Water War: Texas vs. New Mexico

The Rio Grande marks the boundary between Texas and Mexico. But further up the river, a different shared boundary is the source of a dispute between two states

By Alain StephensFebruary 16, 2017 5:28 pm,

Texas is saying that New Mexico has been shorting the state its share of the water from the Rio Grande. Texas is suing New Mexico in an effort to get its neighbor to pay up.

El Paso Times reporter Marty Schladen says this shortage is a big deal, especially in West Texas, because people are dependent upon that water — particularly in years of drought.

“All over Texas, water’s important, especially so in the far west part of Texas,” Schladen says. “They say that whiskey’s for drinking and water’s for fighting over.”

What you’ll hear in this segment

—The long history of water disputes between Texas and New Mexico.

—How Texas has been affected by the alleged water hijacking.

—How much could New Mexico end up owing the Lone Star State?

—Who the likely winner will be in this round of the Texas-New Mexico water war.

Written by Morgan O’Hanlon