Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1927-11-20
EXICO WILL
SPEND MILLION
ON FLOODWAY
Project Will Supple
ment Valley Plans
To Control Flood
Waters of River

A@1t @BNO0kA Which the Chain va
resacas and lagoons west and south
Of Matamoros will be drained into
the Arroyo del Tigre.
Only one dredge IS now AZ work,
but n second dredge II expected 70 be
placed on the project in a few weeks
The system OF river ~levees, which
will prevent the spread OF flood
waters onto the lowlands above
Matamoros and direct the flow into
the resacas and lagoons, through
which it will discharge into the Ar
royo del Tigre, is expected 70 be sui
ficiantly completed before spring 70
assure protection for large areas
which heretofore have been subject
ed I'd annual overflow. This system
will also serve to completely protect
the city Of MatamOros. now well
guarded BY a system Of levces sur
rounding the town.
Similar 10 Valley Plan
The Mexican flood control plan Is
very similar 10 that designed for
the American side Of the Valley, and
is expected TO discharge approximate
~ $4,000 second feet Of water dur
ing major flood without overflow 20
the lowlands. The principal inlet IS
near Solisccno. about 25 miles above
Matamorox. where the flood waters
will be conducted between parallel
levecs into the chain Of resacas'
the river between the stream and the
tracks Of the Mexican National rail-
way. The levecs will be placed
about 1000 feet apart. and there IS
sufficient fall TO assure rapid DIS
charge. a.,
All low banks on the resacas will
be levied 70 prevent overflow, ana
at q point a short distance above
Matamoros the flood waters VIII oe
carried between the city levee and a
parallel levee on the west 10 the
Cabras Pintas lake.
The low ridge between Cabras
Pintas Iaruna and the Arroyo del
Tivre. which heretofore has prevent
ed the discharge Of flood waters into
the Arroyo until they reached a depth
OF several feet at the lower end ot
the lake, Is now being cut, and
through this channel the entire area
will be drained. The cut through
this high land, which IS several hun
dred feet in width, will average
from three TO seven feet in depth,
and from this point the flood waters
will b. carried southwark 20 the
Arroyo at the Rancho del Tigre.
Strong Levees
Strong Ievees will be constructed
at all points, averaging u 10 10
feet in height on the lowlands with
a 8 foot crown and a ? IL 20 / slope
During periods Of major flood the
discharge through these artificial
channels will be rapid. and strong
levees are needed to Withstand the
f0rre Of the current.
All rights Of way for the system
were secured by the government
several months ago. and very little
Of the land that will be utilized rs
suitable for agriculture. The chan
mel follows the natural drains. ard
no effort has beer made by property
owners 20 farm thAt section which
will be within the flood control chan
nels owing 10 the fact that IT over
flowed with each rise OF the stream
In practically every respect this
system will be a duplicate Of that on
the American side Of the Rio Grande
with the exception p = On nhe
outlet 10 the Gulf il provided. The
will follow the general
course OF the stream. as the Valley
floodway does through Hidalgo
county. and at a point above Mata-
mor6s will turn almost directly
south 10 carry the flood waters into
the Arroyo del Tigre-
Will Assure Protection
The Valley flood control system.
rupplementcd by the system no"
under construction on the Mexican
side. will permit the removal OF APP
proximately $4,000 second feet from
the stream before the water reaches
- -m-4.- 80 he Nut1nNr Tho
Rio Crande will discharge $4,000
nerond feet without danger 70 the
lower river section. making "A total
discharge Of 2I5.000 second feet,
~rreater volume than any flood ever
officially recorded.
On the American side Of the river
$4,000 second feet viii be taken from
me Rio Grandc AZ Mission. and ah.-
600 second feet will enter the flood
channel near Hidalgo through Hack
rev lake. The inlets on the Mexican
side will Be- above the San Benito
and Harrington pumps. and viii take
an additional 10000 second feet. The
Rancho Niejo ~floodway in Cameron
county will take 5000 second feet.
make A total OF 1885, 600. a volume be-
lievcd hy many engineers 20 hc equal
~ that az the June flood Of 1922. In
the event Of an extraordinary flood
az greater volume than has hereto
fore been recorded practically the
entire spread would be on the Mex
lean side OF the stream. Mexican en-
rineers state. but this IS n cons
t~ingency impossible a. calculate or
provide for.
Valley Wen Protected
The Mexican " ncers have made
A. thorough study of the system now
nearing completion on the American
side OF the Rio Grande. and express
themselves as well impressed with
tho plans worked out hy the Valley
engineers and the u. S. Reclamation
Service. They assert that the Amer
lean side Of the stream Is now well
protected by the river levees and
floodwavs, and that practically am
flood waters viii spread to the Mex
lean side.
sueen the Laguna Cabras Pintas and
fha Arroyo del Tigre. on which work
IN now being rushed. Will greatly
relieve the flood menace on the Mex
;ran side. they state. BY providing
amid discharge OF the flood waters
which in former flood periods have
Keen held back by the ridge. The
~fver levees have been sufficiently
~nmuleted 10 protect most Of the
snurlands and direct the flood water
srto the rcsacas and lagoons FROM
which IL will drain rapidly through
the cut.
Two or three years will be required
- complete the system on the Mex
,~.n side Of the stream but the work
~birh will he completed this winter
iii eliminate most Of the flood dan
-sr 10 agricultural lands as well aS
@movinr a large part Of the pressurs
"A 800 lower river lcvees on both the
areriran and Mexican sides 81 the
44wn~w4s