The Big Bend of Texas is a border region renown for its desert landscapes and tranquility.

But parts of it lie within the oil-rich Permian Basin, the nation's highest producing oil field thanks to fracking technology. Now Mexico is drilling exploratory wells across the border from the Big Bend, saying it wants to start fracking operations there.

Of course, fracking requires water. And in the Big Bend, landowners are selling water for fracking —pitting conservationists against private property holders — who also consider themselves to be good stewards of the land.

From the Fronteras desk, Lorne Matalon reports.