Hidalgo County developing plan to address projected water shortages [Video]

Hidalgo County commissioners are meeting with an Austin-based company to coordinate a “countywide” plan to address water shortages expected to arrive in the summer, according to a news release.

The news of the plan comes after Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez signed a disaster declaration over ongoing drought conditions.

READ MORE: Hidalgo County judge issues disaster declaration over ongoing drought

According to the Friday news release, combined water levels at the Amistad and Falcon international reservoirs that provide water to the Rio Grande Valley were at 22% as of Saturday, March 30.

“That is the lowest starting point for U.S. ownership at these reservoirs since records began being kept,” the news release stated.

The company H20 Partners is working with water suppliers across the county to develop “a cohesive response to water availability issues,” according to the release.

Hidalgo County leaders are also pointing to the need for Mexico to release water under an international treaty.

“We started our analysis by …