Does Texas need this Reservoir?

Could allowing to permit one reservoir to be built, be the key for Texas to building more reservoirs as part of the Texas 50-year water plan? An editorial in The Dallas News believes so!

On Friday, September 20, 2013 The Dallas News published an editorial titled North Texas needs Lake Ralph Hall.  The article goes on to state that the following Tuesday, an important decision for North Texas would be made that would set a precedent for all of the state. The author of this article who was not named, seeks to persuade the citizens, as well as the state, as to why the proposed Lake Ralph Hall is needed by North Texans. Furthermore, the author does a great job of covering the issues at hands. The article goes on to say that the Denton county is planned on exceeding it's population from 2010, which consisted of a population of about 663,000 to 1 million in 2030 and 1.84 million by 2060. With the current water supplies and increase in population, water supplies are enough to meet the needs for about the middle of the next decade and not beyond, according to the district's executive director Tom Taylor.

Additionally, the article goes on to say that this is the part where Lake Ralph Hall would come into play because if a permit were to be issued for Lake Ralph Hall, it would help the fast-growing region meet its water demands. However, the article states that if the TCEQ (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality) refuses the construction permit, that the rejection could cause effects way beyond the Denton and Dallas counties. Since the state has not issued a permit for a new lake in about 25 years, it is crucial for this permit to be accepted. Furthermore, the article states if the state cannot issue a permit for a lake such as Ralph Hall then that pretty much forecasts that not much good will come for Texas' ability to building other reservoirs as part of the 50-year water plan.

For the most part I agreed with what the author wrote and felt he provided a good amount of data to back up his claims as to why North Texas needs the TCEQ to allow the permit for Lake Ralph Hall. Although I think it was a bit far-fetched to say that if this one lake was not permitted that it pretty much forecasted what was in store for Texas' ability to build other reservoirs. Additionally, the author did address that strategies were in place that included a healthy reliance on water conservation. I however, would have liked the author to have addressed what type of water conservation plans are already in place and would like to have seen some data on it but nonetheless, the article was presented well, had convincing arguments, and information to further back up their argument and convince the audience.