Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) have called on Mexico to address what they describe as a failure to meet water delivery obligations under the 1944 Water Treaty. The treaty requires Mexico to deliver a minimum of 350,000 acre-feet of water annually to the Rio Grande River, averaged over five-year cycles.
“Mexico must be held accountable for their continued breaches of our long-standing water agreement,” said Governor Abbott. “Because of their pattern of neglect, Texas farmers are enduring preventable hardship and an erosion of the agricultural viability of the Rio Grande Valley. The significant economic loss from Mexico’s failure to supply more than two years’ worth of water obligations—almost 2 million acre-feet—has had a severe negative impact on Texas’ agricultural industry. The breach of the 1944 Water Treaty violates foundational elements of international law and diplomacy and must be corrected immediately.”
TCEQ Commissioner Tonya Miller stated: “Economic losses from delayed water deliveries cannot be recovered. Texas communities across the lower Rio Grande Valley will continue to suffer unless Mexico starts meeting their treaty obligations.”
The most recent five-year cycle under the treaty ended on October 24, 2025, with Mexico failing to meet its minimum delivery requirement of 1.75 million acre-feet. Preliminary data shows that Mexico has a remaining deficit exceeding 800,000 acre-feet, which is about two and a half years’ worth of required deliveries. These numbers are provisional until final accounting by the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC).
The United States has met its own delivery requirements on the Colorado River under this treaty, while Mexican deliveries for the Rio Grande have fallen short.
A study by Texas A&M University estimated that economic losses in the Rio Grande Valley reached $994 million in 2023 due to these shortages.
In response to low reservoir levels last year at Falcon and Amistad reservoirs, Texas accepted water from non-designated sources in Mexico. These were delivered downstream from Falcon and Amistad reservoirs, making it impossible for Texas to store excess water not immediately needed.
Earlier this month, Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz introduced legislation titled the Ensuring Predictable and Reliable Water Deliveries Act of 2025. This bill aims to hold Mexico accountable for failing to provide agreed-upon water deliveries to South Texas according to the treaty terms. It would also restrict engagement with Mexico’s government until those obligations are fulfilled.
Texas officials plan to work with federal agencies such as the IBWC and U.S. Department of Agriculture to address regional water needs.
