AUSTIN — Gov. Greg Abbott and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) today made clear their demands that Mexico immediately address their failure to meet the minimum delivery obligations to the United States under the 1944 Water Treaty.
“Mexico must be held accountable for their continued breaches of our long-standing water agreement,” Abbott said. “Because of their pattern of neglect, Texas farmers are enduring preventable hardship and an erosion of the agricultural viability of the Rio Grande Valley.”
Abbott said the economic loss from Mexico’s failure to supply more than two years’ worth of water obligations — almost 2 million acre-feet — has had a severe negative impact on Texas’ agricultural industry.
“The breach of the 1944 Water Treaty violates foundational elements of international law and diplomacy and must be corrected immediately,” Abbott said.
“Economic losses from delayed water deliveries cannot be recovered,” Tonya Miller, TCEQ Commissioner, said. “Texas communities across the lower Rio Grande Valley will continue to suffer unless Mexico starts meeting their treaty obligations.”
A Texas A&M University study estimated economic losses in the Rio Grande Valley at $994 million in 2023 alone.
The latest five-year cycle under the 1944 Water Treaty between the U.S. and Mexico closed Oct. 24, 2025, with Mexico failing to meet its minimum delivery obligations, which total 1.75 million acre-feet.
Mexico is required to deliver a minimum of 350,000 acre-feet of water annually to the Rio Grande River, averaged over fiveyear cycles. Preliminary data indicates Mexico has a remaining delivery deficit of over 800,000 acre-feet of water — equivalent to roughly two and a half years of required deliveries.
These figures remain provisional pending final accounting by the International Boundary and Water Commission.
Under the treaty, the U.S. has consistently met its delivery obligations on the Colorado River, while Mexico has significantly breached its commitments on the Rio Grande River.
Last year, record-low levels in the Falcon and Amistad reservoirs forced Texas to instead accept water from Mexico through non-designated sources. These deliveries were downstream of Falcon and Amistad reservoirs, which prevented Texas from capturing water that was not immediately needed.
Earlier this month, U.S. Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz proposed the Ensuring Predictable and Reliable Water Deliveries Act of 2025 to hold Mexico accountable for failing to provide water to South Texas in accordance with the 1944 Water Treaty. It would also limit engagement with the Government of Mexico until Mexico upholds its obligations to deliver water to the United States.
Texas officials said they will work with the International Boundary and Water Commission, U.S. Department of Agriculture and other federal partners to ensure water needs in the regions are met.
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