Environmentalists up-in-arms over plan to sell river water

Many environmentalists, along with state, city and county leaders, are up in arms over a plan to take millions of gallons of water a day from the Rio Grande.

It's a plan by billionaire Clayton Willams to pump 40,000,000 gallons of groundwater from a watershed that feeds the river in Fort Stockton area to the city of Midland, Texas.

House Bill 4805 sets up the Texas Water Supply District near Midland International Airport.

It's good news for that city which has been looking for a new water source for decades but could be devastating for cities and towns along the Rio Grande.

The proposal would not only allow for the pumping of water out of the river, but also a $300,000 state loan to help pay for a pipeline from Fort Stockton to Midland.

Many border leaders plan a lawsuit if the plan moves forward.