Despite initial optimism, Tropical Storm Alberto failed to deliver enough rainfall to alleviate South Texas’s critical water shortage. Although the region anticipated up to eight inches of rain, it received only half that amount. While this spared residents from flooding, it did little to replenish the region’s vital reservoirs.
The Amistad International and Falcon International reservoirs, essential for millions along the Texas-Mexico border, remain alarmingly low. Falcon, currently hovering around 11%, saw a slight uptick from its record low of 8.8% in late May, partly due to Alberto’s precipitation. Meanwhile, Amistad sits at a record-breaking low of about 19%.
Adding to these challenges is Mexico’s failure to meet its water delivery obligations outlined in a 1944 treaty, exacerbated by its own severe drought conditions. This shortfall raises doubts about the region’s water supply stability through October 2025.
The agricultural sector, already grappling with closures such as the recent shutdown of the last sugar mill due to water scarcity, now fears for the survival of the citrus industry this summer. The recent clearing of 6,000 acres of citrus orchards underscores the severity of the situation, with many trees waiting in greenhouses due to uncertainty over water availability.
“While the recent rainfall from Alberto did provide some relief to the soil, it hasn’t solved our water problems,” noted Brian Jones, a local farmer and Texas Farm Bureau state director. “We urgently need sustained rainfall or significant storm events, like Hurricane Alex in 2010, to restore reservoir levels to normal.”
In addition to agricultural losses, municipalities reliant on irrigation districts face their own set of challenges. Push water, crucial for delivering municipal water, has become scarce and inefficient, further stretching local resources.
As South Texas navigates an uncertain future, hopes are pinned on potential hurricanes and a robust storm season to alleviate the ongoing water crisis.