Brownsville’s resacas are former channels of the Rio Grande. They provide water storage, wildlife habitat, and recreational opportunities for our community.
Our focus is dredging and maintaining the resacas to increase raw-water storage capacity. That has been the core of this work since BPUB launched the Resaca Restoration Program in early 2013. More storage supports a more reliable drinking-water supply for Brownsville.
Grant funding has also allowed us to improve water quality, restore habitat, and add community features like walking trails.
Learn how BPUB supports our community’s drinking-water supply through dredging operations.
Previous Projects
Our past restoration projects have improved Brownsville’s resacas by increasing water storage, enhancing water quality, and restoring habitat.
Project history (2013–2026)
| Location | Reported progress |
|---|---|
| Cemetery | Dredging was completed in 2013. Bank and infrastructure improvements were also completed. |
| Dean Porter | Dredging was completed in 2015. |
| Zoo | Dredging was completed in 2016, with additional work in 2019. |
| Resaca Boulevard | Dredging was completed in 2016. Bank improvements were funded through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. |
| Parkland | Dredging was completed in 2018. |
| Zoo Extension | Dredging was completed in 2018, with additional work in 2025. |
| St. Joseph’s | Dredging was completed in 2023. RESTORE-funded restoration was listed as underway in the workplan. |
| Rotary Park | Dredging was completed in 2024. RESTORE-funded restoration was also completed. |
| Town Resaca | Completed in 2026. The project included bank improvements and installation of 10 stormwater interceptors. |
Interactive Project Map
Explore completed and ongoing work throughout Brownsville using our Interactive Resaca Restoration Map.
Current Projects
Banco Morales Reservoir
Planning is underway the dredge within the Banco Morales reservoir system to support Brownsville’s raw-water supply.
The Banco Morales Reservoir Project will add a new off-channel reservoir with a capacity of 400 million gallons. That will bring BPUB’s total storage capacity to more than 616 million gallons.
Learn more about the Banco Morales Reservoir Project.
Resaca de la Guerra
The Resaca de la Guerra Resilience and Restoration Project will increase raw-water storage, improve water quality, and restore aquatic and riparian habitat.
The project includes four work areas extending from Alton Gloor Boulevard to South Laredo Road, with segments near North Laredo Road, Mid-Laredo Road, and FM 802.
Project Improvements
The project will remove approximately 44,100 cubic yards of sediment and add approximately 27 acre-feet of water-storage capacity. Three stormwater-treatment units will help capture sediment, trash, and debris before runoff enters the resaca.
Additional work will restore approximately 27 acre-feet of aquatic habitat and 3,000 linear feet of riparian corridor. Crews will remove invasive vegetation, plant native vegetation, and construct approximately 2,000 linear feet of walking trails.
Estimated Schedule
The published project schedule anticipates sediment removal from January through June 2027. Associated improvements include vegetation removal, riparian revegetation, trail construction, and stormwater-treatment installations.
The schedule remains subject to permitting, procurement, funding, site conditions, and construction requirements.
Project Funding
A Bureau of Reclamation WaterSMART grant and BPUB’s local contribution fund the project.
| Funding source | Amount |
|---|---|
| Bureau of Reclamation WaterSMART grant | $3,000,000 |
| BPUB local match | $1,554,700 |
| Total project cost | $4,554,700 |
Future Projects
Water Renewal Project
The Water Renewal Project will create a new local drinking-water source for Brownsville. It will recover up to 8.0 million gallons per day (MGD) of highly treated reclaimed water from the Robindale Plant.
The resacas are a key part of the process. A 36-inch pipeline will connect the Robindale Plant to Resaca de la Guerra. After advanced treatment, the water will flow through the resacas, which act as a natural environmental buffer. It will then receive full drinking-water treatment at Water Treatment Plant No. 2 before entering the distribution system.
- Capacity: Up to 8.0 MGD
- Estimated completion: 2030
Learn more about the Water Renewal Project.
Resources
Annual Reports
- Read the FY2025–2026 City Commission Annual Report.
- Read the FY2024–2025 City Commission Annual Report.
- Read the FY2023–2024 City Commission Annual Report.
Technical Documents
- Read the Brownsville Resacas Natural Resources Appendix.
- Read the Monitoring and Adaptive Management Plan.