Growers will give farmland a rest in the Mexicali Valley

Given the severe drought conditions in the Colorado River Basin, the International Boundary and Water Commission of the United States and Mexico have agreed to possible cuts in water allocations for the Mexicali Valley, and some farmers plan to give farmland a break.

Dr. Carlos de la Parra Rentería, retired Professor and Researcher of Urban and Environmental Studies at the Colegio de la Frontera Norte, also Founding Partner, Luken Center for Water and Environmental Strategies, and President, Restore El Colorado, comments on the current situation, and how little water is flowing into the Colorado River compared to previous years.

Dr. Carlos de la Parra Rentería talks about the dependence of highly populated areas such as Mexicali and other regions of Baja California on the waters of the Colorado River and indicates what role the National Commission of Limits and Waters plays in this water crisis.

Raul Reyes, farmer of the Ejido Nayarit in the Mexicali Valley of Baja California, comments that they are in talks about the plan to rest the land, and that although they want to continue with their activity, they understand the problem they are going through, but they are analyzing the possibility of compensation for the farmers.

Meanwhile, in the neighboring Imperial Valley of California, farmers are alleviating the impact of the drought affecting the Colorado River through a series of water reservoirs, Dr. Carlos Orozco, a consultant on irrigation water use and management in arid zones on both sides of the border, talks about the water cutback plan or deficit irrigation program.

So authorities and farmers are responding with different actions to help the Colorado River system, on the one hand, with cutbacks and an eventual land fallowing that is intended for the long term to help recharge the aquifer.

This is part of our series When the Arroyo Dries Up, funded in part by The Walton Family Foundation.