the entities to ensure student safety.
The officials said discussion of the district's security upgrades came with input from the local fire and police departments. Verley said local and state law enforcement usually promptly notifies the district if they see a situation that might warrant a lockdown developing.
"We learn from each and every incident," Verley said.
Mendoza said the security upgrade may include a phase three.
When asked whether the public has expressed any concerns about privacy, Mendoza said only a selected group of employees will have access to the security footage. Mendoza said even he is not included in that group.
"We're not doing this just to please anybody," Mendoza said. "We're doing this to try and ensure the safety of their children."
jarmendariz@themonitor.com
Copyright 2013 - The Monitor, McAllen, Texas
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