By James M. Parks | Published Sunday, October 12, 2008
Thank you for the recent article about the Region C Water Planning Group's study of water supplies in Parker and Wise counties. I was disappointed, however, to read the grossly inaccurate headline and lead paragraph suggesting that Wise County cities may run out of water by 2030.
The study by the Planning Group, which is responsible for developing and revising the long-range water plan for all of North Central Texas, simply concluded that the population of some areas in Parker and Wise counties is growing faster than previously projected. As a result, local cities will adjust their future water plans accordingly, and are doing so now, augmenting the new water management strategies already called for in their long-range plans.
It is no surprise that the region's population is growing rapidly, and that the rate of growth in some areas exceeds previous estimates. That is why the Regional Water Planning process exists, to evaluate such changing conditions and coordinate long-term planning efforts that ensure an abundant future water supply.
Wise County's cities will continue to make adjustments, as needed, to their future water plans so they and their customers have an ample, safe water supply - whether from surface water or groundwater - as well as a reasonable surplus to guard against droughts worse than the drought of record, unanticipated issues with implementation of water management strategies and other unforeseen issues.
We need to be proactive in making these adjustments, but Parker and Wise counties are not in a "dire" situation.
James M. Parks Chairman, Region C Water Planning Group
