Water war heats up as US officials seek to block funds to Mexico over treaty fight

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

THERE IS A WATER WAR BREWING BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND MEXICO.

AT THE CENTER OF THE CONTROVERSY IS AN 80-YEAR-OLD WATER TREATY – IN WHICH MEXICO PROMISED TO SEND 1.75 MILLION ACRE-FEET OF WATER TO THE RIO GRANDE EVERY FIVE YEARS FOR MILLIONS OF ACRE-FEET OF WATER THE U-S SUPPLIES TO MEXICO ALONG OTHER PARTS OF THE U.S.-MEXICO BORDER.

ONE ACRE-FOOT IS ENOUGH WATER FOR 1 MILLION HOUSEHOLDS EACH YEAR.

THE MOST RECENT CYCLE BEGAN IN 2020 – AND TEXAS LAWMAKERS, LED BY SENATORS JOHN CORNYN AND TED CRUZ- SAY MEXICO HAS ONLY DELIVERED A FRACTION OF THAT WATER – LEADING TO WATER SHORTAGES FOR TEXAS.

THE BI-PARTISAN GROUP OF LEGISLATORS SENT A LETTER TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE APPROPRIATORS, URGING THEM TO WITHHOLD FUNDS TO MEXICO.

THE LETTER STATES: “THE 1944 WATER TREATY BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND MEXICO OBLIGATES BOTH COUNTRIES TO SHARE WATER RESOURCES FROM THE COLORADO AND RIO GRANDE RIVERS. DESPITE ONGOING DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS, MEXICO STILL FAILS TO PROVIDE MINIMUM, CONSISTENT WATER DELIVERIES TO THE UNITED STATES FROM THE RIO GRANDE, INSTEAD WAITING UNTIL THE END OF A FIVE-YEAR CYCLE TO DELIVER THE WATER OWED TO AMERICA.”

SOME REGIONS IN SOUTH TEXAS ARE EXPERIENCING EXTREME DROUGHT – AFFECTING RESIDENTS AND LOCAL AGRICULTURE.

IN FEBRUARY 2024 – THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY SUGAR GROWERS SUGAR MILL CLOSED DOWN – CITING LACK OF WATER FROM MEXICO. THE COMPANY EMPLOYED MORE THAN 500 PEOPLE – AND LAWMAKERS SAY WATER SHORTAGES COULD LEAD TO MORE OPERATIONS SHUTTING THEIR DOORS. 

TEXAS LAWMAKERS ARE NOW PROPOSING THE UNITED STATES WITHHOLD “DESIGNATED FUNDS” BE WITHHELD FROM MEXICO – UNTIL IT PROVIDES THE PROMISED WATER.

ASKED HOW WITHHOLDING THE FUNDS WOULD PROMPT THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT TO RELEASE MORE WATER AND SENATOR CORNYN  SAID “WE ARE MORE THAN HAPPY FOR THIS TO BE A NEGOTIATED OUTCOME. BUT WE’RE RUNNING OUT OF WAYS TO GET THE ATTENTION OF THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT. AND I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS ONE NECESSARY STEP WE NEED TO TAKE.”

MEANWHILE – REGIONS IN MEXICO ARE ALSO EXPERIENCING EXTREME DROUGHT CONDITIONS AS THE COUNTRY HAS ONLY RECEIVED ABOUT HALF OF ITS NORMAL RAINFALL OVER THE LAST YEAR.

AS MEXICO’S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION APPROACHES ON JUNE 2ND – MEXICAN FARMERS, GRAPPLING WITH WATER SHORTAGES, HAVE BEEN PLEADING WITH PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES TO CONSERVE AS MUCH WATER AS POSSIBLE. 

LAST WEEK, THE LETTER WAS BROUGHT UP TO MEXICO’S PRESIDENT LOPEZ OBRADOR – WHO IS ON HIS WAY OUT OF OFFICE – AND SAID “THERE IS STILL NO DATE SET FOR ANY DECISIONS TO BE MADE.”

THE TEXAS LAWMAKERS ARE AWAITING CONGRESS’ RESPONSE.

FOR SAN, I’M LT.

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