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Texas-New Mexico Water Feud Goes To Supreme Court

Texas has filed a complaint with the U.S. Supreme Court in its dispute with New Mexico over water from the Rio Grande.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality says the litigation was filed Tuesday after negotiations with New Mexico were unsuccessful. The agency says New Mexico is violating the 1938 Rio Grande Compact that governs how water is shared by Texas, New Mexico and Colorado.

Texas accuses New Mexico of allowing illegal diversions of surface and underground water. Officials say those diversions take away water from Texas farmers and residents in El Paso.

Texas officials say they tried to negotiate a solution earlier, only to have New Mexico initiate legal action in state and federal court in 2008.

Officials in New Mexico did not immediately return a message seeking comment.