TO THE EDITOR:
After reading the article about the SRBA president resigning in today's Jan. 4 edition of the Gazette, I felt compelled to write to you. As most of you know, I have been actively working to protect our environment as well as developing not only water but all of our natural resources.
Getting straight to the point: In today's article, the out going SRBA president quoted the Sunset Commission Report, "Stake holders can be divisive, antagonistic, and largely driven by their own financial motivations or wishes to control future water rights." That is exactly the point, but this is a two way street.
Should the Metroplex be able to come in and develop the water, control it and possibly sell it back to us or others without regard to the impact it would have on our agriculture and timber industries? Or, should Northeast Texas develop the water resources in the best possible way that would also protect our economy?
My firm belief is local control! This is why I am a strong supporter of Riverbend Water Resource District. It is the one agency that can protect our water rights because it is made up of 16 members including Annona, Atlanta, Avery, DeKalb, Hooks, Leary, Maud, Nash, New Boston, Redwater, Texarkana, Wake Village, TexAmericas Center as well as Bowie, Cass and Red River Counties. In other words, Riverbend is all of us united to protect our interests.
From today's article there appears a possibility that the SRBA may back out of attending this scheduled meeting between the various entities involved. It seems that after over 15 years of studying the Sulphur Basin, someone in the SRBA should be able to articulate their findings as well as their position to our local water groups. Perhaps they don't want the public to know, or if no one can explain, then it appears hat the JCPD (Metroplex water group) is totally controlling the SRBA on a need to know basis.
I urge all of you who are able to attend the meeting scheduled for Jan. 10, 6 p.m. at the Texarkana Convention Center. We should show our support for those who are fighting for us.
George Frost
Region D Vice-Chair
Maud, Texas