Hidalgo County Irrigation District No. One — Effective August 1, 2026. Due to low reservoir levels, we are experiencing water shortages and have allocated water to eligible accounts only.
Water Supply
Adopted by the Board of Directors in accordance with Chapter 11 of the Texas Water Code and Title 30 of the Texas Administrative Code.
The District's supply is limited to the water credited to its Rio Grande Watermaster account from the international reservoirs at Amistad and Falcon. The purpose of this plan is to conserve the available water supply during periods of shortage, to maintain deliveries equitably among eligible accounts, and to protect the District's ability to meet its obligations to its water users.
This plan was adopted following a public hearing before the Board of Directors. Notice of each drought stage, and of the allocation adopted for the stage, is posted at the District office, published on this website, and provided to affected accounts by mail or telephone. Municipal and industrial customers under contract with the District receive written notice of any change in stage.
The General Manager monitors reservoir storage, Watermaster account balances, canal demand and weather conditions, and recommends initiation or termination of a stage. Stages take effect when declared by the Board, or immediately upon declaration by the General Manager in an emergency, subject to Board ratification at the next meeting.
Triggering condition: Combined U.S. storage in Amistad and Falcon reservoirs falls below 40 percent of conservation capacity.
Triggering condition: Combined U.S. storage falls below 30 percent of conservation capacity, or District account balance falls below projected seasonal demand.
Triggering condition: Combined U.S. storage falls below 20 percent of conservation capacity, or a system failure interrupts diversion capability.
A stage is terminated when the triggering conditions have ceased to exist for a period of not less than thirty consecutive days and the Board finds that the available supply is adequate to meet projected demand. Upon termination, deliveries return to normal scheduling and any allocation in effect is lifted by Board order.
Water use in violation of an allocation or delivery schedule adopted under this plan may result in suspension of service to the account, additional water-use charges for the excess volume delivered, and the costs of any repairs made necessary by unauthorized operation of District facilities. Tampering with gates, checks, meters or measuring devices is a violation of District rules and may be referred for prosecution as provided by law.
The plan is reviewed at least every five years and amended as needed to reflect changed conditions, new statutory requirements, or improvements to the District's measurement and delivery capability. Amendments are adopted following public hearing.
Related information is available in our allocation and eligibility policies and on the resources page.
