Farmers in South Texas are facing a dilemma as they are offered 120,000 acre-feet of water from Mexico due to heavy rains causing runoff from its Marte Gomez reservoir. However, accepting this water would require them to give up the water they already own and need for next year’s planting season.
Sonny Hinojosa, a water advocate, argues that if the water is accepted, it should not come at the expense of existing water rights. He suggests that the water could be reallocated to others if enough water comes in later from rain or other sources.
The U.S. side of the Falcon and Amistad reservoirs remains low due to insufficient rainfall, making it difficult for farmers to meet their needs. Mexico has fallen behind on delivering water under a 1944 treaty, with a balance of over 1.3 million acre-feet it needs to deliver by October 2025.
Reaching an agreement on the offered water soon is crucial as it is in danger of spilling over the dam if rain comes to the region. Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller has issued an executive order authorizing farmers and irrigation districts to use water from the Rio Grande, but TCEQ says that water rights are governed by the Texas Water Code and regulations.
The IBWC continues to work with local stakeholders and Mexico to negotiate water deliveries and address the shortfall. The agency urges Mexico to provide a plan to make good on their water deliveries.
Source: Texas Tribune
