Texas Water (& Land) Fight: Region D’s Latest Move Against Marvin Nichols Reservoir

Gilmer Mirror, February 21, 2025

There is an important development this week in the continued fight against the proposed Marvin Nichols reservoir, which State Sen. Charles Perry recently called “eminent domain purgatory.”

On Wednesday, February 19, 2025, the North East Texas Regional Water Planning Group (Region D), unanimously approved the Initially Prepared Plan (IPP) for the 2026 Region D Water Plan. The plan contained forceful language in opposition to the Marvin Nichols Reservoir, emphatically opposing its inclusion in any regional plan or the State Water Plan. Documentation from the meeting is attached, and the key excerpts of interest are below. (You can also find the Initial Prepared Plan for 2026 Region D Water Plan linked in the agenda here on the 10th page in the document.)

The stance of Region D is this:

It has been and continues to be the position of the NETRWPG that due to the significant negative impacts upon environmental factors, agricultural resources/rural areas, other natural resources, and third parties, Marvin Nichols I Reservoir should not be included as a water management strategy in any regional water plan or the State Water Plan. In referencing Marvin Nichols, the NETRWP incorporates Marvin Nichols I, Marvin Nichols IA, and any major dam sites on the main stem of the Sulphur River.

In order to be included in any regional water plan or The State Water Plan, a proposed project must protect the agricultural and natural resources of the State. The proposed Marvin Nichols Reservoir would inundate vast amounts of agricultural and timber lands in Northeast Texas. In addition, this project will require very substantial acreage to be removed from production for mitigation of this project. It is the position of the Region D Water Planning Group that it is not possible to find that this project protects the agricultural and natural resources of the State so much agricultural/timber land will be inundated and when it is not known how much additional acreage will be required, the location of that acreage, or the type of acreage that will be taken for mitigation.

Considering the aforementioned information, it is the position of the NETRWPG that Marvin Nichols Reservoir be removed from the State Water Plan, that Region C seek other more viable measures to meet any future water needs including, but not limited to, additional conservation reuse, reduction of water losses, and reallocation of abundant resources currently available (Toledo Bend, Texoma, and other existing reservoirs). Region D is willing and able to work and assist Region C in exploring these potential resources.