Mid-Valley Watershed

Estero Llano Grande State Park

The journey of the watershed continues to Estero Llano Grande Park where a shallow lake full of marsh cane is waiting for the plethora of birds that can be seen here. This lake is actually a part of the Arroyo Colorado. The resaca offers something special in the wetlands environment at the World Birding Center network.

Arroyo Colorado Watershed

The Arroyo Colorado Watershed is an important body of water for the Mid-Valley region. It is located in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of South Texas. The Arroyo Colorado is an ancient distributary channel of the Rio Grande and extends from the city of Mission and it drains into the Lower Laguna Madre. The arroyo is approximately 90 miles long and is used primarily as a floodway and a conduit for wastewater conveyance. Other important usage is commercial barge traffic and as a recreational area for boating and fishing. It is also significantly important because it can be used as a nursery and foraging area for numerous marine species.

Vertical Lift Bridge, Rio Hondo

The Arroyo Colorado continues to travel North East to Rio Hondo City. It can be seen at the Vertical Lift Bridege. The importance of the bridge is not only to allow a crossway for cars but to permit large boats access to the Port of Harlingen. The bridge opens for barges hauling numerous goods like fuel, fertilizer, sand and cement.