New Mexico, Texas, and Colorado have reached a settlement in a longstanding legal dispute over water rights in the Rio Grande. The states, along with the United States, filed a package of settlement agreements with the Special Master in the U.S. Supreme Court case Texas v New Mexico and Colorado. This move aims to resolve over ten years of litigation concerning interstate water use.
The agreements involve participation from irrigation districts in both New Mexico and Texas. They are designed to help the states implement sustainable long-term compliance with the Rio Grande Compact and manage water resources effectively in the Lower Rio Grande region. The U.S. Supreme Court's Special Master will review these agreements at a hearing scheduled for September 29 in Philadelphia. Afterward, he will report his findings and make recommendations to the U.S. Supreme Court, which will ultimately decide on the case.
If approved by the court, this settlement is expected to provide certainty for water users in New Mexico and Texas, supporting local communities and economies along the Lower Rio Grande. Attorney General Raul Torrez said that "this settlement brings an end to more than a decade of costly and contentious litigation" while ensuring compliance with the Rio Grande Compact.
New Mexico State Engineer Elizabeth Anderson emphasized that "this historic settlement allows New Mexico to maintain control of our water uses" and offers flexibility in meeting Compact requirements. The agreement reflects input from local water users and incorporates sound management strategies for reliability throughout the basin, according to Hannah Riseley-White of the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission.
The Rio Grande serves approximately six million people across Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, and into 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.
More information about this development can be found on KOB4's website: KOB4.
Information from this article can be found here.
