The Treaty relating to the utilization of waters of the Colorado and Tijuana Rivers and of the Rio Grande (also known as Treaty on Utilization of Waters of the Colorado and Tijuana Rivers and of the Rio Grande[1] or 1944 Water Treaty[2]) is a cooperative water agreement between the United States of America and Mexico defining allocation of Rio Grande water to the U.S. and Colorado River water to Mexico. The agreement was signed in 1944 as an instrument of the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC).[3] The agreement is a subject to frequent changes, delivered through the so-called "Minute Process".[4]
The agreement worked well for 50 years as a tool for peaceful resolution of transborder water management issues, but since the end of the 20th century, Mexico's deliveries to the U.S. have at times come up short.[5]