International Water Problem on the Rio Grande

by George R. Baumli, State Water Contractors, Inc, United States,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Legal, Institutional, Financial and Environmental Aspects of Water Issues

Abstract:

Under a 1906 Convention between the Governments of the United States and Mexico, and under the jurisdiction of the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) Mexico receives annually up to 60,000 acre-feet of Rio Grande water in the El Paso, Texas/Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua area. Mexico's old canal no longer has capacity to carry the full allotment and they are seeking U.S. approval of a new diversion point. During drought conditions in 1988, Mexican farmers, suffering from lack of water, illegally cut thru a Rio Grande levee near Mexico's proposed diversion point in an attempt to divert water from the river. Mexico's new diversion would have involved commingling of U.S. and Mexican waters in the bed of the Rio Grande, which was objected to by the El Paso County Water Improvement District because they were concerned that Mexico would be diverting part of the District's water.

Subject Headings: Water shortage | Water supply systems | Spillways | Water resources | Water supply | International waters | Developing countries | Rio Grande | Mexico

Services: Buy this book/Buy this article

 

Return to search