Texas just got even bigger after Lone Star State clawed back a corner of Oklahoma
Texas and Oklahoma officials reached an agreement to redraw their state borders and return some land to the Lone Star State.
The new boundary adds 1.34 acres of land on Lake Texoma – including the North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) pumping station – to Texas.
In return, an equal area of 1.34 acres southeast of the pumping station was given to Oklahoma.
Placing the water pump in Texas territory will ensure the safety and availability of approximately 30 percent of the drinking water supply for more than 2 million people in that area, the report said. Texas General Land Office.
“This redrawn boundary line will ensure that millions of North Texans’ water comes from a safe source in Texas,” said Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham.
The controversy over the 1.34 hectares of land dates back to the 2000 redrawing of the Oklahoma and Texas state lines. NTMWD said.
Texas has reclaimed a corner of Lake Texoma (pictured) in its new state border
Texas and Oklahoma exchanged 1.34 hectares of land when redrawing their borders
The agency draws water from Lake Texoma through the Texoma Pump Station, built in 1989, within the Texas border on the southeast side of the lake.
In 2000, the pump was incorrectly placed on the Oklahoma side during the redrawing of the state line.
In 2009, zebra mussels were discovered in the lake – an invasive species with devastating economic, recreational and ecological impacts, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife.
This brought pumping operations to a halt and officials discovered that the station was actually on the Oklahoma side, meaning it violates the Lacey Act, which prevents the transport of invasive species across state lines.
A Congressional exemption from the Lacey Act allowed NTMWD to restore pumping from Lake Texoma in 2014.
The new boundary adds 1.34 acres of land on Lake Texoma — including the North Texas Municipal Water District pumping station (photo) — to Texas
Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham (pictured) said this measure will ensure millions of people in that area have access to drinking water
On October 30, the Red River Boundary Commission, made up of commissions from Texas and Oklahoma, implemented the Amended and Restated Texoma Area Boundary Agreement to correct the boundary problem.
“We are pleased to have reached an agreement with our partners in Oklahoma that will ensure the continued use of our Lake Texoma pumping station to supply water to our rapidly growing service area,” said Jenna Covington, executive director and general manager of North Texas Municipal Water. Neighborhood.
“This agreement ensures a vital water supply for the region as Lake Texoma accounts for approximately 20 percent of NTMWD’s permitted water supply, which serves more than two million North Texans.”