Water Crisis Pits US and Mexico Against Each Other Amidst Severe Drought

As Mexico grapples with its second consecutive month of severe drought conditions while facing a significant water-sharing dispute with the US, local farmers and authorities express deep concern over diminishing resources.

In the small town of San Francisco de Conchos, Chihuahua, locals find themselves pleading for divine intervention amidst one of the worst droughts in recent years. With the region experiencing its 30th consecutive month without rain, the community gathers near the desiccated shores of Lake Toronto, the vital reservoir behind the La Boquilla dam, to seek hope. Once brimming with water, Lake Toronto is now critically low, sitting at only 14% of its capacity—26.52 meters below the high-water mark, according to Rafael Betance, a local water authority monitor for the past 35 years.

"Last time it overflowed was in 2017," Betance recounts, observing the stark contrast between the lake's past and present. "There’s no sign of relief from this devastating drought."

Across the border, a long-standing agreement laid out in 1944 mandates that Mexico must deliver 430 million cubic meters of water annually from the Rio Grande to Texas. However, with ongoing water scarcity in Chihuahua, Mexico has struggled to meet its treaty obligations. Following pressure from Texas lawmakers, previous US administrations, including that of Donald Trump, have threatened to withhold water access from the Colorado River if Mexico does not comply.

Currently, a meager 75 million cubic meters have been transferred to the US, far short of the required amount, leading to rising tensions between the two regions. Texas farmer Brian Jones, facing crop losses due to irrigation shortages, claims, “We’re just asking for what’s rightfully ours under the treaty.”

Conversely, Mexican farmers argue that the treaty is outdated and that Mexico cannot fulfill its obligations while its agricultural needs remain unfulfilled. Jaime Ramirez, a walnut farmer, asserts that the local drought has rendered water sharing unrealistic. He advocates for improving irrigation practices among his neighbors, noting the traditional flooding method is wasteful. "If the rain doesn’t come, there won’t be agriculture left," he laments.

Both sides agree that the water-sharing treaty requires revision to accommodate current climate realities and population increases. While Ramirez calls for a modernized agreement, Jones firmly believes in steadfast adherence to the existing treaty.

Amid these disputes, environmental concerns grow. Low water levels not only threaten agricultural viability but also endanger local ecosystems, as rising temperatures in Lake Toronto risk harming marine life crucial to tourism. “Praying for rain is all we have left,” Betance reflects, highlighting the critical situation as both US and Mexican communities navigate an uncertain future under the cloud of climate change.