The U.S.-Mexico Transboundary Aquifer Assessment Program as a Model for Transborder Groundwater Collaboration

The many goals of the agreement include (1) the development of a hydrogeologic database and groundwater flow model; (2) the setup of an observation net- work to process, analyze, and validate data; (3) the analysis of the socioeconomic activities of the region; (4) the coordination for the development of joint studies, and (5) the formu- lation of proposals for optimization and consultation mechan. [...] The MOU recognizes the importance of water resources for alleviating poverty, acknowledges the rights and duties of the coun- tries sharing the aquifer, appreciates the achievements of the improvement of the scientific knowledge associated with the aquifer, and highlights the importance of cooperative management of the Iullemeden Aquifer System in improving the management of shared groundwater res. [...] The formal agreements ratified by the countries sharing the aquifer include (1) the Programme for the Development of a Re- gional Strategy for the Utilization of the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System and (2) the Terms of Reference for the Monitoring and Exchange of Groundwater Information of the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System, both signed in October 2000 [47]. [...] The Agreement between the Gov- ernment of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the Management and Utilization of the Ground Waters in the Al-Saq/Al- Disi Layer was signed on 4 April, 2015. [...] Accomplishments of the TAAP include the development of the Mesilla Valley Hy- drologic Model; the completion of the Binational Study of the Transboundary San Pedro Aquifer; the establishment of research projects in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Sonora, and Chihuahua; the output of numerous publications and conference presentations; and fieldwork in the U.