El Paso receives nearly half its annual water supply from the Rio Grande. Since then, the border police have officially confirmed that there are definitely crocodiles present in the water. Six-foot alligator presents deadly threat to migrants crossing the We are getting very close to the Gulf of Mexico. Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. We have passed the last of the levees and the nature of the river is changing. Radonic, Lucero. Carcharhinus leucas. Bull sharks are common off the coast of Texas and live in most of the subtropical and tropical oceans of the world. Unlike most sharks, bull sharks can live in fresh as well as salt water. Here in Texas, they've been found many miles upriver from the Gulf. This week's weather is raising the chance of Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023: Warm and Sunny, temps in the 90s. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. In partnership with The Meadows Center for Water and the Environments Texas Stream Team Program at Texas State University, the results will be added to a public database it helps maintain for research and monitoring water quality. A massive alligator was recently struck and killed by a vehicle on Highway 106 east of Rio Hondo. The Rio Grande was established as a wild and scenic river in 1978, giving it the Webare there sharks in puerto escondido. Inspired by the pop culture phenomenon, we've compiled the five most common you'd find in the Texas waters of the Gulf of Mexico (because we love our sharks in the Lone Star State). Carter, Nicole T., et al.U.S.-Mexican Water Sharing: Background and Recent Developments. Congressional Research Service, 2 Mar. Despite those efforts, raw sewage still joins the water flow each day. Were a way over-appropriated system. At the time, Higels access to a well had been cut off, and he feared he would run out of water in just 10 days. Because of this, the river has had just seven years with a full supply of water in the past 20, and only two in the past decade. The translucent blue-green water here is impressive. Much of the region through which this river flows is rugged, arid, and desolate. It is one of the longest rivers in North America. And theres more: 12 large-scale installations in all, plus 21 prints and seven books. Other nets were being actively worked by men using everything from traditional high-bowed skiffs to the shells of jet skis. I remember first hearing its Mexican name, El Rio Bravo del Norte, and imagining a vast and magnificent river with wild, rushing waters; something fitting for an international border. Twelve species of rodents and one western spotted skunk (Spilogale gracilis) were captured. Its a web, says Beth Bardwell, former director of conservation, Audubon New Mexico. At least seven species of fish have now disappeared from the Rio Grande in the Big Bend area, including the American eel, the sturgeon and the Rio Grande silvery Is it possible to swim across the Rio Grande? I dont know what else they can take from it.. At times, the water can move so quickly it can knock someone down and take the person with it. The most common species captured were the cactus mouse (Peromyscus eremicus; 26%), Merriams kangaroo rat (Dipodomys merriami; 20%), Nelsons pocket mouse (Chaetodipus nelsoni; 17%), and the white-ankled mouse (Peromyscus pectoralis; 17%). Less snowpack means the river is being drained dry by irrigation demands. The New York Times, The New York Times, 8 Sept. 2018, www.nytimes.com/2018/09/08/opinion/sunday/rio-grande-river-drying-up.html. Where is the best fishing in New Mexico right now? Whatever their origins, the RGV has harbored a relatively small population of alligators along the coast at least since the 1970s. It extends from the San Juan Mountains of Colorado to the Gulf of Mexico (1,901 miles) and forms a 1,255 mile segment of the border between the United States and Mexico. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Raw sewage and animal carcasses float in the water. The underside of the fish is usually white or pale yellow. The Rio Grande as it flows through Rio Rancho, New Mexico. Taylor says if an attack does happen, it's most likely a case of wrong place, wrong time. At 8,200 acres and 13 miles in length, Ute Lake is one of the longest in the state. "Its never snapped at anyone. Download the official NPS app before your next visit. Are there sharks in the Rio Grande River? Bull sharks have been known to travel up the Mississippi River as far as Alton, Illinois, about 700 miles (1100 km) from the ocean. In regards to the farmers, I can only hope to accurately represent their situation. The Rio Grande River is ranked as the 5th longest river in North America and the 20th longest in the world. Hooved mammals were uncommon throughout the study area. February 27, 2023 alexandra bonefas scott No Comments . For more information watch the video above. When is the best time to visit the Rio Grande