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A West Texas pecan farm fights to save its water supply as neighbors sell it to growing cities

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Summary
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85% Informative

Each year , the farm produces 5 million pounds of the iconic Texas nut.

The farm sits atop a reservoir of underground water used to produce the pecans since the 1960s .

Fort Stockton Holdings , for years , has sought to sell its share of the water to West Texas ’ growing cities.

By 2060 , Texas is expected to add up to 14 million more people, according to a study.

Texas has a long history of private property rights, which includes water.

As the state’s population has grown, larger cities have turned to rural landowners to buy their water.

Groundwater conservation districts, like Middle Pecos , can act as an arbiter.

Belding Farms sued the groundwater district, which controls permits for export agreements.

In Pecos County , 4,000 wells tap into the Edwards-Trinity aquifer.

One hundred wells make up the majority of the water use, including Fort Stockton Holdings , Belding Farms.