Texas Land Commissioner Buckingham redefines Texas-Oklahoma border to secure water safety for 2 million Texans.

The Texas Land Commissioner declared that the Red River Boundary Commission has revised the Texas-Oklahoma border to guarantee the safety of water for over 2 million Texans.

The redraw will provide approximately 30% of the drinking water supply for the surrounding area.

Commissioner Dawn Buckingham stated, "As Texas Land Commissioner, I am proud to represent all Texans and provide solutions that benefit our state. This new boundary line guarantees that millions of north Texans receive water from a reliable source within Texas."

"The surveying team of GLO has played a crucial role in resolving the boundary issue by utilizing their mapping skills and expertise. Since the inception of the GLO in 1836, surveying has been a vital component of this agency."

The move was prompted by a discovery in 2009 of a pump station that needed to stop operating to prevent the further introduction of Zebra mussels in Texas.

Mussels are thought to be harmed by power plants' efforts to remove them from clogged water intakes, which cost millions of dollars.

During the halt in operation, a query emerged about the location of the pump station. If the pump was situated in Oklahoma, operating it could infringe upon federal law that forbids the interstate transportation of zebra mussels.

The pump station that supplies drinking water to specific areas of north Texas was unintentionally constructed on the border between Texas and Oklahoma, according to the statement.

The Red River Boundary Commission, made up of Texas and Oklahoma, executed the Amended and Restated Texoma Area Boundary Agreement on October 30, 2024, to resolve the boundary issue and ensure that the pump station is entirely in Texas.