Continued Droughts Along The Border Could See Mexico Fail To Comply With a Key Water Treaty With US

For months, farmers and ranchers in South Texas have experienced a prolonged drought that has negatively impacted the region's economy. With water shortages becoming a huge problem along the U.S.-Mexico border, Texas lawmakers have recently spoken out and taken measures to help alleviate the problem.

But contrary to Sen. Ted Cruz's beliefs, who claims the drought is a result of Mexico's refusal to abide by a 20th Century binational water treatment, Mexican officials say water shortages are a result of climate change and suggest a miracle is needed in order to repay all the water owed to the U.S. by October.

Under the 1944 international water treaty, Mexico is obligated to deliver 1.75 million acre-feet (AF) of water to the U.S. over a five-year cycle. However, for months, a lack of rainfall and low reservoir levels along the southern border have caused significant delays in meeting this requirement, resulting in water shortages for residents of the Rio Grande Valley.

But according to a Mexican official familiar with the issue that talked to Border Report, it is not like Mexico does not want to comply with water payments to the U.S., it's just that they simply cannot pay up.

According to data from CONAGUA, the Mexican water commission, the Amistad and Falcon Reservoirs are currently sitting at just 13.7% and 7.2% capacity, respectively. Similarly, other reservoirs along the border such as La Boquilla Dam in Chihuahua and Las Virgenes in Southern California are sitting at 15% and 11.7% capacity, respectively.

"We want to comply with the treaty – from which both countries benefit greatly. But we are in a drought situation made worse in recent years due to factors such as climate change," the official told Border Report.

The individual added that Mexico is evaluating options to mitigate the water debt before the end of the current cycle and that authorities from both countries are cooperating to reach a solution.

But with the October deadline fast approaching, an official with the U.S. Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) said that it would be "virtually impossible" for Mexico to repay all the water owed by October.

"The end of the five-year cycle isn't until October, but of course, it would be virtually impossible for Mexico to catch up by then," the official told Border Report in an email March 26. "We have repeatedly asked Mexico to give us a specific plan on how they intend to make up this shortfall," they added.

With just seven months remaining in the current five-year period, Mexico still owes 70% of the 1.75 million acre-feet of water required under the treaty.

Although drought conditions have intensified in recent months, it is not the first time the two countries have faced a similar issue. Five years ago, Mexico ended up giving the U.S. rights to water held in border dams that normally supplied Mexican cities.

Despite the many complications, Manuel Morales, secretary of CILA (the Mexican Section of IBWC) said officials from both countries continue discussing many options to solve the issue.

"Let's remember the treaty says if there's drought conditions, Mexico has an additional five years to make up the shortfall in addition to its next five-year cycle obligations," Morales told Mexican news outlet Televisa. "There is a drought, a severe drought particularly in the Upper Rio Grande basin – the Conchos River. And that has contributed to Mexico experiencing a delay in its water deliveries," Morales added.

Originally published on Latin Times