MCALLEN, Texas - The McAllen Citizens League hosted a network luncheon focused on water resources on Jan. 15, 2026.
Held at the Rio Bank Event Center in McAllen, the event was titled: “The State of Water in the Rio Grande Valley – Challenges and Solutions.”
The moderator was Julian Alvarez, III, executive vice president and director of community relations at Lone Star National Bank.
The five panelists were Isaac V. Sulemana, chief of staff for Hidalgo County Judge Richard F. Cortez; Mark A. Vega, general manager of McAllen Public Utility; Brian MacManus, general manager of East Rio Hondo Water Supply Corporation; Sonny Hinojosa, retired general manager of Hidalgo County Irrigation District No. 2; and Joshua ‘Josh’ Moroles, an environmental health and water literacy advocate.
"The Rio Grande Valley faces increasing water challenges driven by drought, population growth, aging infrastructure, and ongoing operational disputes related to the 1944 U.S.–Mexico Water Treaty," said Elva M. Cerda, executive director of McAllen Citizens League.
"These pressures have contributed to historically low reservoir levels, intermittent riverbed drying, and significant impacts on agriculture and municipal water systems. Potential solutions include conservation, water reclamation, desalination, infrastructure investment, and improved regional and binational water management strategies."
Here is a video recording of the event:
