Corps: City only owes $6 million

Texas side's water-storage fees originally estimated at more than $30 million

The city of Texarkana, Texas, recently learned they will not have to pay the Army Corps of Engineers more than $30 million in water-storage fees at Wright Patman Lake.

Thursday, Riverbend Water Resources District announced they had received a letter from the corps that states the city owes an estimated $6.2 million. The 1968 End of State Contract the city has with the corps, also known as the "Permanent Contract" or the "Ultimate Rule Curve" contract, is not simple, said Steve Mayo, who serves as the city's water liaison.

"Our contract is complicated at worst and unique at best," he stated in a press release. "It is unlike any other contract in the history of the corps."

The corps team reviewed the contract, which includes the building of Cooper Reservoir, now named Jim Chapman Lake. That was completed in 1991. The contract also states that cultural and environmental resource surveys and mitigation must be completed before the lake can be raised to the ultimate rule curve of 228.64 feet. The lake now operates under an interim curve of 220. If the level is raised to to 228.64 feet, an estimated 80,000 to 100,000 acre-feet of additional water would be made available for permitting.

The contract states the costs for these projects are to be paid by the corps, but according to Riverbend Executive Director/CEO Liz Fazio Hale, money has not been set aside at the federal level to complete them.

"We are confident that we are on the right track with the corps at this time, and we are looking at other options to allow us to fund those surveys and the resulting mitigation," she said. "These are really exciting and progressive times for Riverbend and our region. Now is the time to capitalize on all of the good happening in our communities."

When the city of Texarkana received word almost three years ago that it owed millions, it immediately began collecting funds to pay the debt. Since then, almost $5.5 million has been set aside for the purpose of paying the water storage fees.

"The best part about this is that we were able to start collecting dollars to pay for the cost without a major water-rate increase," said Shirley Jaster, city manager. "Today, the city has almost collected the full amount of construction costs listed under the 1968 Permanent Contract."

Riverbend is a conservation and reclamation district, which provides water and wastewater services to Red River Army Depot and TexAmericas Center. The district formally represents its member cities of Annona, Atlanta, Avery, DeKalb, Hooks, Leary, Maud, Nash, New Boston, Redwater, Texarkana and Wake Village in pursuing additional water rights if Wright Patman Lake is raised to the ultimate rule curve.

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