Big Bend Ranch State Park and Big Bend National Parks and the private land the surrounds and connects them are Texas treasures. They are unique havens for a rich variety of flora and fauna, essential watersheds for the area, and a crucial part of our local economy driven by tourism.

However, a proposed border wall threatens to dismantle this unique ecosystem. If erected, this wall would have detrimental, irreversible impacts on the wildlife that call this pristine place home.

According to a preliminary federal notice, The Trump Administration is waiving federal protections to build the wall, including protections like the National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Water Act and a variety of wildlife and historic resources protection laws.

Building a physical wall through this section of border would not only be devastating to the local flora and fauna, it would ruin one of the most incredible parcels of public land in the Lone Star State.

The park's water systems, already delicate and vital for both the local wildlife and community, would be disrupted. This degradation poses a risk to our natural resources, affecting not just the immediate environment but the far-reaching ecosystems relying on this vital water source. Construction alone would result in trash and erosion impacts to the Rio Grande.

Tourism, a linchpin for the local economy, is also at stake. Tourists are drawn to the rugged beauty and untouched/wild nature of Big Bend. A wall would not only be an eyesore but would eliminate much of the appeal that brings visitors from across the state and beyond, harming small businesses and local livelihoods that depend on this industry.

The proposal to build a wall disregards the ecological and economic significance of the park. It is crucial that public officials recognize the irreversible damage such a project would impose. We must advocate for sustainable solutions that protect our landscapes, support diverse ecosystems, and respect the community's reliance on tourism.