River? The Rio Grande is an essential resource to many different stakeholders. The Rio Conchos joins the Rio Grande near Ojinaga, Chihuahua and Presidio, Texas. To resolve this, Mexico signed an agreement on October 21 of last year (2020) that resulted in the transfer of ownership of two border reservoirs to the United States (Walton). Valley View pulled out a pivotal home win over Sharyland High, 4-3 after Edinburg, Texas (Feb. 28, 2023) The Rio UTRGV beats Utah Valley 69-59, pick up third win in a row. Due to climate change, hotter and drier seasons are reducing the snowpack that melts to feed the Rio Grande, and rising temperatures are increasing evaporation from the reservoirs. Yes, there are some alligators in the Rio Grande River, and fishermen should use caution. It forms the natural border between Texas and the country of Mexico as it flows southeast to the Gulf of Mexico. There are crocodilians along virtually the entire Gulf of Mexico, barring a small no mans land near the Rio Grande delta. WebGrande River Grande River, Portuguese Rio Grande, river, south-central Brazil. to about 10 feet at its shallowest, and up to 24 feet in the deepest sections. WebRio Grande and Elephant Butte. 8 Sponsored by TruthFinder How do you find someone's online dating profiles? However, I see potential in building ethos with the regular citizens of the the Rio Grande Basin, especially those that are ignorant to the issue now, just as I was. We are also hoping the next batch of wind and rain will blow itself out by then. The river dries up, and if you go look in the irrigation ditches after that happens, youll see a lot of dead or dying fish, says Kevin Bixby, executive director of the Southwest Environmental Center. Mexican fishermen captured a 7.5-foot crocodile in the Rio Grande, the river that divides part of Mexico and the United States, authorities reported on Sunday.ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) Animal Welfare says it got a call from a couple that found a baby gator near the Rio Grande on Sunday. Its lower course marks a portion of the Minas GeraisSo Paulo border. This caused pushback from the cities of Laredo and Del Rio, as they were concerned about how the move would damage the San Felipe Springs, growing ever scarcer because of the drought (Aguilar). Kayakers head out on the Rio Grande toward one of the international bridges that connect Laredo, Texas, and the town of Nuevo Laredo in Mexico. Monitoring of this area should focus on key riparian species, specifically beaver and bats that appear to be abundant along the river. 6 Is it possible to swim across the Rio Grande? 1 most stressful city for U.S. workers, Turner: State takeover of Houston ISD could happen next week, Bun B on bringing Southern rap stars to Houston's Rodeo, 'Call me a Nazi': Former Houston pastor calls for state book ban, How the Houston Zoo moved its flock of flamingos to a new home, Astros show struggles with new MLB pitch clock rules, Houston leaders delay vote on Hobby Airport concesssions contract, West Texans share apocalyptic photos of after massive dust storm, The only Houston rodeo food guide you'll need, Texas City angler reels in massive 1,000-pound, 12-foot tiger shark in Galveston, Watch: Houston Astros' Luis Garcia debuts new windup, Houston pitmaster goes viral after hilarious on-air interview with reporter. For example, dams release carefully calculated amounts of water to irrigate the green belt of farms that stretch down it. In addition, bat vocalizations and echolocation (acoustic) data were recorded using Anabat detectors to supplement capture data. This imbalance became acute during the 19942003 drought. Many of the rivers smaller tributaries offer stream sized fish, and are abundant with aquatic life like cutthroat and rainbow trout. As the fish matures into an adult, they will begin eating larger prey. Farmers of the San Luis Valley of Colorado have become very concerned with their rapidly worsening circumstances. EAGLE PASS, TX -- A video has been found that shows a large alligator in the Rio Grande. For a long time, legal battles have raged on between governments at all levels, resulting in a complicated tangle of policy managing the river, which evidently causes as many disputes as it tries to solve. And here on the Rio Grande, weve basically begun to take out one web strand after another until its a really simplified system, and it cant sustain a whole lot any more.. