Plano, Texas – Today, U.S. Congressman Sam Johnson (TX-03) joined the North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) and other local, state, and federal leaders at the groundbreaking ceremony for a new reservoir that will meet critical water needs for North Texas families. The reservoir, named the North Texas Municipal Lake, received its permit earlier this spring after years of work to bring the reservoir online. 

The permit was expedited due to a bipartisan effort led by Johnson in 2016.  This move was necessary due to population growth that is forecasted to eclipse available water resources unless another reservoir is built.

At the groundbreaking, Congressman Johnson delivered the following remarks:

After many years of hard work, it’s great to know that there will soon be a lake at this very spot – a lake that will provide vital water to North Texas families. And I’m also proud to say that I led the bipartisan effort in 2016 to expedite the permitting process for this critical project. 

The members of Texas Delegation who joined me in this hard-won battle on behalf of North Texans include Senators Cornyn and Cruz; and Representatives Pete Sessions, John Ratcliffe, Jeb Hensarling, and Eddie Bernice Johnson.

Clean, reliable water is something all Americans want and need. And because drought is no stranger to our area, one of my longstanding priorities in the United States Congress has been water. 

For example, a few years ago I had the honor of working with my former colleague, Congressman Ralph Hall, when we faced a problem with zebra mussels.  The water district had to actually stop pumping water until we got a bill signed into law to allow the water district to resume pumping and treat the water at the Wylie Water Treatment Plant.

Today, with this new reservoir, we are building the solution to address a different water problem.

You see, North Texas is one of the fastest growing areas in the nation.  It’s a blessing, to be sure!  It’s a great place to live!  But a growing population also means we need more water. This goes beyond just watering our yards. It’s about being able to turn on the faucet and get good, clean water – to make sure our area’s economy has the water it needs to continue to grow.

What’s more, the timing for the reservoir permit was crucial if we want to have water ready to meet future demand.  The approval permit we received this spring came in the nick of time thanks to the tireless and bipartisan congressional effort.

I want to congratulate everyone involved in this project.  This is how to get things done together!