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ANNOUNCEMENTS

We continue strong efforts to gain support and obtain federal funding for updates to the Corps of Engineers Lake Texoma 1976 Environmental Impact Statement, 1978 Master Plan and1996 Shoreline Management Plan and to address other issues and improvements indicated on this web site.

Texas and Oklahoma federal, state and local representatives and officials.
Lake Texoma area businesses and organizations.
Boaters, fishermen, hunters, other recreational and wildlife enthusiasts and their organizations.
Be involved, you can make a difference!

HOT ISSUES

	Oklahoma Lake Texoma State Park (Oklahoma Land Conveyance) EIS Scoping Report Summary, See Appendices for project descriptions and public comments.
	Eagles at Lake Texoma
	Witness the evolution of a cove under development.
	Supplement to Lake Texoma Environmental Impact Statement is Required
	Why We Are Losing Prime Boating, Fishing, Hunting and Outdoor Recreation Areas?
	What Can We Do About the Issues?
	Who to Write to?
	Little Mineral EIS (Denison Land Conveyance) Scoping Report Summary, See Appendix D for proposed development drawings and Public Scoping Comments in Appendix F.

Increased Water Use by North Texas Municipal Water District 1-2006

The last several months the Corps of Engineers has been conducting an Environmental Assessment (EA) for Reallocation of Water from hydroelectric power to water supplies. They are close to making a final decision. We previously sent out information on this EA. I believe the EA was for 300,000 acre feet of water to be split evenly between the states of Oklahoma and Texas (150,000 acre-feet each). The draft EA is available at the Corps web site.

A Dallas Morning News article indicates that the North Texas Municipal Water District is applying to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for an amendment to grossly increase their current authorization of 175,000 acre-feet removed from Lake Texoma to go into Lake Lavon. I sent out an article last fall from the Dallas Morning News about the large pipeline and creek channeling water from the pumping station near Grandpappy’s down to Lake Lavon. Here are some of the numbers.

BY THE NUMBERS
27 billion: gallons of water flowing down the creek each year
35 miles: distance water flows in creek to Lake Lavon
90 million: gallons of water that can be pumped down the creek in a day
1.3 million: number of people served by water pumped down the creek
61: number of cities and towns served by the North Texas Municipal Water District

Then they propose over 100,000 acre-feet of additional water to be transferred from the Red River Basin (above and below Lake Texoma?) to the Trinity and Sabine River Basins for use within the applicant’s service area. If it is diverted from the Red River above Lake Texoma, it will reduce our already low river flows during several months each year. Here again they bump into the allocation of water between Texas and Oklahoma. And last but not least.

The North Texas Municipal Water District wants “The change of diversion point from a specific point of Lake Texoma to anywhere on the perimeter of Lake Texoma that is within the boundary of the state of Texas for the combined amount of water authorized by the permit.”

Initial observations on the proposed permit changes:

It looks like they are almost requesting a blank check from TCEQ for future public and industrial water supplies that is renewable on demand. This will definitely not be the last time that they request additional water supplies.
They are applying for an open request to funnel water from Lake Texoma at any point they desire.
It appears that requests for additional water supplies from Lake Texoma exceed the recent Corps EA for Reallocation of water.
The State of Oklahoma may end up being shorted for their one-half (150,000 acre-feet) of the water Reallocated under the EA that they are entitled to under the Red River Compact. They need to ensure that their future water supplies are protected for the future public and industrial growth of Southern Oklahoma.
Municipal water districts have been known to try to capture major water supplies and then resell it to others at a healthy profit.
All of this is not good news in the middle of a major drought and low lake levels in most North Texas and Southern Oklahoma lakes. The good news is that Lake Texoma has fared better than most of these lakes. The upcoming spring and summer rains will be critical.
Some boaters are starting to move their boats from lower level lakes to Lake Texoma. Perhaps that will help fill up some of the vacant boat slips.