• RIOTS: The Mexican government was forced to stop an increase on water deliveries to the US from the Boquilla Dam in the Northern state of Chihuahua after hundreds of farmers set fire to several vehicles and confronted the Mexican National Guard in the cities of Delicias and Camargo.
• TREATY: Under the 1944 border water Treaty, Mexico is mandated to deliver 1.75 million acre-feet of water to the US from tributaries of the Rio Grande during a 5 year period. According to the International Boundary and Water Commission, Mexico has delivered 1.28 million acre-feet during the 2016-2020 period.
• REVERSE: “Given a lack of approval by agricultural users in Chihuahua to comply with the…Treaty and in the face of adverse social environment, we decided to return the flow of water from the Boquilla dam to its normal level”, Mexico’s water commission (CONAGUA) said Thursday.
• CONFRONTATION: Yesterday, farmers in Camargo (pop. 51,000) and Delicias (148,000) set ablaze at least six vehicles, blocked the highway connecting both cities and partially vandalized a highway toll booth. Farmers consider the increased water deliveries to the US as excessive.
