Resaca (channel)

Resaca is the name given to a type of oxbow lake in the southern half of Cameron County, Texas.[1] The resacas constitute former channels of the Rio Grande and are naturally cut off from the river, having no inlet or outlet.[2]

A resaca in Estero Llano Grande State Park

History

The Rio Grande's water moves from Colorado to the Gulf of Mexico. Every year during spring, melted snow would flow into the Rio Grande, bringing seasonal flood waters to the most southern tip of Texas.[3] Given the overflow of the river's main and distributary channel banks, the Rio Grande would carve new river channels, resacas. When the seasonal flooding ended and the river retreated, the newly formed oxbow lakes remained, creating resacas all throughout the Rio Grande Valley.[4] There are only 5 remaining resacas in Cameron County.

Word origins

There are two explanations for the origin of the word resaca. The first explanation holds that it is a contraction of the Spanish phrase rio seco (dry river). The second explanation is that the word stems from the Spanish word resacar (to retake). The latter is the most plausible explanation given that the primary geological function of a resaca is to divert and dissipate floodwater from the river.[5]

The word resaca is a regionalism. Elsewhere, these are referred to as oxbow lakes.

See also

References
  1. Robinson III, Charles M. "Resacas". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  2. III, ROBINSON, CHARLES M. "RESACAS". tshaonline.org. Retrieved March 22, 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. "Wetlands Management - Lower Rio Grande Valley - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service". www.fws.gov. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
  4. "Wetlands Management - Lower Rio Grande Valley - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service". www.fws.gov. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
  5. III, ROBINSON, CHARLES M. "RESACAS". tshaonline.org. Retrieved March 22, 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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