¨GIVE AND TAKE¨ MITIGATION OF POTENTIAL CONFLICT FOR TRANSBOUNDARY AQUIFERS SHARED BETWEEN TEXAS, (US) AND CHIHUAHUA, COAHUILA, NUEVO LEON AND TAMAULIPAS (MEX): FAR FROM RHETORIC, CLOSER TO REALITY

At glance, the Government of Texas and governments of northern Mexico (Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, and Tamaulipas) intend to deter potential conflict using political more than social tools. The 109^th United States Congress 2005 the S. 214 ACT authorizes the Secretary of Interior to cooperate with the States and other appropriate entities for priority transboundary aquifers. In addition, Mexico has a National Water Act since 1992 mentioning groundwater protection and right now the North Border Committee Affairs intends to elaborate a specific Groundwater Transboundary Act improving the importance and authority of the International Commission of borders between México and US. As a consequence, UNESCO/OEA ISARM Transboundary Aquifers of Americas Program has been elaborating a legal framework attempting to deal with the conflict. However, laws are inadequate to solve transnational conflicts where technical and social agreements may have potential for solutions.

According to scientific properties around stratigraphy, hydrogeological, and tectonics, these transboundary shared aquifers show possibilities to contain marvelous characteristics for groundwater supply that can significantly benefit them. Currently, the risk of contamination is unknown for reasons such as salinization, overexploitation, agriculture, industry, agriculture, flooding, and more.

The purpose of this research is to understand the physical aspect, tectonic effects, structural, and more geological characteristics and to clarify the possible incidences occurring from groundwater social clashes along the border. According to preliminary literature review, it is easy to compare description of rocks and stratigraphy formations in both countries. For example, in Texas there are four major aquifers Hueco- Mesilla Bolson, Edwards, Carrizo-Wilcox, and Gulf- Coast. All of them have continuation in Mexico. It is necessary to analyze the real social need.