MCALLEN, Texas — An update to a water agreement dating back to 1944 between the United States and Mexico could provide a much-needed boost to farmers in South Texas facing severe water shortages. The International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC), a federal agency responsible for overseeing water treaties between both countries, revealed that the long-awaited amendment has been finalized, allowing Mexico greater flexibility in meeting its water delivery commitments to the U.S. As per the terms of the treaty, Mexico is still obligated to supply more than one million acre-feet of water.

Farmers and ranchers in the region have been suffering from diminished rainfall and delays in water delivery from Mexico, leading to significant challenges in their agricultural activities. The 1944 treaty mandates that Mexico deliver 1,750,000 acre-feet of water from six specific tributaries over a five-year period, which translates to an average annual delivery of 350,000 acre-feet. Unfortunately, Mexico is at risk of failing to meet these requirements, with more than 1.3 million acre-feet still pending delivery by October 2025.

The newly signed amendment enables Mexico to fulfill its delivery commitments by utilizing water that was originally allocated to it under the treaty. Furthermore, it provides the option for Mexico to transfer stored water from the Falcon and Amistad international reservoirs to the U.S. The agreement also allows Mexico to offer water that it does not require from the San Juan and Alamo rivers, which are outside the six tributaries mentioned in the original treaty.

One aspect of the agreement that raised concerns among South Texas farmers was Mexico’s offer of 120,000 acre-feet of water. Farmers feared that accepting this offer might lead to future demands requiring them to compensate by surrendering water stored for subsequent seasons. However, the new amendment reassures farmers that Mexico can draw from its reservoirs to meet treaty obligations, which could yield sufficient water for the upcoming planting season and mitigate any potential losses.

“It’s crucial that we see water transferred from the Amistad and Falcon reservoirs,” said Sonny Hinojosa, a water advocate representing the Hidalgo County Irrigation District No. 2, which services local farmers and ranchers. “If that happens, they’ll secure a bit of water for next year.”

While U.S. officials expressed enthusiasm over the amendment, originally scheduled for signing in December 2023, Mexican authorities chose to delay until after their presidential elections in June. IBWC Commissioner Maria-Elena Giner emphasized that the last three decades of managing strained water resources in the Rio Grande basin necessitated this agreement, stating, “The status quo was not acceptable.” She noted that the new amendment equips Mexico with tools for more reliable water delivery that can be implemented immediately.

It’s worth mentioning that the provisions addressing current water delivery concerns have a five-year expiration unless extended and include long-term measures such as establishing an environmental working group to seek alternative water sources. The amendment also formalizes the Lower Rio Grande Water Quality Initiative to tackle issues related to water quality, including salinity levels.

However, Hinojosa expressed caution regarding the potential implications of allowing water transfers from the San Juan River, located downstream of the reservoirs. He worries that it may lessen Mexico’s accountability to deliver from the treaty’s designated six tributaries, which could ultimately affect water availability for the Big Bend region. Nevertheless, he remains hopeful that the agreement will deliver some quick relief. “It’s going to get us some water for now,” Hinojosa added. “Hopefully.”