Settlement Reached on Joint Management of Rio Grande Water Supply

A settlement has been reached between Texas, New Mexico, and the federal government regarding the joint management of the Rio Grande water supply after more than a decade of legal disputes. The agreement requires New Mexico to implement plans to reduce groundwater use and manage the state's water supply statewide. These requirements include drafting a long-term management plan for the Rio Grande within two years.

The settlement mandates that New Mexico reduce its groundwater use in the Lower Rio Grande Basin by 18,200 acre-feet per year. This reduction represents a decrease of approximately 6% of current pumping levels and must be achieved over the next decade. Compliance involves the buying and retiring of existing water rights in the state.