Marvin Nichols Update
Jim F Thompson the Chair of Region C Water Planning Group released a signed letter to Kevin Ward, the general manager of the Trinity River Authority and chairman of the water planning board for the Dallas-Fort Worth area. That letter was released “in a sign of growing concern over the proposed Marvin Nichols Reservoir, this week the Region D Water Planning Group sent the attached letter to the Region C Planning Group, which covers the DFW Metroplex Area. The Northeast Texas region (Region D) remains adamantly opposed to the damaging reservoir, and hopes to avoid conflict with its North Texas neighbors.” The letter, penned by Thompson, is included below, in its entirety, unedited.
“The North East Texas Regional Water Planning Group (Region D) has authorized the submission of this letter to you as Chair of the Region C Water Planning Group to notify the Region C Planning Group of a potential conflict between our two plans and to enhance interregional coordination efforts going forward.
“Obviously, we are at the beginning of the planning cycle and very early on in the process. However past experiences between our Regional Water Planning Groups regarding conflicts and potential conflicts have shown that early identification and discussions of any potential conflicts can be helpful. The Interregional Planning Council Report to The Texas Water Development Board dated October 16, 2020, stressed the importance of identifying issues and potential interregional conflict concerns at the beginning and throughout the planning cycle.
“We realize that final decisions on potential projects for the upcoming Regional Water Plan have not occurred. However, we are also aware that Region C has consistently included the potential Marvin Nichols Reservoir as a future water supply source in its Plans. We also know that for at least the last twenty (20) years, Region D has included language in its Plans that expressly states that Marvin Nichols Reservoir should not be included in the State Water Plan or any Regional Water Plan because it does not protect the economic, agricultural and natural resources of the region and of Texas and that the development of this project would have a substantial adverse effect on our region as a result of the impacts the reservoir would cause. I have attached with this letter Section 6.9 and Section 6.10 of the most recent approved Region D Water Plan which details the concerns our Region has regarding the proposed Marvin Nichols Reservoir.
“It is certainly our hope that our two groups can avoid a conflict on this issue. We are willing to take all reasonable measures to do so. Those efforts could include coordinating and exploring other viable measures to increase water supply sources for Region C in the future as well as decreasing future demand, including but not limited to fully utilizing water supplies in existing reservoirs, potential reallocation of water resources in existing reservoirs, additional reuse beyond what is proposed in the Region C Water Plan, and increased water conservation.
“We are sending a copy of this letter to representatives of the Texas Water Development Board. It is our desire that a conflict be avoided if at all possible and hopefully, both regions can work toward that goal.”
When the Journal-Sun asked Thompson about the letter, he responded by saying “the letter seeks to begin discussions of Region D’s concerns about the proposed Marvin Nichols project and the negative impacts it would have to the Northeast Texas area (tremendous amount of loss of private land ownership, extensive negative impacts to the timber and agricultural industries of Northeast Texas, etc.) as well as start discussions of alternatives to Marvin Nichols that would not be so devastating.
Those would include conservation, reuse, and full utilization of existing water supplies in existing reservoirs. As you are probably aware, the Region D (Northeast Texas) Water Planning Group and the Region C (Dallas-Fort Worth area) Water Planning Group have been in disagreement for over 20 years over whether the proposed Marvin Nichols project should be included in the State Water Plan. The letter seeks to begin discussions at the beginning of the planning cycle (a 5-year process) over our concerns with the proposed project and to seek to find alternatives that would not be so detrimental to Northeast Texas, its residents and its economy.
Thompson who is also the Attorney & Financial Officer for Ward Timber says, “Ward Timber remains steadfastly opposed to the proposed Marvin Nichols project due to the devastating impacts it would have to the timber and agricultural industries and the abhorrent and unprecedented taking of private property from Northeast Texas landowners. We remain confident that if the true impacts of this project and the viable alternatives to Marvin Nichols are reasonably discussed and explored, this project will never move forward. We urge all Northeast Texans and their representatives to become involved in opposing this unnecessary and costly project.”