The Mexican Section of the IBWC @cilamexico reports the following: "Due to recent rainfall in the region, the protocol to suspend pumping operations at the CILA Pumping Station (PB CILA) was initiated at 23:02 (11:02pm) on Wednesday, October 21, 2026. The extended weather forecast indicates that rain will continue through the weekend. Once the flow returns to levels acceptable for the operation of the CILA Pumping Station, the system will be reactivated, and a corresponding notification will be issued."

While most of the San Diego-Tijuana and Yuma regions hunkered down to wait out last weekend's heavy rainfall and fierce winds, key teams of #USIBWC employees sprang into action and headed directly into the storm while others reviewed all available forecasts and data to predict where and when danger might lie. USIBWC, tasked with the vital job of protecting the welfare of Americans along the US-Mexico border, started having planning meetings with local as well as Mexican officials’ days in advance of Tropical Storm Rachel’s landfall. Before the first rain drops fell, USIBWC operations and maintenance crews were inspecting the levees, canyon collectors, and the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant, while senior leadership coordinated with their Mexican counterparts to ensure they were doing the same with their dams. During the storm's worst fury, USIBWC staff drove up and down the border to make sure all this infrastructure was holding, ready to respond in an instant if there were any problems. Back at USIBWC Headquarters in El Paso Texas, the Water Accounting Division pored over weather reports and Tijuana River gage data, hydrologists checked gage data and monitored calls and emails. Staff was also deployed to attain measurements. Calls and emails went back and forth to Mexico, everyone seeking the answer to the critical question: How much more water is on the way? The Yuma Field Office, while deploying staff to help take measurements in the Tijuana River and assist where needed, also was busy at home. The area operations manager, in close contact with Mexican sanitation officials, immediately alerted US stakeholders upon learning rain-soaked Mexicali had started discharging a mix of sewage and stormwater into the New River. By Monday, USIBWC personnel could breathe a sigh of relief, but they didn't let their guard down. Now is the time to thoroughly inspect every inch of infrastructure to get ready for the next storm, and to take stock of lessons learned. This storm put our newly rehabilitated Junction Box (JB-1) to test. It protected our plant with no incidents. Also, the storm procedures and notification protocols worked out in advance with our Mexico counterparts were successful. The recent work completed at the canyon collectors had protected the pump stations. Also, the Mexico sediment basin at Matador Canyon protected Smuggler’s Gulch Canyon, prevented heavy sediment, rocks, and boulders, and minimized trash. Rachel challenged USIBWC, but that's par for the course for the engineers, hydrologists, scientists, and other professionals who take seriously their responsibility to protect Americans from exposure to Mexican sewage. @USIBWCCMcIntosh thanks the employees who worked around the clock to keep Americans safe and appreciates the cooperation of local agencies and Mexico during the storm.

AMISTAD DAM CLOSURE: PUBLIC NOTICE Amistad Dam Bridge will be closed for routine maintenance on the dam's Penstock 5 irrigation gate from 6:00 p.m. CDT on Sunday, October 18, 2026, through 10:00 a.m. CDT on Saturday, October 24, 2026. Please plan accordingly and use alternate routes; Del Rio International Bridge and Eagle Pass International Bridges 1 and 2. For media inquiries or additional information, please contact the #USIBWC Public Affairs Office at [email protected]. #AmistadDamTravelAlert #DelRioTx @CityofDelRio @TDEM @TxDPSSouth @CBPSouthTexas

MEXICALI REGION UPDATE: Mexico has informed #USIBWC that all discharge points/gates opened into the New River due to tropical storm Rachel this past weekend, have now been closed.

UPDATE: #USIBWC crews in San Diego-Tijuana and the Calexico-Mexicali region as well as at Headquarters in El Paso Texas worked throughout the night during Tropical Storm Rachel, prepared to respond to any problems that might arise. Despite significant Tijuana River flows, no issues have been reported at the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant, canyon collectors, levees, and dams in Mexico. The plant continues to treat up to 35 million gallons a day. Discharges are continuing into the New River from Mexicali. We will continue to monitor conditions and work closely with local officials as well as @cilamexico and regional Mexican water authorities in Tijuana and Mexicali. @CaWaterBoards @EPA @EPAregion9 @conagua_mx @cespmbc @RepRaulRuizMD @ImperialCntyCA #HurricaneRachel xitter.cf/usibwc/status/21092251…

