Approximately 50% of the Rio Grande Valley's agriculture relies on irrigation, utilizing water diverted from the Rio Grande. However, due to treaties with Mexico not being fully honored, the region faces significant water shortages, putting its agriculture at risk. Luis Ribera, a professor at Texas A&M University, highlights the severe drought and Mexico's failure to deliver the agreed 350,000 acre-feet of water per year, resulting in a debt of nearly 700,000 acre-feet. This scarcity threatens the production of high-value crops like citrus, vegetables, and sugar cane, and could halve the yields of cotton, corn, and sorghum, potentially chopping the region's agricultural opportunity.
With irrigation districts already informing producers of the lack of water for agriculture, the economic fallout could be substantial. The direct economic impact is estimated at around $496 million, with an additional $498 million in indirect impacts, totaling nearly $994 million. This crisis could also jeopardize about 8,400 full-time jobs.
While domestic and business water supplies are generally prioritized, the reliance on agricultural water for distribution raises concerns about water availability for all uses. The changing climate and evolving agricultural demands since the treaty's inception in the 1940s suggest a critical need for renegotiation to address the contemporary water challenges faced by the Rio Grande Valley.