In East Texas, Further Efforts to Keep Neches River Water Out of Dallas

The City of Dallas has maintained for years that it needs the proposed Fastrill Reservoir in East Texas to meet the city’s future water needs; the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and environmentalists looking to protect the Neches River disagree. Hence, the lawsuit filed by the city in January 2007, a big hunk of which U.S. District Judge Jorge Solis threw out in July. Above is the proposed reservoir as identified by the city in a March 2005 presentation to the council’s Health Environment & Human Services and Finance & Audit committees.

Which isn’t stopping the city from going after the water: Dallas assistant city attorney Chris Bowers told KRTE-Channel 9 in Lufkin last week that “Dallas is looking for is a win-win situation, where we can build our lake and not only provide water but benefits to the immediate area of recreation opportunities, tourism, and business that always comes with a lake.” Which is why the Texas Conservation Alliance and the Friends of the Neches River are taking further preemptive measures: Reports the Cherokeean Herald today, they’re trying to get the Neches designated as a National Scenic River, which would mean hands-off till forever. –Robert Wilonsky