The Latest Red River Rivalry: The Supreme Court's Recent Decision Regarding the Red River Compact

On June 13, 2013, the United States Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision in a Red River Rivalry with much greater implications than the annual football game. In Tarrant Regional Water District v. Herrmann, the court sided entirely with Oklahoma in that states dispute with Texas over the allocation of Red River water. This decision will have considerable impact on Texas ability to meet its ever-growing water needs. Moreover, the decision could be consequential for other interstate water compacts and the states relying on the rivers and tributaries governed by those agreements.

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