Texas v. New Mexico, 592 U.S. ___ (2020), is a long-running United States Supreme Court case between the U.S. states of Texas and New Mexico regarding the Pecos River Compact.[1] It was decided on December 14, 2020.

Texas v. New Mexico
Argued October 5, 2020
Decided December 14, 2020
Full case nameTexas v. New Mexico
Docket no.22O65
Citations592 U.S. ___ (more)
ArgumentOral argument
Holding
  1. New Mexico's motion for credit for the evaporated water was not untimely.
  2. New Mexico is entitled to delivery credit for the evaporated water.
Court membership
Chief Justice
John Roberts
Associate Justices
Clarence Thomas · Stephen Breyer
Samuel Alito · Sonia Sotomayor
Elena Kagan · Neil Gorsuch
Brett Kavanaugh · Amy Coney Barrett
Case opinions
MajorityKavanaugh, joined by Roberts, Thomas, Breyer, Sotomayor, Kagan, Gorsuch
Concur/dissentAlito
Barrett took no part in the consideration or decision of the case.

Background

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In 2014, heavy rainfall brought by Tropical Storm Odile dumped large amounts of water into the Pecos River basin. This resulted in the Brantley Dam along the Pecos River being unable to hold all of the water and it was released downstream.[2] Texas then emptied 40,000 acre-feet of water from its Red Bluff Reservoir to accommodate the flow. New Mexico holds that the unused water counts toward Texas' allotment under the Pecos River Compact; Texas disputes this.

References

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  1. ^ "Texas v. New Mexico". SCOTUSblog. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  2. ^ "SUPREME COURT: Climate change unleashes interstate water wars". www.eenews.net. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
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