The Problem

Population Growth

Texas is the fastest-growing state in the nation. Current population of 29.7 million is projected to reach 55 million or more by 2070—nearly doubling in just 45 years.

This growth is concentrated in urban areas:

• Dallas-Fort Worth: Adding millions of new residents
• Houston Metro: Continued expansion
• Austin-San Antonio Corridor: Explosive growth

Every new resident needs water. Every new business needs water. Every new home needs water.

Supply Gap

Current water infrastructure was designed for a smaller Texas. The gap between supply and demand is widening:

Source: Texas Water Development Board projections

Traditional surface water sources face increasing stress from:

• Climate variability: More frequent and severe droughts
• Environmental flows: Legal requirements to maintain river ecosystems
• Competing demands: Agriculture, industry, municipalities all need more

The Marvin Nichols Controversy

For decades, the proposed solution to North Texas water needs has been the Marvin Nichols Reservoir—a massive impoundment in East Texas that would flood over 66,000 acres of productive farmland and timber.

The controversy illustrates why traditional approaches are failing:

The Marvin Nichols approach:

• Displaces rural communities
• Destroys productive agricultural land
• Faces decades of legal challenges
• Pits Texas regions against each other
• Depends on rainfall that climate change makes less reliable

There is a better way.

Economic Stakes

Without adequate water supply, Texas faces severe economic consequences:

• $153 billion in potential annual economic damages by 2070
• Lost business development opportunities
• Reduced agricultural output
• Declining quality of life

Water scarcity doesn’t just mean dry taps—it means lost jobs, stalled growth, and economic decline.

The cost of inaction far exceeds the cost of building drought-proof infrastructure.