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April 6, 2001

Mexico pledges to repay water

Rio Grande Valley farmers are encouraged that Mexico has pledged to deliver nearly 200 billion gallons of water into the Rio Grande River, as partial repayment for the 1.4 million acre feet of water owed by Mexico under a 1944 treaty governing waters in the Rio Grande, Colorado and Tijuana Rivers. However, Mexican officials were not specific as to the time frame for doing so.

Winter rains did little to lift the water levels of the Falcon and Amistad reservoirs in South Texas, which are filled to only 43 percent capacity.

In order to ensure irrigation water for Valley farmers, the International Water and Boundary Commission has pressed Mexico to guarantee delivery of 605,000 acre feet of water by July 28.

The 57-year-old water treaty requires Mexico to annually release some 350,000 acre feet of water from six tributaries. Likewise, the U.S. delivers 1.5 million acre feet of water per year from the Colorado River.

Mexico has not honored their commitment since 1992, citing drought and development related to the North American Free Trade Agreement as reasons.