Lake for Metroplex Not Included in Bill

By Aman Batheja, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Texas

May 23–AUSTIN — A sweeping state water-supply bill was tentatively approved Tuesday night by the House, but it does not include a proposed reservoir in Northeast Texas that would serve the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

The proposed 62,000-acre Marvin Nichols Reservoir, between Mount Pleasant and Clarksville, would be a major source of water for the Metroplex.

Several North Texas lawmakers argued for the creation of the reservoir, but critics say it would damage the environment and devalue property.

Language calling for the creation of the reservoir passed the Senate but was stripped out of the bill by a House committee last week.

The overall bill designates sites that would be suitable for construction of dams or reservoirs.

Lawmakers opposed to the Marvin Nichols Reservoir criticized the Metroplex’s high rate of water consumption and said the area should pursue more water conservation before pursuing a strategy seen by some as harmful to another part of the state.

“It’s really difficult for people in my area of the state to understand why we need to flood our property to allow another region to continue to waste water,” said Rep. Stephen Frost, D-Atlanta.

One North Texas lawmaker, Rep. Lon Burnam, D-Fort Worth, agreed.

“Suburban North-Central Texans are the worst water-wasters in the world,” Burnam said. “Our consumption rate is obscene.”

But others pointed out that within 50 years, the region is expected to have the greatest need for additional water of any area in the state.

“We’re going to double in population by 2050,” said Rep. Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth. “We have to get the water from somewhere,”

The bill now heads to a conference committee. Rep. Robert Puente, D-San Antonio, said conference members would likely try to put the Marvin Nichols Reservoir back into the bill or add it as an amendment to another bill.

Representatives of the International Paper plant in Texarkana lobbied the House on Monday and Tuesday to keep the reservoir out of the final bill.

They argued that designating land for the reservoir could increase timber costs and possibly put the paper plant’s 900 employees out of work.

“I think if you’re in Dallas, your belief is Marvin Nichols is your savior,” said Kevin Discoll, the mill manager. “We’re trying to save jobs and industry in Northeast Texas.”

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Aman Batheja, 817-390-7695 abatheja@star-telegram.com

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Copyright (c) 2007, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Texas

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