Amistad

Amistad Amistad National Recreation Area Texas mistad—"friendship" in Spanish—lies on the United States-Mexico border. The park offers excellent water sports, fishing, birding, canoeing, and bow hunting. The reservoir was created for flood control, water •»:». storage, power generation, and recreation in 1969 with '\# the completion of Amistad Dam. Two bronze eagles at the dam's center symbolize the cooperation between . Mexico and the United States in building and managing the dam. The park extends 81 miles up the Rio Grande, 14 miles up the Pecos River, and 25 miles up Devils River. Amistad National Recreation Area (NRA) protects and interprets exceptional examples of Lower Pecos River rock art, one of the densest concentrations of Archaic rock art in North America. The Panther Cave archeological site, jointly protected by Amistad NRA and Seminole Canyon State Park and Historic Site, is seven miles from the Pecos River boat ramp and accessible only by boat. The spectacular Panther Cave pictograph panel is 100 feet long and contains figures 18 feet high. The National Park Service provides a public boat dock and steps that lead to Panther Cave. ^ Amistad Dam is operated and maintained jointly by the United States and Mexico sections of the International Boundary and Water Commission. The commission transferred ownership of the land on the United States side of Amistad Reservoir to the National Park Service in 1990, when Congress designated the area Amistad National Recreation Area. Today Amistad's mild temperatures make the area a popular winter destination, and good fishing is enjoyed year-round. Welcome to—Bienvenido a—Amistad! Amistad Reservoir has ing, and archeological 540 miles of shoreline sites are major attracin Texas. The Rio Grande tions. The international boundary follows is navigable for about a line of mid-channel 75 miles behind the buoys along the hisdam. Boating, watertoric riverbed. skiing, fishing, camp- scuba gear. Water temperatures drop to 54°F in winter and rise to 84°F in summer. People enjoy swimming from May to October. Steep limestone cliffs, some over 200 feet high, rise above the Pecos River and the upper Rio Grande arms of the reservoir. Carved by the rivers over millennia, exposed layers tell the region's geologic history. Fossilized shells reveal that this area was once covered by a shallow, inland sea. Other Animals Animals commonly seen here are w h i t e tailed deer, javelina, rock squirrel, blacktailed jackrabbit, ringtail, Texas banded gecko, and ninebanded armadillo (see illustration). Poisonous Critters Watch for western diamondback, Mexican black-tailed, and rock rattlesnakes, Trans-Pecos copperheads, Texas coral snakes, yellow jacket wasps, centipedes, scorpions, and black w i d o w and recluse spiders. Tarantulas A The park offers yearround adventure. You can explore the lake and the Pecos and Devils rivers in motorboats, sailboats, kayaks, houseboats, and Indian tribes have lived here for thousands of years, hunting, fishing, and gathering other food. Many left their stories in rock art— pictographs—that are some of the oldest in North America. Carbon-dating reveals that some pictographs in Panther Cave are 3,500 years old. Steady winds on the reservoir make sailing a joy. National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior The peninsula and coves (above) are just a portion of the reservoir's 350-mile shoreline in Mexico. To visit Mexico, drive across the dam or the bridge Getting To Know the Plants and Animals Plants Three plant communities meet at Amistad. Honey mesquite (see far right) and blackbrush of the South Texas Brush- lands converge on sotol and lechuguilla (far right) of the Chihuahuan Desert to the west. Both merge into the live oak and juniper savannah of the Edwards Plateau to the north. Topog- raphy, soil type, and rainfall determine where each community grows best, but they often mingle. Drought-tolerant plants include ceniza (far right), prickly pear cactus (middle), yucca, and ocotillo (below). Largemouth bass Crappie Channel catfish Fish Largemouth, white, and striped bass, crappie, yellow and channel catfish, and alligator gar are popular catches. Texas and/or Mexico fishing licenses are required in their respective waters. Know and obey the regulations. Tarantula are not poisonous but can inflict painful bites. Please be caref u l . Don't put your hands or feet in places you can't see. Birds Amistad has excellent habitat for resident and migratory birds. Look for great blue heron, scaled quail, turkey vulture, roadrunner, and an occasional peregrine falcon. in Del Rio, Texas. You must have your passport to return to the United States. Enjoying Amistad I I aLT^ I Lighted buoy 1 Boya iluminada I I Unpaved road — I Camino de tierra W<t Ranger station ' J - ' Puesto de guardaparque • * • Marina * - • Marina IB] Drinking water • - • Agua potable (5H Boat ramp •—» Rampa para barcos prrfj Campground • - J Campamento ^ 3 Picnic area • • • Area de picnic OTI • J l Group campground I-J Campamento para grupos F5H Self-guiding trail *4ffl Vereda interpretativa Scuba diving • • * Area de buceo W% Swimming area * • • (unsupervised) Area para nadar (sin vigilancia) Q Fishing dock ^ = Plataforma para Pescadores Do n o t use this map f o r n a v i g a t i o n . No use este mapa para la navegacion. Channel Buoys ( t r a v e l i n g upstream) Las boyas de canal (viajas por aguas arriba) a Port (left) buoy Boya de babor (izquierda) a" Mid-channel buoys (white light) Centro de canal (iluminada en bianco) A Starboard (right) buoy Boya de estribor (derecho) Regulatory Markers/Sehales reglamentarias ^r^ Area controlled - « ^ "as indicated" Danger Peligro Storm Warning Flags Sehales de t o r m e n t a Small craft advisory ^s*- Gale warning ( I Zona controlada ^ ^ "segun se indica" Diver's Flag Bandera de buzo L7/B Diver in water ^ » - Aviso de borrasca \ ^ ^ Buzo en el agua ' O r Aviso para embarcaciones pequehas 4qp Boats keep out ~ Barcos no se acerquen Planning Your Visit Getting Here Amistad National Recreation Area is west of San Antonio, Texas. Reach it via U.S. 90 or U.S. 277. Diablo East Detail Map Fees Boating, camping, and hunting fees apply. Other fees may apply. National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands passes are honored. There is no entrance fee to the park. Camping Campgrounds w i t h shelters, tables, and grills are available (no hookups). Only Governors Landing has drinking water. Camp in designated sites only. Visitor Information CenCamping by boat is alter Here you will f i n d lowed except at desigi n f o r m a t i o n , exhibits, Accommodations Food, nated harbors and at films, and a bookstore. lodging, gas stations, boat ramps, developed It is open daily, 8 am t o and RV parks are in Del areas, hunt areas during 5 pm, year-round. Rio and along U.S. 90. hunting season, and on private p r o p e r t y next The National Park Service Traveling to Mexico If t o t h e lake. Commercial oversees facilities, inter- you travel t o Mexico pretive programs, and you must have a passport campgrounds w i t h full facilities are nearby. protection of cultural and t o return t o the United natural resources on the States. Carrying firearms U.S. side of the reservoir. or ammunition into Mexi- Swimming There are no co is prohibited. designated swim beach- es in the park. You may swim anywhere except at designated harbors and at boat ramps. Governors Landing picnic area is a popular swimming spot. There are no lifeguards; swim at your o w n risk. Fishing A Texas fishing license is required when fishing in U.S. waters; state regulations apply. A Mexican fishing license is required by everyone in t h e boat if there is fishing gear on board w h e n you are on t h e reservoir's Mexican side. apply. Hunting w i t h shotgun and birdshot only is allowed in hunt areas for dove, w a t e r f o w l , and quail in season. Private Property Amistad National Recreation Area's boundary is at the 1,144-foot elevation. A Waterskiing Waterskiing high-water mark is visible is allowed from sunrise to Hunting Archery-only at about the 1,124-foot sunset only. Along w i t h level. Please respect the hunting for white-tailed the boat operator, a com- deer, javelina, turkey, and rights of private property petent observer must be mouflon sheep is allowed owners next to the lake. aboard. Waterskiing is in five designated areas. not allowed at designat- A National Park Service Cultural Resources All ed harbors and at boat (NPS) hunting permit and archeological features, ramps. Texas hunting license are rock art, and artifacts are required; all regulations protected by federal and state laws; laws are strictly enforced. The park has 12 public boat ramps. The most popular are Diablo East, Black Brush Point, Rough Canyon, Box Canyon, and Pecos River. Launch boats at designated ramps only. An NPS lakeuse permit is required for all motorboats and for sailboats longer than 14 feet. Buy them at Diablo East, Rough Canyon, and Pecos River, or at the visitor information center. More Information Amistad National Recreation Area 4121 Veterans Boulevard Del Rio, TX 78840 830-775-7491 www.nps.gov/amis Amistad National Recreation Area is one of over 390 parks in the National Park System. To learn about national parks and National Park Service programs in America's communities, visitwww.nps.gov. Boating iiGPO:2009—349-224/80236 Reprint 2009 Phnted on recycled paper. Boating Safety Pay attention to the weather. Use a weather radio and monitor the sky. Strong winds w i t h gusts 60 to 80 mph can suddenly arise. Get t o shore quickly. If you get caught, move to a protected cove and w a i t f o r t h e storm to subside. Always carry emergency equipment, including warm clothing, f o o d , water, a flashlight, and enough fuel. If you capsize, stay w i t h the boat—it is easier to find you. More Safety Tips Real dangers exist here. Know and obey boating rules and regulations. Remember, your safety is your responsibility. J • It is illegal to operate \( vessels recklessly, n e g l i - \ ; gently, or under the influence of intoxicants or narcotics. • Vessels must maintain flat wakes in designated harbors. Operators are responsible for damage caused by their boat wake. • Vessels must stay 100 feet f r o m swimmers, d o w n waterskiers, and divers' flags.