New Mexico gets water victory over Texas at U.S. Supreme Court
New Mexico has won a U.S. Supreme Court victory over Texas in a Pecos River water case, but State Engineer John D’Antonio said an even more critical matter — before the same court, against the same opponent — still looms in the coming year.
Though clearly pleased by the court’s 8-0 decision Monday in favor of New Mexico, D’Antonio acknowledged the second case, which pits New Mexico and Colorado against Texas, could be critical for the future of the lower Rio Grande and the farmers who live there.
“The way I cast it this morning was that this one was sort of the appetizer,” D’Antonio said. “The main course is coming, and that’s the lower Rio Grande. We prevailed in the appetizer round. Let’s see how we do in the main course.”
That case is 6 years old and claims New Mexico farmers have illegally pumped groundwater in Southern New Mexico near Elephant Butte Dam that would otherwise end up in El Paso and West Texas.
Read more: https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/new-mexico-gets-water-victory-over-texas-at-u-s-supreme-court/article_7cfd44aa-3e2f-11eb-87f0-ef3ed3c05bbb.html
Cross-posted in the Texas Group.