The Sulphur River Basin Authority retained the same officers in recent board elections held earlier this week. The five board members voted on to keep the same three officers at their Tuesday [March 18] meeting. Mike Huddleston, of Wake Village, will remain as president; Charles, Lowry, of Mount Vernon, vice-president; and Michael Burke as secretary/treasurer.
The board consists of Dick Goodman (Clarksville) and Huddleston representing Region I, which is Bowie and Red River counties; Judy Lee (Mount Pleasant) and Lowry representing Region II, which is Cass, Franklin, Hunt, Morris and Titus counties; and Patsy McClain representing Region III, which is Delta, Hopkins and Lamar counties. An open position remains on the board in Region III.
According to Huddleston, the board members are appointed by the state and the board elects the officers. "SRBA board members are appointed by the state," Huddleston said. "We still have one vacant position on the board because the state has not appointed anyone to fill the spot."
Huddleston said he doesn't know when the state plans on filling the open position.
According to SRBA bylaws, the officers are elected within the board every two years in March.
The meeting also included a report of expenditures and cash position. The SRBA announced that $63,419.88 was the amount in the bank account as of March 11.
Huddleston and Burke announced that a new SRBA website is now available. The web address is:
http://www.sulphurriverbasinauthority.org/
The other existing SRBA website is:
"We hope that people find this new website will be helpful in obtaining information on SRBA," Huddleston said. "There is also a place for public input. You can go on there and place a comment or ask a question and we will make sure the right person answers it."
Huddleston said there is also a place for anyone to obtain the recently released Marvin Nichols Reservoir Project Economic Study. "If anyone wants to get a copy of the economic study, they can go to the website, and we will send it to you for a $10 fee," Huddleston said. "There is a place on the site that includes an executive summary of the economic study for anyone to look at."
The economic study was done by Dr. Terry L. Clower and Dr. Bernard L. Weinstein. The SRBA said the purpose of the study is to look at the economic, fiscal and developmental impacts that the Marvin Nichols Reservoir would bring to the area. "This study will help us understand what potential impacts the reservoir could bring," Huddleston said. "It is very important in that the figures in this study are from historical data."
Huddleston said he is aware of opposition to the project, but he says the economic study brings facts that can be verified. "This study was done by a team led by Dr. Clower and Dr. Weinstein and afterwards was submitted for review to The Perryman Group, which is an economic and financial analysis firm," Huddleston said.
He said the comments and review by Dr. M. Ray Perryman, a world-renowned economist and scholar, affirmed the study findings as "reasonable and appropriate".
According to the study, the Marvin Nichols Reservoir area has the long-term potential to have more than $242 million annually in new economic activity and more than 2,800 fulltime jobs to the area as well as giving the region an enhancement as a business location. It lists the short-term potential as having local economic gains during construction as $1.5 to $1.8 billion and 2,000 jobs for about seven years. The study claims that local taxing jurisdictions will see substantial temporary sales tax revenue gains during construction and new revenues based on increased property values and new housing taxation.
The Marvin Nichols Reservoir Project was originally approved as a potential water source in 1969 by the Texas Water Development Board, and most recently re-approved in January 2002. The project was listed in both the Region D (Northeast Texas) and Region C (North Central Texas) regional water plans. The project is not a new one, as it has been part of every state water plan and update adopted since 1969.
[COMMENT: Isn't it odd that there is no mention of the Region D "downgrade" of this project in December 2002? R.]
According to a Marvin Nichols Fact Sheet dispersed by the SRBA, the actual size of the reservoir is yet to be determined until further studies are complete. The sheet gives an estimate that the lake will cover more than 62,000 acres. The sheet lists the purpose of the reservoir in the following statement: "The estimated supply of 550 million gallons per day for the Marvin C. Nichols Reservoir would help meet projected water needs in Texas. Plans call for 20 percent of this available water supply to be retained for Northeast Texas suppliers and users and the remaining 80 percent made available to be sold to North Central Texas suppliers and users," Huddleston said.
Huddleston added the economic study gives an understanding of what the potential impact the reservoir could bring to the area and the SRBA hopes to relay the study information to city, county and school officials as well as the general public.
The SRBA was established by the Texas Legislature in June of 1985. Located in the northeast corner of Texas, the basin includes all or part of Fannin, Hunt, Lamar, Hopkins, Red River, Franklin, Titus, Morris, Bowie, Cass and Delta counties. The headwater streams are the North and South Sulphur Rivers. These rivers originate in Fannin County. The Middle Sulphur converges with the South Sulphur at Cooper Lake. These rivers all converge and flow eastward into Wright Patman Lake and exit Texas south of the city of Texarkana. The Sulphur River Basin drainage area is approximately 3,558 square miles.