Acting upon the recommendation of the Fannin County Fire Chiefs Association, Fannin County Commissioners Court voted to lift the ban on outdoor burning, however all parties urged residents to use extreme caution due to high winds and an abundance of combustible material.

The discussion regarding Lower Bois d'Arc Creek Reservoir was much more difficult and rightly so.  After all, this creek was named by French trappers in the 1700s and now this project has the potential to alter the landscape more than any undertaking in Fannin County history. 

Map of Lower Bois d'Arc Creek Reservoir

Commissioner Dewayne Strickland voiced several concerns on behalf of his constituents, from questions about what effect the loss of these hardwood bottomlands will have on the county to whether county residents are being fairly compensated for the land currently being purchased for the lake. 

After a long and earnest discussion, if any census was reached, it was that Lower Bois d'Arc Creek Reservoir is almost certain to become a reality, although current plans indicate it will be 2013 before construction of the dam begins and the 17,000-acre lake should fill up in 2016.

Fannin County Commissioners voted 3-1 to continue supporting the Lower Bois d'Arc Creek Reservoir.

According to information on display at Bonham Public Library, this project will also include a primary pipeline consisting of 29 miles of 90-inch pipe that will carry water from the reservoir to a 460-million gallon terminal storage reservoir located near a new water treatment plant near Leonard.  The primary pipeline would have an initial capacity of 135 million gallons per day and an ultimate capacity of 17 million gallons per day.

The discharge outlet would be comprised of 14.4 miles of 66-inch pipeline and an outfall structure at Pilot Grove Creek.  The maximum daily discharge through the 66-inch pipe would be 113 million gallons per day.

In addition to the land needed for the reservoir and pipeline, mitigation acreage similar to that inundated by Lower Bois d'Arc Reservoir must be preserved.  In all, this project will impact 40,000 to 50,000 acres in Fannin County.

NTMWD Executive Director Jim Parks has stated that North Texas Municipal Water District is prepared to be contractually obligated to compensate the county and impacted school districts for any loss in tax revenue as a result of land acquired for the reservoir being taken off tax rolls.

There is also the possibility of stabilizing water levels at Lower Bois d'Arc Creek Reservoir with slight modifications.  The most likely scenario would call for water to be released from Lake Texoma into Red River and then pumped into Lower Bois d'Arc Creek Reservoir.  Water out of Lake Texoma must be mixed with water from other reservoirs because of its high saline content.  At the present time, water from Lake Texoma that is purchased by North Texas Municipal Water District is piped into Sister Grove Creek and then makes its way downstream into Lake Lavon.

Any compromise designed to stabilize water levels at Lower Bois d'Arc Creek Reservoir could supply water to the 1.3 million customers that depend on North Texas Municipal Water District and still give Fannin County an attractive lake that would stimulate development.

Another development in the works that could provide a long-needed stimulus to attract businesses to Fannin County is a countywide tax abatement policy.  The policy being developed would offer an abatement for companies locating within a Countywide Abatement Zone with an annual payroll of $300,000 or construction or improvement to property of at least $300,000.

Mike Shannon, Chief Appraiser at Fannin County Appraisal District, met with Fannin County Commissioners Court to help refine the written policy of the tax abatement plan.  Shannon stressed how important accurate definitions regarding limitations and restrictions would be during this process, but particularly so once the Countywide Abatement Zone Map takes shape.  The final step will be public meetings to allow feedback on the abatement plan.