US EditionTexas’ congressional delegation wants Texas-Mexico water treaty to be part of trade negotiations
Texas lawmakers urge enforcement of a 1944 treaty requiring Mexico to deliver 1.75 million acre-feet of water every five years to South Texas farmers.
- On Friday the treaty deadline arrived and Mexico failed to deliver required water, prompting Texas lawmakers to push for enforcement in the upcoming U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement talks.
- The 1944 treaty requires Mexico to deliver 1,750,000 acre-feet over five years and lets debt roll over during `extraordinary drought`, with Mexican officials citing drought affecting both sides of the Rio Grande.
- In April Mexico agreed to deliver between 324,000 and 420,000 acre-feet by the end of October, yet had provided just 281,436 as of Oct. 11, while IBWC and TCEQ faced reporting limits.
- South Texas farmers and ranchers have limited plantings and reduced sales, straining the Valley's agricultural ecosystem, while U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz, R-Edinburg, led efforts to secure $280 million in grants fearing a collapse like the last sugar mill closed in 2024.
- U.S. Sen. John Cornyn argues the treaty should be renegotiated for periodic releases, while some lawmakers propose leveraging funds in USMCA talks next year, and Mexico's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it complied with the April agreement.
12 Articles
12 Articles
Lawmaker encourages water treaty inclusion in trade agreement
By Jessica Domel Multimedia Reporter A U.S. Congresswoman from Texas is urging the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to include the 1944 Water Treaty, and provisions that ensure its enforcement, in the upcoming review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) in 2026. The water treaty outlines water delivery obligations between the U.S. and Mexico. The U.S. is to deliver water from the Colorado River for use in Mexico while Mexico is expected t…
Texas Citrus Growers Report Ongoing Water Shortages as 1944 Treaty Cycle Concludes
MISSION, Texas — October 24, 2025, marks the end of the most recent five-year cycle for water deliveries from Mexico to the United States under the 1944 Water Treaty. The conclusion of this cycle carries significant implications for agricultural producers in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV), where irrigation water remains essential to sustaining local crops. Under the terms of the Treaty, Mexico is required to deliver an average of 350,000 acre-feet …
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