Latest news with #RioGrandeCompact
Yahoo
05-08-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
What Happens When The Rio Grande Runs Dry?
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – The Rio Grande is dry in the metro again, for only the second time in 40 years. With New Mexico already in a 'water debt' to Texas under the Rio Grande Compact, what does this mean for farmers, crops, and the local drinking water supply? This week on the New Mexico News Insiders Podcast, Chris and Gabby wade through the complexities with Jason Casuga, Chief Engineer and CEO of the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District. He breaks down restrictions surrounding local storage of water supply, the terms of the Rio Grande Compact, and what a dry river means for future infrastructure and livelihoods. When it comes to the Compact, 'It should not be viewed as Texas taking New Mexico's water, I think it needs to be understood that New Mexico willingly entered into this agreement,' Casuga explains. 'And if we as New Mexico don't faithfully honor that, then it begs the question, should Colorado honor their portion of the compact?' Casuga also clears up some misconceptions about the current water shortage in New Mexico. 'I've had people tell me, 'Jason, I have this water right, you have to find me the water.' And my answer back to them is, 'Well, a water right is a legal right to use water when it's available, but if the water available is zero, the amount of water you get from that right is zero.'' Listen to the full conversation above to learn more about New Mexico's water management system, and the tough conversations taking place behind the scenes. Stay informed with the latest news by subscribing to the New Mexico News Insiders podcast wherever you listen. Download new episodes of the New Mexico News Insiders every Tuesday, starting around 5:30 a.m., Mountain time. Episodes are available on most podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Podbean, among others. You can also watch our podcasts in video form, both on-air and online. Tune in to an abbreviated version of the New Mexico News Insiders podcast on broadcast television every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. on Fox New Mexico. Full video episodes are posted on KRQE's YouTube page at Having trouble finding the show? Try searching your favorite podcast player with the term 'KRQE' or 'New Mexico News Insiders' (without the quotes). You can also use the links above to find the podcast on each service or listen to the audio player at the top of this post. If you have a question, comment, or suggestion for who should be interviewed on the podcast, let us know! Email your hosts at or Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Possible settlement reached in long-running Rio Grande dispute
Mule deer pick their way through the Rio Grande at below Percha Dam at Caballo Reservoir in May 28, 2022. On Monday, parties in the long-running dispute over Rio Grande water said there is a possible resolution in the 12-year-old Supreme Court case.(Diana Cervantes for Source NM) Parties in a 12-year-old legal fight over Rio Grande water on Monday told the federal judge supervising the case for the U.S. Supreme Court that a potential settlement has been reached. The dispute, officially titled Original No. 141 Texas v. New Mexico and Colorado, came to a head in 2024, when U.S. Supreme Court justices struck down a deal proposed by New Mexico, Colorado and Texas to end the litigation. SCOTUS, — in a close 5-4 decision — sided with the federal government's objections that the states' deal unfairly excluded the 'unique federal interests,' and sent the parties back to settlement talks, or potentially back to court. In fact, the parties had been scheduled for a June 9 trial in Philadelphia, while still in talks. On Monday, attorneys for both the core parties told the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit Chief Judge D. Brooks Smith they are 'cautiously optimistic' the case may be resolved in coming months, and promised more details to come. Jeff Wechsler, the lead attorney representing New Mexico, told the court during a status hearing on Monday he expected documents related to the agreement to be signed later in the afternoon, with subsequent paperwork later this week. He also requested, on behalf of all the parties, for the court to cancel the June 9 trial date and instead schedule a hearing for later this year. 'Our intent with the request for the hearing is to provide you with everything you need to understand the agreement,' Wechsler said. Smith serves as the special master for the case, and is charged with overseeing the case and issuing reports for the U.S. Supreme Court, which has final approval over interstate water lawsuits and settlements. Smith commended the parties and mediator, retired federal Magistrate Judge Arthur Boylan, for the 'progress made in this very lengthy litigation.' The case has changed dramatically since it was first brought to court. In 2013, The state of Texas alleged New Mexico pumping diverted Rio Grande water owed to Texas under an 86-year old agreement: the 1939 Rio Grande Compact, a legal document for splitting the river's water between Colorado, New Mexico and Texas. A compact violation between states can only be addressed in the nation's highest court. In 2018, SCOTUS allowed the federal government — which operates a network of dams, and nearly 140 miles of irrigation canals to deliver water to two irrigation districts in the region and Mexico — to join the case as a party. The federal government used similar arguments as Texas: that New Mexico groundwater pumping threatened irrigation and treaty interests. But alliances reshaped themselves in recent years. In 2022, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas proposed a deal to measure Texas' water at the state line and include transfers of water between New Mexico and Texas irrigation districts to balance out shortfalls, which the federal government opposed. It appeared those lines of contention broke down in the most recent negotiations. 'The parties did a good job negotiating in good faith and bridging the gaps on the difficult issues,' said Thomas Snodgrass, a senior attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice representing the federal government. Some concerns remain for the City of Las Cruces, one of the 12 organizations not a party to the lawsuit that has filed so-called 'friend of the court' (amicus curiae) briefs in the case. Jay Stein, an attorney for the City of Las Cruces, said the state's second-largest city may not sign the current terms because the current agreement leaves the city 'uncertain' on the issues of municipal supply. Wechsler said amici approval is not required to move the agreement forward — it only requires the sign-off of the three states and the federal government — but said that the State of New Mexico 'believes there is a path forward in resolving these issues,' with Las Cruces to prevent further litigation. Boylan, the mediator in the case, thanked parties for the 'Herculean efforts' to settle the case and said he would continue mediation to address pending issues. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
