Paws Off of Big Bend National Park

Hiking through the natural landscape at Big Bend National Park is quite spectacular, aside from the cacti, which I am not a fan of! As a Geoscience major attending a university in Texas, I took numerous field trips to this national park. While there, we spent time identifying and mapping various geologic formations, working towards developing our skills as future geologists. These field trips were not like what you remember from elementary school, where students load up on the yellow bus. We were full-on camping. Venturing into the field is sort of a rite of passage for most geology students. Roughing it out in the field is something we can all relate to, no matter what university you may have attended. Our palaeontology field trip to Big Bend National Park was the first time I ever camped overnight! I remember being so anxious about having to set up my campsite that the whole week prior, I practiced unloading and packing up my North Face hiking backpack. Not to mention, my newly purchased tent, sleeping pad, and sleeping bag combo were set up in my apartment living room for a few days as I eagerly awaited heading into the field.

For me, one of the most memorable parts of field camp occurred at the end of the workday, after the sun had set. Looking up at the night sky revealed hundreds of stars. In Houston, we are unable to observe so many stars due to light pollution from the city. The scenes during the day are quite majestic as well. From afar, it may just look like miles of desert, but some spots reveal pretty unique views. The picture below was taken near Boquillas Canyon. It showcases the Rio Grande River, which is the border between Texas and Mexico.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has revealed new plans to intensify border protection along the southern edge of Texas. This increased protection consists of detection technology such as patrol roads, waterborne barriers, cameras, lights, and other technologies. Along with this, over 100 miles of the proposed border zones will have steel barricades installed, with plans to begin construction at the end of 2026. National parks should have protections against additions such as this through strict federal mandates. However, the DHS has determined, pursuant to law, that it is necessary to waive certain laws and regulations to expedite construction of the wall. Essentially, the Department of Homeland Security is utilizing its “sole discretion” to bypass many of the environmental and preservation laws enforced by entities such as the Environmental Protection Agency, to allow this border wall construction.

The news of this proposed border wall makes me wonder how future geology students’ experience in the field will differ from mine. As geologists, we study how the Earth naturally changes due to tectonic activity or sea level changes. This is why undisturbed land in national parks is so important; it allows us to continue studying these changes. Building a steel wall in a place like Big Bend NP defeats the purpose of the national park designation. This is meant to preserve land in its natural state, not only to study and further our understanding of Earth, but for people to enjoy for many years to come! Not to mention the negative implications for the ecological life present in the area. Big Bend has been an instrumental part of my journey as a geologist, and I will always be grateful for the opportunities where I was able to spend time exploring the land. Hopefully, future generations will be able to enjoy the land just as I did once.

Rachel Carson National Environmental Leadership Fellow Tiffany Barker-Edwards

Tiffany Barker-Edwards is a first-year master’s student at Clemson University working to obtain her Master of Science in Hydrogeology. She is a member of the People and Places lab, a collaborative space for her to focus on scientific research and science education. She received her Bachelor of Science in Geosciences with a concentration in Earth System and Climate from the University of Texas at San Antonio.