Columbia awaits 404 permit
Reservoir will have $72 million economic impact on area
BY LELAND ACKER

LAKE COLUMBIA Reservoir will be 14 miles long, 1.5 miles wide; cover 10,000 acres and contain 187,839 acre feet of water. GRAPHIC: CHEROKEEAN HERALD

While the future of a potential reservoir on the west end of Cherokee County lies in the hands of the federal courts, plans to build Lake Columbia on the northeastern end of the county continue to move slowly forward.

"The process is slower than everyone would like," said Kenneth Reneau, general manager for the Angelina and Neches River Authority (ANRA). "We hope to have the permit by the end of the year."

The ANRA sponsored Web site, www.lakeeastex.org, reports the Lake Columbia (formerly known as Lake Eastex) project is still in the Army Corps of Engineers 404 permitting process.

Mr. Reneau said the ANRA is currently finishing the Environmental Impact Study. Once that study is submitted to the Army Corps of Engineers, public comments will be sought. Plans may be modified if comments are legitimate, Mr. Reneau said.

"We're still confident we'll get a permit for the project," Mr. Reneau said, adding that the ANRA will keep the pressure on the Army Corps of Engineers to issue the permit by the end of 2007.

The Lake Columbia Newsletter, published by the ANRA, said land for the lake will be acquired by hiring property appraisers who are familiar with the local market. The appraisal process will take harvestable timber into consideration and the ANRA will only condemn property as a last resort, according to the newsletter.

An economic impact study, conducted by RRC Inc. of Bryan, showed an annual economic impact of almost $72 million to the area, according to the newsletter. Of that $72 million, $31.2 million will come from savings from not having to import water from other East Texas reservoirs. $26.2 million will come annually to areas within a 30-mile radius of the lake from recreational visitors, such as boaters and campers. An additional $7.2 million will be added to the local economy annually from the payroll of the 361 new jobs created by the reservoir, resulting in $3.6 million being spent at local businesses by those new employees. New residents attracted by the lake are expected to spend $3.9 million annually.

Lake Columbia will have some negative impact on the area economy. An estimated $661,000 per year will be lost on timber production, and the initial loss to local governments in property tax revenue will amount to $88,000. The property tax revenue is expected to recover as property values are expected to increase near the lake, according to the newsletter.