Farmers and environmentalists in both countries are sounding the alarm over drought conditions and the obligation to uphold the bilateral 1944 water-sharing agreement. This treaty mandates that Mexico deliver 430 million cubic meters of water annually from the Rio Grande to the US. While Mexico has certainly struggled to meet its water obligations, at present, it is roughly 1.5 billion cubic meters of water short to the United States.
Jaime Ramirez, a walnut farmer in Chihuahua, refuses to watch his neighbors misapply too much water. This kind of behavior makes a situation that is already dire much worse. He goes on to describe how the struggle for water is worsening in the arid valley, where agriculture is largely dependent on irrigation. “If the rain doesn’t come again this year, then next year there simply won’t be any agriculture left,” he warns. “All the available water will have to be conserved as drinking water for human beings.”
Steering the new water crisis, fueled by an unpredictable climate and exploding populations, which have both contributed to diminishing water supplies. Rafael Betance, a local expert who has monitored the La Boquilla dam for the state water authority on a voluntary basis for 35 years, argues that the postwar agreement of 1944 is outdated. He stresses that Lake Toronto, the local reservoir behind the dam, is at dangerously low levels right now. At 26.52 meters under its high-water mark, it is currently under 14% capacity.
Betance explains that La Boquilla’s water levels have been receding for the past eight years. He blames more influential farmers in the area for siphoning off water to supply their own larger, thirstier crops. “You cannot steal from the abscond which does not exist,” he adds. This observation aligns with a broader concern among many farmers who feel the impacts of inadequate irrigation supplies on their livelihoods.
In 2020, these tensions came to a head when Mexican farmers clashed with the Mexican National Guard at La Boquilla’s sluice gates. Sadly, these encounters ended in two deaths. The tensions shine a light on the desperation felt by farmers as they confront the realities of a shrinking resource against a backdrop of increasing demands.
In reaction to these difficulties, Mexico has only delivered 75 million cubic meters of water to the US through the Amistad dam this year. Yet, this amount is just a tiny percentage of its overall debt. The US continues to provide almost 1.85 billion cubic meters of water annually. This critical supply, fed by the Colorado River, is essential in supporting already-developed border cities in Mexico.
Brian Jones, a Texan farmer from the Rio Grande Valley, challenges the extent of the issue in Chihuahua. He continues to feel that it is important to live up to the 1944 compact. “Now we’re witnessing a lack of compliance from Mexico,” he says as he laments his own agricultural woes. “I would be deeply ashamed of my farm. For me, it’s that I can only plant half my land because I don’t have enough irrigation water.”
Jones adds that all he’s asking for is what’s due to them as promised under the treaty. He contends that producers in both countries are up against parallel hardships. They must come together and use their skills to craft solutions rather than fuel existing tensions. “All we’re asking for is what’s rightfully ours under the treaty, nothing extra,” he insists.
Despite differing perspectives on the situation, both Ramirez and Betance share a sense of urgency regarding the need for sustainable water management. Ramirez first adopted more precise, modern sprinkler systems for his walnut trees. This adjustment has reduced his water consumption by approximately 60% compared to the inundation techniques. He hopes similar strategies can play a role in reducing waste among the other farmers in his area.
The intricacies of this highly unusual state-to-state water-sharing arrangement have caught the eye of local stakeholders, as well as national political figures. Former President Donald Trump threatened tariffs and sanctions against Mexico unless it fulfilled its obligations under the treaty, illustrating the high stakes involved in this issue.
As the effects from climate change worsen, most of South Carolina’s small farmers can only sit and pray for rain. “When praying for rain is all you got left, praying for rain is what you do,” asserts Betance, underscoring a feeling widespread among communities who depend on agricultural productivity.