Future Water Wars: Importation May Meet Resistance

Read David Barer's story below

Rural Texas counties fear cities’ thirst after water fund vote
by DAVID BARER The Dallas Morning News Austin Bureau

dbarer@dallasnews.com

Updated: 30 November 2013

AUSTIN — Most Texas counties said yes to big spending on water projects in this month’s constitutional amendment election. But in rural Texas, a few counties held out, wary of big-city thirst sucking them dry. (see map)

The clusters of opposing counties share a common denominator: They’re uniquely able to produce water and relatively close to cities in need. Now, they fear, their needs will be sacrificed to maintain Texas’ economic growth and population boom.

The counties’ dissent highlights the coming battle between big cities like Dallas and the rural areas with water to spare.


The water funding measure, approved by nearly three-quarters of voters statewide, will move $2 billion from the rainy day fund into a new water bank to help finance projects, such as dams, pipelines and conservation endeavors. A revamped Water Development Board plans to prioritize projects from the 50-year state water plan starting in mid-September and should begin receiving applications for funding and disbursing money in 2015.

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Here's the map:




Note Hudspeth County, a potential site for importing water to El Paso. Hudspeth said "NO" to the amendment. Think that water will leave there without a fight?

Hudspeth sits atop the West Texas Aquifers

Also on the aquifer are EPWU interests at Capitan Reef Farms and Wild Horse Ranch in Culberson County and Antelope Valley Ranch in Jeff Davis County. Something tells me though, that, long before importation, opposition will form even in the counties that said "yes" to big spending on water projects. (Do know that Prop 6 was approved by over 70% of voters in Culberson County but by only 52% of voters in Jeff Davis.)

I'm just thinking out loud. But there must be other strategies besides importation and now is the time to start thinking about them.