Texas Border Business
Texas Border Business
DEL RIO, TEXAS – In a concerted effort to address critical water management issues in the Middle Rio Grande region, the U.S. Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission (USIBWC) held a two-day series of stakeholder meetings on February 19 and 20, 2025. The Del Rio and Laredo gatherings brought together regional leaders, hydrologists, engineers, and the public to discuss the future of the Amistad Dam, U.S.-Mexico water treaty compliance, and broader river operations.
Dr. Maria-Elena Giner, P.E., USIBWC Commissioner, welcomed in-person and virtual participants and provided an overview of key developments at the Amistad Dam. She emphasized the agency’s longstanding challenge with seepage at the structure—a problem identified as early as 1994—and celebrated recent Congressional support that will enable critical repairs.
“We want you to walk away knowing that correcting the issues at Amistad Dam, protecting this community, is really an important element of our work. It is a priority,” said Giner during her opening remarks.
Plans are underway to rehabilitate the binational dam by constructing a grout curtain and a composite cut-off wall. Civil Engineer Karla Benitez briefed stakeholders on the project’s scope, explaining that both the United States and Mexico will share the cost of repairs, which may total between $80 million and $276 million, depending on the depth and extent of the work. The grout curtain construction is scheduled to begin in July 2025, with the more complex cut-off wall project tentatively set for January 2027, pending funding availability.
Meeting attendees also had the opportunity to tour the Amistad Dam and Power Plant, including the area on the Mexican side where sinkholes were recently filled in as part of safety and maintenance efforts.
USIBWC Hydrologist Delbert Humberson presented an analysis of Rio Grande River data from 1980 to 2020, which revealed a significant reduction in water inflows to both Amistad and Falcon Dams. The findings underscored the growing strain on the water supply due to climate change, regional drought, and increasing demand. Commissioner Giner urged stakeholders to understand the long-term implications of this trend.
“You need to be aware of this situation so you can advocate for yourselves as a community with the federal government and state government on investments and diversification of water,” said Giner.
In addition to infrastructure concerns, the meetings addressed diplomatic and treaty obligations. Commissioner Giner reported that the U.S. continues pressuring Mexico to meet its water delivery commitments under the 1944 Water Treaty. Despite recent flexibility granted through Minute 331—an agreement that allows Mexico to use various tools to meet its obligations—concerns remain about Mexico’s ability to close the delivery gap before the current cycle ends in October 2025.
Mario Gomez, Acting Chief of Operation and Maintenance, provided a comprehensive update on the Safety of Dams program and outlined several ongoing and upcoming regional operational initiatives. Evelio Siller, Area Operations Manager for the Amistad Dam Field Office, also spoke to stakeholders, highlighting the accomplishments of local staff over the past year and reaffirming their dedication to maintaining the dam’s structural integrity.
The meetings concluded with a strong call for continued collaboration across borders and sectors as the region faces unprecedented water infrastructure and supply challenges. The USIBWC has made video recordings and presentation materials from the Del Rio forum available for public review.
For more information or to view the meeting materials, visit the U.S. Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission website at www.ibwc.gov.
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