Permanent Forum of Binational Waters

A Shared River, A Shared Future

When the Permanent Forum of Binational Waters began in 2020, it started with one simple truth: rivers and water don’t recognize borders. From the Rio Grande to the Colorado River, communities in the U.S. and Mexico have long shared the same waters—but not always the same voice.

That’s what changed five years ago.

People like Dr. Marusia Rentería Villalobos, professor and researcher from the Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua, and Laura Elisa Garza Díaz, a PhD candidate at UC Davis, came together in the Forum’s first Binational Dialogue: Droughts and Human-Induced Stress in the Rio Conchos Basin.

They didn’t speak the same language—but they shared a concern: how can we protect the water that gives life to both of our communities?

Five Years of Impact

Since that first dialogue, the Forum has become a trusted platform for over 40 institutions across both countries to collaborate on water solutions.

With your support, we’ve:

• Launched 4 working groups focused on science, governance, youth engagement, and equity.


• Trained over 300 students and young professionals in water diplomacy and binational cooperation.


• Built a citizen science platform used by communities in the San Diego–Tijuana region to monitor coastal erosion.


• Translated complex water data into open, accessible tools for local communities and decision-makers.

Listening First: Community Voices on the Ground

As part of our pilot initiative on transboundary aquifer management, the Forum held community consultation forums in the Maverick–Allende–Piedras Negras region. Local voices—farmers, well users, and community leaders—helped shape the priorities for future groundwater cooperation. These conversations ensure that science and policy are grounded in the real needs of water users on both sides of the border.

Who We Are

Today, the Forum is made up of a dynamic community of activists, researchers, and students working across the borderlands. Our network’s regional expertise is distributed as follows:

Lower Rio Grande – 40%

Colorado River South Basin and Mexico – 35%

Upper Rio Grande – 19%

Complete Border – 5%

Colorado River Upper Basin – 1%

This diversity reflects our central belief: Water Unites Us.

What Comes Next—and How You Can Help

Collaboration takes time, trust, and resources. This year alone, the Forum needs $45,000 to continue offering free binational dialogues, scholarships for students and young leaders, and accessible data tools that empower communities.

We believe that water connects us—and that cooperation is more powerful than conflict.

You can help us train the next generation of water stewards and protect our rivers for all.

Will you join us?

Make your gift today and be part of the future of water diplomacy.