Marvin Nichols Reservoir project in line for revisions and future conflict negotiations

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Marlene J. Bohr 
 
The Texas Waster Development Board Executive Administrator Kevin Patteson issued a final recommendation for resolving the Marvin Nichols Reservoir conflict. Region C, consisting of the Dallas Metroplex, and Region D have been in a conflict for several years regarding whether or not the reservoir should be built in Region D, giving Region C access to 80 percent of the water for its use. The Marvin Nichols Reservoir would take up 70,000 acres. The additional impact would be the mitigation land which is estimated to be between another 100,000 to 150,000 acres. 
 
Mr. Patteson said “The recommendation instructs the Region C Regional Water Planning Group to readopt its current regional water plan with Marvin Nichols Reservoir as a strategy and the Region D Regional Water Planning Group to amend its plan to reflect the conflict has been resolved.”
 
Mr. Patteson went on to say the final recommendation includes several revisions resulting from the review and consideration of the extensive input received during the public commenting process which included a May 29 public hearing in Mount Pleasant and a May 30 public hearing in Arlington. The revisions include adding the option for the board to consider instructing Region C to make the reservoir an alternative strategy and elevate consideration of other water sources. It also recommended adding language encouraging Region C to share mitigation measures in proportion to the interests Region C water providers have in the project, which is 80 percent, and removing the recommendation that the action is final and should not be raised again in future water plans. 
 
Northeast Texas Municipal Water District General Manager Walt Sears reviewed the 25-page resolution from Mr. Patteson.
 
“The final recommendations have been modestly changed in relation to some of the other topics,” Mr. Sears said. “Some of those changes include how the mitigation would be addressed and to what extent would future planning groups be revisiting this issue. Region’s D preference for not having Marvin Nichols was again rejected in the final recommendation. This rejection is despite thousands of comments in opposition to it. These recommendations go to the three-member board of the water development board in Austin and the board can accept, reject or modify these final recommendations.
 
 
 

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