Resler Canyon Nature Preserve Violated by El Paso Water Utilities

Palo Verde uprooted by EPWU's "erosion control"

Resler Canyon between Mesa Street and I-10 is a nature preserve of the Frontera Land Alliance. Recently, following a complaint about erosion by Café Italia, the El Paso Water Utilities apparently violated an easement agreement with the Land Alliance and illegally dumped dirt into the canyon in an effort to stop the erosion. In fact, the effort is much like doing a year of chemo treatment for a toothache. The lose soil dumped down the side of the canyon will eventually avalanche down the hill taking out more trees as it slides. Frontera Board member, Charlie Wakeem, called it a "major encroachment".

Another Frontera board member expressed his disgust:

"The damage by EPWU I saw yesterday; growing trees, one a 20 to 30 year old paloverde, an allepo pine, and a honey mesquite uprooted and laying on their sides made me sick. All this damage done just so the EPWU maintenance crew could show that they can move dirt. We can't allow this kind of activity to continue."

Aleppo pine buried by EPWU

Recently the Board has been contemplating signs at key drains into the canyon in an effort to stop illegal dumping. Drywall, concrete slabs and other contractor's materials join furniture and trash. The destruction of an area around Drain #1 (closest to Mesa and the restaurant) has given new impetus to the board's taking action on signs.

Frontera will probably ask for remediation at EPWU's expense at an upcoming meeting.