Abbott Has Not Threatened to Take Over the NRA's Operations, Instead Placing Responsibility on Its Board

Abbott said city leaders "squandered" the opportunity and warned the state might "take over and micromanage that city. Meanwhile, the Nueces River Authority, whose 21-member board Abbott appoints, is also struggling. In late June, the agency learned funding for its separate desalination plant is months from running out, and it is spending more than it takes in.

Abbott has not threatened to take over the NRA's operations, instead placing responsibility on its board. He has previously used his authority to compel action, such as instructing another river authority not to reduce Corpus Christi's water allocation and waiving regulations for groundwater transfer. Political scientists say Abbott's selective pressure reflects a strategic use of power.

Recent rains have delayed but not prevented an emergency; if supplies drop, residents and businesses would face a 25% cut in water use, with household caps of 6,000 gallons monthly. "The city of Corpus Christi needs a lot of help, it doesn't need threats, and the Nueces River Authority is in way over its head, said Cal Jillson, a political science professor at Southern Methodist University.