BPUB looks at alternatives to dam; mayor still optimistic that Mexico will approve dam project

 The Brownsville Public Utilities Board has developed alternatives to the dam proposal, also referred to as the weir, with the goal of retaining nearly $21 million in federal grant funds allocated for the project on the Rio Grande between Brownsville and Matamoros.

The project is considered important because it would expand the water supply for the Lower Rio Grande Valley.

However, the dam project is not presently on Mexico’s priority list. With that in mind, BPUB is attempting to convince the funding agency, the Environmental Protection Agency, to allow the utility company to redirect the funding toward other water and wastewater projects.

BPUB CEO John Bruciak presented the City Commission with several options at a recent commission meeting.

The options include the rehabilitation and expansion of the Robindale wastewater treatment plant, restoration of resacas, and a seawater desalination research facility.

"We are very optimistic that we will be able to apply the funds to another water or wastewater treatment project," BPUB spokeswoman Lucy Hernandez said Friday in Bruciak’s absence from the city.

BPUB has yet to hear from the EPA.

"We’re working with EPA trying to get that resolved," Mayor Pat M. Ahumada Jr. said.

In the interim, however, the mayor hasn’t lost hope that Mexico would change its mind and agree to proceed with the dam, which is about eight miles downstream of the Gateway International Bridge outside the Brownsville city limits.

"There is no guarantee that we will get the money back (from EPA) and I have impressed that on the governor of Tamaulipas. I am asking him to get with his team and evaluate the project and see if it’s a doable project," Ahumada said Friday.

"I’m trying to impress that they (Mexico officials) should reconsider and support the weir project to benefit both communities," the mayor said. "I am hoping for the best. I knew it would be an upstream battle," Ahumada said, adding that the dam project began years ago on the U.S. side without input from Mexico.

Ahumada, who embraced the project since his election as mayor in 2007, said that at least now it is a recognized binational project. "We did get it to at least that status," the mayor said.

Commissioner Charlie Atkinson proposed recently that Cameron County take the lead on the dam project, claiming that Mexican officials didn’t want to work with Ahumada.

Atkinson said Friday that he is no longer pursuing the proposal, noting his understanding that the county might contact BPUB directly, instead.

The city of Laredo is now working on a weir project of its own. City of Laredo data on the project notes that it would be constructed on the Rio Grande about one mile upstream from the World Trade Bridge in the northwest section of the city. The city also notes that the project would provide electrical power and recreation for the community.

At its Oct. 5 meeting, the Laredo City Council authorized the city manager to award a $294,012 contract with Dannenbaum Engineering for the preliminary engineering design of the project and feasibility study, the minutes reflect.

Also according to the minutes of the meeting, the U.S. International Boundary & Water Commission and the city of Nuevo Laredo propose to share in the cost of the study with $250,000 and $50,000 respectively.

"Laredo’s project is deja-vu. They (Laredo officials) heard about our project, and thought our project was very good and they took that as a template," Ahumada said.

"But it’s not in competition with our project at all. Brownsville was leading the way to something different and they (Laredo officials) are pursuing the same ideas," Ahumada said.

Ahumada also said Friday that engineer Louis Jones with Dannenbaum Engineering offered to help BPUB "free of charge" to obtain Mexico’s approval of the dam project.

"We’ll be talking to him (Jones)," the mayor said, although adding, "but right now, the situation is at a stage where the governor of Tamaulipas can salvage the project and Brownsville has a good relationship with the governor."

Dannenbaum Engineering was the firm that worked on the Brownsville Navigation District international bridge project. BND paid Dannenbaum $15.4 million of $21.4 million spent toward the still non-existent bridge at the Port of Brownsville.