Trinity River Authority v. Texas Water Rights Commission

O’QUINN, Justice.

This controversy began in February of 1970 with the filing of an application with the Texas Water Rights Commission by J. T. White and more than one hundred other rice farmers in Chambers, Liberty, and Jefferson Counties, whose farm lands are watered by the Devers canal system operated by the Trinity River Authority, requesting the Commission to fix reasonable rates for furnishing water for the crop years of 1970 and thereafter.

After hearing, the Commission, in July of 1971, denied relief to the petitioning rice farmers for the crop years 1970 and 1971, finding that a flat…