U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge

Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife • Recognized as one of the ten most Refuge Facts endangered national wildlife refuges • Established: February 2, 1979 by the Defenders of Wildlife in their 2007 Refuges at Risk report. • Acres: 90,441 (2008 figure) in more than 125 units located in Cameron, • Responsible for negotiating with oil Hidalgo, Starr and Willacy Counties, and gas industry for mineral Texas. The Refuge is approved by exploration/extraction. Congress to pursue an acquisition goal of 132,500 acres by purchasing fee title Natural History lands or conservation easements from • Considered one of the most willing sellers. biologically diverse in the entire National Wildlife Refuge System, the • Location: the Refuge office is located Refuge has identified 11 unique biotic at Santa Ana National Wildlife communities in the lower Rio Grande Refuge on Highway 281, 7.5-miles Valley to guide land acquisition efforts. south of Alamo, TX, ¼-mile east of FM 907 (Alamo Road). • There are approximately 776 plant species, 50 mammal species, 29 • Responsible for managing 1,658 acres freshwater fish species, and 65 reptile of former Wildlife Management and amphibian species that can Areas for Texas Parks and Wildlife be found on the Refuge. Department. • Major habitat types include Clay • In partnership with the City of Roma, Loma/Wind Tidal Flats, Coastal the Refuge operates the Roma Bluffs Brushland Potholes, Sabal Palm World Birding Center, part of a Forest, Mid-Valley Riparian Woodland, network of nine unique birding sites Mid-Delta Thorn Forest, Woodland set along a 120-mile historic river Potholes and Basins, Upland Thorn road from Roma to South Padre Scrub, Barretal, Upper Valley Flood Island, Texas. Forest, Ramaderos, and Chihuahuan Thorn Forest. • The Refuge manages two inland natural salt lakes in Hidalgo and • Located at the intersection of the Willacy counties. Central and Mississippi migratory flyways, the Refuge provides nesting, • More than 515 species of birds have feeding and loafing areas for millions been recorded in the lower Rio Grande of migratory and resident songbirds, Valley, the most productive birding shorebirds, waterfowl species area in the United States and Canada. and water birds. Lower Rio Grande Valley The Refuge is recognized as an National Wildlife Refuge Important Bird Area by the American • The Refuge manages habitats Route 2, Box 202A Bird Conservancy. supporting 19 federally threatened Alamo, TX 78516 and endangered species, and 57 state 956/784-7500 • Refuge tracts in Hidalgo County protected species. 956/787-8338 Fax are managed for wintering shorebird http://fws.gov/southwest/texas/ populations of Long-billed Curlew and santaana.html Wilson’s Phalarope, and are part of the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network. Long-billed Curlew • The Battle of Palmito Ranch – the last Photograph by Sanfort land battle of the Civil War - took place Red-billed Pigeon on May 12-13, 1865 on what is now Photograph by Larry Ditto Refuge property east of Brownsville. Aplomado Falcon Photograph by Sanfort • The Refuge provides habitat for Public Use Opportunities La Puerta Tract two federally listed endangered The following Refuge tracts are open to (Starr County, east of Rio Grande City) cat species, the ocelot and jaguarundi. the public daily from sunrise to sunset. • Semiarid barretal habitat Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles, the These remote and unstaffed units of the • Hiking/walking trails (accessible by most endangered sea turtle species Refuge have no public facilities. Visitors foot only) in the world, nest on beaches of should bring maps, water, food, and • Nature photography, birding and the Boca Chica Tract each year. protection from weather and insects. wildlife observation Stay on trails or roads to avoid venomous • Parking lot, information kiosk Financial impact of Refuge snakes. Off-road vehicles are prohibited. Do not block gates, and please park Roma Bluffs World Birding Center • Annual visitation is approximately vehicles in parking lots or other safe areas. (Starr County) 65,000 visitors. Major visitor • Westernmost unit of the 9-site World components are avid bird watchers Boca Chica Tract (Cameron County) Birding Center and nature tourists, hunters, • Loma/tidal flats/coastal dune habitats • Visitor center, exhibits, nature store local residents, and Winter Texans. • Wildlife observation, photography, • Interpretive and educational programs beachcombing • Guided Rio Grande canoe trips • 16-person staff. • Information kiosk • Birding information center

• Current year budget (FY 2008) $1,263,371. East Lake/La Sal Vieja Tracts Salineño Tract (Starr County) Refuge Objectives (Willacy County) • Small upper Valley flood forest habitat • Continue to pursue land acquisition • Inland hypersaline lakes • Birding and butterfly watching goal of 132,500 acres. • Hiking/walking trails (accessible by • Access to Rio Grande foot only) • Information kiosk, walking trail • Restore 400 – 600 acres of native • Hunting offered seasonally, permit habitat annually through cooperative required Calendar of Events farming program. • Birding and wildlife observation January: Youth and adult big game hunts • Parking lot, information kiosk May: International Migratory Bird Day • Acquire, protect and enhance Refuge La Sal del Ray/Schalaben Tracts habitat for the protection of June – July: Youth Conservation Corps endangered species. (Hidalgo County) • Inland hypersaline lake thorn summer student job program • Assist and collaborate with partners scrub habitat August: Big game hunt applications in the achievement of a contiguous • Hiking/walking trails (accessible by accepted for fall/winter hunt program river wildlife corridor. foot only) • Birding and wildlife observation September: Dove hunting season opens • Improve Refuge water quality and • Nature photography, interpretive water delivery systems, and protect tours (seasonally) October: National Wildlife Refuge Week and enhance wetlands. • Parking lot, information kiosk Rio Reforestation public planting event • Provide wildlife-oriented recreation. Monte Christo Tract (Hidalgo County) November – January: Archery and shotgun/muzzleloader big game hunting • Provide interpretive and environmental • Woodland potholes habitat • Dove hunting offered seasonally, education opportunities. December: Christmas Bird Count permit required Management Tools • Birding, nature photography For further information • Moist soil management • Hiking/walking trails (accessible by foot only) • Cooperative farming Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge • Water level/water quality programs Yturria Brush Tract (Hidalgo County, west of La Joya) Route 2, Box 202A • Exotic game species management • Upland thorn scrub habitat Alamo, TX 78516 • Prescribed burning • Birding and butterfly watching, nature photography 956/784-7500 • Wetland restoration/management • Hiking/walking trails (accessible by 956/787-8338 Fax • Mechanical/chemical control of exotic foot only) http://fws.gov/southwest/texas/ and noxious plants • Parking lot, information kiosk santaana.html • Law enforcement La Grulla Tracts (Starr County) • Research partnerships • Dove hunting offered seasonally, April 2008 permit required • Volunteer/student intern program • Education/interpretation • Partnerships/challenge grants