Facing worsening drought conditions and a dwindling water supply, South Texas farmers have been caught in the middle of a growing water dispute between the U.S. and Mexico. The United States denied Mexico鈥檚 request for a special delivery of Colorado River water on Thursday, citing Mexico鈥檚 ongoing failure to meet its obligations under an 80-year-old water-sharing treaty between the two countries.
This marks the first time the U.S. has formally refused a non-treaty water request from Mexico, according to the Western Hemisphere Affairs division of the U.S Department of State.
鈥淢exico's continued shortfalls in its water deliveries under the 1944 water-sharing treaty are decimating American agriculture 鈥� particularly farmers in the Rio Grande valley,鈥� the federal agency said via on Thursday.
The lack of water in the Rio Grande Valley has already had serious consequences for Texas agriculture, with irrigation cutbacks threatening crops, livestock and livelihoods. The region suffered an economic impact of nearly $1 billion in 2023 due to the ongoing water shortage, according to . This eventually led to the 2024 closure of Texas鈥� , which operated in the RGV for more than 50 years.
Why Mexico isn鈥檛 delivering water
Under the , Mexico delivers the U.S. water from the Rio Grande, while the U.S. gives water to Mexico from the Colorado River. But Mexico, like Texas, is also grappling with severe drought conditions. By the end of 2024, more than half the Rio Grande and Bravo River Basin was in moderate to exceptional drought, according to data from the .
Mexican officials argue that they simply don鈥檛 have the water to spare.
鈥淭here鈥檚 been less water. That鈥檚 part of the problem,鈥� Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum .
For years now, Mexico has failed to hold up its end of the agreement. Mexico is required to deliver 1,750,000 acre-feet (AF) of water over a five-year cycle, at an average of 350,000 AF annually. By the end of 2024, Mexico had only delivered 488,634 AF of water since Oct. 2020, according to data from the . Meanwhile, the U.S. has reportedly met its required delivery quotas.
In November, the U.S. and Mexico agreed to , giving Mexico more options to meet its water deliveries. Despite this, South Texas farmers are still facing severe shortages.
Texas officials demand action
Federal and state officials recently launched to help struggling farmers in South Texas. The Texas Department of Agriculture will oversee the program, which will send direct payments to farmers in eligible counties who experienced water delivery losses in 2023 and 2024. More information on is expected in April.
Texas lawmakers like Sen. Ted Cruz and Sen. John Cornyn, both Republicans, have previously called for the federal government to take stronger action against Mexico. Last year, they pushed for due to the lack of water deliveries. Cruz says he intends to this year.
On Friday, Gov. Greg Abbott echoed this sentiment, saying he would 鈥渨ork closely with the Trump Administration to hold Mexico accountable鈥� for continuous breaches in the water agreement.
鈥淢exico鈥檚 blatant disregard of water obligations must not be allowed to continue,鈥� Abbott wrote on .
