RESO CC 1977-23 - US Army Corps construction request Now
RESOLUTION NO. 77-23
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF HUNTSVILLE, WALKER COUNTY, TEXAS URGING
THE U. S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS
TO RESUME CONSTRUCTION OF THE
WALLISVILLE SALT-WATER BARRIER AND
LAKE PROJECT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
WHEREAS, in 1959 the Trinity River Authority of Texas and
the City of Houston contracted to implement a water supply system for
the Lower Trinity River Watershed and the Houston Metropolitan Area; and
WHEREAS, that system includes two basic elements: LAKE LIVING-
STON, to conserve and store a large quantity of flood waters that could
be used for municipal , industrial and agricultural purposes; and the
WALLISVILLE SALT-WATER BARRIER and LAKE PROJECT that would serve six
purposes: ' (1 ) stop the movement of salty tidal waters that have reached
Liberty in drought periods, (2) provide a peaking lake for water users
in Liberty and Chambers Counties and in Houston, (3) raise the water level
from which water is lifted from the Trinity River thereby reducing pumping
costs and saving energy, (4) conserve and store additional flood waters,
(5) through operation in sequence with Livingston, greatly increase the
water supply that can be produced by the Trinity River, and (6) improve
barge navigation to Liberty; and
WHEREAS, all necessary State and Federal actions were taken so
that Houston and the Trinity River Authority could proceed with implementing
the System; and
WHEREAS, in 1962 the United States Congress passed a law, signed
by the President, under which the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers was to build
the Wallisville Project; and
WHEREAS, during the period 1964 - 1971 the Trinity River Authority,
with assistance from Houston, built Lake Livingston and placed it in operation
and
WHEREAS, the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers began the Wallisville
Project in 1966 but stopped construction in 1973 when so ordered by Federal
District Judge Carl 0. Bue at a time when Wallisville was over 75% completed;
and
WHEREAS, after four years of legal actions and environmental and
engineering studies it appears that the three local sponsors of Wallisville
-- Trinity River Authority, City of Houston, and Chambers-Liberty Counties
Navigation District -- have decided on a modification of the authorized
Wallisville Project that would achieve the six above-stated purposes in an
environmentally-acceptable manner, this modification being known as Alternate
Plan 2A; and
WHEREAS, because of the scenic beauty of the area surrounding Lake
Livingston, because of the size of the lake, and because of the availability
of land adjacent to the lake, over One Billion Dollars has been invested by
many people in lake-oriented recreation facilities for recreation and perman-
ent living; and '5661
WHEREAS, if a serious drought should occur without I.1allisville be-
ing finished and able to stop salt-water intrusion, the Trinity River Au-
thority could be compelled to release enormous quantities of water from Lake
Livingston to stop salt-water intrustion by the pressure of the water released
and
WHEREAS, the release of large quantities of water from Lake Living-
ston would disrupt recreation and shoreline activities and bankrupt the rec-
reation economy of Polk, San Jacinto, Trinity and ldalker Counties.
TEXAS: NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF HUIiiSYILLE,
1 . That the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers is urged to resume
construction of the Wallisville Salt-water Barrier and Lake Project at
the earliest possible time on the basis of Alternate Plan 2A.
2. That our Federal representatives -- Senators John Tower and
Lloyd Bentsen, and Congressman Charles Wilson -- take immediate and effec-
tive efforts to remedy this breach of faith on the part of the Federal
government as to Wallisville and to insure that the Federal government
honors its contractual commitment to the three local sponsors.
3. That a copy of this Resolution be sent each to Senator
Tower, Senator Bentsen, Congressman Wilson, Congressman Jack Brooks,
Congre sman Tom Bevill , the Trinity River Authority, the City of Houston,
the ( ilnbers-Liberty Counties Navigation District nd the U. S. Army Corps
of Engineers.
INTRODUCED, READ AND PASSED THIS DAY OF DECEMBER, A.D. 1977.
THE CITY OF HUNTSVILLE,�TEXAS
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MORRIS I. WALLER, Mayor
ATT
it Secretary C
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