‘Nowhere to go’: Northeast Texans beg officials to drop Marvin Nichols Reservoir plans

The Marvin Nichols Reservoir is designed to be roughly 66,000 acres along the Sulphur River with tens of thousands of additional acres that will be used for mitigation to offset adverse impacts of development.

A recent estimate for the cost of the project came to more than $7 billion .

State water planners have said the reservoir is one of the best solutions to get water to Dallas -Fort Worth.

Eddie Belcher , 63 , is one of the more recognizable residents who attends public meetings across the state to speak against the reservoir.

Nine other residents from Cuthand , Johntown and Pine Branch community, joined the Cheatwoods outside the fire station Monday .

The residents have bonded through all the years of going to meetings, writing to public officials and trying to educate neighbors.

Bill Wilson , 70 , and Joyce Wilson , 63 , have owned land in the area since the early 2000s .

They say friends and clients from across the country ask about the reservoir, hoping it won’t flood the ranch.

Bill calls the plan a boondoggle, while Joyce says it’s cultural elitism that angers her.

The Wilsons say they are one of the largest landowners who will be affected.