Title: Institutional Assessment of the Transboundary Santa Cruz and San Pedro Aquifers on the United States-Mexico Border:
Abstract: Shared, transboundary aquifers along the U.S.-Mexico international boundary are subject to unsustainable levels of water use and water-quality degradation resulting from rapid urban growth as well as climate change and variability. The Upper Santa Cruz and Upper San Pedro alluvial aquifers, shared by the states of Arizona, U.S. and Sonora, Mexico are essential water sources for growing cities, communities, farms, and ecosystems on both sides of the border. The U.S.-Mexico Transboundary Aquifer Assessment Act, as authorized in the U.S. as Public Law 109-448, was signed in December 2006. Continuity of programmatic and funding support for transboundary aquifer assessment is essential to collaborative initiatives. Authorities in Mexico support this initiative to collaborate on scientific assessment; however, in Mexico no similar legislation has yet been passed, given that law-making follows its own process. In the U.S., a university – federal agency partnership leads aquifer assessment activities, and prioritizes aquifers on a case-by-case basis. By contrast, in Mexico, the procedure begins at the National Water Commission, which coordinates the activities of state agencies and municipal water utilities, with university researchers playing a support role. Additional institutional complexities include the varying roles of the U.S.-Mexico International Boundary and Water Commission; the U.S. Section works to facilitate coordination and the Mexican Section sets priorities and makes decisions. A specialized binational framework for coordination and data exchange has been developed and agreed upon specifically for the binational aquifer assessment. The investment made to establish this framework has resulted in the commitment to a long-term partnership, a better understanding of transboundary aquifers, and better management of shared aquifer resources.
Publication Year: 2010
Publication Date: 2010-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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Cited By Count: 5
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