Water Managers Say Mexico Water Release A "Joke"

From KRGV-TV

SOUTH TEXAS - Mexico has agreed to release a small amount of water into the Rio Grande River for U.S. consumption. U.S. officials have been calling on our neighbor to the south due to the worsening drought situation.

Officials from the U.S. side of the border agree that the water from Mexico will do little to ease worries here in the Valley.

Water coming from a reservoir on Mexico's San Rodrigo River entered the Rio Grande ear El Moral. The exact amount of water released is unknown.

Irrigation District Number 9's manager Jo Jo White calls the gesture a joke and an insult; White adds it is not even a drop in the bucket.

Delta Irrigation District Manager Troy Allen worries farmers and cities will get the wrong idea. Allen says, "My fear is with this article is that the farmers and the municipalities are going to think that our problems are solved and they're not. This really didn't solve anything. To me it just made things worse."

A spokesperson with the International Boundary and Water Commission calls the release from Mexico "small."

In a letter sent to valley congressmen yesterday the I.B.W.C. says the have made several proposals to Mexico for immediate water deliveries to the U.S.

They say the response from Mexico has been slower than expected.