Water is a precious commodity.  So is information.

The Bonham Public Library now has detailed information available for concerned residents that wish to learn more about a proposed project that will alter the terrain of Fannin County on an historic scale.

Construction of Lower Bois d'Arc Reservoir and dam is scheduled to begin in 2013 and current plans call for the 17,000-acre lake to be completed in 2016.  The project is being funded by North Texas Municipal Water District, a government entity that provides potable water to 1.3 million customers in parts of Collin, Dallas, Denton, Fannin, Hopkins, Hunt, Kaufman, Rains, and Rockwall counties in North Texas. 

A surging population and corresponding increase in water demand has convinced NTMDW that, despite improved conservation and reuse technology, new water sources are necessary.  NTMWD will completely underwrite construction expenses for Lower Bois d'Arc Reservoir and the project is estimated to cost over $408 million. 

That also includes a pipeline that will transport water to a proposed water treatment plant in Leonard and then the pipeline will connect with Pilot Grove Creek between FM 545 and FM 2756 in order to deliver raw water to Lake Lavon.

NTMWD services one of the fastest growing areas in Texas; state population projections estimate the NTMWD service population will increase from 1.6 million to 3.3 million by 2060. 

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.

According to information on display at Bonham Public Library, the primary pipeline consists of 29 miles of 90-inch pipe, a pump station and intake structure at the reservoir, and a 460-million gallon terminal storage reservoir located near the 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.

According to information at the library, the final alignment of raw water transmission facilities has not been determined, although a preliminary route and jurisdictional evaluation has been completed.

Lower Bois d'Arc Reservoir will be located northeast of Bonham.  The reservoir site is generally bounded by U.S. 82 to the south, FM 273 to the west and north, and FM 100 to the east.  The proposed dam will be located 15 mile northeast of Bonham on Bois d'Arc Creek and Honey Grove Creek.  The dam will be approximately 10,400 feet long and a maximum planned height of 90 feet.  Required low-flow releases will be made through a 36-inch low-flow outlet.

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.