Watershed Dam Groundbreaking

On a beautiful spring day in April a group of conservation, minded citizens met in a pasture south of Savoy to break ground on a flood prevention watershed dam on Caney Creek. The construction of this dam has been in the works for 25 years. It will be known as Caney Creek Site 3A. The lake will cover approximately 30-36 acres; it will mean better flood control and halt erosion downstream. The USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service will be in charge of construction. Once the dam is built the Fannin County Water Improvement District #1 (WCID), the Fannin Soil and Water Conservation District #520 and the County Commissioners Court will be in charge of maintaining the dam.

Attending the ceremony was; Congressman Ralph Hall, County Judge Derrell Hall, County Commissioners Ronnie Rhudy and Pat Hillard, NRCS personnel along with several directors from the WCID board and the Fannin SWCD board, several landowners and conservationist.

Congressman Hall stated that he was proud to be a part of this watershed project and of the cooperation between the different government agencies and local districts to get this watershed dam for Fannin County. “Water is the future of this country and you have to plan for it,” said Congressman Hall.

 C. W. Jones, Chairman of the Fannin Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Directors recalled what damage occurred with just a three-inch rain along the Caney Creek watershed before a series of impoundments helped to curtail the erosion and damage to roads and bridges. “These watershed lakes are essential to the county commissioners in helping them to keep roads open and without the support of Congressman Hall; this project would never have come to fruition,” said Mr. Jones.