The resulting environmental justice movement has helped bring attention to the role that public policies, together with market forces and other factors, may play in the genesis or exacerbation of environmental inequities and their often attendant health inequalities.

(Minkler et al., 2008; Morello-Frosch, Porras, et al., 2005; Shepard et al., 2002; Wing, 1998)

Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy (CSP) responds to the many ways of schooling by placing value in ‘sustain the lifeways’ of communities rather than eradicating them, and by positioning cultural dexterity as a necessary good.

(Alim et al., 2020)

Artifacts are present through out this Padlet. Each artifact will correspond to cultural wealth water project.

How to get involved in your own community:

1. Art campaign (e.g. poetry, music, marketing, mural, scuplture).

2. Connect with environmental justice organizations.

3. Participate in community education initiatives.

4. Support water protection efforts.

5. Document and share community stories about water.

6. Contact your local politician.

7. VOTE

• Hispanic Texans are helping drive population growth in the Rio Grande Valley. The Hispanic population grew by 10.6 percent from 89.6 percent of the total population in 2010 to 91.5 percent in 2019, reaching nearly 1.3 million. (American Immigration Council, 2025)

• Hispanic Texans in the region hold substantial voting power. In 2019, the Hispanic population made up 87.7 percent of eligible voters in the region, including Hispanic naturalized citizens, who on their own made up 13.3 percent. (American Immigration Council, 2025)

• Advanced Municipal Conservation

• Irrigation District Conservation

• Agricultural (On-Farm) Conservation

• Industrial Conservation

• Conversion of Water Right Classification

• New or Expanded Surface Water Treatment

• New or Expanded Distribution and Transmission Facilities Resulting in Increased Supplies

• Storage Reservoirs

• New or Expanded Fresh Groundwater Supply

• New or Expanded Brackish Groundwater Desalination

• Seawater Desalination

• Drought Management

• Aquifer Storage and Recovery

• Regional Water Supply Facilities

Region M draws most of its water from the Rio Grande, via the Amistad-Falcon Reservoir system, which is shared with Mexico. The waters of the Middle and Lower Rio Grande are managed by the International Boundary and Water Commission and the TCEQ’s Rio Grande Watermaster.

(Rio Grande Regional Water Planning Group, 2025)

Oil and gas production in the region have changed considerably from traditional oil drilling to hydraulic fracturing and nontraditional development, which has a significant impact on the regional economy and associated water demands.

(Rio Grande Regional Water Planning Group, 2026)

The major economic growth areas are construction, professional and business services, education and health services, and leisure and hospitality; information technology and mining show little to no growth.

(Texas Labor Market and Career Information, 2024)

Despite growth in some sectors of the economy, the region experiences significantly lower income and higher unemployment than the rest of Texas and the nation as a whole. A clear division exists between the urban growth centers (Brownsville, McAllen, Harlingen, and Laredo) and smaller rural towns and colonias.

(Texas Water Development Board, 2024)

Arsenic, a potent carcinogen causing cancer, a EWG Health Guideline (0.004) ppb or less.

• Utility:

  • City of McAllen, TX - (2.25), (Legal Limit: 10ppb)

  • City of Edinburg, TX - (2.15), (Legal Limit: 10ppb)

  • Harlingen Water Works System, TX - (3.37), (Legal Limit: 10ppb)

Bromodichloromethane, disinfection by product known to cause cancer. a EWG Health Guideline (0.06) ppb or less.

• City of Laredo, TX - (9.93), (No Legal Limit)

Chlorite, disinfection byproduct known to decrease hemoglobin levels, a EWG Health Guideline (50) ppb or less.

• Brownsville, TX - (307.1), Legal Limit: 1,000ppb

Chromium (hexavalent), potent carcinogen cuasing cancer, a EWG Health Guideline (0.02) ppb or less.

• City of Mission, TX - (0.133), No Legal Limit

• Drought

• Mexico Water Debt

• Flooding

Releases from Amistad and Falcon reservoirs are coordinated to deliver water to users throughout the region. The US system of water rights is unique to the Rio Grande: a tiered system prioritizes domestic, municipal, and industrial (DMI) water rights and establishes two classes (A and B) of mining and irrigation water rights.

(Rio Grande Regional Water Planning Group, 2025)

Colonias are semi-rural subdivisions that are often developed with substandard or no potable water and sanitary sewer systems. Without potable waterlines, many colonia residents rely on buckets or drums of water, which may become contaminated. Improper wastewater disposal can add to the health and safety concerns.

(Rio Grande Regional Water Planning Group, 2025)

The Rio Grande Basin and the Amistad-Falcon Reservoir system refer to the drought spanning from June 1994 to August 2023 (US portion) as the drought of record (DOR).

(Rio Grande Regional Water Planning Group, 2025)

Lower Rio Grande Region from an average of 28 inches at the coast to 18 inches in the northwestern portion of the region, primarily from thunderstorms in the spring and occasional hurricanes in the late summer and fall. These storms can generate tremendous amounts of rainfall over a short period of time and cause extensive flooding because of the region’s relatively flat terrain.

(Texas Water Development Board, 2024)

Water in the Rio Grande is normally of suitable quality for irrigation, livestock, and industrial uses; however, salinity, nutrients, and fecal coliform bacteria are of concern throughout the basin. Salinity concentrations in the Rio Grande are the result of both human activities and natural conditions. Untreated or poorly treated discharges from inadequate wastewater treatment facilities, primarily in Mexico, and nonpoint source pollution on both sides of the river, including poorly constructed or malfunctioning septic and sewage collection systems and improperly managed animal wastes, contribute to fecal coliform levels.

(Rio Grande Regional Water Planning Group, 2025)

You will journey into this mind map to discover systemic water issues in the Rio Grande Valley, and discern underlying themes. Follow the arrows to discover new information on systemic issues, how the community is addressing these issues, and consider "Is it enough?".

Use this Padlet to ask questions or leave feedback on any of the tiles through out this mind map.

Questions to consider:

1. What defines “success” in CBPR partnerships?

2. What role does community readiness play in determining the appropriate action?

3. What mechanisms can ensure equitable power-sharing?

This project was created for academic purposes. Please give appropriate credit if using or referencing any part of this work. Unauthorized copying or distribution is not allowed without permission.

Graduate Student, Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction

University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Nicholas.Balderas01@utrgv.edu