Texarkana has exclusive rights to the water in Lake Wright Patman, according to a state commission, but 12 nearby cities are attempting to change that.
"The city of Texarkana currently has the water rights and that means they can supply water (to other cities) through another source or public utility, like TWU (Texarkana Water Utilities," said Adria Dawidcyzic, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality spokeswoman.
Other agencies or public utilities seeking to obtain water rights to the lake would need to apply through the TCEQ, which would review the application and either grant or deny a permit, Dawidcyzic said.
Earlier this month, seven cities gave public notice that they are joining five other Texas cities in creating the Wright Patman Regional Water Supply Agency as of Thursday [April 22]. The five cities, which initially voted Feb. 5 to establish the agency, include New Boston, De Kalb, Hooks, Avery and Annona. The additional seven seeking to join include Wake Village, Nash, Redwater, Clarksville, Atlanta, Queen City and Maud.
During a Queen City Council meeting last week, Mayor Bobby Bowman told the Council that by joining the water agency, Queen City and the 11 others would gain some rights to Lake Wright Patman's water, instead of letting Texarkana Water Utilities have sole rights.
Besides supplying water to both sides of Texarkana, TWU supplies water to its member cities, which include Annona, Avery, De Kalb, Hooks, Maud, New Boston and Wake Village. Nash and Redwater are designated as wholesale customers, according to TWU records.
Wake Village and Nash released their Thursday evening meeting agendas to the public Monday. However, as of Monday afternoon [April 19], Wake Village City Administrator Bob Long and Nash City Administrator Elizabeth Lea both said they still don't have a copy of the resolution that their cities, as well as the other 10 cities, will vote on.
Last week, David Tuckfield, an Austin-based attorney for the water agency, said he was still in the process of drawing up a new resolution to address the agency's new chartering set to be voted on Thursday. He also said the Feb. 5 vote, by the original five cities, was valid and created the agency, but he added that no other action regarding the agency's formation has been taken, owing to the fact that seven other cities are wanting to join in.
Efforts to reach Tuckfield at his Austin office were unsuccessful Monday.
[COMMENT: Why am I not surprised about this? R]