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Henderson council authorizes study, OKs application to pursue Lake Stryker water supply
Summary
The council voted to authorize city staff and Stokes & Associates to file a March 1 project‑information form with the Texas Water Development Board to study developing Lake Stryker as a supplemental water source; staff recommended a 2‑MGD plant near Henderson (estimated $47M).
Henderson city council on Jan. 20 authorized staff to ask the Texas Water Development Board to consider funding for potential water infrastructure tied to Lake Stryker, a reservoir about 15–16 miles south of the city.
City staff reviewed Lake Stryker’s history, current local water supplies and three engineering options for bringing additional surface water to Henderson. The city holds optioned water rights dating to 2006 (initially up to 4,000,000 gallons per day) and reported total rights acquired by 2018 of 7,400,000 gallons per day. Staff said the city also operates eight wells, five of which are in daily use, with a firm well yield of about 3,900,000 gallons per day.
Officials presented three options: a 27‑mile raw‑water pipeline to the existing surface water treatment plant (estimated $56,000,000); a shorter pipeline with a new 2‑MGD treatment plant near Henderson’s south/west side (estimated $47,000,000 and the staff recommendation); and a 2‑MGD plant located at Lake Stryker (approximately $53,000,000). Staff recommended Option 2 because it was judged the most feasible operationally and would place a treatment facility closer to the city.
Council discussion included inquiries about the risk of losing reserved water rights if the city did not begin using them; staff said that unused or underutilized rights can be vulnerable and noted state interest in preserving local water for East Texas. Staff also said outside interests have sought large permits in the region and that current legislation is attempting to limit such withdrawals.
A motion to authorize Stokes & Associates to file a project information form with the Texas Water Development Board was made and seconded; the council approved the motion by voice vote. The project information form is a nonbinding step that preserves the city’s opportunity to pursue TWDB funding; staff noted the March 1 deadline for submitting that form and said a successful project‑info submittal does not itself obligate the city to construction or loans.
Next steps: the city will proceed with the application process, gather required supporting data for the TWDB submission and return with more detailed engineering, cost‑share and funding recommendations. Staff said a final loan application (if invited) would be a later, separate step.
