[COMMENT: It seems that Dallas is hellbent on building Marvin Nichols. They just never give up. And in this piece, no mention is made of even the SRBA, let alone the "common folks" of Northeast Texas. They seem to have the attitude that whatever Dallas wants, Dallas gets. I think it's high time for us to stop being "Mr. Nice Guys" and declare war on these Dallas developers, especially if Senator Kevin Eltife betrays us on his appointments to the SRBA. I personally am getting fed up because ultimately I just don't give a damn if Dallas "expands" and "retains a vital economic base". I don't live in Dallas and couldn't care less about Dallas! R.]
(Albert Black is founder and president of On-Target Supplies & Logistics. Alan Walne is chief executive officer of Herb's Paint and Body. Both co-chair the Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce's Water Resources Committee.)
A recipe for continued success in Dallas: Just add water.
A dependable long-term water supply must be on tap if Dallas and the rest of North Texas are to continue to prosper. Water is essential to economic development, both to secure corporate expansions and relocations and to retain the major corporations already here.
City leaders discovered that truth in the 1950s and made certain that Dallas had a long-term water supply. Now, it's time to plan for an additional water supply. Without new sources, Dallas and the surrounding area will run short by 2024, even with strong conservation measures.
Three recent droughts -- in 1988, 1996 and 1998 -- forced water conservation measures and highlighted the urgency of developing new reservoirs. Today's city leaders must have the same vision displayed by city leaders 50 years ago.
The City Council is weighing taking part in a study of the Sulphur River water basin in northeast Texas, considered by many experts as the best new source. Without a role in the study, Dallas could be cut off from developing and tapping the basin's water. The region needs to keep all of its water options open. Civic leaders and the Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce consider it essential that the city take part in the Sulphur River water basin study.
The region's major reservoirs were designed for five- to seven-year droughts like those in the 1950s but now show the stress of soaring demand. It takes 25 to 30 years to plan and build a reservoir. Today's reservoirs -- Grapevine, Lewisville, Ray Roberts, Ray Hubbard and Tawakoni -- flow because city leaders a half-century ago had the foresight to plan and build them.
Four major water agencies -- the North Texas Municipal Water District, the Tarrant Regional Water District, the Upper Trinity Regional Water District and the City of Irving -- already are working together on a long-term effort to bring water from the Sulphur River area to Dallas-Fort Worth.
The water basin offers several potential sources of water for the region, including the possibility of a Marvin Nichols Reservoir.
Major companies, particularly manufacturers, base their decisions to expand or relocate on several important factors -- and one of them is water. Important local industries -- such as semiconductors, biotechnology and food processing -- use millions of gallons of water. A long-term water supply will help retain that vital economic base.
Dallas invested in economic development last year when it approved a bond program that included such essential infrastructure as streets and highways. Water is every bit as vital to our future. The City Council can tap water for Dallas tomorrow by standing up and investing in the water basin study today.