Texas Supreme Court Sides with Landowners

Burrell Day and Joel McDaniel sued the Edwards Aquifer Authority after it issued a permit limiting the amount of water they could pump from their Bexar County ranch. The two ranchers claimed the permit amounted to an unconstitutional taking of property without compensation. The high court sided with the landowners, saying they own the water beneath their land and may seek compensation if government regulations limit their access to it. Expect an increase in lawsuits from landowners who are denied pumping rights or are issued permits limiting the amount of water they may draw from wells.