NETMWD Delivers Facts Regarding Potential Sale or Lease of Water From Lake O’ the Pines

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Hughes Springs, TX (February 13, 2025) — Northeast Texas Municipal Water District (NETMWD) is in discussions with North Texas Municipal Water District (North Texas MWD) regarding a sale or lease of excess water from Lake O’ the Pines. 

 

Discussions are ongoing, so specifics about any final agreement do not exist. In the meantime, public conversation has been filled with misinformation, incorrect data, and speculation. 

 

“We understand that our friends and neighbors are concerned and want answers. Sadly, too many of the answers you’ve been given simply aren’t true. It is normal to enter a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) between entities during the research and discovery phase of a deal such as this. We are sharing the information we have available at this time to set the record straight while we investigate the options of a sale or lease of excess water,” said Wayne Owen, General Manager and Executive Director, NETMWD.

 

This is the first of numerous communications to be shared as new, accurate information becomes available. NETMWD is committed to doing this right the first time, which is a lengthy and arduous process.

 

FACT: The City of Dallas is Not Part of These Discussions

 

NETMWD is not negotiating with the City of Dallas and Dallas will not receive any of the water from Lake O’ the Pines. We are working exclusively with the North Texas MWD which serves suburban cities and rural areas north and east of Dallas. 

 

North Texas MWD is a nationally recognized leader in water conservation and reuse. 

 

FACT: Selling Water From Lake O’ the Pines is Not New

 

We have been selling water from Lake O’ the Pines for the past 60 years. These water sales have helped serve our neighbors and benefit our member cities financially.

 

Some of these sales are to industrial customers and will be coming to an end making this water available. North Texas MWD is interested in buying or leasing this water plus an unused portion of each member city’s excess water.

 

FACT: Lake O’ the Pines Produces More Than Enough Water

 

Lake O’ the Pines produces a prolific amount of water. 

 

NETMWD projections show that, even with the potential sale or lease of water, Lake O’ the Pines will produce more than enough water to meet our cities’ current and future needs.

 

How much water does Lake O’ the Pines produce? In one single day (February 10, 2025), 1.1 billion gallons of water was released downstream. That’s equal to the amount of water all our member and customer cities used in 2024. An entire years’ worth of water was released in a single day. 

 

FACT: We Are Committed to The Downstream Needs of Caddo Lake

 

We love Caddo Lake as much as you do and NETMWD remains committed to keeping it a healthy Texas treasure. 

 

According to United States Geological Survey records, Lake O’ the Pines (via Big Cypress Bayou) provides, on average, less than 25% of the inflow to Caddo Lake. Most of the water flowing into Caddo Lake comes from other sources including Little Cypress Bayou, James Bayou, and Harrison Bayou. 

 

In an average year, Lake O’ the Pines sends 445,000 acre-feet to Caddo Lake. As noted above, NETMWD sent more water to Caddo Lake in a single day than is needed by member and customer cities in a year.

 

With or without a water sale to North Texas MWD, billions of gallons of water exceeding our regional needs will continue to flow downstream through Caddo Lake and into the Gulf.

 

The Northeast Texas Municipal Water District was formed in 1953 to be the local sponsor of Lake O’ the Pines. Working with representatives of our member cities, we are committed to the responsible management of our region’s valuable water resources and the health of our local lakes.

 

“We will earnestly share information as it becomes available via public notices and public meetings while we work alongside elected officials to be as transparent as possible throughout the process. Our goal is to do the best by our NETMWD member and customer cities, Lake O’ the Pines and Caddo Lake,” Owens concluded.

 

For more information about Northeast Texas Municipal Water District, visit netmwd.com.