Tracing the Line

Dublin Core

Title

Tracing the Line

Creator

Goin, Peter

Collection Items

Mouth of Rio Grande
View of a riverbank along the Rio Grande. Vegetation lines the area where the river and land meet and in the mud, tire tracks are visible.

Wind damaged palm poles and telephones lines off Highway 4
Three dead palm trees, at least two of which have cavity nests (probably those of the golden-fronted woodpecker), behind telephone lines off Texas State Highway 4.

Mouth of Rio Grande off Highway 4
Mouth of Rio Grande River off Texas State Highway 4, with vegetation on both shores.

Overgrown levee road near “La Canasta Banco” along the Rio Grande
An overgrown levee near the Rio Grande. Two small paths flank the levee on both sided and extend into the distance.

Rio Grande into Mexico underneath the Gateway International Bridge
Looking across the Rio Grande into Mexico underneath the Gateway Bridge off International Boulevard in Brownsville, Texas.

Bridge abutment at Old International Bridge
Originally, treaties between Mexico and the United States provided for mutual navigation rights along the Rio Grande. Now, the river water is used primarily for domestic purposes and irrigation. As a result of the United States-Mexico water treaty of…

Demolished river ramp to the Rio Grande
River ramp leading to the Rio Grande near Brownsville. Vegetation lines both sides of the ramp, while trees are visible on the other side of the river.

High water, rapids and old bridge piles on the Mexican side of Rio Grande, west of Brownsville/Matamoros
The Mexican-American border is constantly changing, not just by treaty, but by the persistent erosion of the Rio Grande. As a natural boundary, the river's channel determines the technical border between the two countries. Historically, the Rio…

Border cemetery at “Landrum” off Highway 281 along the Rio Grande
Rows of plants, with Landrum Cemetery in background off U.S. Highway 281.

Balli Cemetery off Highway 281
Vegetation, with Balli cemetery off U.S. Highway 281 in the background.

Palm poles off Highway 281
Highway 281 with palm tree poles and vegetation in the background.

Grass levee (Resaca) near Donna Pump Station off Highway 281
Grass levee off U.S. Highway 281 with vegetation and pump station in background.

International Boundary and Water Commission line and illegal crossing path, near Pharr Corporate area along Rio Grande
The character of the landscape along the Rio Grande is determined by its use, even if only as a place to cross. Millions of what were then pejoratively called"wet-backs," mojados, "illegal aliens," or more appropriately undocumented workers attempt…

La Chapena
This abandoned section of the Rio Grande at La Chapena is being cleared of brush and turned into a settling basin for agricultural water.

Dry resaca at Las Ruelas
Dry rescaca (oxbow lake) with sparse vegetation.

International Ferry at Los Ebanos
Most automobile traffic crosses the Rio Grande at established bridge points at one of the fifteen sister cities. This "International Ferry" at Los Ebanos is the last hand-pulled ferry along the river. It can carry three vehicles per trip. Privately…

Fence and road at “no-man’s land” near the International Bridge at Roma-Los Saenz
Fence and dirt road surrounded by vegetation. In the background, the International Bridge at Roma-Los Saenz is visible.

Causeway at Falcon Dam
Three main cultural factors influence the flow and course of the Rio Grande. The first is the large and growing agricultural network, including diversion dams, reservoirs, and irrigation canals. The second is the development of urban water and power…

Flooded old town road at Zapata near Falcon Reservoir, previously a US main port-of-entry
An abandoned road approaches a flooded area where vegetation has started to grow.
View all 132 items