THOUSANDS OF TEXANS CONDEMN MARVIN NICHOLS RESERVOIR, SO WHY IS IT STILL IN THE STATE WATER PLAN?
THOUSANDS OF TEXANS CONDEMN MARVIN NICHOLS RESERVOIR, SO WHY IS IT STILL IN THE STATE WATER PLAN?
Building Reservoirs Is An Outdated Solution To Solving State Water Problems
NORTHEAST TEXAS (September 26, 2022) — More than 2,000 Texans have expressed their opposition to the proposed Marvin Nichols Reservoir by signing a petition which condemns the water project and states, “The proposed Marvin Nichols Reservoir would rob Northeast Texas of land, valuable jobs, and precious water, devastating the region’s economic vitality, heritage farmlands, and natural resources. I stand in opposition to this project and call on policymakers to put a stop to this costly, unnecessary and damaging project.”
The petition was created by the grassroots organization, Preserve Northeast Texas, a growing group of landowners, business owners, community leaders, conservationists, and elected officials who have banded together to voice their opposition to one of the biggest transfers of private land to public in modern history. The full list of petitioners pushing back against Marvin Nichols Reservoir can be found at www.PreserveNortheastTexas.org.
“Texas is growing, and water is a vital resource necessary for life and commerce,” said Bill Ward, President of Ward Timber Company. “That’s why the DFW Metroplex must do more to conserve and reuse this precious resource, rather than use eminent domain to take away the homes and heritage lands of fellow Texans. Reservoirs like the proposed Marvin Nichols project are an outdated solution to meet our water needs.”
The Marvin Nichols Reservoir is the costliest project in the Texas State Water Plan, estimated at $4.4 billion and growing. The reservoir would flood 66,000 of acres of hardwood forest, farms and ranches, and irreplaceable wetlands. An estimated 130,000 additional acres would also be removed from private land ownership for environmental mitigation. This means an estimated 200,000 acres of Texas land would be taken out of production. The Marvin Nichols Reservoir has been controversial for decades, yet the target date for construction completion on this project was moved forward in the State Water Plan last summer from 2070 to 2050.
To sign the petition or learn more about the proposed reservoir and how to stop it, visit: www.PreserveNortheastTexas.org. The group can also be found on Facebook and Instagram at @PreserveNortheastTexas and Twitter @NoMarvinNichols.
The Preserve Northeast Texas Steering Committee includes:
Cass County Judge Travis Ransom, Bill Ward, Jim Thompson, Max Shumake, Shirley Shumake, Linda Price, Richard LeTourneau, Cynthia Gwinn, Gary Cheatwood, and Janice Bezanson.
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