In a move to reduce the state’s susceptibility to recurring drought, Texas has asked Louisiana to consider selling a portion of their water supply. Now, Louisiana has approved a measure to begin studying that very idea.
Earlier this month, the Louisiana’s Water Resources Commission approved a proposal to study selling water to parts of neighboring Texas, a state where population growth in many areas has exceeded or strained their existing water sources. Speaking with Texas Public Radio (TPR), Robert Mace, chief water policy advisor for Meadows Center on Water and Environment at Texas State University cited the interest among Texas communities to import water from outside the state.[1]
“There’s communities in the western half of the state that have a greater need for water than communities in the eastern half of the state, and then there is definitely a need for water for future growth along the ‘I-35 Future Growth Corridor’, i.e., Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, and San Antonio.”[2]
Marc Davis, a member of Louisiana’s Water Resources Commission highlighted the importance understanding Louisiana’s supply, and not to over-extend its natural resource.
“Louisiana’s ecology, culture, and economy are fundamentally tied up with water and wetlands. One way or another, Louisiana’s water is becoming more of a prized commodity,” Davis said in the interview with TPR.[3]
Texas lawmakers are also planning to meet with state representatives from Arkansas and Oklahoma to determine if a similar out-of-state water supply sale can be arranged.[4]
[1] Poppe, Ryan. Louisiana to study interstate water sales to parched Texas communities. December 13, 2017. Web. http://tpr.org/post/louisiana-study-interstate-water-sales-parched-texas-communities
[2] Poppe. Louisiana to study interstate water sales to parched Texas communities. http://tpr.org/post/louisiana-study-interstate-water-sales-parched-texas-communities
[3] Poppe. Louisiana to study interstate water sales to parched Texas communities. http://tpr.org/post/louisiana-study-interstate-water-sales-parched-texas-communities
[4] Baurick. Louisiana may sell water to drought-stricken Texas. http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2017/12/louisiana_exploring_idea_of_se.html
Picture Reference: Katie Haugland Bowen