Faced with overwhelming opposition from rural citizens across Texas and State Senators Todd Staples and David Bernsen, Senate Natural Resources Committee Chairman Buster Brown pulled efforts to strip the junior water rights provision from current statute. Known as junior water rights, the provision in current law protects basins of origin against water transfers in times of drought. Without the provision, areas blessed with water resources could be held hostage by major metropolitan areas who have significantly greater financial resources.
Water is a basic necessity of life.
It should not be for sale to the highest bidder without regard for the needs of the area in which it originates. Maintaining the junior water rights provision is a win win situation for all of Texas.