The Obama administration is urging the U.S. Supreme Court to take a middle-ground approach on a water dispute between Texas and New Mexico over management of the Rio Grande.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that a brief filed Tuesday by the U.S. Solicitor General's office says the Supreme Court should take up the case as Texas wants but also adopt a procedural approach that gives New Mexico a chance to quickly get decisions on key issues and try to get the case dismissed.
Texas contends that groundwater pumping in southern New Mexico means Texas water users are being deprived of Rio Grande water.
New Mexico argues that Texas is getting what's required under a compact between the states and that the Supreme Court should let other courts consider the dispute.
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