Supreme Court rejects Rio Grande settlement
The Supreme Court on Friday rejected a state-authored settlement in the long-running legal battle over the waters of the Rio Grande, siding with the Biden administration’s objections to the deal. The court ruled 5-4 to rebuff the proposed settlement among the three Western states named in Texas v. New Mexico and Colorado over how to account for water use in the Rio Grande Basin. Legal observers have suggested the court’s decision could potentially grant the federal government new power to control the flow of water in drought-stricken regions — including the Colorado River Basin — by requiring states to seek the agreement of federal water managers when settling intra-basin disputes.
Related articles:
- Eos: Potential relief for the Colorado River’s near future
- Water Hub: Briefing: Community-led infrastructure in the Colorado River Basin
- Craig Press: With a little help from its friends, Yampa River garners outstanding designation, protection
- News release: Biden-Harris administration delivers additional $43 million for rural water projects, as part of Investing in America Agenda