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Of the several dozen shark species that call the Gulf of Mexico home, several are relatively common along the 3,359 miles of Which means in Las Cruces, when the growing season ends, nothing is left in the river bed. They have diamond-shaped scales that cover their entire body and their faces are very boney. RIO GRANDE VALLEY, Texas There are some mighty big alligators prowling the waterways and sometimes the roadways of the lower Rio Grande Valley. You never know how fast the river is really flowing, said Melissa Romero of the Albuquerque Fire Department. They can also breathe air, which not many fish can do. How much water do you need for the Rio Grande? The eggs of the fish are then left to develop alone. Video shows fisherman caught in shark feeding frenzy off the WebIf youre talking about the coastal rivers and estuaries along the Gulf of Mexico, then yes of course (for the crocodilians and sharks, at least). The alligator is about six feet long and the only known large reptile living in this part of south-central Texas, according to local agents who spoke with the Washington Examiner on the condition of anonymity because they are not allowed to speak with media. Water flows fluctuate wildly during these months. River levels of 200 cubic feet per second (cfs) or greater are enough for canoes and smaller paddle craft. Are there alligators in the Rio Grande River? A gill net suspended across the width of the Rio Grande catches garbage, dead and living fish and anything else floating in the river. This species can grow to very large sizes. Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos Its shrunk just about as much as it can, Melendrez said. The white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), which is considered primarily a species found in the eastern U.S., is continuing to expand its range westward, with a simultaneous contraction of mule deer (O. hemionus) range (primarily a species of the western U.S.). These game fish deliver the type of Mesa-Bains works are both personal and historical, specific and symbolic, intimate and flamboyant. As far as feeding goes, Smallmouth buffalo are usually opportunistic feeders, meaning they will eat almost anything. Some of the prey adult Largemouth bass consume include frogs, snails, bluegill, lizards, shad, small water birds, and even baby alligators! OREM, Utah The University of Texas Rio Aqu Entre Nos: Paramount revela nuevo avance de Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. The rugged nature of the region reduces the ability of livestock to graze the area, although goats have probably altered the vegetation in areas. The brown trout is the largest of the trouts and can grow to be rather sizable. Once summer comes around, Lopez says he starts to have more shark sightings. WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. Should Mexico not be able to meet these demands, they must compensate the United States over the next cycle, and so on (Carter, et al. Experts tell us sharks are more afraid of you then you are of them. El Paso, TX, is an example of proactive leadership, which has consistently reduced their water consumption by 35% from all of its water sources over nearly 30 years, with the Rio Grande accounting for 40% of them (Water Resources). the rivers flow has trended dangerously low in recent years, Derrick J. Lente between his farmland, on the right, and a plot that a neighbor left fallow to conserve water. Crocodiles do not normally inhabit the river, and authorities suspect it may have been brought to the area as a pet and then released into the river by its owner. By all means , fill a muddy fresh water river with saltwater fish. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. This work is critical to understanding the overall Colorado River watershed.The sharks that we will be studying have also found refuge in the warm, salty waters of the Little Colorado River (the salt is hiked in daily by mules along the Salt Trail). I believe my proximity to the issue and the depth of my research will be enough to get these people to listen to what I have to say. This article related to a river in Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil is a stub. Rio Grande. Encyclopdia Britannica, Encyclopdia Britannica, Inc., www.britannica.com/place/Rio-Grande-river-United-States-Mexico. You can tell the difference between a brown trout and a rainbow trout by the fact that brown trouts have fewer and larger black spots on their backs. Thursday, July 13, 2017. When it began to dry up regularly, due to upstream agricultural development, Congress authorized a series of projects, spanning decades, to control where and when the water runs. Now? They tend to live in fresh or brackish water but have been known to enter saltwater on occasion. As less water is available, they must learn to adapt to receiving less inches per acre of water for their crops. Kort, Will. In addition, presence of non-native species should be monitored. There are blue crabs scurrying along the bottom of the river and locals are starting to warn us less about alligators and more about sharks. They also have long snouts and many sharp teeth. Judging by the amount of trash in the nets and the film growing on them, it seems some have been set out for months. Fishermen Discover a, Fishermen Watch As 600lb Marlin Catch Gets, The Largest Great White Sharks Ever Found, The 8 Best