Falcon

INTERPRETIVE GUIDE Falcon State Park is a great place to enjoy the natural world around you. Try your luck fishing, take a hike or ride a bike on one of the trails, spend the night at one of our campsites, A/C cabins or shelters, or just explore! Any way you choose to experience the park, please enjoy it safely and responsibly! • Please be safe while swimming or paddling. • Trash your trash, it can hurt the wildlife living here. • Hike on designated trails and park in designated areas. • Respect wildlife by keeping your dog on a leash. • Public consumption or display of alcohol in the park is prohibited NEARBY POINTS OF INTEREST Lake Casa Blanca International State Park 5102 Bob Bullock Loop, Laredo, TX 78041 • (956) 725-3826 WELCOME TO FALCON STATE PARK, EVERYONE IS WELCOME! THE FISHING IS ALWAYS GOOD, THE TRAILS ARE PRETTY EASY AND THE WILDLIFE WATCHING IS WAITING FOR YOU. SPEND THE NIGHT HERE TO SHAKE OFF THE STRESSES OF YOUR DAY-TO-DAY LIFE AND TAKE Roma Bluffs World Birding Center (part of the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge) 610 N. Portscheller St., Roma, TX 78584 Salineno Bird Preserve (Valley Land Fund) Salineno, TX 78584 Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park 2800 S. Bentsen Palm Drive (FM 2062), Mission, TX 78572 (956) 584-9156 Falcon State Park 146 Park Roadd 46, Falcon Heights, TX 78545 (956) 848-5327 • www.tpwd.texas.gov/falcon/ IN A SUNSET OVER THE MOUNTAINS OF MEXICO. © 2021 TPWD. PWD BR P4502-0060E (7/21) TPWD receives funds from the USFWS. TPWD prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, age, and gender, pursuant to state and federal law. To request an accommodation or obtain information in an alternative format, please contact TPWD on a Text Telephone (TTY) at (512) 389-8915 or by Relay Texas at 7-1-1 or (800) 735-2989 or by email at accessibility@tpwd.texas.gov. If you believe you have been discriminated against by TPWD, please contact TPWD, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744, or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office for Diversity and Workforce Management, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041. FALCON FALCON SSTATE TATE PPARK ARK F A L C O N S T A T E P A R K ATTRACTING PEOPLE FOR CENTURIES Before the lake you see now was created, the Rio Grande River brought several peoples to this area. Native Americans gathered food and water, Spanish missionaries strived to convert people to Christianity, and then Spanish settlers built cattle ranches and villages that lasted for centuries. Unfortunately, most of the remnants of the past were lost when the land was flooded to create the lake, and even more when the lake was low, and people looted the sites, stealing your past. In present day, known for world-class fishing, Falcon Reservoir still brings people from far and wide. They fish, boat and take a dip to cool off in the hot South Texas summers. When dedicated by U.S. and Mexican presidents, Dwight D. Eisenhower and Adolfo Ruiz Cortines in 1953, the dam formed a 28-mile lake with a surface area of 87,400 acres (354 sq km). Unfortunately, due to severe droughts and increased water usage the lake is a fraction of its original size. The bass are still biting though, so get out there and cast your line! BE KIND TO OUR HOME T Texas tortoise NATURE’S BEAUTY ABOUNDS The natural world here has changed a lot since it was a shallow bay about 50 million years ago. You can still find fossilized oysters on the shores. Away from the lake, the arid landscape teems with wildlife specialized to live here. Species like the javelina and Texas tortoise use the thick scrub as shelter and food. Birds and butterflies love this area too, making it an excellent place to work on your life lists of those species. The blooms aren’t always big and don’t last long but when they’re open, colorful birds and butterflies swarm around. A quick and easy walk on the 2.8-mile trail loop will show you just how harsh but beautiful this landscape can be. The butterfly garden and bird blind bring people from far and wide. Monarch butterfly Green kingfisher he land here has always been a place for people and wildlife to live together, but it can only continue to be with your help. With lots of visitors comes lots of impact to the natural world. As you enjoy the park, remember you’re in the home of a javelina, quail, Texas tortoise or one of many other animals that live here. Be a good guest and Leave No Trace®! Pick up trash when you see it and stay on hard surfaces like trails and roads. Leave flowers and plants where they are so the next visitor can enjoy their beauty. Desert willow Javelina