Area residents wanting to preserve their land say no to Marvin Nichols Reservoir

By Marlene J. Bohr
mbohr@steelcountrybee.com

The conflict between Region C and Region D water planning boards afforded public comments at Region D’s water planning meeting held in Mount Pleasant on April 16.
The conflict lies with Region C, west of this area including the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Region C desires to have the Marvin Nichols Reservoir built to furnish water to the metroplex area. Region D, representing several counties in Northeast Texas, does not want the reservoir.
The proposed Marvin Nichols Reservoir project would result in one of the largest reservoirs in Texas, flooding over 72,000 acres on the Sulphur River in rural Northeast Texas.  According to a report from the US Fish and Wildlife, it would require anywhere from 163,000 acres up to 683,000 acres to mitigate for the wildlife habitat loses. If built, Marvin Nichols would cost $3.4 billion. Land taken for mitigation would greatly reduce tax revenues for the counties, schools and cities and could take it completely off the tax roll.  There would be a significant loss to the forest industry in Northeast Texas.  
Region D Chairman Bret McCoy from Daingerfield said people were welcome to make comments to the board.
“There are obviously some emotionally charged issues we are dealing with here,” Mr. McCoy said.
During the comment portion of the meeting, Jim Davis from Daingerfield spoke briefly and handed out a public comment sheet representing Bi-County Water Supply Corporation’s view of Marvin Nichols.
 

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