The RGV relies on the river for water

The Valley relies heavily on the Rio Grande for its water — and that could spell challenges as South Texas grows

The Rio Grande River flowing between Texas and Tamaulipas near Nuevo Progreso, with dense green brush on both banks and scattered clouds overhead, illustrating the shared water source that sustains communities in the U.S. and Mexico.

Most of South Texas’ water goes to agriculture, leaving cities, industries, and a growing population dependent on the Rio Grande — a single, increasingly stressed source shared by two nations.