Firms hired for Nichols Reservoir research

By LYNN MONTGOMERY | East Texas Edition

July 4, 2002 -- The Sulphur River Basin Authority (SRBA) entered into a formal contract with the Sulphur Basin Group on July 25 during the monthly SRBA meeting in Mount Pleasant.

The Sulphur Basin Group consists of engineering firms Murray, Thomas, and Griffin from Texarkana, and Freese and Nichols from Dallas/Fort Worth.

With the contract approval, the SRBA can begin actual studies concerning the proposed Marvin Nichols Reservoir, and the first step towards acquiring a permit for the lake.

The first-year studies will expand on the economic feasibility of Marvin Nichols.

"The contract study is set-up to be done in task orders," said Robert Murray with the Sulphur Basin Group. "Task one consists of site selection surveys which will give the Sulphur River Basin Authority the capability to make a good decision over the particular site selected."

The site selection is to compare varying costs: cost of relocation of roads, utility lines, oil fields, timber, people, etc.

The economic feasibilities will be subcontracted to Dr. Bernard Weinstein, a professor of economics at the University of North Texas. He will study the economic and physical impact, both negative and positive, of the project, according to Murray.

The group will also study soil erosion, environmental impact, and initiate a community relations program.

The contract cost for the first physical year is $210,000, and $1,050,000 is projected for the next year, according to Mike Burke, SRBA administrator. The total cost is unknown.

The board also allowed a 15-minute public comment period during the July 25 meeting.

David Neighbors, from Paris, asked if this engineering firm would do any studies on the massive log jam on the upper Sulphur River.

"We will do anything we can to help get that resolve," said Mike Huddleston, president of the SRBA.

"As the Sulphur River Authority, you have more power to get some of these problems solved than I would as an individual," Neighbors stated. "This is a problem now, not five years from now, but now."

"One of the things we can do," Huddleston said, "is to meet with (farmers on the upper Sulphur) to get a good understanding on what you are talking about. You guys live there and know what some of the problems are. We need that information and if we can work it in to solve the problem now, then it is certainly going to help us in the future."

Billie Scoggins Lindsey invited the board to come look at the log jam. "If something is not done now, we will not being using Highway 37," she said.

"What needs to be done, (can be addressed), and we, as a board can certainly get behind you and start writing," Huddleston responded. "Yes, we should carry some weight. Should; but we need to be contacting the congressmen and senators and saying this is a major problem. We will take the lead in that from the SRBA stand point and do everything we can to try to get some attention to the Sulphur River."

Another question involved explaining the basis for determining the need for the Marvin Nichols reservoir.

Huddleston explained the board is obligated to consider the reservoir as an option because it is part of the state water plan.

"It may come to a point where Marvin Nichols is never built," said Huddleston. "I don't think there is a person in this room that can guarantee that it will be built. We have to start planning now. You can't just run out and build a lake overnight. It's going to take 15 to 20 years."

Other business discussed at the meeting was authorizing the president to lease a 900-square foot office space located at 911 N. Bishop Street in Wake Village. (The SRBA has been located in Texarkana, Ark.) Also, the replacement for a new board member is still in the hands of the governor, according to Huddleston. The next meeting will be 1:30 p.m. July 30, at the Mount Pleasant Civic Center.