Texas Relies on 1944 Treaty Water
1944 Treaty Overview
The Mexican waters of the international Rio Grande Basin are vital to ensuring that Texas water right holders can irrigate crops, supply water to municipalities, and conduct industrial operations along the Rio Grande. Under the 1944 Treaty , Mexico has an obligation to deliver to the United States 1,750,000 acre-feet (AF) of water over a five-year cycle, at an average of 350,000 AF annually for that cycle. The United States International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC), oversees the 1944 Water Treaty for the United States and helps settle differences that arise.
The United States continues to meet their annual obligation of providing 1.5 million AF from the Colorado River. Without the required Treaty waters, Texas must decrease allocations of water from the international reservoirs (Amistad and Falcon ) to Texas water right holders. Allocations are made by TCEQ’s Rio Grande Watermaster Program.
Lack of water along the Rio Grande river negatively impacts many different stakeholders. Without the Treaty deliveries, Texas water users are forced to secure alternate sources of water, change crops, and reduce operations. As the manager of state (surface) waters, TCEQ understands the importance of Treaty waters to Texas water right holders. Find more information about the Treaty and TCEQ’s position on it below.
Treaty Deliveries
- See the volume of water Mexico delivered during the current 5-year cycle .
- Mexico has had multiple years where they have not met their Treaty requirements. See the history of Treaty deliveries .
- Current estimated ownership can be seen on a weekly basis through the IBWC’s Reservoir Storage Report .
Letters Relating to the 1944 Treaty
The Rio Grande is a shared resource between the United States and Mexico. As shown in the letters below, Texas and United States leaders recognize the importance of Mexico meeting their Treaty obligations each cycle, as well as Mexico helping preserve and manage the river properly.
Correspondence per 5-year Treaty Cycle
Cycles begin and end in October.
- January 14, 2025 - U.S. Congressional Delegation to U.S. Senator Rubio
- November 23, 2024 - TCEQ to a Water Right Holder
- October 30, 2024 - Texas Farm Bureau to Texas Governor Abbott
- September 20, 2024 - Judge Trevino to TCEQ
- May 9, 2024 - IBWC to TCEQ
- May 7, 2024 - TCEQ to Rio Grande Watermaster Advisory Committee
- April 26, 2024 - TCEQ to IBWC
- April 4, 2024 - Rio Grande Watermaster Advisory Committee to TCEQ
- April 1, 2024 - IBWC to TCEQ
- March 19, 2024 - IBWC to TCEQ
- February 13, 2024 - TCEQ to IBWC
- January 31, 2023 - TCEQ to IBWC
- August 10, 2022 - IBWC to TCEQ
- July 27, 2022 - TCEQ to IBWC
- November 3, 2020 - IBWC to Texas Governor Abbott
- September 15, 2020 - Texas Governor Abbott to Secretary of State
- June 29, 2020 - Texas Governor Abbott to IBWC
- May 8, 2020 - Texas Senator Perry to U.S. Senator Cruz
- May 8, 2020 - Texas Senator Perry to U.S. Senator Cornyn
- May 4, 2020 - TCEQ to IBWC
- March 31, 2020 - Texas Representative Larson to IBWC
- March 23, 2020 - IBWC to Mexico
- January 24, 2020 - TCEQ to IBWC
- January 9, 2020 - Texas Representative Larson to President Trump
- September 17, 2014 - Texas Delegation to President Barack Obama
- September 3, 2014 - TWDB Chairman Carlos Rubinstein to IBWC Commissioner Edward Drusina
- August 26, 2014 - TWDB and TCEQ Chairs to Texas Representative Lucio
- August 1, 2014 - Texas Representative Lucio to TWDB and TCEQ Chairs
- July 9, 2014 - IBWC Commissioner Drusina to TWDB Chairman Rubinstein
- June 17, 2014 - TWDB Chairman Rubinstein to IBWC Commissioner Drusina
- September 10, 2013 - TDA Commissioner Staples and TWDB Chairman Rubinstein to U.S. Ambassador to Mexico E. Anthony Wayne
- June 11, 2013 - U.S. State Department to Commissioner Rubinstein
- May 22, 2013 - Commissioner Rubinstein to U.S. State Department
- June 10, 2013 - TCEQ to IBWC
- April 26, 2013 - IBWC to TCEQ
- April 22, 2013 - TCEQ to IBWC
- April 18, 2013 - Lower Rio Grande Valley Water District Manager's Association to TCEQ
- April 15, 2013 - Texas Citrus Mutual to U.S. State Department
- April 11, 2013 - Congressional Delegation to President Obama
- April 9, 2013 - Texas Governor Perry to President Obama
- April 9, 2013 - Rio Grande Regional Water Authority to U.S. Representative Vela
- April 9, 2013 - Cameron County Irrigation District to U.S. Senator Cornyn
- April 9, 2013 - Delta Irrigation District to U.S. Senator Cornyn
- April 5, 2013 - IBWC to Congressional Delegation
Resources
- Learn about the economic impact of irrigation water shortages on agriculture in the Lower Rio Grande Valley.
- Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and Texas Department of Agriculture outline Mexico's Water Deficit to the United States.
- The Rio Grande Regional Water Planning Group works with state agencies and local stakeholders to develop and update a Regional Water Plan.
- Mexico’s National Water Commission (CONAGUA) administers national waters, manages and controls the country's hydrological system, and promotes social development.