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Oct 20

Bridges Over Water between Mexico and the United States: cross border solutions

October 20 @ 9:00 am - October 21 @ 4:35 pm

$5

 The Rosenberg International Forum on Water Policy and the Permanent Forum of Binational Waters Regional Event  

To register for the event click HERE 

Tuesday – Wednesday

October 20th – 21st 2026

Monterrey, Nuevo León,

México.

   Museo de Historia

Mexicana Auditorium

Dr. José Ma. Coss 445, Centro,

64000 Monterrey, N.L.
COHOSTS AND SPONSORS

  • Rosenberg International Forum
    on Water Policy
  • California Institute for Water Resources
  • University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR)
  • Fundación México-Estados Unidos  para la Ciencia
  • Permanent Forum of Binational Waters
  • Colegio de la Frontera Norte
  • University of California, Alianza MX
  • Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy, The University of Arizona
In the tradition of the Rosenberg Forum’s mission to reduce conflict and foster cooperation in

water resources management, this event will promote open, respectful, and candid conversation where panelists and attendees engage and learn from each other about the challenges and solutions for shared waters of Mexico and the United States. Drawing on the Permanent Forum of Binational Waters’ commitment to bridging science and policy, the event will bring together a mix of researchers, water managers, policymakers, local agencies, civil society organizations, and private sector voices from both sides of the border. This event will produce concrete findings and priority actions that reflect the full diversity of perspectives in the room.

OBJECTIVES

  • Build a greater shared understanding of water resources held in common by Mexico and the United States: the Rio Grande/Bravo, the Colorado River, and transboundary groundwater systems.
  • Deepen understanding of the problems, barriers, and governance gaps limiting effective binational water management, recognizing the asymmetries and competing interests on both sides of the border.
  • Identify and amplify what is working (e.g. existing mechanisms and agreements) and extract transferable lessons from this region and comparable international basins.
  • Examine challenges and solutions across multiple spatial and temporal scales: from the basin and binational level down to regional, local, and community scales, acknowledging that what works at one scale may look very different at another.
  • Ensure the local context is heard — giving voice to local agencies, municipalities, Indigenous communities, and private-sector actors whose daily realities are shaped by these shared waters.
  • Propose and discuss concrete solutions and priority actions that can advance cooperation and water security in the near and long term.
  • Produce outcomes: Video recordings of interviews and a synthesis of the meeting.

INVITED AUDIENCE

  • Water scholars and researchers from the USA and Mexico
  • Water managers and agency officials 
  • Policymakers and 1944 water treaty stewards 
  • Private sector actors (agriculture, energy, industry, water technology)
  • Civil society, NGOs, and community-based organizations
  • Indigenous and tribal water rights holders
  • Federal, state, local agencies and municipalities 
  • Students and members of the press

To register for the event click HERE 

 TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20TH, 2026. 

TIME            
PRESENTATION / PANEL
09:00 am
Check-in with coffee and refreshments
The main session room opens at 10:00 am.
10:00 am
Welcome & Introductions
Moderator: Erik Porse, Director, California Institute for Water Resources, Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California, USA
10:15 am
• Soroosh Sorooshian, Rosenberg Forum Chair, Distinguished Professor, Civil & Environmental Engineering & Earth System Science, University of California, Irvine, USA
• Glenda Humiston, Vice President, University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources, USA
• Jail Ixel Cruz Garcia, Senior Strategic Partnerships Lead, University of California, Alianza MX, Mexico & USA
• Rosario Sanchez, Director, Permanent Forum of Binational Waters, Mexico & USA
• Ismael Aguilar Benitez, Professor & Researcher, Colegio de la Frontera Norte, Mexico
10:35 am
Keynote I: US-Mexico Border Water Issues
Samuel Sandoval Solis, Cooperative Extension Specialist, University of
California Agriculture and Natural Resources and Professor, University of California Davis, USA
10:50 am
Q&A for clarifying questions from audience
10:55 am
Panel Discussion 1: Current State of the Rio Grande/Río Bravo
Moderator: Rosario Sanchez, Director, Permanent Forum of Binational Waters, Mexico & USA
11:00 am
• Rosario Álvarez, Executive Director, Pronatura, Mexico
• Gabriel Eckstein, Lawyer and Professor, University School of Law, Texas A&M, US
11:25 am
Facilitated Discussion with the Audience

 

TIME                  
PRESENTATION / PANEL
11:45 am
Break
12:15 pm
Panel Discussion 2: Future State of Rio Grande/Río Bravo
Moderator: Samuel Sandoval Solis, Cooperative Extension Specialist,
University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources and Professor, University of California Davis, USA
12:20 pm
• Víctor Hugo Guerra Cobián, Professor & Researcher, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Mexico
• Carmen Julia Navarro, Professor and Researcher, University of Chihuahua, Mexico
12:45 pm
Facilitated Discussion with the Audience
01:05 pm
Lunch
02:05 pm
Keynote II: Perspective from Mexico
Ismael Aguilar Benitez, Professor & Researcher, Colegio de la Frontera Norte, Mexico
02:20 pm
Q&A for clarifying questions from audience
02:25 pm
Panel Discussion 3: Regional Stakeholders
Moderator: Ismael Aguilar Benitez, Professor & Researcher, Colegio de la Frontera Norte, Mexico
02:30 pm
• Danielle Roman, Project Specialist, Fundación MX-US para la Ciencia (FUMEC)
• Ofelia G. Garza Delgado, President, Binational Consortium CEPEGAS A.C., National Council of Energy Clusters, (CONACEN), Tamaulipas, Mexico
• Eduardo Ismael Ortegón Williamson, Director, Agua y Drenaje de Monterrey
02:55 pm
Facilitated Discussion with the Audience
03:15 pm
Break

