Texas Border Business
Texas Border Business
AUSTIN, Texas – The Texas Senate has advanced Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 13 (SCR13), urging the U.S. Department of State and the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) to take action to ensure Mexico fulfills its obligations under the 1944 Water Treaty. The resolution, led by Senator Adam Hinojosa, emphasizes the critical role of Rio Grande water allocations in sustaining Texas’s municipal, industrial, and agricultural sectors.
The 1944 Water Treaty and Texas’s Water Needs
The Rio Grande, which originates in Colorado and flows south through New Mexico, forms the U.S.-Mexico border starting near El Paso, Texas. Below Fort Quitman, the river’s water is apportioned between the U.S. and Mexico under the terms of the 1944 Treaty, formally titled “Utilization of Waters of the Colorado and Tijuana Rivers and the Rio Grande.”
According to Article IV of the treaty, Mexico must deliver one-third of the inflows from specified tributaries of the Rio Grande to the United States, amounting to at least 350,000 acre-feet of water per year on average over a five-year cycle. The only exception to this requirement is in cases of extraordinary drought, which does not apply to every year within a given cycle.
These water deliveries are essential for Texas, as many municipalities, industries, and agricultural businesses along the Rio Grande depend almost exclusively on these water resources. Any failure to meet treaty obligations places Texas farmers, communities, and economies at risk.
Senate Resolution Urges Immediate Action
With concerns that Mexico has not consistently met its water delivery requirements, SCR13 calls on the U.S. State Department and the IBWC to take appropriate measures to enforce the treaty and prioritize these deliveries during international negotiations.
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has already expressed concerns about Mexico’s compliance, reinforcing the need for federal intervention. The resolution urges the Texas Secretary of State to forward copies of the resolution to the U.S. Secretary of State and the IBWC to prompt immediate diplomatic action.
Bipartisan Support for SCR13
The resolution, introduced on February 7, 2025, was placed on the Senate’s intent calendar on March 12, 2025, signaling its imminent consideration. SCR13 enjoys broad bipartisan support, with co-sponsorship from a diverse group of Texas state senators, including:
• Senator Paul Bettencourt (R)
• Senator César Blanco (D)
• Senator Donna Campbell (R)
• Senator Charles Creighton (R)
• Senator Peter Flores (R)
• Senator Brent Hagenbuch (R)
• Senator Bob Hall (R)
• Senator Kelly Hancock (R)
• Senator Juan Hinojosa (D)
• Senator Joan Huffman (R)
• Senator Bryan Hughes (R)
• Senator Phil King (R)
• Senator Lois Kolkhorst (R)
• Senator Mayes Middleton (R)
• Senator Borris Miles (D)
• Senator Tan Parker (R)
• Senator Angela Paxton (R)
• Senator Charles Perry (R)
• Senator Charles Schwertner (R)
• Senator Kevin Sparks (R)
• Senator Royce West (D)
• Senator Judith Zaffirini (D)
This widespread support stresses the urgency of the water issue and the economic and environmental importance of enforcing the treaty.
What’s Next?
As the Texas Senate moves forward with SCR13, attention now turns to the federal government. If the resolution gains traction, the U.S. State Department and the IBWC could increase diplomatic pressure on Mexico to ensure that water deliveries are made in full and on time.
With the five-year cycle set to end in October 2025, Texas lawmakers are pushing for swift action to prevent further water shortages and secure the resources necessary for Texas communities.
The resolution strongly conveys that Texas will not tolerate prolonged delays or shortfalls in water deliveries, which are critical to its economy and residents.
Sources: CapitalTexas.gov, Wikidia, TCEQ.Texas.gov, Cruz.Senate.gov
