Marvin Nichols Reservoir Feasibility Review

Last session in 2023, I added a directivei to the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) for it to “evaluate the feasibility of the proposed Marvin Nichols Reservoir” (the Reservoir) to analyze its “implementation timeline, associated costs, land acquisition considerations and the economic impact.” Findings are be submitted no later than January 5, 2025.

Earlier this year, the TWDB provided the opportunity for interested parties to submit their comments about the Reservoir. TWDB reported that over 100 submissions and form letters were received for it to consider during their review.

The TWDB is set to post its draft review on their website (https://www.twdb.texas.gov/) no later than Monday, September 16, with a 30-day comment period. Given the potential impact to Northeast Texas, I encourage everyone to read the draft review and submit additional comments. Some findings include:

• Implementation timeline. Once the US Army Corps of Engineers (the Corps) begins the permitting process, the review found that the estimated15 to 20 years to completion timeline is within expected time horizons. This is like the time it took to complete two of the state’s newest reservoirs: Lake Ralph Hall and Bois D’Arc Lake.

• Associated costs. Without a doubt it will be expensive to complete the construction of the Reservoir.

Unfortunately, without having the land acquisition and permitting processes completed, the total cost cannot be known at this time. The review states that it will be “expensive” but feasible depending on how much the sponsors want to spend on the project. The current sponsors of the Reservoir include North Texas Municipal Water District, Tarrant Regional Water District and the Upper Trinity Regional Water District.

• Land acquisition. Not only is this component tied to the unknowns outlined above about acquiring the needed land, but another unknown relates to where and how much mitigation acreage is required.

Unfortunately, this information cannot be fully known until the Reservoir is permitted and needed mitigation acreage identified.

• Economic impact. The draft review states that the Reservoir will have both a positive and negative economic impact going forward.

There are still many outstanding decisions to be made about the Reservoir with much of them the responsibility of the Corps and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). At this point it has been frustrating to get a clear direction about the Corps’ future decisions, but some answers cannot be known until the permitting process begins. This process can lead to potential changes in design and implementation based on negotiations with interested parties. Current plans are for only 20 percent of the water in the Reservoir to remain in Northeast Texas though TCEQ has the authority to consider changes to this.

There is a lot to unpack in this review, and I encourage everyone to take the time to closely read it and comment as appropriate. My office and I intend to keep monitoring the discussions about the Reservoir, so I can help protect the interests of people whose land, homes, businesses and history would be uprooted and destroyed by this Reservoir.