IMPACT SNAPSHOT:

Rio Grande/Rio Bravo Binational River Symposiums and Working Group

It started as a request in early 2023: would Texas Water Foundation, with its reputation and position of neutrality, be willing to serve as the host for an inaugural Binational River Symposium? The requesting entity, the U.S. International Boundary and Water Commission, envisioned an event where trust could be built and accurate information could be conveyed to the decision makers and stakeholders most impacted on both sides of the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo.

This initial event exceeded expectations with a capacity crowd representing equal participation from the U.S. and Mexico, affirming the need for ongoing dialogue and trust-building around this critical river basin. Since that first symposium, at which as much was accomplished around the dinner table as it was through conference presentations, TWF has continued to grow and expand its convening capacity toward success in this region. With an every-other-year cadence in mind for a full, multi-day symposium, our team strategically continued momentum in the conversation via support for Water Caucus Town Halls in the Rio Grande Valley, a virtual “Binational Bridge Event” in November 2024, and continued small group engagement and briefings in advance of a second Rio Grande/Rio Bravo Binational River Symposium (scheduled for November 2025 and designed around “The River in 2050”). 

In a region characterized by decades of tension and scarcity, addressing long-term needs and solutions requires strategic collaboration. Whether demystifying the 1944 Treaty and Minute 331, or discussing potential best practices for irrigators or corporate partners that ensure continued and robust industry, no subject is off the table when the interactions are based in trust. We recognize that a water-secure Texas means different things to different stakeholders. Bringing these stakeholders together ensures that diverse voices are heard and all impacted parties can take ownership in solutions toward the water challenges of the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo.

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