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