Cuellar: U.S. and Mexico agree to repair Amistad Dam

DEL RIO, Texas – U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar has welcomed a decision by the United States and Mexico to sign an agreement for a project to preserve the structural safety of Amistad Dam.

Cuellar said this will be achieved through the reinforcement of the Mexican portion of the dam’s earthen embankment in areas impacted by sinkholes and seepage.

Amistad Dam is located on the Rio Grande, approximately 12 miles north of Del Rio, Texas, and Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila, Mexico. The dam began operations in 1969 and its primary purpose is water storage. It also is used for flood control, electricity generation, fishing and recreational activities, and serves as an international port of entry. It is operated and maintained jointly by both the U.S. and Mexican sections of IBWC.

Minute 332 of the International Boundary and Water Commission, United States and Mexico (IBWC), “Construction of a Composite Cutoff Wall to Reduce the Risk of Failure at Amistad International Dam,” was signed on December 10, 2024, in El Paso, Texas, and approved by the U.S. and Mexican governments, Cuellar explained.

“I am pleased to see that Mexico and the United States have come to an agreement to rehabilitate the Amistad Dam,” Cuellar said. “This critical project will ensure that water is stored securely as well as bolster an integral energy source in South Texas. Furthermore, the Amistad Dam is important for other activities including recreational and fishing opportunities. I commend (IBWC) Commissioner Maria-Elena Giner for her leadership on this project, and I appreciate the International Boundary and Water Commission and the work they do for Texas.”

Commissioner Giner said that under Minute 332, the distribution of the total cost between the two countries for the design and construction of the 1.6-mile Composite Cutoff Wall will be carried out in accordance with IBWC Minute 210, in the same proportion that was used for construction of the dam: 56.2% for the United States and 43.8% for Mexico.

Giner said the design of the project started September 17, 2024, and once finished – tentatively in March 2025 – the solicitation process for construction will begin. The estimated construction time is 30 months.

“We are collaborating with Mexico on the technical expertise and cost involved in rehabilitating Amistad Dam,” Giner said. “Experts from both countries determined the recent discovery of additional sinkholes was a cause for concern, but not alarm. We are continually monitoring the safety of this dam and will keep the surrounding area informed of the progress of this project.”

U.S. and Mexican officials signed the “Construction of a Composite Cutoff Wall to Reduce the Risk of Failure at Amistad International Dam,” agreement on December 10, in El Paso.

Mexican IBWC Commissioner Adriana Reséndez said more sinkholes and seepage have been detected on the Mexican side of the dam. She said drought conditions and historically low storage levels have made it easier to detect these issues. To date, a total of 55 sinkholes have been identified.

“For the United States and Mexico and for IBWC, it is fundamental to ensure the safety of Amistad Dam,” Reséndez said. “The design and construction of this important project is being done in a joint and coordinated manner between the two countries in order to ensure all the technical aspects inherent to it.”

Like Cuellar, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, praised IBWC.

“From providing irrigation water storage to generating electricity, the Amistad Dam is a critical resource to South Texas,” Cornyn said. “Every drop of water saved is vital to communities in the Rio Grande Valley, and I appreciate the IBWC for working to ensure areas of the dam impacted by sinkholes and seepage are restored.”

U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez has also welcomed the binational agreement.

“Amistad Dam is a crucial part of the Rio Grande’s water conservation infrastructure as it protects South Texas from the devastating impacts of flooding while also providing a supply of water for our municipalities, agriculture producers, and irrigation districts,” Gonzalez said. “I am pleased that this agreement was signed and that IBWC has begun the rehabilitation of Amistad Dam to ensure it can continue to operate and serve the Rio Grande Valley.”

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