Texas Governor Greg Abbott criticized Mexico for failing to meet its obligations under the 1944 Water Treaty, which requires Mexico to deliver at least 350,000 acre-feet of water annually to the Rio Grande. "Mexico must be held accountable for their continued breaches of our long-standing water agreement," he said, as preliminary data shows a shortfall of over 800,000 acre-feet by October 24, according to the Office of the Texas Governor.
The treaty violations are causing severe hardship for Texas farmers and weakening the agricultural sector in the Rio Grande Valley. Tonya Miller, Commissioner of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, said, "Economic losses from delayed water deliveries cannot be recovered," emphasizing the urgent need for treaty compliance, as reported by the Office of the Texas Governor.
Texas agriculture lost an estimated $994 million in 2023 due to treaty violations affecting water deliveries from Mexico. Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz proposed the Ensuring Predictable and Reliable Water Deliveries Act of 2025 to hold Mexico accountable and address water supply issues. Texas officials, including the International Boundary and Water Commission, and federal partners like the U.S. Department of Agriculture are working together to secure water for the affected regions, as stated by the Office of the Texas Governor.
