Home / Environment / US, Mexico Forge Rare Colorado River Water Pact
US, Mexico Forge Rare Colorado River Water Pact
15 Sep
Summary
- Mexico agreed to reduce its Colorado River water share by 17%.
- A new binational agreement will be in effect from 2027 to 2028.
- Cross-border collaboration is seen as a model for other US-Mexico relations.
About 40 million people in the US and Mexico rely on the Colorado River. Water officials from both nations recently finalized a new agreement for sharing its waters, a rare instance of binational collaboration. Under this deal, Mexico has agreed to accept a reduced allocation, a move experts are calling a success.
This agreement, effective from January 2027 through December 2028, mandates that Mexico take 250,000 acre-feet less water than its usual share, a reduction of approximately 17%. This adjustment is a necessary response to the severe depletion of the Colorado River, which has seldom reached the Pacific Ocean since the 1960s due to extensive water use.
This is not the first time the 1944 Water Treaty has been adjusted; a prior agreement from 2017 is set to expire at the end of 2026. The new pact is being praised for its successful negotiation through the International Boundary and Water Commission, a body dedicated to managing shared water resources.
Experts like Jennifer Pitt of the National Audubon Society noted the agreement's significance amid broader diplomatic uncertainties. Carlos de la Parra highlighted the institutional design and in-person collaboration as keys to success, suggesting the model could benefit other areas of US-Mexico relations. Environmental restoration efforts in the Colorado River Delta will continue with secured water holdings.
The pact provides Mexican water users with much-needed stability and clarity as US states continue to grapple with their own water-sharing disputes. This binational agreement offers certainty regarding water supply, enabling users to plan effectively despite ongoing challenges.
