"The Rio Grande is the lifeblood of South Texas. Cities and farmers on both sides of its international border depend on its water. A 70-year-old treaty between the United States and Mexico is supposed to keep the river’s water flowing. But in the last three years, Mexico has fallen behind on its end of the deal. That has heightened tensions between the two countries and jeopardized the future of agriculture in the Rio Grande Valley."

"Most of the water that flows into the Rio Grande south of El Paso, Texas comes from reservoirs in the northern Mexican state of Chihuahua. Those reservoirs also water the fields of farmers throughout Chihuahua. "

Mónica Ortiz Uribe reports for Fronteras Desk/NPR August 28, 2013. [2]