Texas lawmakers are calling on the Biden administration to take decisive action as Mexico continues to fall short of its water delivery obligations under a longstanding bilateral treaty.
With the Rio Grande Valley’s last sugar mill shutting down due to insufficient water supplies, the situation has reached a critical juncture.
Mexico Lags on Water Deliveries
Under the terms of the 1944 U.S.-Mexico Water Treaty, Mexico is required to deliver 1.75 million acre-feet of water from the Rio Grande and its tributaries to the U.S. every five years.
However, as the current cycle nears its October 2025 deadline, Mexico has delivered less than a quarter of its obligation, putting it severely behind schedule.
This shortfall is having devastating consequences for farmers and communities in South Texas who rely on the Rio Grande for irrigation.
The recent closure of the Rio Grande Valley Sugar Growers mill, which was the last sugar operation in Texas, has been directly attributed to the ongoing water supply issues with Mexico.
The mill produced over 1.5 million tons of sugarcane annually and employed 500 workers.
Lawmakers Demand Enforcement
In response to this crisis, a bipartisan group of Rio Grande Valley lawmakers is urging the State Department to leverage all diplomatic tools to enforce Mexico’s compliance with the treaty.
Because the U.S. State Department has failed to hold Mexico accountable for severe delays in delivering water as required by the 1944 Treaty, producers and employees of the mill will lose their livelihoods, said Congressman Vicente Gonzalez.
Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz and Congressman Henry Cuellar have introduced legislation mandating the Secretary of State to take action.
Despite the crucial nature of this matter, the Secretary of State has so far failed to prioritize engagement on this critical issue, said De La Cruz.
Tensions Rising
As the treaty deadline approaches, diplomatic tensions are rising between the U.S. and Mexico. In 2020, the last time Mexico fell behind on deliveries, Mexican farmers occupied a dam in Chihuahua to prevent water releases, leading to violent clashes with the National Guard.
With an even larger deficit this cycle, officials on both sides are concerned about potential conflicts.
If Mexico gives us water, the farmers in Mexico are going to feel cheated, said Texas water consultant Carlos Rubinstein.
Conversely, if Mexico fails to comply with the treaties, then guess what? Texas farmers are going to feel cheated that the treaty is not being adhered to.
Urgent Need for Cooperation
With climate change exacerbating water scarcity in the region, experts stress the need for enhanced cooperation between the U.S. and Mexico to address the crisis.
The 1944 treaty has been instrumental in managing shared water resources, but updates may be necessary to adapt to new realities.
As lawmakers await a response from the Biden administration, the stakes couldn’t be higher for communities in the Rio Grande Valley.
The heartbreaking consequences of this failure is real, and if actions are not taken, we won’t be the last,” said Sean Brashear, CEO of the now-shuttered sugar mill.
With livelihoods on the line, the pressure is on to find a resolution before time runs out.
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