June 29, 2025 – The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) has officially declared an interregional water conflict between Region C (the Dallas–Fort Worth metro area) and Region D (East Texas) regarding the proposed Marvin Nichols Reservoir.
The proposed Marvin Nichols Reservoir is a planned water supply reservoir in the Sulphur River Basin in Titus, Red River, and Franklin counties about 100 miles northeast of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex
Background & Decision
- In April 2025, Region D formally notified the TWDB that including Marvin Nichols in Region C’s 2026 initial plan could inflict substantial adverse economic, agricultural, and natural-resource impacts on Region D.
- Region C countered in May, asserting the reservoir would not only avoid significant harm to Region D, but could yield local economic gains—estimating $5 billion during construction, $120 million in annual revenue, and $325 million in annual tourism and public usage, while impacting only a small percentage of timber and farmland.
- The TWDB opened a public comment portal (May 8–June 9, 2025) and received over 370 responses—most opposed the reservoir echoing Region D’s concerns.
Marvin Nichols served on statewide water planning commissions and boards at the request of five governors. He was the first chair of the Texas Water Development Board in 1957, a position he held for six years…