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Border Fence Blamed for Ariz. Flooding

Critics say fence design ignores environment

By Ambreen Ali, Newser User

Posted Aug 25, 2008 3:51 PM CDT

(Newser) – Environmentalists say the US border-security fence is to blame for water backups in southwestern Arizona and Mexico, where steel-mesh panels meant to keep illegal immigrants out are getting clogged with flood debris, the AP reports. Critics are focusing their attacks on Homeland Defense Secretary Michael Chertoff, who waived environmental laws three times to meet the year-end deadline for the 670-mile fence.

Federal officials claim they followed environmental regulations despite the waivers, but local groups say they raised concerns a year ago based on local flash-flooding knowledge. "It doesn't take an expert hydrologist to anticipate the potential for these walls to become like dams," one critic vented. Last month, a flash flood created debris pileups along the fence and eroded patrol roads.

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Flooding at the port of entry at Lukeville, Ariz. and Sonoyta, Mexico is seen, on July 12. (AP Photo/National Park Service)

James Swanson, a Border Patrol special operations supervisor, watches border fence construction near the U.S.-Mexico border. (AP Photo/Guillermo Arias)

Environmentalists say flooding caused by a border security fence during July bears out their concerns about the environmental impacts of the government's rush to build fences. (AP Photo/Courtesy of the National Park Service)

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It doesn't take an expert hydrologist to anticipate the potential for these walls to become like dams. - Matt Clark, Defenders of Wildlife spokesman

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Border Fence Blamed for Ariz. Flooding