- $7 million allocated for drought resiliency in Texas and New Mexico.
- Texas projects to save 5,900 acre-feet of water annually.
- New Mexico’s program supports endangered species and farmers.
August 15, 2024 — The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation announced yesterday a $7 million investment to enhance drought resiliency and water efficiency in Texas and New Mexico, part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. The announcement marks the two-year anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act, which has funneled significant resources into combating drought across the western United States.
This funding boost arrives at the heels of a legal setback in the long-standing water rights dispute in Texas v. New Mexico and Colorado. In June 2024, the United States Supreme Court rejected a proposed settlement between Texas and New Mexico, further complicating efforts to manage water in the Rio Grande Basin. The case centers around Texas’ allegations that New Mexico violated the Rio Grande Compact by over-pumping groundwater, reducing the flow of the Rio Grande. While Texas and New Mexico had reached a proposed consent decree, the United States objected, asserting that the decree would undermine its federal interests in the Compact.
).In the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas, the ongoing drought has strained water supplies, critically impacting agricultural operations. Reclamation Deputy Commissioner Roque Sanchez visited the region, including the Cameron County Irrigation District #2 and the United Irrigation District, to discuss the new investments. The funding will be used to pipe and line open irrigation canals, a move expected to save an estimated 5,900 acre-feet of water per year.
“With new resources from the Inflation Reduction Act, Reclamation is pleased to support these projects that help our partners invest in infrastructure that conserves and more efficiently moves water,” said Deputy Commissioner Sanchez. “We recognize that the Rio Grande suffers from prolonged drought impacts that we see in many basins across the West, and we will continue to work closely with our partners to enhance Western communities’ resilience to drought and the effects of climate change.”
In Texas, specific allocations include $2 million for Hidalgo County Irrigation District #2, $850,000 for United Irrigation District, and $937,238 for Cameron County Irrigation District #2. These funds will be directed towards infrastructure improvements such as canal lining, pipeline conversions, and installing flow control and metering gates.
Meanwhile, in New Mexico, the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District has been awarded $5 million for its Environmental Water Program, the first of its kind in the state. This initiative focuses on long-term water conservation and operational flexibility, benefiting both farmers and endangered species like the Rio Grande silvery minnow. The program also sets a precedent for similar leasing programs across New Mexico.
These investments are part of a broader commitment under the Inflation Reduction Act, which includes $550 million for domestic water supply projects and $4 billion for water management and conservation efforts, particularly in drought-stricken areas like the Colorado River Basin. Reclamation has allocated about $2 billion through 227 agreements and projects under this legislation.
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