Childrens Books About Sharks Available Today, The 10 Best Books About Sharks Reviewed and Ranked, National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation. Whatever their origins, the RGV has harbored a relatively small population of alligators along the coast at least since the 1970s. www.nytimes.com/2018/09/08/opinion/sunday/rio-grande-river-drying-up.html, www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/05/24/climate/dry-rio-grande.html, More from Environmental Issue Profiles 2021. Seniors with the Sharyland Independent School District with Wednesday, March 1, 2023: Hot and breezy, temps in the 90s, Fire weather watch to go into effect Thursday. WebThe Rio Grande River is the twenty-eighth longest river in the world. Today, over 6 million people rely on the Rio Grande for irrigation, flood control, and municipal and industrial use, though nearly 75% is used for agricultural purposes(About the Rio Grande). On August 18th 1954, teenagers, Ted Mercier, Joseph Hawryluk and Graham Scott swam across the Niagara River from the Canadian shore near Seneca Street to the American shore approximately 400 yards (the length of 4 football fields) downstream. Of the several dozen shark species that call the Gulf of Mexico home, several are relatively common along the 3,359 miles of Texas shoreline that twists its way along beaches, estuaries, inlets, and bays stretching from the Sabine River to the Rio Grande. The Rio Grande is the fifth longest river in the United States and among the top twenty in the world. The Rio Grande Watermaster Program administers water rights in the Rio Grande River Basin, from Fort Quitman to the Gulf of Mexico. Pecos River. Young Largemouth bass will typically consume small insects, shrimp, and baitfish. 7 When is the best time to visit the Rio Grande River? Female Smallmouth buffalo will broadcast their eggs across a wide variety of substrates in water that is between 4-20 feet in depth. Are there alligators in the Rio Grande River? It does not store any personal data. Is the Rio Grande Only shark that would live there are MUDD SHARKS. Call the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish at (505) 222-4700 for complete details of fishing in and around Albuquerque. But Ive been swimming in the Rio Grande, and I wasnt afraid of either of those species. Teams of biologists conducted surveys primarily through the Lower Canyons river corridor of the Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River (RIGR). RGCT occupy high-elevation headwater streams and lakes throughout southern Colorado and New Mexico. Many fish can be found all throughout the Rio Grande, especially brown trout, which swim the river in huge numbers. We saw one net that stopped near the middle of the river, the official boundary between the United States and Mexico. The most commonly observed bat was the Brazillian free-tailed bat (Tadarida brasilliensis; 51%). Yes, you can fish in the Rio Grande River. The Rio Grande used to provide water on a bell curve, with powerful floods in the spring and summer and lower and slower flows in the winter. Of the several dozen shark species that call the Gulf of Mexico home, several are relatively common along the 3,359 miles of Texas shoreline that twists its way along beaches, estuaries, inlets, and bays stretching from the Sabine River to the Rio Grande. Depending upon annual rainfall patterns, 69 to 86 percent of the water in the Rio Grande downstream from Presidio flows from the Rio Conchos, which originates in the Sierra Madre of western Chihuahua in Mexico. They tend to consume whatever is most abundant in the environment that theyre in and are considered bottom feeders. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Its hard to imagine that farmers or government officials would turn to me for information about these issues. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. What happens if you swim across the border? Tomo Miller with the Lamar Bruni Vergara Environmental Science Center told the station that these creatures should be reaching the Rio Grande from nearby rivers or were abandoned pets. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Other prominent victims of over-allocation by the government are farmers. He said word got out of the risk of crossing near the gator and some smugglers changed how and where they were running people. WebRio Grande River. Segn algunos maestros locales, la mentalidad para los Regin uno realiza concursos acadmicos para estudiantes con problemas de la vista. Colorado Governor Jared Polis shared a map saying they were tied for the lowest number of shark attacks, something many commented on asking how. U.S., Mexico Sign Rio Grande Water Agreement. New Security Beat, 10 Nov. 2020, www.newsecuritybeat.org/2020/11/u-s-mexico-sign-rio-grande-water-agreement/. WebThis work is critical to understanding the overall Colorado River watershed.The sharks that we will be studying have also found refuge in the warm, salty waters of the Little Colorado River (the salt is hiked in daily by mules along the Salt Trail). 