City takes steps to secure water rights on creek
The painted marking above located on VZCR 1222 is one of many around the Grand Saline Creek area. These markings, referred to as Panel Points were used during a recent flyover conducted by J&P Engineering.
The Canton City Council has budgeted $100,000 of taxpayer’s funds and began the process of obtaining water rights on Grand Saline Creek. Recently, citizens in the proposed area voiced concerns about and dissent about the project after noticing aerial survey road markers and the looming possible threat of eminent domain.
Stemming from arguments in 2011, landowners around the proposed lake area formed the “Concerned Citizens Against the Proposed Grand Saline Creek Lake” and created more community awareness of the city’s intentions, but despite efforts, the topic has resurfaced.
Canton City Manager Lonny Cluck said that planning for a long-term water solution was “necessary,” and “if Canton does not buy water rights to Grand Saline Creek, someone else will.”
The past
In January 2009, the City of Canton completed a long-term water study prepared by Gary Burton Engineering, Inc. At that time, the study investigated three options for meeting the long-term water supply needs for the city: buy treated water, purchase raw water or build a lake.
The report recommended that a new reservoir be constructed on Mill Creek, and the first step in the process was to submit a water right permit application to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to establish a priority date.
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