Opponents of Marvin Nichols Reservoir have been garnering widespread media attention to the enormous negative impacts of the 66,000-acre Marvin Nichols Reservoir, proposed on the Sulphur River in northeast Texas. Roughly 250 Texans – from elder citizens to babes in arms – turned out at a special meeting of the Region D Water Planning Group (North East Texas) on October 30 to voice their opposition to Marvin Nichols Reservoir. A month before, dozens of East Texans traveled to Arlington to speak at a meeting of the Region C Water Planning Group (DFW area).
Property owners against the proposed water project presented their personal stories with passion. One Dallas resident reminded Northeast Texans that, "There are people in DFW who support all of you.” Both of the regional water planning meetings garnered extensive coverage, including mentions on six TV stations, front-page stories twice in the Dallas Morning News, an article in the Fort Worth Star Telegram, air time on the Texas Standard radio show, and a number of stories in East Texas media outlets.
“For more than 20 years, we’ve been telling the world about the huge impacts on people, the regional economy, and the natural environment if Marvin Nichols is built,” said Janice Bezanson, TCA’s Senior Policy Director. “Forcing thousands of people off their property and destroy productive timber, agriculture, and wildlife lands when there are other ways to provide DFW with water is an issue that needs the attention of Texas leaders all across the state.
Local elected officials, including State Representative Gary VanDeaver, who has worked through the legislative process to try and stop the reservoir, also spoke out. Cass County Judge Travis Ransom summed up everyone's feeling, saying to Region C Planning Group members, “Your Texas miracle should not be our Texas nightmare.”
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