Water plan debated
Northeast Texas residents cite opposition to proposed Nichols Dam

By DAVY MOSELEY | East Texas Edition

Elizabeth Farmer, one of the several who commented during the recent public hearing on the state's proposed water plan, cited a great deal of bottled water comes from the Dallas area and that the companies should not tap into Northeast Texas reservoirs for their gain. -Staff photo by Moseley

November 1, 2001 -- Unanimous opposition to a proposed reservoir in Northeast Texas was voiced at a Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) public comment hearing in Mount Pleasant on Oct. 23.

The event, one of a series of public comment hearings in the area, was intended to inform the public about the State Water Plan in its draft form and to provide an opportunity for public concerns to be voiced and considered for the final State Water Plan, Water for Texas 2002, slated for final adoption by the TWDB Dec. 12.

Bill Mulican, director of TWDB water resources planning division, outlined the draft State Water Plan

Mulican explained that the State Water Plan is a includes a compilation of the 16 regional water planning districts, and major policy and legislative recommendations.

The three primary functions of the TWDB are to collect water data, assist regional water planning and prepare the state water plan, and finance water-related infrastructure projects.

There are 20.8 million people in Texas presently. By 2050, that number will have increased to 39.6 million. "These numbers are important, because if nothing changes in the way we use water in the next 50 years, that is a 90 percent increase in the amount of water that will be consumed," Mulican said.

Water is not a dry issue right now. One of the hottest issues surrounding the draft State Water Plan is the proposed Marvin Nichols Dam Reservoir in state water planning Region D. The Reservoir will occupy Red, Franklin, Titus and Morris counties along the Sulphur River.

The Marvin Nichols project has been recommended by regional water planning groups and the TWDB in its 50-year plan to provide the municipal water needs of the Dallas Metroplex. The project would be scheduled for construction between 2020 to 2030. The reservoir is expected to cover 72,000 acres and provide, by pipeline, 161 billion gallons of water a year for the Dallas-Fort Worth area, 172 miles away.

Mac Shumake of Dekalb, a landowner and citizen leader cooperating with the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) said, "I don't see the need to put property that's used for farming, logging, hunting, and fishing under water just so folks in Dallas can water their lawn." He made it publicly known at the hearing that he is opposed to the Marvin Nichols project.

NWF Water Resources Scientist Dr. Norman Johns said rivers, streams and aquifers in Texas are already stressed. "We've got to get serious about conserving water," said Johns. "For example, if the major cities in the Dallas-Fort Worth area would bring their water usage down to the level of other major Texas cities, the so-called 'need' for Marvin Nichols Dam would evaporate."

The proposed Marvin Nichols Dam topped the list in a NWF report highlighting proposed projects in the draft State Water Plan. According to NWF, the six highlighted projects would damage the environment, harm fish and wildlife resources and rural economies, and waste billions of taxpayers dollars. The featured projects and their estimated costs according to NWF are:

1. Marvin Nichols 1 Dam Reservoir - $1.7 billion

2. Lower Colorado River Pipeline - $800 million to $1 billion

3. Little River Dam Reservoir - $361 million

4. Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer Withdrawal - $332 million

5. Brownsville Weir - $81 million

6. Gulf Coast Aquifer Withdrawals - $38 million

Total - $3.5 billion

Mulican pointed out that despite public unfavor towards TWDB over projects such as the Marvin Nichols Dam, it was the regional water planning committees that included the projects in their regional water plans.

Richard LaTerno was on the Region D water planning committee. "I'm frustrated with the entire planning process. What we looked at was where can we designate a reservoir site. I am against large, main-stem reservoirs. I am for proposing Prairie Creek Reservoir, a smaller reservoir with a pipeline from Toledo Bend Reservoir that goes to Dallas. This plan won't take land or homes, and will have fewer environmental impacts. I am very frustrated (with the draft State Water Plan). There are alternatives. No one has to lose their land."

Sharing photographs of his land, Dickie Dalby, a Northeast Texas resident whose land is within the proposed Marvin Nichols site, said, " I'm riled up over this. The land where my place is has been described (by TWDB) as worthless bottomland. I submit to you that it is priceless heritage and I don't want it to go down the drain."

Elizabeth Farmer, another concerned Northeast Texas resident, reasoned with those in attendance why the Dallas area could not meet their own water needs with sources already available to them."

"I buy bottled water for making coffee. When I was in the grocery store the other day, I read the label on the bottled water I had put in my cart. The label said it came from a spring in (the Dallas area). I did my homework and discovered that just this one spring pumps 100,000 gallons of water per day and supplies their product to (several major grocer, and convenient store chains)." Farmer asked why Dallas could not take advantage of such springs in their area to meet their water needs, and why Northeast Texas residents must settle for only 20 percent of the spoils of Marvin Nichols Dam, while shouldering 100 percent of the losses.

Water for Texas - 2002 is the first State Water Plan to be developed by the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) since the passage of Senate Bill 1 during the 1997 Texas legislative session.

SB 1 changed the way water planning is to be accomplished in Texas. It developed a planning process based on public participation at each step of the planning and local decision making when producing the regional plans.

During the public comment period, which ends Nov. 12, the TWDB has scheduled 26 public meetings in 16 cities.

Until Nov. 12, comments on the draft State Water Plan may be emailed to phyllis.thomas@twdb.state.tx.us; mailed to the Texas Water Development Board, P. O. Box 13231, Austin, TX 78711-3231; or faxed: (512)463-9893.