CASS COUNTY, Texas — Northeast Texans have less than 24 hours left to voice their concerns on the proposed Marvin Nichols Reservoir Project. Many residents say this will impact who have been fighting against the proposal for several years and have created a community organization named Preserve Northeast Texas.
As of last spring the Texas Water Development Board announced it will conduct a two-month long comment period where members of the public can provide their input until Dec. 1. At this moment the Marvin Nichols Reservoir is still on the state's water plan as a way to source for new water resources for the growing Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.
This project has left many Northeast Texans with questions on what the future holds for this proposal, and at this moment they continue to submit their comments to TWDB for their feasibility review.
This proposal has brought many residents together like Jim Thompson, of Atlanta, to demand that this project be taken off the state’s water plan.
"You're talking about 200,000 of acres of land taken from private property owners in Northeast Texas either by eminent domain or the threat of eminent domain," Thompson said. "One of the requirements to have a project in the state water plan is that it protects the agricultural natural resources. I certainly don't think this project does."
Local county officials like Cass County Judge Travis Ransom feels the same way and is speaking out publicly on the topic for his constituents like Thompson.
"There are generations of landowners who have planted trees, harvested those trees and manage that land efficiently for generations," Ransom said. "This is such a big deal to them and to me as a generational landowner. I would hate to have this happen to any of my land as well."
CBS19 reached out to the TWDB for the latest on the proposed reservoir and they said in a statement, “Pursuant to House Bill 1, 88th Regular Session, the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) is conducting a project feasibility review of the proposed Marvin Nichols Reservoir project to analyze the implementation timeline, associated costs, land acquisition considerations, and economic impact of the project. As part of this feasibility review, the TWDB is holding a public input period through Dec. 1, 2023. The TWDB will prepare and submit a report regarding the findings of the review to the Legislative Budget Board and governor no later than Jan. 5, 2025. The TWDB will make the draft feasibility report available for public comment prior to it being finalized."
"This is an opportunity for us to get it right and that's by providing that feedback to those governmental entities because they're asking for it," Ransom said.
Back in the spring, state Rep. Gary VanDeaver requested this review through House Bill 1, which passed through state legislators.
"I am very thankful to representative Gary VanDeaver to push this amendment and to Governor Abbott who signed the legislation," Thompson said. "I think it's something that should be done and I'm certainly glad that has been done. We can look at the pros and cons of this and I definitely think the cons definitely outweigh the pros."