The Buzz Do we need this reservior?

Marvin Nichols Reservoir is again on the table as a possibility for water for the large cities to the west of this area. Marvin Nichols would take up a massive section of mostly Red River County, coming close to Titus and Morris counties also. The water planning people are asking for the public’s input, and if you read the front page article in last week’s Steel Country Bee you learned more about the latest developments.
Region C, which represents the greater Dallas area, is looking toward Northeast Texas as a viable source of water. Region D is not consenting.  I remember a few years back there were many meetings of the water planning people of Region D where resident after resident and business people would speak at public forum and ask that the Marvin Nichols Reservoir be dropped from any plan.
Many landowners would be affected by the construction of Marvin Nichols Reservoir, and their land could be taken by eminent domain. I heard many people say their homestead had been in the family for years and years. Family farms were represented where they had been passed down to other family members for many generations.
I just could not imagine how that would be for people to have a family homestead that you inherited and you knew your grandfather and great-grandfather and those before him in the family had farmed that land and you now farmed it. This was a heritage you wanted to pass down to your children.
But, someone in another place is eyeing your land for a massive body of water so their water supply needs can be met. That has to be just devastating for these people. It is really easy for some of us who value family traditions and heritage and things passed down to us to imagine how the threat of this reservoir is impacting their lives. These people who may be faced with this eminent domain cannot pick up their land and take that heritage with them. It would be at the bottom of a lake.
There are other possibilities such as conservation for the cities west of us that are experiencing shortages of water. There are other places they can look for water other than destroying farmland and an area that has been a very productive part of Northeast Texas. They could look at increasing the reserves in other areas that would be viable for Region C to obtain without tearing up a massive expanse of Northeast Texas.
There is not just the personal aspect of families, homes and farms, but there is wildlife to consider which is abundant in Northeast Texas. Trees would be replaced by a massive reservoir and the homes that our friends in the wild are used to would be gone.
I am sure there will be a fight ahead as many in this area do not want Marvin Nichols Reservoir and I am sure they will stand up and be heard. I hope they look to conservation and other sources and just leave Northeast Texas as beautiful as it is. Let Northeast Texans continue to enhance on their heritage so they may continue to pass down their legacy to future generations.
There will be a meeting of the Water Planning board for Region D at the Mount Pleasant Civic Center at 1 p.m. on April 16, and also at 2 p.m. on April 29.  They are welcoming public comment at both meetings. You can also let your representatives in congress know your feelings about Marvin Nichols Reservoir.