Bowie County commissioners took another stand against the proposed Marvin Nichols Reservoir this week as they passed a formal resolution voicing their opposition to the lake’s construction. The resolution adds Bowie County to the ever-growing list of those opposing the proposed construction of the massive reservoir in the Sulphur River Basin. That opposition includes District 1 State Representative Gary VanDeaver. Texas Governor Gregg Abbott also voiced his concerns about the project earlier this year.
The action by Bowie County leaders comes as the time period for those opposed to the reservoir to send comments to the Texas Water Development Board comes to an end. Comments to the TWDB in opposition to Marvin Nichols must be received by Thursday, December 1. To make your voice heard, send your comments to the TWDB at feasibility@ twdb.texas.gov In February, while doing an interview with CBS 19 in Tyler, the Texas Governor stated, ““There are water needs, whether it be in the Dallas area or even in the Tyler area,” Abbott said. “But what we must do, we must explore other options before we start taking people’s lands or flooding property that’s been around for literally centuries.”
Vandeaver is on record as stating, “Roughly 66,000 of private land would be used to build this reservoir, but at least an additional 130,000 acres of land [would be] taken out of production and out of private hands,” he said at the time. “This would make the proposed Marvin Nichols Reservoir one of the most expensive public works projects and one of the largest land grabs by eminent domain in Texas history.”
VanDeaver was instrumental in state lawmakers calling for a feasibility study on the proposed reservoir. That feasibility study is to include and analysis of the implementation timeline, associated costs, land acquisition considerations, and the economic impact of the proposed reservoir. He posted a Youtube video this past week urging his constituents to take advantage of the opportunity to send comments to the TWDB. That video can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=_kvjR3Dw3J8 When HB1 was passed earlier with the feasibility study included, longtime Region D water planner and opponent of the reservoir’s construction Jim Palmer stated, “I’m so pleased lawmakers heard our pleas and are calling on the Texas Water Development Board to take a critical look at this controversial plan. We are grateful that Representative VanDeaver pushed for this study and is putting the plight of Northeast Texans front and center for lawmakers. I look forward to participating in this study and doing all I can to ensure it leads to the ultimate removal of this devastating reservoir from the State Water Plan.”
The resolution against the reservoir that was passed on Monday by the Bowie County Commissioners Court reads, “A RESOLUTION OF THE BOWIE COUNTY COMMISSIONER’S COURT, OPPOSING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROPOSED MARVIN NICHOLS RESERVOIR; REQUESTING REMOVAL OF THE PROJECT FROM THE STATEWIDE WATER PLAN; URGING THE DALLAS-FORT WORTH METROPLEX TO UTILIZE CONSERVATION, REUSE, AND EXISTING WATER RESOURCES FOR THEIR REGIONAL WATER SUPPLY.
WHEREAS, the 88th Texas Legislature passed, and Governor Abbot signed into law HB1, the State Budget, which ordered a feasibility study of the Marvin Nichols project; and WHEREAS, the Texas Water Development Board has initiated the feasibility study to analyze the implementation timeline, associated costs, land acquisition considerations, and the economic impact of the proposed project; and WHEREAS, the Marvin Nichols Reservoir, proposed on the main stem of the Sulphur River in Red River, Titus and Franklin Counties would flood approximately 66,000 acres of hardwood and upland forest, pasture and farmland, and wetlands; and WHEREAS, an estimated 130,000 additional acres would be removed from private land ownership for mitigation required by the federal government; and WHEREAS, this project would force local property owners off thousands of acres of family lands, drown resources that would devastate the timber and agriculture-based economy in the region, negatively impact wildlife habitat and inundate archaeological and historic sites and cemeteries; and WHEREAS, those promoting the reservoir can use eminent domain to force one of the biggest transfers of private land to public in modern history; and WHEREAS, the private land lost to the proposed Marvin Nichols Reservoir would negatively impact local tax bases and jeopardize funding for our schools and communities; and WHEREAS, reducing the watershed of the Sulphur River Basin would negatively impact existing manufacturing operations and could make it difficult to attract new industry to the region; and WHEREAS, at least 80 percent of the water would be piped 150 miles to the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex, a region that could do more to conserve water and leverage existing sources of water regionally; and WHEREAS, the time frame for development of the project has been moved forward in the 2022 State Water Plan; and WHEREAS, the proposed Marvin Nichols Reservoir poses a serious threat to the people, economy, and wildlife habitat of Northeast Texas.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT: BOWIE COUNTY COMMISSIONER’S COURT IS OPPOSED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF MARVIN NICHOLS RESERVOIR, REQUESTS THAT THE PROJECT BE REMOVED FROM THE STATEWIDE WATER PLAN, AND THAT THE DALLAS-FORT WORTH METROPLEX (REGION C) UTILIZE CONSERVATION, REUSE AND ALTERNATIVE, EXISTING WATER RESOURCES FOR ITS REGIONALWATER SUPPLY.
APPROVED this the 27th day of November,
