The extraordinary drought provision and the future of the Rio Grande water deliveries under the 1944 US–Mexico water treaty: an exploratory policy analysis

Authors

Rosario Sanchez
Stephen P. Mumme
Gabriel Eckstein, Texas A&M University School of LawFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-2025

Journal Title

Water International

ISSN

0250-8060

DOI

10.1080/02508060.2025.2465053

Abstract

The ‘extraordinary drought’ provision contained in the legal framework governing water allocation between Mexico and the United States has been applied differently on the Colorado River, Upper Rio Grande, and Lower Rio Grande. While the provision has been interpreted to require proportional water allocation reductions during droughts for both parties on the Colorado and Upper Rio Grande, it has been applied very differently on the Lower Rio Grande where it binds Mexico to make up delivery shortfalls in subsequent cycles. Given climatic, economic, and population pressures in the Lower Rio Grande basin, application of the ‘extraordinary drought’ provision requires reconsideration.

First Page

171

Last Page

188

Num Pages

18

Volume Number

50

Issue Number

2

Publisher

International Water Resources Association

Recommended Citation

Rosario Sanchez, Stephen P. Mumme & Gabriel Eckstein, The extraordinary drought provision and the future of the Rio Grande water deliveries under the 1944 US–Mexico water treaty: an exploratory policy analysis, 50 Water Int'l 171 (2025).
Available at: https://scholarship.law.tamu.edu/facscholar/2198

File Type

PDF