rio grande
SCOTUS rejects water deal in Rio Grande dispute
A recent Supreme Court decision has stalled a settlement in the long-standing water dispute over the Rio Grande, impacting New Mexico, Texas, and the federal government.
In short:
- The Supreme Court rejected a proposed settlement to resolve water disputes between Texas and New Mexico, citing federal interests.
- The case, initiated by Texas in 2013, accuses New Mexico of over-pumping groundwater, violating the 1938 Rio Grande Compact.
- Experts warn this decision might embolden federal involvement in interstate water disputes, prolonging litigation.
Key quote:
“Having acknowledged those interests, and having allowed the United States to intervene to assert them, we cannot now allow Texas and New Mexico to leave the United States up the river without a paddle.”
— Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson
Why this matters:
Water rights are critical for agriculture and municipal use in arid regions. This ruling could set a precedent for federal involvement in state water disputes, complicating future negotiations and regional water management.
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Supreme Court blocks Rio Grande water deal between Texas and New Mexico
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the federal government must be involved in any water agreements between Texas and New Mexico concerning the Rio Grande.
Alejandra Martinez and Berenice Garcia report for The Texas Tribune.
In short:
- The Supreme Court's 5-4 decision mandates federal involvement in water management agreements between states.
- Texas and New Mexico's recent agreement excluded federal input, leading to the ruling.
- The decision affects water distribution from the Rio Grande, impacting international treaties and regional drought management.
Key quote:
"We cannot now allow Texas and New Mexico to leave the United States up the river without a paddle."
— Majority opinion of the U.S. Supreme Court
Why this matters:
The ruling underscores the complexity of water management in drought-prone regions and highlights the federal government's role in resolving interstate water disputes. The decision could influence future negotiations and water policies amid increasing water scarcity.
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Credit: Brigitte Werner/Pixabay
Navigating the waters of the Rio Grande legal battle
The Supreme Court is set to hear a case that could end a long-standing dispute over the Rio Grande's waters among Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado.
In short:
- The Supreme Court will review a proposed agreement between Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado to settle a decade-long lawsuit over the Rio Grande, despite federal objections.
- The deal aims to resolve conflicts arising from New Mexico's groundwater pumping, which Texas claims violates the Rio Grande Compact.
- A special master recommended the Court approve the states' settlement, but the outcome remains uncertain as the Court has previously rejected such recommendations.
Key quote:
"If this settlement proves to be able to get it resolved in a decade, it is, I would say, a positive development, as we look at the challenges of interstate water management, as rivers are more and more affected by climate change."
— Reed Benson, professor at the University of New Mexico School of Law
Why this matters:
At the heart of the dispute is how much water each state is entitled to under the compact, with Texas arguing that New Mexico has been using more than its fair share, thereby reducing flows into Texas. New Mexico contends it needs to balance its water use for agriculture, population growth, and environmental conservation. The states have attempted to find common ground through negotiations, but the underlying issues of water rights, usage, and conservation remain contentious.
In 2023, the federal government decided that while the Navajo Nation does have water rights, established by Winters Doctrine, it will not help the Nation assert those rights.
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Tensions rise in the Rio Grande basin as Mexico lags in water deliveries to the U.S.
In 2020, rebellious Mexican farmers occupied a dam in parched Chihuahua state to prevent the federal government from sending its reservoir water to Texas under a 1944 treaty. With the clock ticking toward another treaty deadline, the two sides are struggling for a solution.
‘Not an object to be bartered,’ the Rio Grande is lifeblood for the land
As New Mexico’s largest river dries, pueblos work to preserve it — and to establish their rights.
New Mexico farmers face a choice: Pray for rain or get paid not to plant
With irrigation scarce, New Mexico is paying farmers to let their fields lie fallow. But some are choosing instead to bet on the monsoon season.
As Rio Grande shrinks, El Paso plans for uncertain water future
With a megadrought persisting in the Southwest, El Paso and other cities on the Rio Grande are scrambling to find alternative sources of water and are turning to innovative approaches — desalination, transporting water via pipelines, and “toilet-to-tap” wastewater recycling.
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