The Sierra Club and Our National Parks

Big Bend National Park, Texas

Northeast Rim and Juniper Canyon, Big Bend National Park

Big Bend National Park, with over 800,000 acres of protected area, is a jewel of our national parks system. With Rio Grande, Pummel Peak and boasting more types of birds, bats, and cacti than any other national park in the United States, Big Bend is a haven for many species and an area that must be protected as part of our natural heritage for future generations. But Air Pollution coming from other areas-Mexico and East Texas and Eastern United States threaten Big Bend; we must take action now before it is too late.

Over the years, the Sierra Club has played a major role in protecting Big Bend and making sure that we preserve it for future generations. The Big Bend Regional Sierra Club worked on a Hands Across the Border Conference (Seeking Mexican Support) on Air Quality along the border. They lobbied the Texas Legislature seeking support, and they worked on trying to get the BRAVO STUDY released. (Big Bend Regional Aerosol and Visibility Observational Study.

Their major efforts were directed at Region 6 of the EPA and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). It took 4-5 years (released in 2004) for the study to be released and it was rejected by TCEQ as a nice little study but not too useful as Mexico was not included. It became clear that as long as the EPA and the TCEQ were involved, not much would be done. More recently, the Sierra Club's efforts have focused on water issues, radioactive waste issues, and a proposed trade corridor running from the west coast of Mexico through the port of entry at Presidio and then through Marfa and Alpine Texas and north to Midland. We were central to the opposition effort and involved many people in the entire region. We won that one though it is still not quite closed.

Trails To Enjoy In This Park

Lost Mine

South Rim

Window

GPS Coordinates

29°15'0"N 103°15'0"W