As Texas farm groups anticipate a challenging season ahead for citrus and sugar crops, a dispute between Mexico and the United States over a long-standing water treaty intensifies. The 1944 treaty, which allocates shared water resources, mandates that Mexico deliver 1.75 million acre-feet of water from the Rio Grande to the U.S. over a five-year cycle. However, with the current drought-driven water shortages being the most severe in nearly 30 years, Mexico has only fulfilled about 30% of its expected deliveries in year four, marking the lowest amount at this stage in any four- or five-year cycle since 1992.
The impact of the water shortage is significant, leading to the shutdown of the last sugar mill in Texas, exacerbating existing challenges posed by low U.S. supplies and high prices for the sweetener. U.S. Representative from Texas, Monica De La Cruz, emphasized the far-reaching consequences of the water shortage, affecting not only farmers but also employment within local communities.
While Mexico acknowledges the need to comply with its commitments, the country attributes the water shortage to climate change and emphasizes that the treaty allows for additional time to deliver water in the event of extraordinary drought. Mexico’s national water authority, Conagua, has highlighted the worsening severe drought conditions, with some residents in Mexico City protesting after enduring weeks without running water.
In response to the escalating dispute, Texas’ Congressional delegation met with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, urging the State Department to take further action to enforce the treaty. Blinken committed to engaging with Mexican officials on the issue, emphasizing the importance of resolving the water shortage.
The International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) has been working to renegotiate aspects of the treaty in an effort to enhance reliability, with commission officials from both countries meeting multiple times since 2023. The ongoing water shortage underscores the challenges faced by both countries, as agricultural water shortages have been a recurring issue in recent decades.