NATIONAL PARK SERVICE • U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Foundation Document Overview Amistad National Recreation Area Texas
Contact Information For more information about the Amistad National Recreation Area Foundation Document, contact: [email protected] or (830) 775-7491 or write to: Superintendent, Amistad National Recreation Area, 4121 Highway 90 West, Del Rio, TX 78840-9350 Purpose Significance
Significance statements express why Amistad National Recreation Area resources and values are important enough to merit national park unit designation. Statements of significance describe why an area is important within a global, national, regional, and systemwide context. These statements are linked to the purpose of the park unit, and are supported by data, research, and consensus. Significance statements describe the distinctive nature of the park and inform management decisions, focusing efforts on preserving and protecting the most important resources and values of the park unit.
• As one of only two reservoirs managed jointly by the United States and Mexico, Lake Amistad commemorates a water conservation partnership between the two nations.
• The waters of Lake Amistad provide diverse water-based recreational opportunities including some of the finest black bass fishing in the southwestern United States.
• Amistad National Recreation Area protects and interprets exceptional examples of the area’s distinct Lower Pecos River-style rock art, one of the most significant and densest concentrations of Archaic rock art in the world.
• Amistad National Recreation Area contains hundreds of archeological sites and a museum collection of more than 980,000 artifacts including many uncommon perishable artifacts from dry rock shelters. These resources provide important information from more than 10,000 years of American Indian hunter-gatherers, Spanish exploration, interactions with Mexico, the U.S. military, ranching, and railroad history.
The purpose of AmistAd NAtioNAl • Amistad National Recreation Area has a rich biological RecReAtioN AReA is to provide for diversity in part due to the reservoir and its location at the public outdoor recreational use and convergence of three ecoregions: the Chihuahuan Desert, enjoyment of the lands and waters the Tamaulipan Thornscrub, and the Edwards Plateau. associated with the United States portion • Amistad National Recreation Area encompasses ruggedly of the International Amistad Reservoir scenic canyonlands associated with three distinct rivers: on the international boundary with the Rio Grande, Pecos River, and the clear, spring-fed Texas and Mexico, and to protect scenic, Devils River. scientific, cultural, and other values • Amistad National Recreation Area provides diverse land- contributing to the public enjoyment of based recreational opportunities and includes one of such lands and waters. the largest tracts of public land available for hunting in southwest Texas. Fundamental Resources and Values Interpretive Themes
Fundamental resources and values are those features, systems, Interpretive themes are often described as the key stories processes, experiences, stories, scenes, sounds, smells, or or concepts that visitors should understand after visiting other attributes determined to merit primary consideration a park—they define the most important ideas or concepts during planning and management processes because they are communicated to visitors about a park unit. Themes essential to achieving the purpose of the park and maintaining are derived from—and should reflect—park purpose, its significance. significance, resources, and values. The set of interpretive themes is complete when it provides the structure necessary • Recreation for park staff to develop opportunities for visitors to explore • Cultural Resources and relate to all of the park significances and fundamental resources and values. • Water Resources • Featuring an extensive reservoir at the convergence of three • Land Resources rivers, three ecological zones, and migratory flyways within a semiarid, rugged landscape, Amistad National Recreation Area provides diverse opportunities for land-based and water-based outdoor recreational experiences to enhance the enjoyment, health, and well-being of park visitors.
• Amistad National Recreation Area protects and interprets exceptional examples of one of the most significant and dense concentrations of Archaic rock art in the world, hundreds of archeological sites, and a museum collection of almost 1 million artifacts, offering unique opportunities to appreciate how people (past and present) express cultural identity and the connection to their environments.
• The area’s history of Spanish exploration, interactions with Mexico, military operations, ranching, and railroad development offers insights into the formation of the present-day United States and its legacy.
• Built and maintained in a spirit of friendship between the United States and Mexico, the Amistad Dam provides flood control, water storage, power generation, and recreational opportunities, highlighting the benefits of intercultural cooperation toward mutual goals, human resilience, and the evolving relationship with dynamic landscapes. Description
Situated on the United States-Mexico border, Amistad Amistad Dam created the reservoir at the confluence of the National Recreation Area is known primarily for excellent Rio Grande, Devils, and Pecos Rivers in 1969. In addition to year-round, water-based recreation including boating, fishing, excellent recreation, Amistad National Recreation Area is swimming, scuba diving, and waterskiing. Amistad National rich in archeology and rock art and contains a wide variety of Recreation Area also provides opportunities for picnicking, plant and animal life. Amistad park headquarters is in Del Rio, camping, and hunting. Texas, population 35,000.
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R io MEX 2 G r a n npaved road Ranger station arina d e D R amino de tierra uesto de guardapar ue arina 90 Texas ampground Drin ing water oat ramp 277 Amistad National ampamento Agua potable Rampa para barcos Mexico Recreation Area S R 239
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grupos MEX DAD A A 2 Self-guiding trail Swimming area ereda interpretativa (unsupervised) Area para nadar (sin vigilancia)