Texas Water Foundation Convenes Stakeholders Again to Explore Solutions for the Rio Grande

On November 5-7 in McAllen, Texas, the Texas Water Foundation will host its second in-person Binational Rio Grande/Rio Bravo River Symposium. 

Government officials, farmers, city planners, industry leaders, scientists, environmentalists, and manufacturers from across the basin will gather to discuss the future of the river and all that depends on it.  Attendees will examine the latest science predicting what will happen if current trends continue and discuss the river’s potential if its management changes. 

Through the lens of  “The River in 2050,” the symposium will include a range of discussions from the latest technology in desalination and financing tools to how reuse and restoring ecosystems can help provide a more secure water future.  Between keynotes and panel discussions, attendees will be invited to build relationships and connections through social opportunities and shared meals. 

Inspired by the success of the Colorado River Symposium and the need to advance trust and collaboration on the Rio Grande, the International and Boundary Water Commissioners of Mexico and the United States proposed the initial creation of this binational symposium in 2023. With a commitment towards remaining neutral, Texas Water Foundation is proud to have been invited to host the event and use its unique ability to convene diverse and expert stakeholders. 

“The Rio Grande has supported agriculture longer than any other river in the United States and is home to many communities,” said Sarah Schlessinger, CEO of the Texas Water Foundation.  “In Texas and Mexico, that legacy stretches back to at least 1500 B.C. Today, it is home to some of our fastest-growing cities and helps feed the world. It is important to both future generations and ourselves to have meaningful conversations about how we will steward this crucial resource that is and will continue to be the primary water source for millions.”

Registration for the symposium will open to the public in early June.