2019, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoaUrtJq4uM&ab_channel=CBSThisMorning, Aguilar, Julin. The Rio Grande flows out of the snowcapped Rocky Mountains in Colorado from its headwaters in the San Juan Mountains, and journeys 1,900 miles to the Gulf of Mexico. In Las Cruces. You never know how fast the river is really flowing, said Melissa Romero of the Albuquerque Fire Department. I mean, its just like a massacre.. Some of the biggest brown trouts reach more than 20 pounds! According to an article posted on KGNS, alligators in the Rio Grande are rare but not all that uncommon. 5 Best Fishing Spots in New Mexico Ute Lake State Park, Logan, NM. Lets take a closer look at the brown trout as well as go over some of the other large fish that can be found here at the Rio Grande River. Ive seen the Rio Grande many times with my own eyes when traveling. For example, no house mice (Mus musculus) were captured, and a single nutria was detected at only one site. All observations of mammals and mammal sign, including visual observations, tracks, branch and tree cuttings by beavers, and gopher mounds were recorded. 12 pick, A new musical spotlights a Texas bank-robbing legend, This Houston rodeo food vendor wants you to eat his rattlesnake. Upon first laying eyes on it, I felt almost let down: the waters were rather tame, it was as wide as a large natatorium pool, and the brown-grey color gave away its contamination. The boundary follows the middle of the Rio Grande, according to the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, along the deepest channel from its mouth on the Gulf of Mexico to a point just upstream of El Paso and Ciudad Jurez. Thats the starting point, he says. Species that were most effectively monitored this way were diurnal rodents, lagomorphs (cottontail rabbits and jackrabbits), carnivores, and artiodactyls (hoofed animals like deer). Report: Houston is the No. WebWhat kind of animals are in the Rio Grande river? We can see jack-up oil rigs and sand dunes. In the past, the Rio Grande would run through Las Cruces for the irrigation season from February to October. Temperatures are cooler making for many very beautiful days on the river. 3 Are there sharks in the Rio Grande River? "What a beauty. When there are unknowns, theres discomfort. Farmers were pressured to tap into the groundwater from nearby aquifers to barely get by, but this drew heavy backlash from the states of New Mexico and Texas when they discovered that it affected the water they had access to. It serves as a natural border between three American states and between the countries of Mexico and the U.S.. For hundreds of years, the people of the Rio Grande Basin have depended on the river as a precious life source. Professional fishing guide, Hector Lopez, knows they can pop up when you least expect them to. What's going on, buddy," an agent on boat patrol said in a video he first published on Facebook. It should be green right now. Whether you stay near town or go deep into the Rocky Mountains, youre bound to catch healthy trout. Anfinsen said the gator has been around for "years," but may have been spotted hanging around Eagle Pass International Bridge 1 in May and June more than normal because the river at this part was higher than normal due to a dam being opened upstream. It is actually a small tailwater flowing out of Costilla reservoir, down through the gorgeous mountain meadows and gorges of the Valle Vidal. Brown trout can be found in the deeper water near the banks as well as beneath the roots of willows. Water Resources. El Paso Water, 2018, www.epwater.org/our_water/water_resources. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. To better negotiate water rights and other disputes concerning the use of the river and its surrounding areas, the two countries created a binational committee called the International Border & Water Commission, founded in 1889. It passes through 800-foot chasms of the Rio Grande Gorge, a wild and remote area of northern New Mexico. Some of the trout can grow to very large weights. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) New Mexico is one of only a handful of landlocked states with a reported shark attack. They also have some red mixed with the black spots and pale halos on their sides. Accessed 9 Mar. Lemon, nurse, and bull sharks have also been spotted, and lately one particular species has made their way into the Gulf. However, check to be aware of private property before fishing in an area. Spotted ocelots are rare, but small numbers of them still live in the thick brushy country and woodlands of the Rio Grande Valley. The Rio Grande ranks as the fourth longest river in the United States, the fifth longest in North America, and the The purpose of this study was to survey the mammals in selected riparian habitats along the Rio Grande from the eastern border of Big Bend NP in Brewster County, downstream through Terrell County. One local Border Patrol agent who spoke anonymously said the sector has seen an uptick in crossings further upstream near Quemado, Texas, as well as the use of flotations. The benefit was it provided access to people who wanted to share their stories and experiences with the Rio Grande. Are there Foxes in the Rio Grande Valley? 