The Last Frontier for The Texas Tribune

For years the Big Bend region of west Texas has drawn visitors from around the world to experience the wonders of the land and those who call it home. There is an art scene that has made it a top destination for collectors and artists alike as well as the darkest observatory in the U.S. and over 1,000,000 acres of public lands including the Big Bend National Park. Now the Trans-Pecos Pipeline, a 42-inch pipeline spanning over 140 miles used to sell natural gas into northern Mexico, is changing the landscape and adding a significant risk to the region who has only volunteer firefighters covering nearly 28,000 square miles.