Héctor Pérez came to Edinburg, Texas through the Bracero program, a U.S. sponsored temporary Mexican laborers program in the 50s. He’s been a citrus farmer in the Rio Grande Valley ever since.

“There was a lot of citruses here. We had fruits on the trees even in June. They used to call it the magic valley of the Rio Grande,” said Perez, walking slowly with the help of his cane. 

Throughout the years, he has watched the valley lose its spark.

“The citruses are running out. From what we had 30 years ago, there’s only about half left now,” he said. 

But the ongoing drought and a constantly depleting Falcon Reservoir have made irrigation water scarce. The consequences could be even more devastating for the local citrus farming industry. 

“The future we expect is uncertain. Citrus trees need a lot of water. They have to be irrigated up to seven times a year. If we have water, that is,” Perez said. 

The much-needed water isn’t coming soon. Perez is the owner of Perez Groves LLC in Edinburg. The veteran farmer still goes out every day to check on the trees he himself planted. There is no easy way to say what the loss of water would mean. 

“The trees would dry out and die and there would be no way to rescue them. For us it would mean the end,” he said. 

Christopher R. Musel is Hector’s grandson and the farm manager. He feels the pressure every day. 

“It would mean that we, as a nation, and as a state, would have to depend on other countries to provide our produce and that’s something that I’m terrified about,” He said. 

Many doubt the water shortage will improve this year if Mexico doesn’t release the water owed to the U.S. under the 1944 treaty. But Hector has years or experience to teach and share. Despite it all, he has hope, and always tries to keep his family’s spirits up. 

“I have faith that we’re gonna have a big storm that will fill falcon lake. That’s why I tell my kids. Stop whining. Be patient. It will rain,” he said. 

His advice for local and state leaders is to learn from the water crisis, and build a reservoir in the Rio Grande Valley, one that would capture the water before it drains to the Laguna Madre. He decries what he says is the lack of interest of the state and federal government in helping the local citrus industry, which is the crown jewel of the Rio Grande Valley’s economy.