By Claudia Canfield, submitted to the Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance
The 2020 water delivery crisis began when farmers in Chihuahua, Mexico began protesting the water deliveries Mexico’s National Water Commission was making from the Río Conchos to the Rio Grande in compliance with the 1944 water treaty that governs the US and Mexico’s shared water resources. At one point, the protesters took control of a key dam in Chihuahua and stopped the water deliveries. This crisis caused a great deal of uncertainty and anxiety for South Texas farmers and ranchers who rely on Mexico’s water deliveries to the Rio Grande to supply water they use to irrigate their crops and support their livestock through the hottest months of the year. The many weeks South Texas spent at various levels of elevated drought conditions exacerbated the uncertainty and left many farmers and ranchers feeling helpless during this crisis.
If this story seems like history is repeating itself, that’s because it is. The water delivery crisis of 2000 was the first time Mexico failed to meet two consecutive water delivery cycles. In fact, this problem was so contentious it required a meeting between US President George W. Bush and Mexican President Vicente Fox for the two countries to reach a resolution. The US-Mexico International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) agreement the two presidents helped facilitate in 2001 set out the terms for Mexico to repay the water it owed the US and committed both countries to working together to identify opportunities for cooperation and water conservation in the Rio Grande Basin. The 2003 water conservation plan proposed infrastructure modernization projects that saved approximately 321,023 acre-feet of water annually, and the delivery cycles from 2000-2010 ended without deficit. This feat would not have been possible without the North American Development Bank (NADB) providing $40 million to fully fund the projects.
While we can’t undo the damage of last summer’s crisis, what can be done to stop this cycle and prevent future water crises?
Thankfully, the IBWC agreement that established how the 2020 water debt would be paid also created the Rio Grande Hydrology Work Group. This task force has until December 2023 to develop a plan for implementing water conservation projects that will improve reliability and predictability of Mexico’s water deliveries to the Rio Grande. An area with large potential water savings is irrigation infrastructure. Estimates indicate up to 90% of the water used in the Río Conchos Basin is used for irrigation, and an analysis of the Río Salado, another Rio Grande tributary, indicates it is under similar stress from irrigation. Projects to improve irrigation efficiency for farmers in Mexico include replacing outdated infrastructure, installing automatic timers, fitting pumps with sensors that detect leaks or excessive use, and introducing drip irrigation where possible. These efforts will vastly improve irrigation efficiency for Mexican farmers, and therefore ensure more water is available for Mexico’s water deliveries to the US. Greater water efficiency for Mexican farmers means more reliable water access for South Texas farmers and ranchers.
The one outstanding piece of the puzzle is NADB funding; the US Congress has not yet allocated the funds that would ensure NADB is able to fully support the water conservation projects the Rio Grande Hydrology Work Group will propose in the next two years. This is where the voices of South Texas farmers and ranchers can make a big difference.
Here are three ways you can help secure reliable access to Rio Grande water for your farm or ranch:
Action Item 1: Email and Call Congress
(If you’re not sure who your representative is, click here.)
Congressional Districts:
- District 15: Vicente Gonzalez, click here to email, call (202) 225-2531
- District 23: Tony Gonzales, click here to email, call (202) 225-4511
- District 28: Henry Cuellar, click here to email, call (202) 225-1640
- District 34: Filemon Vela, click here to email, call (202) 225-9901
Senators:
- John Cornyn, click here to email, call (202) 224-2934
- Ted Cruz, click here to email, call (202) 224-5922
Sample email:
Dear [Representative/Senator name],
My name is [name] and I live in [town or county name], Texas. I’m emailing to urge you to support legislation that ensures the North American Development Bank is able to fully fund water conservation projects proposed by the US-Mexico International Boundary and Water Commission’s Rio Grande Hydrology Work Group.
[Include several sentences here explaining how your farm or ranch operations were impacted by the water delivery crisis. Whether you lost crops or had to sell livestock because the irrigation water ran out, be as specific and detailed as possible. Personal stories from constituents can have a huge impact on how representatives vote.]In 2003, the IBWC proposed infrastructure projects to conserve water and prevent water deficits. These projects were successful because they received full funding from the North American Development Bank. I am asking you to ensure the water conservation projects are fully funded this time as well; farmers, ranchers, and the agriculture sector in your district are counting on you.
Sincerely,
[Sign with your full name and phone number]Sample phone message:
“Hello, my name is [name] and I live in [name of town or county], Texas. I’m calling to ask [Representative/Senator name] to support legislation that will ensure the North American Development Bank is able to fully fund water conservation projects proposed by the US-Mexico International Boundary and Water Commission’s Rio Grande Hydrology Work Group.
[Explain that you are a farmer/rancher, and you depend on Rio Grande water to support your crops/livestock. Personal details will stand out and the staffer you are speaking with will be more likely to remember your conversation.]Will [Representative/Senator name] publicly announce his support for this legislation?
[Make sure to thank the staffer for their time before hanging up.]Action Item 2: Attend the Lower Rio Grande Citizens Forum
The next meeting will be held July 28, 2021, 3:00 – 5:00 PM CDT via webinar. Please contact Lori Kuczmanski at lori.kuczmanski@ibwc.gov or (915) 494-6027 for more information. This will be an excellent opportunity to hear updates on the Rio Grande Hydrology Work Group, ask questions about the project development process, and give your input on the agenda items.
Action Item 3: Share this page with other South Texas farmers and ranchers!
We need as many people as possible to join together in support of the Rio Grande Hydrology Work Group; our access to the Rio Grande is on the line.