Coastal Industrial Water Authority v. Houston Lighting & Power Co.

J. CURTISS BROWN, Chief Justice.

This is an appeal from an order temporarily enjoining the condemnation of an easement for public use.

The Coastal Industrial Water Authority (CIWA or appellant) is a governmental agency of the State of Texas. CIWA was created to prevent the depletion of underground water supplies, and resulting land subsidence, in Liberty, Chambers and Harris Counties. It attempts to prevent the depletion of underground water by agricultural and industrial users by supplying surface water from the Trinity River to those users. In order to transport surface water from the Trinity…