The region of El Paso, TX and Ciudad Juarez, MX has four shared water sources - the Rio Grande River and three aquifers. Population growth in both cities has caused overpumping of the Hueco Bolson aquifer. While some communication exists between the cities regarding this aquifer, both have implemented limits on pumping and El Paso has mandatory water conservation. Treaties between the US and Mexico have established the International Boundary and Water Commission to regulate surface water along the border and built dams for water storage, but groundwater management differs by state. Stakeholders have proposed reorganizing the IBWC and creating a new treaty to improve cooperation on shared water resources.

1. El Paso, TX- Cuidad Juarez, MX

2. Looking North From Space

3.  Region has four water sources
1. Rio Grande
2. Aquifers (all binational)
1. Rio Grande: under both cities
2. Hueco Bolson: under both cities
3. Mesilla Bolson: In New Mexico and Chihuahua,
used by farmers, and not Cuidad Juarez

5.  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

6.  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

7.  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

8.  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

9.  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)

10.  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

11.  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)