Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs University of Texas at Austin, United States
Abstract Submission: The United States and Mexico share 1,250 miles (about 2,000 km) of the Rio Grande, a transboundary river in an arid and semi-arid region. Under the terms of the binational 1944 Treaty for the "Utilization of waters of the Colorado and Tijuana Rivers and of the Rio Grande," Mexico is required to deliver 431.7 million cubic meters (350,000 acre-feet) of water annually to the United States on the Rio Grande, in cycles of five years. Treaty obligations between the two countries on water deliveries have been difficult to fulfill in the past 25 years, in part due to climate change, but also due to Mexico’s unwillingness to deliver water. In addition, surface water quality, particularly elevated salinity levels, has been a major concern. This paper will look at trends in water quantity deliveries and water quality and provide recommendations.
