McALLEN, Texas (Border Report) -- Texas and Mexican officials held a seminar Thursday to hash out the current and future State of the Rio Grande as waters in the international river continue to dwindle, threatening border communities. Texas offers Trump recently purchased ranch for ‘deportation facilities’ The half-day virtual seminar was attended by the U.S. and Mexican commissioners for the International Boundary and Water Commission -- the international agency that oversees the Rio Grande. Bobby Janecka, the Texas commissioner for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, also participated. The TCEQ administers water rights in Texas and enforces the taking of water from the Rio Grande. Change in international water treaty too late for one Texas farmer Janecka was asked whether farmers and municipalities and irrigation managers will be charged under their water rights if they take water from the Rio Grande that is sent from two river basins in Mexico that were just added to a 1944 international treaty. The treaty change -- which is called a "minute" -- was announced earlier this month and will allow Mexico to send overflow water from the San Juan and Alamo River basins, but the water flows are too far south to contribute to the two South Texas reservoirs that store U.S. water, which are located in Starr County and Del Rio. Janecka did not answer what water watchers are calling the "million-dollar question," but said they are studying these new changes and the Texas watermaster should have an answer very soon. And he said this will help to bolster water to the region. "The new minute and the concrete offer of San Juan waters are exciting opportunities of potential for new water," Janecka said. Part of the treaty also forms new working groups to study the current flows of the Rio Grande, as well as environmental concerns. “This is a real opportunity to engage with the irrigators, to engage with cities, to engage with the NGO community within this projects work groups," U.S. IBWC Commissioner Maria-Elena Giner said. "It’s really an opportunity to build on the experiences of the Colorado River and customize it to this region.” Florida State Troopers in an airboat patrol the Rio Grande in Eagle Pass, Texas, on Friday, Aug. 9, 2024. (Jordan Vonderhaar/The Texas Tribune via AP) Giner said she hopes these groups will earmark ways to better diversify water sources, as well as conserve and help replenish the river. "Looking at opportunities for diversification of water sources is really important," Giner said. "We need to stop relying on Mexico." Under the treaty, both countries are supposed to contribute certain amounts of water to the Rio Grande annually. But Mexico is currently way behind in its payments and the current five-year cycle ends in October, according to IBWC data. (IBWC Graphic) By allowing them to pay with water from two new river basins, should help, but she says it's not the only answer. She says looking to desalination efforts, implementing agricultural conservation — like drip irrigation — as well as more funding to improve water infrastructure, are all key. "Relying on runoff from rain and hurricanes is not a viable way to provide for this region," she said. Organizers announced that the next binational meeting on the Rio Grande will be held Nov. 5-7, 2025, in McAllen. Sandra Sanchez can be reached at [email protected].