YOUR TEXAS AGRICULTURE MINUTE

Mexico must deliver water now

By Gary Joiner
Publisher

The water treaty between the U.S. and Mexico dates back to 1944. Under the treaty, Mexico delivers Rio Grande water to the United States while the United States delivers Colorado River water to Mexico.

The situation right now is that Mexico is not meeting its obligations.

The International Boundary and Water Commission has requested the government of Mexico take immediate action to deliver water to the U.S. And it’s a lot. Mexico must deliver more than 432,000 acre feet to the U.S. before Oct. 24 to comply with the treaty. The amount exceeds the minimum acreage volume that the treaty requires for an entire year.

Farmers and cities in South Texas rely on this water to get them through the summer. Officials say some irrigation districts will run out of water this year, and municipal water districts are having to expend large sums of money to purchase additional water.

The U.S. is meeting its obligations to delivery Colorado River water. The U.S. Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission is asking Mexico to start releasing more water now to meet the treaty requirements.

Let’s hope it happens.

The preceding commentary is brought to you by Texas Farm Bureau, the “Voice of Texas Agriculture.” Called “Your Texas Agriculture Minute,” TFB will issue thought-provoking editorials each week—via print and audio—to spark understanding of agriculture in the Lone Star State and its impact on each and every Texan.

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