Water Treaty of 1944/1970 Analysis

El Paso, TX- Cuidad Juarez, MX

El Paso- Cuidad Juarez

Looking North From Space

Region has four water sources1. Rio Grande2. Aquifers (all binational)

1. Rio Grande: under both cities2. Hueco Bolson: under both cities3. Mesilla Bolson: In New Mexico and Chihuahua,

used by farmers, and not Cuidad Juarez

Background:

Aquifers

Population growth in both El Paso and Cuidad Juarez has caused the depletion rate of the Hueco Bolson to increase at an alarming rate◦ Caused by over pumping of the aquifer for surface

use◦ Some communication between both cities on

Hueco Bolson

Problems

El Paso and Juarez: Set limits on how much water can be pumped

El Paso: mandatory, year round water conservation

More communication between both cities

Local Solution

Treaty of 1944◦ Set environmental standards for all surface water

in the border region◦ Built two additional dams to create reservoirs for

both cities Treaty of 1970

◦ Fixed any loopholes that was in the 1944 treaty

Policy situation: Water Treaty of 1944/1970

Founded in 1889 Regulates the water supply of all rivers at

the border region: Tijuana, Colorado, and Rio Grande

Accounts to only surface water and not ground water

International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC)

Surface Water vs. Ground Water Surface Water Managed at the

Federal Level Rivers, tributaries, and

lakes only El Paso does have

lease on Rio Grande water

Ground Water Managed differently

from state to state Aquifers NM: managed by office

of state engineer TX: individual property

owners Mexico: Comisión

Nactional de Agua (CNA)

1999: Paso Del Norte Water Task Force created.◦ Made up of academics and non-governmental

individuals, identify solutions to water and environmental problems

Mathematics professor: Create a planning team to allocate water to both cities in a way that maximizes all the benefits obtained- Nash Bargaining Agreement

Alternate Solutions

Create a new treaty, and reorganize IBWC◦ Place ground water under federal protection

Reorganize IBWC into four separate committees: One each for Tijuana and Colorado Rivers

Rio Grande would have two committees◦ Northern (El Paso- Juarez to Laredo) and one Southern

(Laredo- Nuevo Laredo to Brownsville-Matamoros) Subcommittees under IBWC committees

working closely with communities and cities Must be communication from both sides of the

border to work successfully (National to Local)

My alternate Solution