Flood control crews evacuated on Rio Grande

PRESIDIO, Texas (AP) -- Flood control crews on the Rio Grande are being evacuated as the river nears the top of a levee protecting Presidio.

James Leiman, a spokesman for the International Water and Boundary Commission, said Tuesday the commission has evacuated its crews because there is nothing they can do. Leiman says the water is within a foot of the top of the levee.

The IWBC is responsible for maintaining border levees on the Rio Grande, which separates Mexico and the United States.

Hundreds of residents in low-lying areas of the town of about 5,000 people already have been evacuated.

Water releases from the Rio Conches and Luis Leon Reservoir a few miles up river from Presidio in the Mexican state of Chihuahua have led to most of the problems. Mexican officials have been releasing water daily to ease massive flooding on the southern side of the border.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)