Shared water solutions are at the heart of a growing movement to address cross-border water challenges between the United States and Mexico.

As part of this effort, the Permanent Forum of Binational Waters will host a special virtual event titled “The Need for Collaboration” on May 29, 2025, from 4:00 to 5:30 PM Central Time via Zoom, celebrating five years of partnership and advancing the dialogue around sustainable, cooperative water governance.

This commemorative session will celebrate the progress made through cross-border partnerships and spark forward-looking conversations on the future of shared water solutions between the United States and Mexico.

As the forum’s guiding theme “Water Unites Us” reminds us, water challenges transcend borders—and so must the solutions.

Leading voices in water issues

The panel will feature leading voices in water management and environmental policy, including.

• Sharon Megdal, Director of the Arizona Water Resources Research Center;
• Salvador Lopez, Chief Environmental Officer at the North American Development Bank;
• Eddie Moderow, Manager of the U.S.-Mexico Border Affairs Program at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality;
• Erik Porse, Director of the California Institute for Water Resources.

Gabriel Eckstein, Professor of Law at Texas A&M University, will serve as the event’s moderator.

Speakers will reflect on lessons learned from binational collaboration and the impact of shared efforts on water management.

They will also explore strategies to tackle key issues like drought, pollution, climate change, and infrastructure challenges in border regions.

Building Stronger Partnerships for the Future of Shared Waters

The event fosters dialogue among experts, officials, and organizations working together to advance shared water governance across borders.

This free event aims to inspire new levels of cooperation at every scale—from grassroots to government.

Whether you’re a water professional, policy advocate, academic, or community member, your voice is vital to shaping the next generation of shared water solutions.

Join us in celebrating a shared vision and help build a more resilient water future.

Reflecting on Five Years of Shared Impact and Cross-Border Dialogue

This month, we released a report summarizing the achievements and lessons learned of this unique collaborative effort as a non profit organization

Launched in 2019 to foster cross-border dialogue on water management, the Forum began as a platform to connect diverse perspectives.

It has since grown into a trusted space for sharing knowledge, experiences, and solutions to challenges that transcend national borders.