Texas v. Oklahoma water lawsuit dismissed

The Texas water district claimed Oklahoma's water law was unconstitutional. It filed a lawsuit against the Oklahoma Water Resources Board to allow it access to waters within Oklahoma's borders.

"The judge said our statute does not violate the commerce or supremacy clauses of the U.S. Constitution regarding waters subject to the Red River Compact," Edmondson said. "The judge agreed with our argument that our statute is constitutionally sound."

The Texas water district could appeal the ruling.

"While we welcome this ruling," Edmondson said, "the water wars will continue for a number of years. We will wait for Tarrant to take its next step and in the meantime we look forward to the completion of Oklahoma's comprehensive water plan."

The attorney general is fighting a similar federal lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The city of Hugo wants to sell Oklahoma water to the city of Irving, Texas.

Edmondson said today's ruling serves to bolster the state's position in that suit as well.