ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas has joined forces with water users along the lower Rio Grande in hopes of finding a way to end the state's long-running dispute with Texas over management of the river.

Balderas indicated he's open to negotiating with the neighboring state, saying it's possible the case pending before the U.S. Supreme Court could drag out for years and sap even more legal resources.

Balderas met Wednesday with crop farmers, pecan growers, the city of Las Cruces and New Mexico State University in an effort to bring more stakeholders to the tab...