Waco, TX – Governor Greg Abbott has directed the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to accept an offer of San Juan River water from Mexico under the 1944 Water Treaty, ensuring much-needed water for communities in the Rio Grande Valley.
Mexico has offered 120,000 acre-feet of water from the San Juan River, which, though a small portion compared to the 1.75 million acre-feet Mexico is obligated to deliver to Texas every five years, will provide crucial relief for Texas farmers and cities. The state has agreed to accept the offer, contingent on TCEQ’s approval of the operational procedures.
While the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) appears to consider water from the San Juan River as part of Mexico’s five-year Treaty obligations, Texas remains firm in its stance, asserting that Mexico’s commitments can only be met with water from the six designated tributaries, as outlined in the Treaty.
The 1944 Water Treaty, which governs water sharing between the U.S. and Mexico from the Colorado and Rio Grande rivers, requires both nations to share water resources. Mexico’s deficit in fulfilling its obligations under the Treaty has reached an all-time high. If Mexico does not take corrective action, Texas projects a water deficit of 1.3 million acre-feet by October 2025.
