Northeast Texas leaders commit to protecting water resources
“Protecting our surface water and ground water is essential to the future of our farms, our families, and our way of life.”-Chris Spencer
By Kenny Mitchell
Water water everywhere, and not a drop to drink.
Northeast Texas leaders are working together to make sure that dies not become a reality for their constituents with their work toward a groundwater conservation district.
Bowie County commissioners formally joined that effort last week with the appointment of the county judge to serve as the Bowie County representative on the multicounty joint committee for the creation of a regional groundwater conservation district, and the approval of a legal services agreement with SledgeLaw Group PLLC related to the creation of a regional groundwater conservation district in northeast Texas.
The move to protect Northeast Texas groundwater is directly connected to the proposed development of several AI data centers in Bowie County, and what NE Texas leaders say is a response to protect our most valued natural resource.
Cass County Judge Travis Ransom told the West Bowie Post, “Water is the foundation of every community’s future. Whether we’re talking about homes, agriculture, manufacturing, or economic development, none of it is possible without a reliable water supply. Creating a regional groundwater conservation district is a proactive step that gives Northeast Texas a seat at the table in protecting our aquifers while balancing conservation, preserving private property rights, and responsible economic growth.”
Bowie County residents are no strangers to fighting to protect our water rights, property rights and natural resources. Along with groundwater, the fight to protect NE Texas surface water has been raging for over 25 years with oppos
ition to the proposed Marvin Nichols Reservoir in the Sulphur River Basin.
Similar to the fight to protect our groundwater, the opposition to Marvin Nichols has centered on the rights of local landowners and the protection of natural resources like bottomland hardwood forests and a variety of endangered species of wildlife.
Janice Bezanson, of the Texas Conservation Alliance, has been at the forefront of opposition to the proposed reservoir since day one. She states today, “The future of Texas, for people and for the economy, depends on protecting our water resources - both water quality and water quantity. Over-allocating water supplies will only lead to bigger problems later. The focus needs to be on water efficiency - minimizing waste, maximizing reuse, and not allowing vested interests to promote more water development than is needed.”
Whether it be an AI data center or a reservoir that would destroy generational farms or much needed forests, the efforts to protect NE Texas water resources is at the forefront of municipal issues.
Bowie County Precinct 3 Commissioner Mike Carter weighed in on the subject by saying, “Water is necessary to sustain all life. As demand for the use of our surface and groundwater increases, everyone, whether an individual or elected official, needs to do our part to insure we conserve anywhere we can.”
Governor Greg Abbott has also addressed concerns for water in a recent campaign stop by saying, "Any AI data center even thinking about coming here has to bring their own money, bring their own power, and re-use their own water.”
Echoing those sentiments, Republican frontrunner for Texas House District 1 State Representative Chris Spencer states, “Protecting our surface water and ground water is essential to the future of our farms, our families, and our way of life. Northeast Texans have always been good stewards of our water, both at home and commercially. Taking the next step in the creation of a regional Groundwater Conservation District that protects us may seem to some as government overreach. In our case, it is good, responsible stewardship and I will be honored to co-sponsor this legislation in Austin.
One of the major issues in regard to water comes from the agricultural community, where a lack of trust has been fostered with the push for a groundwater conservation district, and that push coming while data center developers are seeking to take land and water from the local supply.
DeKalb mayor Lowell Walker addressed that mistrust by saying, “Groundwater is a key resource for our agricultural community in this area and some municipalities as well. The proposed groundwater conservation district is being implemented to protect the Carizzo-Wilcox Aquifer, but that aquifer only supplies water for the southern area of Bowie County. I am comfortable with the groundwater conservation district if it only applies to Area 11, which includes that southern part of the county. DeKalb is in Area 8 and does not draw any water from the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer. Some of the suspicions of our agricultural community are that they are giving the state the power over groundwater, and this is some of the same folks recruiting data centers. The data centers in Bowie County that are in development will be purchasing their water from Riverbend, and not groundwater, so they are not a threat to our ag community. Quite simply, the minor aquifers in our area would not and could not supply the water needs for a data center.”
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