Texas, a huge state that straddles the arid west and the humid east, is having a quiet war over water. This war, which is taking place behind the scenes and off the record, could siphon away water needed for aquatic nurseries used by shrimp, crabs, oysters and scallops as well as fish sought for commercial and recreational fishing.

Some cities and special districts are trying to reserve huge quantities of water to serve fast-growing metropolitan areas. Ground water has been the traditional source of municipal supplies, but as water tables decline, cities need to use surface water. Consequently, there is a rush to acquire and hoard the last of the state’s visible water—what’s left in rivers, lakes, streams and bayous—that winds its way toward the Gulf of Mexico. How is this being done? Surface water is divvied up by state permits, known as water rights, which can be bought, sold, leased or traded.

There are no permits, however, for environmental or recreational uses of water, such as boating, fishing, swimming and wildlife habitats. Almost all commercial fish and shellfish in the Gulf rely on freshwater inflows from the rivers, streams and bayous for some stage of their lives. If these inflows are shut off or diminished, fish and shellfish will disappear—along with billions of dollars in revenue and thousands of jobs. Our valuable coastal resources would be compromised for the state’s drier regions—where they need to conserve water more than they are doing now.

We need your help to stop this "water grab." Many groups are calling for at least a three-year moratorium on issuing permits. We are also asking for a special panel of experts to evaluate the complex computer programs on which permits are decided.

We need you to call or write your state officials. Here are some key names and addresses, but all members of the Texas Legislature need to hear from us. Your phone call or letter will make difference. If you aren’t sure who your elected officials are, call your county registrar of voters.

"Whiskey is for drinking. Water is for fighting." - Mark Twain