Water scarcity is reshaping agricultural systems across arid border regions, demanding clearer insight into how crops respond to compounding environmental stressors. This project examines agroforestry systems in the U.S.–Mexico binational region to understand how extreme weather events, coupled with water management practices and soil variability, influence plant performance in dryland agriculture. Research focuses on pecan trees, the region’s most economically significant crop and one of its most sensitive to reduced water availability and declining water quality. Prior work shows that variation in leaf-level traits affects water-use efficiency, suggesting that soil texture and climate-driven stress are key drivers of plant responses. At the core of this study is an investigation of how extreme droughts and heatwaves alter physiological traits and water-use dynamics across both short- and long-term timescales. Analysis spans multiple biological levels, from leaves and roots to tree rings and whole agroecosystems, to identify lasting legacy effects of climatic variability. Findings will inform adaptive water management and agroforestry practices, helping growers and policymakers sustain productivity, protect regional food systems, and build resilience in dryland agriculture under increasing climate pressure.