Boundary Treaty of 1970
Encyclopedia
The 1970 Boundary Treaty between the United States
and Mexico
settled all then pending boundary disputes and uncertainties related to the Rio Grande
(Río Bravo del Norte) border. The most significant dispute remaining after the Chamizal Settlement
in 1963 involved the location of the boundary in the area of Presidio, Texas
, and Ojinaga, Chihuahua
. The river
channel was jointly relocated to approximate conditions existing prior to the dispute which arose from changes in the course of the river in 1907. The International Boundary and Water Commission
was charged with its implementation. The American-Mexican Treaty Act of October 25, 1972 authorized the United States Section's participation. The project was undertaken in 1975 and completed in 1977.
The river was relocated in two reaches by construction of a new channel 4.7 miles (8 km) in length in one reach and 3.6 miles (6 km) in the other. The relocated channel was aligned in the reach above Presidio-Ojinaga so as to transfer from north to the south side of the river 1606.19 acres (650 ha) and in the second reach downstream from the two cities so as to transfer from the south to the north side 252 acres (102 ha). It is an earth channel with dimensions patterned after the natural channel. The United States acquired 1969.22 acres (796.9 ha) of agricultural land for transfer of lands to Mexico and for half of the river relocation.
Also, the channel of the Rio Grande in the Hidalgo
–Reynosa
area was relocated to transfer from Mexico to the United States 481.68 acres (1.9 km²) by constructing a new earth channel 1.6 miles (3 km) in length. This transfer was made in exchange for the transfer from the United States to Mexico of two tracts of land, the Horcon Tract and Beaver Island (Isla Morteritos), located south of the Rio Grande, comprising 481.68 acres (194.9 ha).
The total costs of these two relocations were equally shared by the two governments, with the United States performing the greater part of the work required in the Presidio-Ojinaga area, and Mexico performing the work required in the Hidalgo-Reynosa area and a small part of the work required in the Presidio-Ojinaga area.
The final provision of the treaty transferred the city of Rio Rico, Tamaulipas to Mexico.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
settled all then pending boundary disputes and uncertainties related to the Rio Grande
Rio Grande
The Rio Grande is a river that flows from southwestern Colorado in the United States to the Gulf of Mexico. Along the way it forms part of the Mexico – United States border. Its length varies as its course changes...
(Río Bravo del Norte) border. The most significant dispute remaining after the Chamizal Settlement
Chamizal dispute
The Chamizal dispute was a border conflict over about on the U.S.-Mexico border between El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua. It was caused by differences between the bed of the Rio Grande as surveyed in 1852 and the present channel of the river....
in 1963 involved the location of the boundary in the area of Presidio, Texas
Presidio, Texas
Presidio is a city in Presidio County, Texas, United States. It stands on the Rio Grande , on the opposite side of the U.S.-Mexico border from Ojinaga, Chihuahua. The population was 4,167 at the 2000 census....
, and Ojinaga, Chihuahua
Ojinaga
Ojinaga Municipality is one of the 67 municipalities of Chihuahua, in northern Mexico. The municipal seat lies at Ojinaga, a rural bordertown on the U.S.-Mexico border...
. The river
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
channel was jointly relocated to approximate conditions existing prior to the dispute which arose from changes in the course of the river in 1907. The International Boundary and Water Commission
International Boundary and Water Commission
The International Boundary and Water Commission is an international body created in 1889 by the United States and Mexico to administer the many boundary and water-rights treaties and agreements between the two nations....
was charged with its implementation. The American-Mexican Treaty Act of October 25, 1972 authorized the United States Section's participation. The project was undertaken in 1975 and completed in 1977.
The river was relocated in two reaches by construction of a new channel 4.7 miles (8 km) in length in one reach and 3.6 miles (6 km) in the other. The relocated channel was aligned in the reach above Presidio-Ojinaga so as to transfer from north to the south side of the river 1606.19 acres (650 ha) and in the second reach downstream from the two cities so as to transfer from the south to the north side 252 acres (102 ha). It is an earth channel with dimensions patterned after the natural channel. The United States acquired 1969.22 acres (796.9 ha) of agricultural land for transfer of lands to Mexico and for half of the river relocation.
Also, the channel of the Rio Grande in the Hidalgo
Hidalgo, Texas
Hidalgo is a city in Hidalgo County, Texas, United States. The population was 11,198 at the 2010 census. It is home to the Rio Grande Valley Magic of the Southern Indoor Football League, the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees of the Central Hockey League, and the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA...
–Reynosa
Reynosa
Reynosa is a border city in the northern part of Tamaulipas, in the country of Mexico. It is located on the southern bank of the Rio Grande, directly across the border from McAllen, Texas in the United States. As of 2010, the city of Reynosa counts with a population of 607,532...
area was relocated to transfer from Mexico to the United States 481.68 acres (1.9 km²) by constructing a new earth channel 1.6 miles (3 km) in length. This transfer was made in exchange for the transfer from the United States to Mexico of two tracts of land, the Horcon Tract and Beaver Island (Isla Morteritos), located south of the Rio Grande, comprising 481.68 acres (194.9 ha).
The total costs of these two relocations were equally shared by the two governments, with the United States performing the greater part of the work required in the Presidio-Ojinaga area, and Mexico performing the work required in the Hidalgo-Reynosa area and a small part of the work required in the Presidio-Ojinaga area.
The final provision of the treaty transferred the city of Rio Rico, Tamaulipas to Mexico.
See also
- Rio Grande border disputesRio Grande border disputesThe Rio Grande has changed course several times in recorded history, leading to a number of border disputes, both international and between individual U.S. states:...
- United States territorial acquisitionsUnited States territorial acquisitionsThis is a simplified list of United States territorial acquisitions, beginning with American independence. Note that this list primarily concerns land acquired from other nation-states; the numerous territorial acquisitions from American Indians are not listed here.-1783-1848:*The 1783 Treaty of...
- U.S.-Mexico border