Controversy on the Sulphur Controversy on the Sulphur RiverRiver

The Proposed Marvin Nichols The Proposed Marvin Nichols ReservoirReservoir

Cassandra Gordon and Joan Norton

The Area The Area InvolvedInvolved

Northeast Texas

Dallas/Fort Worth

Proposed Reservoir

Lamar Red River

Bowie

Delta

Hopkins

Fra

nkl

in Titus Mo

rris

Cass

DallasTarrant

Rockwall

Proposed Marvin Nichols Reservoir

Wright Patman Reservoir

Jim Chapman Lake

The IssueThe Issue

The Dallas/Fort Worth region is searching The Dallas/Fort Worth region is searching for water supplies to meet their increasing for water supplies to meet their increasing needs through the year 2050.needs through the year 2050.

Construction of the Marvin Nichols Construction of the Marvin Nichols Reservoir would meet this need.Reservoir would meet this need.

80% of the water would be pipelined to 80% of the water would be pipelined to Dallas.Dallas.

The ProblemThe Problem

The reservoir will consume 72,000 acres of The reservoir will consume 72,000 acres of land.land.

This land consists of :This land consists of :– Ecologically important bottomland hardwood Ecologically important bottomland hardwood

forestsforests– Scattered farms and ranchesScattered farms and ranches

Devastating effects can be expectedDevastating effects can be expected

Vegetation at the Reservoir SiteVegetation at the Reservoir Site

Water Oak, Elm, Hackberry

Post Oak

Post Oak

Other

Land Cover at the Reservoir SiteLand Cover at the Reservoir Site

Deciduous Forest Land

Cropland and PastureMixed Forest

Environmentally Speaking…Environmentally Speaking…

Submersing 72,000 acres of forested land Submersing 72,000 acres of forested land could potentially mean:could potentially mean:– Displacement of wildlifeDisplacement of wildlife– Increased Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)Increased Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)– Disruption of fish habitatDisruption of fish habitat

Economically Speaking…Economically Speaking…

Losses to the timber Losses to the timber industryindustry– 1,334 jobs lost1,334 jobs lost– $41.4 million lost in $41.4 million lost in

labor incomelabor income– $163.91 million lost in $163.91 million lost in

industry outputindustry output

Loss of agricultural Loss of agricultural jobsjobs

Economically Speaking…Economically Speaking…

Little development Little development because 163,000 because 163,000 additional acres will be additional acres will be set aside for mitigation.set aside for mitigation.

Much different than Lake Much different than Lake Ray Hubbard in Ray Hubbard in Rockwall.Rockwall.

www.texasbeyondhistory.net

Economically Speaking…Economically Speaking…

72,000 acres under reservoir + 163,000 72,000 acres under reservoir + 163,000 acres for mitigation = 235,000 acres worth acres for mitigation = 235,000 acres worth of property tax lost.of property tax lost.

Could mean higher taxes to make up the Could mean higher taxes to make up the difference, or else regional schools will be difference, or else regional schools will be deprived of funding.deprived of funding.

Economically Speaking…Economically Speaking…

Recreational benefits will be trivialRecreational benefits will be trivial– Many preexisting reservoirsMany preexisting reservoirs– Displacement of wildlife and possible death of Displacement of wildlife and possible death of

fishfish

Economically Speaking…Economically Speaking…

Dallas will receive the benefits of the Dallas will receive the benefits of the reservoirreservoir– Water intensive industriesWater intensive industries– Job retentionJob retention

Northeast Texas will lose industry and jobsNortheast Texas will lose industry and jobs Zero-sum game??Zero-sum game??

Alternatives to the ReservoirAlternatives to the Reservoir

Reuse treated waste Reuse treated waste waterwater

Use water from Use water from existing reservoirsexisting reservoirs

Conservation!Conservation!

Lake Texomawww.shopoklahoma.com