Extension Education Foundation Inc

THIS PROJECT IS A DEPARTMENTAL PRIORITY PER COURTNEY KNUPP, CHIEF OF STAFF FOR THE DEPUTY UNDER SECRETARY. THE COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT ALSO DIRECTLY ALIGNS WITH USDA’S STATUTORY REQUIREMENT UNDER SECTION 2709 OF THE FOOD, CONSERVATION, AND ENERGY ACT OF 2008 TO ESTABLISH GUIDELINES TO QUANTIFY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES AND TO FACILITATE PARTICIPATION BY FARMERS, RANCHERS, AND FOREST LANDOWNERS IN EMERGING ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES MARKETS. IN 2025, THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE’S OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL MARKETS PROPOSES TO PARTNER WITH TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION SERVICE TO ASSESS THE ECONOMIC VALUE OF WATER IN THE MIDDLE AND LOWER RIO GRANDE BASIN. THE PURPOSE OF THIS COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT IS TO INFORM ONGOING WATER NEGOTIATIONS WITH MEXICO ON THE 1944 TREATY. CURRENT ANALYSES ARE LARGELY LIMITED TO THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR ON THE U.S. SIDE OF THE BORDER, AND MORE THAN 20 YEARS OUT OF DATE ON THE MEXICAN SIDE. THE EFFORT WILL FACILITATE POLICY DEVELOPMENT, INFORM POTENTIAL WATER SALES, AND FACILITATE USDA WATER-RELATED EFFORTS IN THE REGION. THE ESTIMATED COST OF WORK IS $100,000. THE MIDDLE AND LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY ARE ALMOST ENTIRELY DEPENDENT ON SURFACE WATER FROM THE RIO GRANDE RIVER TO SUPPORT THE 1.7 MILLION AMERICANS THAT LIVE IN THE REGION. DROUGHT AND A FAILURE BY MEXICO TO PROVIDE WATER UNDER THE TERMS OF THE 1944 WATER TREATY HAVE PLACED U.S. AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS AND OTHER SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY AT RISK. DELIVERABLES INCLUDE: TO DEVELOP THE DATA SETS NECESSARY TO EVALUATE THE ECONOMIC VALUE OF WATER FOR THE MIDDLE AND LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY, AND PUBLISH THE DATA; PREPARE A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE ECONOMIC VALUE OF WATER BY SECTOR FOR THE AMERICAN AND MEXICAN WATER USERS. THIS WILL BE A FOUNDATION FOR AN INTERNAL DELIBERATIVE REPORT FOR THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY (OSEC). A REPORT APPROPRIATE FOR PUBLISHING EXTERNALLY WILL ALSO BE PREPARED.