McALLEN, Texas (Border Report) — A group of Harvard University students has been studying the South Texas border this week and ways to help the region’s ecosystem and the Rio Grande.

The cohort from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design has been in Laredo, Texas, examining issues regarding the border city’s water, climate changes, land-use patterns and air pollution.

The 15 students arrived on Feb. 19 and are scheduled to end their visit on Saturday as part of a semester-long project called “Creating Environmental Markets,” which has been partially sponsored by the City of Laredo and the nonprofit Rio Grande International Study Center.

Students have been studying sections of the Rio Grande — Laredo’s only water source — as well as area creeks, and wastewater plants and have met with Mexican officials from Nuevo Laredo, which shares this section of river.

“The students are learning how to deal with climate change, urban design, and restoring natural systems. We’re doing that here in reality, but also especially confronting the real problems South Texas faces, and the problems the rest of the nation faces or will face in many ways,” lead instructor Bob Zimmerman said in a statement.

“It spotlights the importance of ecological research and collaboration in our unique border and river-front community,” Laredo Mayor Victor Treviño said.

The cohort is expected to release a suggested “plan of action” in May that could help the region to collaborate on restoration projects, landscaping, secondary water options, and wastewater reclamation initiatives.

“This visit is an amazing opportunity for outside eyes to be introduced to the beauty of our community and contribute to the very real challenges we are facing: drought, climate resilience, and water security,” Laredo City Councilperson Melissa Cigarroa said.

Cigarroa is former board president of RGISC and an avowed environmentalist who has long expressed concern about protecting the Rio Grande watershed between both nations.

“Our whole community is based on relationship building and ties with one another; this group is here because Laredoans created connections, and we look forward to welcoming them back and having them help us here and share in our story,” she said.

Some of the students are expected to return in May to present their findings.

Sandra Sanchez can be reached at SSanchez@BorderReport.com.