16).This prompted action from the IBWC from late 2012 through 2016 to meet regularly and further discuss ways to alleviate the problem and better manage the river (Carter, et al. The Rio Grande river makes a great place to go fishing and there are many reasons for this. At the time, hundreds of Central American migrant families were crossing near downtown Eagle Pass, right where the alligator was being seen. Prepared by the Chihuahuan Desert Network Inventory and Monitoring Program, 2013. Climate Change Impacts on Agriculture in the Rio Grande River Basin. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Freshwater Sciences, 2014, PDF File, Finley, Bruce. This could be accomplished with more direct quotations and statements from them, as well as accurate data about the regions that concern them. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Gopher traps were used at some sites to verify the species of gophers present. The minimum size for a bull shark and a spinner is 64 inches. When Border Patrol agents observe people in the water, attempting to swim around the border wall, they do not enter the water to detain them as that would be extremely dangerous for the agent and the migrant. "This here is called mesquite flats, it's a good area to target shark you can see them out here coming from the ocean into our bay," says Lopez. Lastly, I do hope that people of the Rio Grande Basin interested in the political processes of their state and municipalities will try to make this an issue for the people that they plan to elect, and similarly, I hope that a future politician will read this and think more deeply about what they could accomplish for their constituents. Judging by the number of egrets, herons, ospreys and pelicans, there must be a fair number to go around. HIDALGO, Texas -- The District 31-5A boys soccer season is heating up. The ruggedness of this area may protect the native mammals from the extent of changes often caused by anthropogenic effects. It is the largest cottonwood bosque forest in the U.S. Namely, the governments that preside over the regions that partake in the river and their constituents. A river level of 400 cfs is generally the minimum for rafts. Small Mammal Trapping Small mammal traps were set on 35 nights. An 1898 volume of the U.S. National Museum states alligators occur as far south as the Rio Grande. This area is designated as Gold Medal Water. 5 See Paul Horgan, Great River: The Rio Grande in North American History (New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1968). Not alligators. Its one of the longest rivers in North America , truly deserving of the name Rio Grande, which is Spanish for big river. The Rio Grande near La Joya, N.M., in August, 2018. "We have been catching a higher percentage of hammers and we've even seen the occasional tiger sharks caught," he says. Projections described in a Bureau of Reclamation Report to Congress suggest that temperatures throughout the basin could increase by 56 degrees, while annual precipitation will remain variable with a decrease of 2.32.5 percent by 2050. From left to right, George Hayes, Dennis Barrett and Jonathan Hayes start a 26-mile paddle on the Rio Grande. Observations Sixteen additional species of mammals were detected by direct observation, remote cameras, or sign. According to the International Boundary & Water Commission (IBWC), the entire Rio Grande/ Rio Bravo watershed covers an area approximately 924,300 square kilometers (335,000 square miles), with approximately half the watershed in the United States and the other half in Mexico.. Theres a lot of unknowns. Two brown pelicans get ready to take flight from a log on the Rio Grande. For Largemouth basses that live in large lakes or reservoirs that have deep waters, their diets will consist of mostly younger fish. And then all the complications are, you know, you can get through them, if you just hold on to the idea that its my river, too, and it ought to be different. WebFrequently Asked Questions. Largemouth basses are usually light to dark green in color. Vanishing Rio Grande Puts Pressure on San Luis Valley Farmers during Extreme Drought. The Denver Post, The Denver Post, 25 June 2018, www.denverpost.com/2018/06/22/rio-grande-drought-farmers/. Seems professor with the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Christopher Taylor says one of the reasons more sharks are being sighted is that there are more people in the water and the population in Texas is growing.