Marvin Nichols feasibility study

In the last session of the Texas legislature in

2023, the Texas Water Development Board was given the task of conducting a feasibility study on Marvin Nichols Reservoir. The study was to focus on the specific directives of analyzing the economic impacts, timeline, associated costs and the land acquisitions necessary to construct the massive reservoir in the Sulphur River Basin of Northeast Texas.

A part of that process was to hear from citizens about their thoughts on the projects, and the TWDB reported that they had received more than 100 submissions to review.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott went on record last February noting that there had to be options for the water needs across Texas other than the massive landgrab that Marvin Nichols would be. Governor Abbott stated, “There are water needs, whether it be in the Dallas area or even in the Tyler area. 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.”

The TWDB released the feasibility report late Monday as water planners across the state are working on their proposals for the next State Water Plan.

As the study results were made public, water planners and leaders from across the state sounded off on the findings.

Texas House District 1 Gary VanDeaver, who was instrumental in getting the feasibility study called for by the State Legislature, voiced his strong disapproval of the findings.

VanDeaver stated, “While I recognize that this is just a step in a very long process, I am extremely disappointed that the Texas Water Development Board did not find evidence that render the proposed Marvin Nichols project infeasible. I encourage the citizens of northeast Texas to submit feedback during this phase of the study. We must remain vigilant in our efforts to find alternative sources for water that do not require grabbing private property in unprecedented fashion.”

Marvin Nichols Reservoir currently sits as part of the state’s water plan, as water planners across the state are working on drafts for the 2027 State Water Plan. Planners in Region C (the Dallas area) included Marvin Nichols in the last round of their water plan, while Region D planners have always been opposed to the project.

The proposed reservoir would inundate pristine bottomland hardwoods that are a primary source of materials to the logging industry that so many depend on for their livelihood in Northeast Texas. The lake’s construction would also put a host of endangered species in peril and put underwater forever farmlands and homesites that have been owned by the same families for generations, dating back to before the Civil War.

Those opposed to the lake’s construction say the 66,000 acres that would be lost in Titus, Franklin and Red River counties, plus the yet undetermined amount of mitigation land, is simply unnecessary, as the water from the lake would be pumped to the densely populated areas around the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, and little or no benefit would be derived from Northeast Texas residents.

While few doubt that the burgeoning D-FW area will have a need for water resources in the future, those here in Northeast Texas have been calling for water planners in the Dallas area to seek alternative means for getting their water. Options have included drawing water from Lake Texoma, desalinization of coastal waters, existing water sources in Arkansas and Southeast Oklahoma, and even a pipeline to draw existing water from Toledo Bend.

Regardless of the options available, those who live here and would see their homelands, farms, ranches and livelihood swallowed up forever by a lake in the Sulphur River Basin have said since their very first meeting at a little church in Boxelder all the way back in 2001 that those options have more merit than the proposed reservoir.

A draft report regarding the findings of this feasibility review is now available for a 30-day public comment period, after which the TWDB Executive Administrator will finalize and submit the report to the Legislative Budget Board and Governor by January 5, 2025.

Input must be emailed to feasibility@twdb.texas.gov by October 25, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. CDT to be considered by the Executive Administrator.