V Hugh Lewis II/Jefferson Jimplecute
Objectors to the proposed sale of 70,000 acre feet of water from Lake O’the Pines tried to drown Jefferson City Council members with concerns during Tuesday night during Council’s regular meeting.
NorthEast Texas Municipal Water District is currently negotiating a contract to sell 70,000 acre feet, or about four feet in depth across the whole lake, if it was taken out at once, to the North Texas Municipal Water District. The sale was hinted at in December when the City’s representative to NETMWD notified Council that a proposal was coming.
Flyers began circulating the next day on FaceBook making claims of “draining Caddo Lake” and asking people to come to City Council meetings and “Save Caddo Lake.”
As the Jimplecute reported on January 10, 2025, the proposed sale is still in the negotiating phase and will not be presented to the seven member cities of NETMWD until later this spring.
The objectors Tuesday night understood the Jefferson City Council was voting on the proposed sale during their meeting. The Jefferson City Council’s agenda did not have the water contract even mentioned.
Jefferson Mayor Patricia Finstrom attempted to clarify the matter to the 15 or more people who had signed up to make public comment after the first few had spoken.
Mos tof us walked in here tonight not knowing why most of you were here,” Finstrom said. “There is no contract that we know of right now. We’re not going to be doing anything behind closed doors. We’re one of seven cities. We don’t even know anything about it at this point. We’ve not seen anything in writing. We don’t know anything more about it than you do.”
Concerns ranged from draught conditions similar to seen in 2011 and 2006, having enough water to help fight the Giant Salvinia, to protecting the various hardwoods, spawning grounds and other environmental concerns. Some speakers called for a public forum on the matter, so everyone has a chance to provide feedback. Five of the seven member cities must approve the contract before a permit could be sought from TCEQ to move the water to NTMWD. That permitting process could take up to seven years to complete.
Those present seemed very surprised that there was not going to be a discussion Tuesday, and many who signed up declined their time to speak as the night progressed.
NETMWD has indicated they will bring a completed proposal and contract to the cities later in the Spring.
According to data from the USACE and NETMWD, the sale would still allow for adequate water to flow to Caddo Lake in times of draught, and would leave almost 60% of the water rights in Lake O’the Pines.