Cabello: Many RGV farmers and ranchers face financial ruin

The Lower Rio Grande Valley Water District Managers’ Association (LRGVWDMA) collectively represents 24 Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) irrigation districts across Hidalgo, Willacy and Cameron Counties. 

The Association requests your support in petitioning the State of Texas and the Federal Government for financial disaster aid on behalf of the farmers, ranchers, municipalities and irrigation districts we represent in response to the ongoing LRGV water shortage.

The drought across Texas and the lack of consistent and predictable water delivery from Mexico in accordance with the 1944 Water Treaty between the United States and Mexico has left many farmers and ranchers in financial ruin. For over two years, irrigation districts were forced to ration water, limiting the farmers’ and ranchers’ ability to grow the crops and feed livestock the Rio Grande Valley is famous for. 

A recent study by the Texas A&M Center for North American Studies “estimates a potential 2024 total loss in economic output of over $993.2 million due to the absence of irrigation water for crop production in the LRGV region.” 

The lack of available irrigation water is preventing farmers from securing operating loans from financial institutions and obtaining crop insurance. 

Arturo Cabello, Jr.

The Amistad and Falcon Reservoir system have consistently maintained historic lows over the last several years. We entered 2024 with the lowest January water levels in recorded history when typically, farmers start pre-watering fields in preparation for planting in early spring. There is little hope to see any significant water level changes behind the dams until late summer, at the earliest, when Texas enters back into a tropical storm weather pattern. 

Despite efforts by the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), water deliveries by Mexico are over 742,000 acre-feet behind entering into the fourth year of the five-year cycle.

Irrigation districts are also struggling to stay operational. Districts’ revenues are contingent on the delivery of water. This has forced many districts to make difficult decisions with laying of employees and not completing water saving projects due to not being able to generate the matching funds directed by the various state and federal programs (i.e., WaterSMART, Swift, etc.). 

Most of the water delivered to LRGV municipalities is delivered through the irrigation districts. As districts draw closer and closer to what is known as “push water,” where all water deliveries are made only to the municipal water providers, many city leaders are fearful of having sufficient water to service their populations. 

As water becomes increasingly scarce, it is imperative districts make every effort to improve their water delivery systems. Providing additional funds to match existing or create new “no-match” grants provides excellent investment opportunities with long term, high-yielding dividends for both farmers/ranchers and municipal water suppliers.

Your ongoing support for the Rio Grande Valley is greatly appreciated. 

If you have any questions on the issues highlighted within this letter, or any other irrigation district related questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at (956) 831-8462 or at acabello@brownsvilleirrigation.org

Editor’s Note: The above commentary was penned by Arturo Cabello, Jr., president of the Lower Rio Grande Valley Water District Managers’ Association. It is based on a letter Cabello sent on behalf of the LRGVWDMA to the Rio Grande Valley legislative delegation in late January. The other leaders in th LRGVWDMA are vice president Dr. Antonio Uresti, and secretary Oscar O. Gonzalez, Jr.

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