Transportation committee recommends naming three new flood-control lakes 'Three Sisters Lakes' and adds tribes to resolution

The City of Dallas Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on June 9 voted to recommend that City Council adopt a proposed resolution to name three new flood-control lakes north of Westmoreland the "Three Sisters Lakes" and to name each lake for tribes historically associated with the area.

Vice Chair Gracie moved to recommend adoption of the resolution with technical amendments that add the Waco, Keechee and Lipan Apache tribes to the list of tribes cited in the recitals and to correct the spelling of Tonkawa; the motion passed on a voice vote.

Chair Narvaez told the committee the lake-naming effort originated from a 2019 council resolution concerning the Native American community and the balanced vision plan. Committee discussion described the three lakes as large, deeper than White Rock Lake when complete, and designed for flood control while also providing recreational features. The committee heard that the lakes are north of Westmoreland and are integral to the larger Dallas Floodway improvements discussed earlier in the meeting.

Vice Chair Gracie read the motion on the record: "I move to recommend that City Council adopt the proposed resolution to rename, the 3 Sisters Lakes with the following amendments to the resolution. The addition of the Waco, Keechee, and Lipan Apache tribes to the list of tribes historically associated with the city and the surrounding region in the resolution, recitals, and the correction of Tonkawa to Tonkawa in the list of tribes in the resolution recital." The committee approved the recommendation by voice vote; no roll-call tally was provided.

The chair said the item will be heard by City Council on June 25. Committee members praised the action as a recognition of the Native American community and described the naming as a social-justice measure that acknowledges history in areas of West Dallas.