North Texas water suppliers are looking at new strategies to meet growing demand for water. Large reservoirs, such as the Richland-Chambers Reservoir in East Texas, are considered a viable option to tap billions of gallons of water over the next few decades. However, extracting large amounts of water from out-of-state sources is expensive and requires years of planning.
The Tarrant Regional Water District estimates that it needs 1.2 million acre feet of water per year by 2080, but existing resources will only cover nearly 700,000 acre feet. To address this shortfall, the district plans to explore smaller projects, such as extracting groundwater and purchasing water from local lakes, as well as larger projects like the Marvin Nichols Reservoir.
The district is also considering relocating floodwaters from Wright Patman Lake in East Texas to store water supplies for use in North Texas. Another large-scale option being considered is the Toledo Bend Reservoir in East Texas.
To meet growing demand, Tarrant Regional Water District officials will conduct feasibility studies on these projects over the next five years. The district has already made progress, including the construction of an integrated pipeline project and a new wastewater treatment plant that is expected to be completed by 2028.
While some smaller-scale projects may only secure enough resources through 2080, larger projects like Marvin Nichols or Toledo Bend Reservoir would provide more sustainable solutions for years to come.
Source: https://fortworthreport.org/2025/10/03/new-water-resources-needed-for-north-texas-heres-a-look-at-how-tarrant-plans-to-tap-them