Rio Grande Watermaster Program
About the Rio Grande Watermaster Program
In the Rio Grande basin above Lake Amistad (the Upper Rio Grande), water rights are managed using a “first in time, first in right” priority system, as they are in other parts of Texas. Water rights in the Middle and Lower Rio Grande are served by the Falcon-Amistad reservoir system. Water below Lake Amistad is allocated on an account basis, much like having a bank account with a constantly changing balance. Priority is given to all municipal accounts, which means that at the beginning of each year the storage balance for each municipal account resets to its full authorized water-right amount. The municipal priority is guaranteed by the monthly reestablishment of a municipal reserve in the system of 225,000 acre-feet, which is equivalent to one year of average diversions for all municipal demands below Amistad for Texas users.
Irrigation accounts, on the other hand, must rely on balances that are carried forward, as irrigation accounts are not reset at the beginning of the year. Each month the watermaster determines how much unallocated water assigned to the United States is contained in the Falcon-Amistad system. If surplus water is identified in a given month, it is allocated to the irrigation accounts. When water is used, it is subtracted from the respective account by type of use from the account’s usable balance. This system of accounting for water usage was put in place after an international treaty with Mexico was established, and in accordance with a 1969 District Court ruling.
Jurisdiction
| River Basin | Counties |
|---|---|
| Rio Grande | Brewster, Cameron, Dimmit, Hidalgo, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Jim Hogg, Kinney, Maverick, Presidio, Starr, Terrell, Val Verde, Webb, Willacy, Zapata |
Offers to Sell or Contract Water in the Rio Grande
In accordance with Section 49.504(b)(2)(A) of the Texas Water Code, advertisements to sell or contract for the use of water is to be posted for a period of 90 days.
