Region's water sources hot topic

By LYNN MONTGOMERY | East Texas Edition

Dec. 16, 2004 - The main issue cited during a Dec. 9 public forum centered on Northeast Texas' water sources, and the plans for it.

Some members of the North East Texas Regional Water Planning Group (NETRWPG), along with Texas Water Development Board's (TWDB) Bob Mulligan, the deputy executive administrator for the office of planning, heard from concerned citizens during the forum held after the monthly NETRWPG meeting in Gilmer.

The forum allowed the NETRWPG board and TWDB representatives to "receive information from the public concerning issues of interest in the regional planning process."

"Honest answers and honest questions is all we ask," stated Max Shumake of DeKalb. "Northeast Texas is the Saudia Arabia of Texas (because of the amount of rainfall it receives). We were told if we found the water (for the metroplex), Marvin Nichols would go away."

Shumake added, "At some point, in the future, the whole world will have to go to the ocean (for water.) We need to look at the future, that's worth a future."

David Nabors of Paris commented, "There are 2.7 billion-acre feet of brackish (somewhat salty) water in Texas. Of that 2.7 billion, 55.7 million-acres are in the 16 counties of Region D." An artesian well would qualify as brackish water. The cost to capture and clean the water would be 45 cents per thousand gallons.

Nabors stated the board should share "everything to the public. I'm tired of nobody on this board asking questions. Help us protect our farm lands."

Not everyone who attended the public forum was happy with the NETRWPG board.

"I believe every board member should have had to stay for this meeting," said Cuthand resident Patricia McKelvey after many of the (NETRWPG?) board's 23 voting members had left.

Property rights was also an issue brought out at the public forum, especially after the board was involved in a lengthy conversation during their meeting, prior to the forum, about the proposed Hearts Bluff Mitigation Bank (HBMB).

A public notice, prepared by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and dated Sept. 30, stated the 1,387-acre HBMB, if created, would "enhance and protect approximately 1,387 acres of the Sulphur River flood plain by halting destructive land use practices, restoring the previously degraded aquatic ecosystem, enhancing the existing aquatic ecosystem, and preserving and protecting these and adjacent upland acres on the tract," according to the applicants Billy and Bobby Lide.

The tract is "comprised almost entirely of wetlands adjacent to the Sulphur River (all waters of the United States) and a small upland (non-wetland) area that is surrounded by wetlands, both within and outside of the proposed HBMB tract. The entire bank would be managed as a natural area in perpetuity with additional protection provided through deed restriction," according to the public notice.

Opposition to the formation of the HBMB, including several water supply agencies, has been sent, in the form of letters, to the USACE. The opposition cites the location of the HBMB as their concern.

The public notice states "the mitigation bank is located in an area that is within the impoundment area for the proposed Marvin Nichols Reservoir."

Lide addressed this issue during the property rights section of the public forum. He read the "note" section of the public notice which states: "The Marvin Nichols site was recommended by the Texas Water Development Board as one of 33 sites to be designated as 'unique reservoir sites' by the Texas Legislature; however the Texas Legislature has not designated the Marvin Nichols site a 'unique reservoir site.' Once a site is designated, state agencies and political subdivisions are prohibited from obtaining a fee title or easement that would significantly prevent the construction of a reservoir at that site. To date, the USACE is unaware of any acquisition of land to facilitate the development of a reservoir in the subject area and has not received a permit application for the proposed Marvin Nichols reservoir."

Lide concluded by stating, "You don't want Marvin Nichols? Contact your legislators."

The next NETRWPG meeting is scheduled for Jan.19, 2 p.m., in Mount Pleasant.