MCALLEN, Texas - Want to learn more about push water, the history of irrigation districts in the Rio Grande Valley, the 1944 U.S.-Mexico Water Treaty, the condition of Amistad and Falcon dams, and the sudden proliferation of car washes?
You could do a lot worse than talk to former McAllen McAllen Mayor Jim Darling, a noted expert on water issues in South Texas.
Darling has been a member of the Region M Planning Group, under the auspices of the Texas Water Development Board, since 2002. He is also the longtime president of the Rio Grande Regional Water Authority. And, as an attorney, he has represented municipalities on water issues.
Because water is such a hot topic right now, Rio Grande Guardian anchor Mark Hanna sat down for an in-depth conversation with Darling. During the conversation, Darling spoke about his proposal for a water bank. He explained why some water districts are currently worse off than some Valley cities. And he talked about Brownsville’s Weir Dam project.
Darling said there is no need for any more studies about water. “We’ve had enough studies,” he told Hanna.
Darling believes now is the time to take action. “We are not in good shape,” he said.
Here is a video recording of the conversation:
