Three area agencies to discuss regional water issues at meeting

In an historic move, three area organizations will meet simultaneously today, something their leaders say has never happened before.

The city of Texarkana, Texas, the Sulphur River Basin Authority and Riverbend Water Resources District will meet at 1 p.m. today at the Texarkana Convention Center to discuss regional water issues.

SRBA Chairman Chris Spencer will speak on SRBA’s role in promoting the health and success of the Sulphur River Basin, and SRBA board members Kelly Mitchell and Bret McCoy will speak on the reallocation study on Lake Wright Patman.

Steve Mayo, water liaison for the city of Texarkana, Texas, will speak on water storage fees the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is charging the city for Wright Patman and the lake’s ultimate rule curve. The corps operates the lake under an interim curve of 220 feet. The ultimate rule curve of 228.64 feet is the level specified in the contractual obligation between the corps and the city of Texarkana, Texas. If the level were raised to the ultimate rule curve, an estimated 80,000 to 100,000 acre feet of water would be made available for permitting.

Riverbend Executive Director/CEO Liz Fazio Hale will speak about the water availability model for the Sulphur River Basin and the volumetric and sedimentation study being conducted on the lake.

Spencer said the meeting shows all three organizations are working together to plan for the future of Texarkana.

“I think it’s important to have cooperation with both entities,” he said. “They are some of the major stakeholders within the basin.”

Texarkana, Texas, Mayor Bob Bruggeman said it will give the groups the opportunity to get updates on the various items each entity is working on.

“I think that is a very positive step forward as we work toward open communication,” he said. “Water-related matters are important both now and in the future and it is important to be informed on this topic.”

Bruggeman also encouraged the public to attend and learn more about what each entity is doing to protect and develop water in the lake and in the region.

“If someone wants to ask questions they are welcome to do that to be more informed on water-related issues in the region,” he said.

A public comment period will be held at the end of the meeting. The time limit is five minutes per speaker, and speakers must sign in on the comment sheet prior to the meeting. The time limit will also not exceed a total of 60 minutes for all speakers.

“I think that it’s important for people to attend this meeting to show support for basin management,” Fazio Hale said. “I am excited to hear SRBA speak about what is their perceived role in the basin and the opportunities that Riverbend has to work with SRBA to complement their role and to help them achieve their goals.”

The meeting will be held in Meeting Room 1 at the Texarkana Convention Center, 4610 Cowhorn Creek Road, Texarkana, Texas.