Audio Clip
SCOTUS Gives Green Light To Texas Water Suit Against New Mexico
SCOTUS Gives Green Light To Texas Water Suit Against New Mexico
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday that Texas can move forward on a water lawsuit against New Mexico.
The state of Texas alleges New Mexico is not delivering its share of Rio Grande water under a 1938 compact.
It argues farmers in southern New Mexico are pumping too much groundwater and cutting into the Texas supply. Severe drought has left those farmers with little river water to irrigate their crops.
New Mexico's Attorney General contends his state has delivered more than its fair share of water to Texas. He filed suit against an earlier agreement between neighboring water districts in New Mexico and Texas. The agreement was meant to avoid future litigation. Now New Mexico has 60 days to file its response to the high court.