Friends of Big Bend National Park

Funding News for September 2008:
The James A. “Buddy” Davidson Charitable Foundation has joined its colleagues in giving $10,000 to the Rio Grande Village Wetlands Restoration project.  This brings the total raised for habitat restoration to over $40,000.

Funding News for July 2008:
Tourism Cares Worldwide Grant Program has joined The Brown Foundation and the Trull Foundation as funders of the Rio Grande Village Wetlands Restoration project with a $10,000 gift.  FBBNP was one of only six organizations worldwide to be selected for the Summer 2008 grant period, and the only project selected in Texas!  To learn more about the Tourism Cares grant program, visit their website at www.tourismcares.org. 

H.R. 6177
Representative Ciro Rodriguez, whose district includes Big Bend National Park, has introduced a bill to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to modify the boundary of the Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River.  On Thursday, July 10, the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands will hear testimony on this bill.  You can read the text of the bill, which would extend the Wild and Scenic River by clicking here.

Funding News for June 2008:
The Trull Foundation has joined the Brown Foundation in awarding the Friends a grant for the Rio Grande Village Wetlands Restoration project.  This $6500 grant will go toward rehabilitating the area to it’s pre-agricultural state, providing birds with nesting habitat and a buffer zone for the federally endangered mosquitofish.  Our thanks to the Trull Foundation for their support of this project!

Funding News for March 2008:
Friends of Big Bend National Park is pleased to announce a grant of $15,000 from the Brown Foundation for habitat restoration efforts at the Rio Grande Valley wetlands area.  This project aims to restore the area to its natural habitat, providing migrating birds with a welcoming environment and a buffer zone for the nearby federally endangered mosquitofish.  In 2007, FBBNP’s Board of Directors allotted $12,000 in license plate revenue to start this project, which park personnel estimate will cost $85,000.