F & F Balancing Water

January 22, 2009

The Film: "Texas: The State of Water - Finding a Balance" was produced by the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department in 2005 and is narrated by famous Texan, Walter Cronkite. This in-depth film explores how the demand for water is growing dramatically and weighs the impact this growth will have on our state and us. It shows how the steps we take - or don't take - will have consequences upon Texas and its people, wildlife, and economic vitality for future generations.

The Forum: After the film, Janice Bezanson, Executive Director of Texas Conservation Alliance (TCA), related the film's message to the current issues surrounding water and proposed reservoirs in rural Texas, including Fannin County. She gave us updates on the latest efforts of the Texas Conservation Alliance in continuing to protect Texas' rivers, forests, coastlines, wildlife, natural areas, and special landscapes. She made the strong statement that "We don't need any more reservoirs!" . . . that building reservoirs is an profit-making industry in need of work, that decisions to build more reservoirs are made politically, not economically --- driven by coporate interests. The numbers used to project need are inflated. She also stated that existing reservoirs in Texas are adequate for the state's needs. Specifically for our area, Lake Texoma would be a better source; it is only a bit too salty. The Toledo Bend reservoir has enough to supply Dallas.

In regard to conservation, Jance instructed that re-use is a better way to go, which is something D/FW is beginning to do. For e.g., using gray water to maintain golf courses.

Janice is a recognized leader in Texas conservation, most notably in the field of water planning. She has had 25 years experience in conservation and coalition-building and has served as Executive Director of the TCA for ten years, pushing for policies in Congress and the Texas Legislature that conserve natural resources and sustain a sound economy. Janice has served on the boards of state and national organizations and has been the recipient of the prestigious Chevron Conservation Award. To date, she has successfully campaigned for creating and protecting wildlife refuges and other natural areas, for supplying water from existing reservoirs rather than building new dams that inundate wildlife habitat, and for improving forest management on public lands. She advises citizens dealing with local environmental problems and connects them to the broader conservation picture.

The Texas Conservation Alliance started simply as group of volunteers (formerly the Texas Committee on Natural Resources in the Dallas area) and now harnesses the energies and experience of Texans from varied backgrounds who share a common interest in conservation practices. Visit their website at www.tcatexas.org.