Lake Ralph Hall

Upper Trinity Regional Water District Proposes A More Than 20% Increase in Water Rates

Upper Trinity Regional Water District officials recently revealed major rate increase projections, despite continued assertions that the proposed Lake Ralph Hall will only have a minimal rate impact.

During the District’s June 2 board meeting, staff members presented preliminary rate increase projections of 15% for fiscal year 2006 and an additional 5.8% for fiscal year 2007. The current demand charge of $225,000 MGD (million gallons per day) would be raised by $34,000 to $259,000 MGD this year and would increase an additional $15,000 to $274,000 MGD next year. Based on a system-wide subscribed capacity of 64.77 MGD, this increase will generate more than $2.2 million in additional revenue for the district in FY 2006 alone. These projected increases are in addition to a 5.5% increase adopted in FY 2004 and an 18.4% increase adopted in FY 2005. From 2003, when the District announced their intention to build Lake Ralph Hall, to 2007, the District will have increased the demand charge by more than 52%, or $94,000 MGD.

These rate increases refute the District’s recent claims that Lake Ralph Hall is only in the planning phase and that an investment decision has not been made. The District has already spent $2 million on the lake and by 2010, will have spent more than $112 million on the proposed new reservoir. The District’s consultant projects that the rates will spiral out-of-control to more than $416,445 by the time Lake Ralph Hall begins to produce water for Denton County. Comprised of representatives from the District’s member entities, the District’s board is scheduled to vote on the increase in September.

To view the official notice from the Upper Trinity Regional Water District regarding rate increases, click here.

Region C Water Group Includes Lake Ralph Hall in Proposed Plan…Along With Desalinated Water from the Gulf and the Controversial Lake Marvin Nichols

Tasked with developing a proposed regional water plan that keeps all of their water supply options open, the Region C Water Planning Group recently took the first step in drafting a plan that encompasses many water options, including the controversial Lake Marvin Nichols, piping in and desalinating water from the Gulf of Mexico, and Lake Ralph Hall.

The approval of Lake Ralph Hall and other proposed projects recognized by Region C is not final, a formal vote will be made in May, followed by a series of Public Hearings prior to final approval late this year. The projects must also be approved by the Texas Water Development Board and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Stating a need to consider all of their options, regardless of feasibility and cost, Region C Board Members reminded the audience that they strictly perform an advisory function and that final approval and permits occur at the state-level.

Lake Ralph Hall was included in the draft plan despite a request from Fannin County Judge Daryl Hall to refrain from including it, pleas from landowners who will be forced from their homes, and growing opposition from those who will be forced to pay for the proposed reservoir, the elected officials, and residents of Denton County. The proposed site has also been recognized as a historically and archeological significant location. Lake Ralph Hall has also garnered opposition from regional and state environmental groups that are against the construction of any new unnecessary reservoir , including the Sierra Club Lone Star Chapter, Texas Committee on Natural Resources, National Wildlife Federation, Environmental Defense, Sulphur River Oversight Society, Dallas Historic Tree Coalition, Save Open Space Dallas, Citizens for Safe Water, Friends of the Sabine, Friends United for Safe Environment, Neches River Protection Initiative, East Texas Forest and Wildlife Coalition, Texas Forestry Association and the Texas Farm Bureau.

Citing exorbitant water fees, a recent Upper Trinity Regional Water District (UTRWD) rate increase, and the significant impact the new reservoir would have on the water bills of its residents, the Double Oak Town Council recently voted to oppose the development of Lake Ralph Hall.

The Double Oak Town Council demonstrated unprecedented initiative, understanding of the issue, and an overall desire to act in the best interest of the residents of Double Oak during the recent Lake Ralph Hall discussion. After a substantial amount of research and deliberation, the council adopted a resolution that clearly defines Double Oak’s opposition to the proposed lake.

“ The UTRWD has not adequately justified or demonstrated the need for the development of Lake Ralph Hall and the attendant costs associated with that project,” the resolution states. “The Town Council of Double Oak…is not supportive of UTRWD’s plans and its expenditures to develop Lake Ralph Hall.”

The Town of Double Oak is represented on the UTRWD Board of Directors by Oscar Burchard, who is also the UTRWD Board President. Direction provided by the Double Oak Town Council and the resolution provides guidance for their representative regarding formulating a position or voting on Lake Ralph Hall.

March 9, 2005

Fannin County Residents Side with Flower Mound in opposition to Lake Ralph Hall

March 3, 2005

Flower Mound Initiates Campaign to Inform Denton County Residents
and Elected Officials about the Proposed Lake Ralph Hall

With the goal of ensuring that Denton County residents, businesses, and elected officials are aware of how the proposed Lake Ralph Hall will affect their water rates, the Town of Flower Mound is kicking off a new informational campaign that will include the internet, the media, and grassroots efforts.

Based upon a lack of need, high cost, low yield, the availability of more cost-effective water supplies, and the projected impact on water rates, the Flower Mound Town Council voted in February to officially oppose the development of Lake Ralph Hall. A Lake Ralph Hall Public Information and Advocacy team is now working to inform the public about the project.

The team will utilize local cable channels, e-mail news bulletins, and a dedicated website, located at www.lakeralphhall.com to publicize information regarding Lake Ralph Hall and encourage Denton County residents to contact their elected officials regarding the project.

In a show of overwhelming opposition against the proposed Lake Ralph Hall, numerous Fannin County Residents attended a County Commissioner's Court meeting on Tuesday and expressed concern regarding the proposed new reservoir. The two-hour meeting consisted of independent presentations by the Town of Flower Mound and the Upper Trinity Regional Water District, and a question and answer session in which a majority of the inquiries were directed toward the Upper Trinity Regional Water District. " We were very well-received by the residents of Fannin County. Unfortunately, they have been given the impression that Lake Ralph Hall is an inevitable project that will eventually swallow their homes, farms, and ranches. We were there to tell them that this is not a done deal and that they could make a difference," said Flower Mound Mayor Jody Smith.			Fannin County Judge Darryl Hall and Flower Mound Mayor Jody Smith discussed Lake Ralph Hall at a Fannin County Commissioners Meeting on Tuesday.
	Van James, Flower Mound Town Manager, addressed a standing room only crowd as a recent Fannin County Commissioners Court Meeting to speak on the lack of justification for Lake Ralph Hall.	Many of those who attended the meeting expressed concern about how the lake would affect their friends, neighbors, and community, despite claims by the Upper Trinity Regional Water District staff and board members that they have universal support from the residents of Fannin County who will be displaced and affected. Members of the crowd raised questions regarding property mitigation, environmental issues, drought management, the District's inability to provide tangible information regarding the project, and their lack of responsiveness. Many residents expressed concern over losing their homes, farms, and ranches for an unnecessary lake that is likely not needed until well into the next century. " It became obvious that the Upper Trinity representatives were uncomfortable in addressing the questions posed by the audience. Their unresponsiveness and inability to provide concrete information regarding Lake Ralph Hall was transparent." said Michael Ryan, Director of Community Affairs.
The engineering and financial projections utilized to justify building the lake also came into question and several residents expressed concern about the negative affect the lake would have on the tax rolls, due to the substantial loss of ranch and farm land, in a county where the school district is already under-funded. Flower Mound officials requested the opportunity to meet with Fannin County Commissioners in order to provide them with an opportunity to review an independent report stating that the lake is not justified on the basis of need, cost, or economic development benefits. " An overwhelming majority of the residents who attended the meeting understand that this an unnecessary lake that will no more benefit the residents of Fannin County than it will the residents of Denton County, "said Paul Stone, Flower Mound Town Council Member.