According to Article 2 of the Water Treaty, the jurisdiction of the IBWC extends to the border sections of the Rio Grande (Rio Bravo) and the Colorado River, the land boundary between the United States and Mexico, and works located upon their common boundary.

Jurisdiction over the Rio Grande is a complex, multi-layered framework involving federal, state, and international authorities. Because it serves as the international boundary between the U.S. and Mexico, the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) holds primary jurisdiction over boundary and water rights issues according to the 1944 Water Treaty. Domestically, within the United States, the National Park Service (NPS) manages significant stretches, such as the 191-mile Wild and Scenic portion in Texas, but their authority usually only extends to the middle of the deepest channel (the international border). Law enforcement jurisdiction is shared between the U.S. Border Patrol (federal), the U.S. Coast Guard (in navigable sections), and state agencies like the Texas Department of Public Safety. Furthermore, various "Water Districts" and state commissions in Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas manage the allocation of the river's flow for irrigation and municipal use, making it one of the most legally scrutinized and managed waterways in the Western Hemisphere.