Just Add Water

In the next two weeks, millions of gallons of water should begin flowing into Resaca de la Palma State Park northwest of Brownsville near Olmito.

Last Tuesday, regional Texas Parks & Wildlife officials were given a tour of the 1,200-acre park to inspect culverts that will regulate water in the resaca that snakes its way through the park.

Pablo de Yturbe, park superintendent, said the purchase order for the water is now being completed which then goes to Austin where it is expected to be signed.

The water is being purchased from Rancho Viejo Water District No. 2. It will take about 38 days to complete the pumping, de Yturbe said. The water will cost $12.50 per acre foot. An acre foot is the volume of water sufficient to cover one acre a foot deep.

Once the resaca is filled, the park will be "unofficially officially" open, de Yturbe said.

The soft opening will allow park officials to work out possible problems before the official opening in December, he added.

Visitors will be allowed in the park once the resaca is filled, though they still must pay an entry fee.

The park consists of 6.5 miles of trails and a 3.5-mile tram road.

No autos will be allowed in the park and the tram will drop off and pick up park visitors, much the same as Bentsen-Rio Grande State Park outside Mission.

When the resaca is filled, de Yturbia expects the park to become a birding hot spot.

"Once we get the water, the park will change completely," he said. "The water will bring in the birds."

The infrastructure has almost been finished and includes a fully staffed visitors center with store and park offices, restrooms, parking lot and several observation decks along the resaca.

Currently, the last of the interpretive signs are being put into place.

Resaca de la Palma is one of three state parks that help make up the World Birding Center. The other two are Bentsen-Rio Grande - the headquarters - and Estero Llano Grande in south Weslaco.

Other sites in the WBC include the Edinburg Scenic Wetlands, Harlingen Arroyo Colorado, Old Hidalgo Pumphouse, Quinta Mazatlan in McAllen, Roma Bluffs and the South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center.

Resaca de la Palma is the largest of the WBC sites and consists of several kinds of habitat, including a riparian forest complete with sabal palms, and wetlands.

It is home to numerous species of birds and butterflies, including yellow-bellied cuckoos, groove-billed anis, Carolina wrens and Altamira orioles.