 

TIME
PRESENTATION / PANEL
03:45 pm
Panel Discussion 4: Lessons Learned and Motivations for New Leaders
Moderator: Iris Aguilar, Project Manager, Permanent Forum of Binational Waters, USA
03:50 pm
• Patricia Fernandez Guajardo, Professor-Researcher, Dept. of Social Sciences, School of Law and Social Sciences, Universidad de Monterrey, Mexico
• Alfredo Granados Olivas, Professor, Geosciences and Groundwater Hydrology, Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez, Mexico
• Aldo Ramírez Orozco, Professor and Director, Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education, Mexico
04:15 pm
Facilitated Discussion with the Audience
04:35 pm
Key take aways from the day
• Moderators: Iris Aguilar, Ismael Aguilar Benitez, Erik Porse, Rosario Sanchez, and Samuel Sandoval Solis.
04:50 pm
Adjourn

 

 WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21TH, 2026.

TIME              
PRESENTATION / PANEL
09:00 am
Check-in with coffee and refreshments
The main session room opens at 10:00 am.
10:10 am
Opening Session
Moderator: Newsha Ajami, Director, Governance for Risk, Resilience, and Recovery Program (GR3), Stanford University, USA
10:15 am
Keynote III: Current State of the Colorado River
Andrea K. Gerlak, Professor and Director, School of Geography, Development and Environment and Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy, University of Arizona, USA
10:30 am
Q&A for clarifying questions
10:35 am
Panel Discussion 5: Current and Future State of Colorado River
Moderator: Andrea Gerlak, Professor and Director, Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy, University of Arizona, USA
10:40 am
• Astrid Hernández-Cruz, Professor, Universidad Autonoma de Baja California, Mexico
• Leopoldo Mendoza Espinosa, Professor, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Mexico
• Gemma Smith, Assistant Professor, School of Government & Public Policy, University of Arizona, USA
11:05 am
Facilitated Discussion with the Audience 
11:25 am
Break
11:55 am
Panel Discussion 6: The Power of Local Stakeholders
Moderator: Adriana Zuniga-Teran, Associate Professor, School of Geography, Development, and Environment, University of Arizona, USA & Mexico 
12:00 pm
• Sharon B. Megdal, Director, Water Resources Research Center, University of Arizona, USA, and Iliana
• Jesus Eliana Rodriguez Burgueño, Head of the Water Resources and Georgraphic Information Systems Lab, Universidad Automoma de Baja California, Mexico
• Francisco Zamora, Senior Director of Programs, Sonoran Institute, USA & Mexico

 

TIME
PRESENTATION / PANEL
12:25 pm
Facilitated Discussion with the Audience 
12:45 pm
Lunch
01:45 pm
Keynote IV: Perspective from Mexico 
Isaac Azuz, Professor, Cetys Universidad, Mexico
02:00 pm
Q&A for clarifying questions from audience
02:05 pm
Panel Discussion 7: Managing Risks and Opportunities 
Moderator: Christina Babbitt, Sustainability Program Manager, Water Stewardship, Meta, USA
02:10 pm
• Rodrigo Crespo, Director, Metropolitan Fund of Monterrey,  Mexico
• Will Sami, Practice Lead for Water and Nature, Earth Finance, USA
• Newsha Ajami, Director, Governance for Risk, Resilience, and Recovery Program (GR3), Stanford University, USA
02:35 pm
Facilitated Discussion with the Audience .
02:55 pm
Break
03:25 pm
Panel Discussion 8: Lessons Learned from the Colorado River and the Rio Grande/Río Bravo
Moderator: Rosario Sanchez, Director, Permanent Forum of Binational Waters, Mexico & USA
03:30 pm
• Ramón Morga, Director, Colorado River Basin Council (former), USA
• Adrian Oglesby, Director, Utton Center, University of New Mexico, USA 
03:50 pm
Facilitated Discussion with the Audience and Key Takeaways
04:35 pm
Adjourn
Hotel Recommendations
Hotel 
Area
Approximate distance from Museo de Historia
Link 
Fiesta Americana Monterrey Pabellón M
City center 
1.2 miles
Fiesta Américana Pabellón M
Holiday Inn Express Fundidora 
City center
1.5 miles
Holiday Inn Express fundidora 
Holiday Inn Monterrey-Parque Fundidora
City center
1.9 miles
Holiday Inn Monterrey- Parque Fundidoras
Tru by Hilton Monterrey Fundidora
City center
2 miles
Tru by Hilton fundidora 
Hotel Antaris Cintermex
City center
1.5 miles
Antaris cintermex

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