UPDATE: Mexico has informed #USIBWC that at approximately 9:05 PM MST Saturday, due to the heavy rains currently affecting the city of Mexicali, Mexico found it necessary to open the discharge points into the New River at Drain 134, the Quintana Roo Bridge, PBAR 2, PBAR 4, and several pumping stations. Discharge volumes are not available at this time. These discharges contain a mix of raw sewage and stormwater. Updates will be provide as they are received. @cilamexico @CaWaterBoards @EPA @EPAregion9 @conagua_mx @cespmbc @RepRaulRuizMD @ImperialCntyCA #HurricaneRachel xitter.cf/usibwc/status/21083062…

The #USIBWC reports the following on our preparations for Tropical Storm Rachel in San Diego - Tijuana and the Calexico - Mexicali, region: USIBWC is in contact with @cilamexico and regional Mexican water authorities in Tijuana and Mexicali as we plan for widespread rainfall along the U.S.–Mexico border. Officials in both countries are prepared to respond if necessary. SAN DIEGO - TIJUANA Officials will monitor dams, canyon collectors, levees, and Tijuana River flows. The South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant will ensure flows entering the plant do not exceed capacity. USIBWC is planning a cleanup operation under the Dairy Mart Road bridge to remove Mexican trash that washed downstream following our Tijuana River channel improvement operation. The Tijuana River channel trash boom is unaffected and operating as planned. CALEXIO - MEXICALI REGION As of 10/08, Tropical Storm Rachel is expected to affect the Mexicali, BC region this weekend. As a result, the New River may experience increased flows due to stormwater and sanitation overflows originating in Mexico. Officials will monitor New River flows and regional flood-control infrastructure. U.S. authorities are actively coordinating with their counterparts in Mexico, who are taking steps to minimize impacts on the New River. USIBWC will provide updates as necessary. Follow @NWSSanDiego for San Diego-area weather, @NWSPhoenix for Calexico-area weather emergency updates. Check local agencies for additional information. @CaWaterBoards @EPA @EPAregion9 @conagua_mx @cespmbc @RepRaulRuizMD @ImperialCntyCA #HurricaneRachel

UPDATE: #USIBWC received further details regarding the New River spill which began on Monday, September 28. The details are as follows: Start: September 28, 2026 – 2 AM End: September 29, 2026 – 8 AM Duration: 30 hours Flow rate: Variable Total volume: 28.622 million gallons (108,344.52 m³) Wastewater: 8.586 million gallons (32,503.36 m³) Stormwater: 20.035 million gallons (75,841.16 m³) @EPAregion9 @cilamexico @RepRaulRuizMD @ImperialCntyCA @CaWaterBoards xitter.cf/usibwc/status/21046083…

UPDATE: The #USIBWC reports the following on our response to weather conditions in the El Paso, Texas, area: - USIBWC personnel are in contact with City of El Paso officials at the Emergency Operations Center and monitoring river flows. We have been monitoring conditions, coordinating with National Weather Service @NWS with 24-hour coverage beginning on September 30, 2026. Staff from the Upper Rio Grande Flood Control Project are conducting levee patrols, coordinating with partners and stakeholders, and providing regular field condition reports. The Upper Rio Grande Flood Control Project is functioning as designed: •Peak flows successfully passed through the American Dam and International Dam early this morning. •No levee breaches along the Rio Grande have been reported. •Field inspections and assessments of the levee system are ongoing to identify any necessary repairs. - USIBWC field offices in Amistad, Falcon and the Lower Rio Grande Valley are on standby to respond, if necessary. Please check @NWSWGRFC and local agencies for the latest river information and weather conditions.

The latest update is out on #USIBWC and @EPA moving closer to achieving a permanent 100% solution to the Tijuana River pollution crisis. Besides accelerating the expansion of the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant and holding Mexico accountable for preventing cross-border sewage flows, #USIBWC has been busy coordinating preparations for El Niño. Get all the details here: epa.gov/newsreleases/trump-e…

Update: All remaining Mexicali discharges were closed today. xitter.cf/usibwc/status/21046083…

Update: PBCILA was reactivated yesterday at 2:00pm. xitter.cf/usibwc/status/21046925…