New Mexico, Texas, Colorado, and the United States have filed a package of settlement agreements with the Special Master in the U.S. Supreme Court case Texas v. New Mexico and Colorado. This filing requests the dismissal of the case that has been ongoing for over a decade concerning interstate water disputes. The agreements were created with input from relevant irrigation districts in both New Mexico and Texas.
The U.S. Supreme Court's Special Master will review these settlement agreements during a hearing in Philadelphia on September 29. Following this, the Special Master will report his findings and make recommendations to the U.S. Supreme Court, which will ultimately decide on the matter.
If approved by the court, this settlement aims to provide certainty for water users in New Mexico and Texas, ensuring local communities and economies in the Lower Rio Grande can continue to thrive. Attorney General Raul Torrez expressed that "this settlement brings an end to more than a decade of costly and contentious litigation" and marks "a significant milestone for our communities, our farmers, and for the future of water management in the basin."
Elizabeth Anderson, New Mexico State Engineer, noted that this historic settlement allows New Mexico to maintain control over its water uses while adding flexibility to meet Compact requirements. She emphasized collaboration with local water users, other states, and federal entities as key to crafting a solution meeting all parties' needs.
Hannah Riseley-White from the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission highlighted that "the settlement reflects input from New Mexico water users" and implements effective water management strategies for reliable outcomes across communities throughout the Rio Grande Basin.
The Rio Grande is crucial as it provides water to about six million people across Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, and even extends into parts of Mexico. The dispute between Texas and New Mexico originated in 2013; however, a related case filed by New Mexico against the United States in 2011 will also be dismissed due to this settlement.
Information from this article can be found here.
