How to quench Dallas' thirst for water without leaving Northeast Texas and Southwest Arkansas resources dry was the topic of conversation at Thursday night's Riverbend Water Resources District meeting.
"This is not a conversation we can choose to opt out of," said Kelly Mitchell, a Riverbend board member. "Just because we are so blessed with water here, doesn't mean we always will be. We would all rather keep the land or the lake, you bet, but once the state (decides it needs water), it will not be a choice. We are not going to be able to say no. So we have to be vocal now."
The purpose of the meeting held at Texarkana, Texas, City Hall on Thursday night was to give people the opportunity to speak about the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Sulphur River Basin Feasibility Study, which relates to the reallocation of Wright Patman Lake.
About 75 people attended, including both Texarkana mayors and mayors from Nash, DeKalb, Redwater and New Boston. Linda Price, chairwoman of Region D, which includes Northeast Texas was there, as well as George Frost, who serves on Region D. Also present were District 1 Texas Rep. Gary VanDeaver and newly appointed Sulphur River Basin Authority member Mike Sandefur.
Glenda Kiker, a retired Texarkana registered nurse who lives on Clear Springs Road near Wright Patman Lake, said she told other people she wanted to attend Thursday's meeting and they discouraged her from going. She said people she talks with have the idea that money has been exchanged and this region will be on the losing end of this water battle.
"They've told me, 'oh hell, it's a done deal,'" Kiker said. "But with Wright Patman coming up and Marvin Nichols (possibly) coming in, I think it is time to stir people up. I would personally like to know what (people in Dallas) are doing to conserve their water. Maybe they could fill up some of their swimming pools."
Thursday's meeting followed two meetings held by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in February to discuss the project. However, critics, including Bowie County Judge James Carlow, said the meeting format did not give attendees the feedback they needed to understand the complex study and its variables.
"I want to thank Riverbend publicly for having this meeting," Carlow said. "I didn't know anyone who left those other meetings feeling like they knew more than when they got there. I also got the feeling that maybe they were not telling us the whole story and explaining it to us."
Carlow emphasized he was speaking from his own perspective and not for the county at large.
Steve Mayo, Texarkana's water liaison who was appointed to his post after he revealed Texarkana, Texas, owes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers more than $28 million, said community involvement and education about the issues facing the region needed to happen for a long time and it is happening now.
Mayo said some water insiders have been trying to stir up citizens to become involved and it's great to see that is happening, judging by the response to Thursday's meeting.
"Over the past year, we have all been shaking the trees and been very loud, but for the longest time many were asleep at the wheel and we don't need that. I think it is now time for all of us to hear."