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New Mexico: West Texas is Stealing Our Water

2,883 Views | 4 Replies | Last: 5 yr ago by Predmid
UTExan
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New Mexico officials are accusing Texans of drilling wells near the state line and pumping out fresh water with a view to selling it on the open market. It rankles New Mexico because:


Quote:

...on the Texas side, where the "rule of capture" rules groundwater policy, people basically can pump water from beneath their land to their heart's content. But on the New Mexico side, the state has imposed tight regulations on both surface and groundwater that restrict supply.Now a top New Mexico politician is crying foul, saying that unregulated pumping from wells next to the state line is depleting the shared aquifers that supply water to southern New Mexico.

........
"Texas is stealing New Mexico's water," said New Mexico State Land Commissioner Aubrey Dunn. "If you put a whole bunch of straws in Texas and you don't have any straws in New Mexico, you're sucking all the water from under New Mexico out in Texas and then selling it back to New Mexico."
The difference in ownership of land in the two states contributes to the divergent water policies. In Texas, more than 90 percent of the land is privately owned. In New Mexico, by contrast, only 43 percent is owned by individuals, while 57 percent is in government or tribal hands.

https://www.gosanangelo.com/story/news/local/texas/2018/06/09/texans-accused-stealing-millions-gallons-water/687316002/
Maybe a lengthy court battle to follow?
LoudestWHOOP!
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AG
New Mexico has been making these claims at least since I lived in Albuquerque in the early 1990s, probably longer. The Rio Grande flows through Albuquerque into Texas.

News Flash for New Mexicans - Water flows down hill.

Regarding the article it seems like New Mexico should consider pumping the water then selling it to Texas.
Predmid
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AG
Maybe if New Mexico ever fulfills their obligations on the pecos river, we'll stop.
pinche gringo
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AG
Predmid said:

Maybe if New Mexico ever fulfills their obligations on the pecos river, we'll stop.


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Predmid
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AG
There is a long and storied dispute between Texas & New Mexico regarding the impoundment of water on the Pecos River.

New Mexico has numerous dams and diversions in place to support agriculture in the area, as does Texas.

There have been numerous agreements, treaties, and other implements in place over the last century regarding how much water New Mexico is required to pass through vs. impounding/diverting.

Texas has always avered that they have not met their obligations on pass through water.

New Mexico kindly tells Texas to shove it.


Now federal treaties are being affected by it regarding water flowing into the Rio Grande and a case was heard at the supreme court in January.

I do not know the results of the hearing as of yet, but suffice to say there are a lot of bitter farmers in west texas that hate New Mexico for boggarting all the water.

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