IBWC Boundary Monument #1, Lake Falcon, TX - U.S. Benchmarks on Waymarking.com

International Boundary Monument #1 is located nearest Falcon Dam on its upstream (lake) side. It marks the US-MX boundary in the center of the since-submerged Rio Grande River channel.

The marker can be reached by boat, or it can be seen clearly from the US side at the public boat ramp at Lake Falcon State Park, or from the IBWC compound at the east end of Falcon Dam. If trying to see the monument from the IBWC compound, it's a good idea to stop in the IBWC office first and let them know what you are doing. Much of the compound is residential housing for local Federal employees stationed at and around Falcon.

The monument can also be seen from the top of Falcon Dam near the spillway, but be aware that it is impossible to visit the spillway without passing through the US border patrol checkpoint on the east side of the dam, meaning that in order to drive along the dam, you are considered to have left the country, even if you stop short of the actual marked border in the center of Falcon Dam.

In order to return to the United States, all US citizens must have their passports and must go through the border patrol checkpoint at the east end of the dam. US citizens who decide to cross into Mexico along the dam will find the Mexican port of entry beyond the west end of the dam.

It is unfortunate fact on the ground that American tourists at Falcon are targets for criminal organizations operating from Mexico. Falcon Lake looks tranquil and beautiful, but it is really one of the top 5 most dangerous places on the TX-MX border, behind Juarez, Nuevo Laredo, Reynosa, and Matamoros. USBorder Patrol, IBWC workers, park rangers, and locals go out of their way to tell visitors who *might* be going on the lake to avoid other fishing or speed boats (which are often used by pirates) and be very careful of staying on the right side of the markers.

Secondly: Visitors should know that this lake is an international body of water. US residents should be careful to stay on the right-hand side of the poles that are placed along the old Rio Grande riverbed to mark the exact location of the International Boundary.

For these reasons, we will accept ANY photograph of the monument personally taken by you as proof of a visit. There are multiple places along the US-side shoreline to take a photo of the monument without needing to go on the lake.

Blasterz were able to spot Lake Falcon Boundary Marker #1 from the boat ramp at Falcon Lake State Park in TX and from the IBWC compound on the eastern (US) side of the dam. Interesting note: The monument has a USGS water quality monitoring station attached to it: (visit link)

For those wishing to read or learn more about these boundary monuments, please see: IBWC Annual reports (visit link) and IBWC history (visit link)

Condition: Mark found in good condition Designation: -blank- Benchmark Agency: other (not included below) Benchmark Agency (if other): International Boundary and Water Commission/Comision Internacional de Limites Y Aguas Monumentation type: Boundary Marker County: Webb Co. TX USGS 7.5' Topographic Quadrangle Name (optional): Falcon Find type: Found by luck/skill/knowledge Monumentation type (if other): Not listed Special category (optional): Not listed Special Category (if other): Not listed Web address of this benchmark's datasheet (optional): Not listed NGS PID: Not listed Local database's URL (optional): Not listed

Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log User Rating   07/19/2015 Benchmark Blasterz visited it