Transboundary Policy Challenges in the Pacific Border Regions of North America

José Luis Castro-Ruíz and Vicente Sánchez-Munguía

Urban centres located along the U.S.-Mexico border share a set of conditions and problems related to the available water. Despite the proximity of the binational pairs of cities, profound regional disparities exist in the ways that water is managed across the border, which are indicative of a fundamental asymmetry between the systems of governance in each country. These differences present an obstacle for cooperative planning and management at the local and regional level. As water supply becomes the most pressing and complex issue in this region in coming decades, it is important to learn from the accumulating binational experience, so as to define strategies that promote a sustainable water supply for sister cities in both countries. The San Diego–Tijuana region is the most dynamic urban complex along the border and one that faces critical water supply problems.

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