MEXICO CITY — An agreement has been reached between Mexico and the United States aimed at resolving Mexico’s persistent delays in fulfilling water-sharing obligations within the Rio Bravo watershed, which is also referred to as the Rio Grande.
The deal, announced over the weekend, offers Mexico increased resources and flexibility to provide water earlier in the current five-year cycle stipulated by the 1944 water treaty between the two nations, as per the International Boundary and Water Commission.
Among the proposed solutions are enhanced coordination on water conservation, improved reuse of water, exploration of alternative water sources, and other relevant measures.
The treaty operates on a five-year cycle permitting Mexico the option to accrue a water deficit during the initial four years, as long as it compensates in the fifth. This arrangement has led to a pattern where Mexico relies on heavy rain or hurricanes to fulfill its obligations, a strategy that has generated discontent among Texas farmers who require a dependable water supply.
When weather events like hurricanes strike, while Mexico can attempt to catch up on its water debts, by that time, the agricultural demand may have shifted or diminished, exacerbating the problem. This waiting tactic has created ongoing issues for both Mexico and the United States over the years.
According to the treaty, Mexico is required to supply 350,000 acre-feet (approximately 430 million cubic meters) annually, totaling around 1.75 million acre-feet (or 2.15 billion cubic meters) over five years. To contextualize, one acre-foot of water is sufficient to cover a field with one foot of water. In return, the U.S. provides Mexico with additional water drawn from other western sources.
Currently, under the five-year cycle that commenced in 2020, Mexico has supplied roughly 425,000 acre-feet (about 525 million cubic meters), which represents only about a quarter of what is owed by the cycle’s conclusion in October 2025.
Mexico is expected to release water from tributaries feeding into the Rio Grande, a demand that has sparked frustration among Mexican agricultural workers who wish to retain that water for local use. The treaty allocates the United States one-third of the flow from six Mexican tributaries.
Tensions escalated in 2020 when Mexico’s failure to meet water payment obligations led to confrontations involving farmers and National Guard troops assigned to secure a dam. Farmers expressed their anger over delayed water transfers and attempted to seize control of the La Boquilla dam, pushing back guards stationed there.
Prior to this incident, a separate group of farmers had taken over another dam in the vicinity of Ojinaga, both situated near the Texas border, west of the Big Bend area. Additional protests during this period included vehicle burnings and the blockade of railway lines by the farmers. Ultimately, the United States permitted Mexico to transfer its rights to water stored in shared international reservoirs, providing a resolution to the conflict that satisfied both parties.