U.S.-Mexico Environmental Program: Border 2012 -- EPA

This report from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA-909-R-06-005) dated, 2011, finds that environmental degradation and the depletion of natural resources along the border can be linked to many factors, including population growth, increased industry and lack of infrastructure. Increased economic activity has resulted in increased population and infrastructure needs. Since 1996, the population of the 24 U.S. border counties has increased nearly 30 percent. In 2000, the estimated population of the entire border region was 11.8 million and projections indicate the population is expected to increase to approximately 16.8 million by 2020.