Experts warn proposed Rio Grande wall and buoy system could raise flood risks; council expands riverfront advisory scope
An independent analysis presented to the Laredo City Council concluded that proposed bollard walls and a long buoy system could increase flood heights, trap debris and place bridges and riverfront neighborhoods at higher risk; council voted to expand its riverfront advisory committee to review buoy infrastructure and press for data from federal partners.
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Martin Castro, watershed science director at the Rio Grande International Study Center, told the Laredo City Council on April 7 that an independent engineering analysis finds the proposed federal bollard wall and buoy infrastructure would materially change how the Rio Grande carries floodwaters and debris. "This proposal would be constructed along one of the most dynamic river systems in the entire United States," Castro said, urging council members to scrutinize the engineering and flood modeling now being used.
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