Texas

Of the 1,360 miles of the Red River, 640 miles of it forms the boundary between Texas and Oklahoma. Texas faces water resource challenges such as periodic droughts, increasing demand due to population growth, and conflicts over water allocation among various users. Sustainable water management strategies and conservation efforts are crucial to address these issues.

A Planning Assistance to States (PAS) Economic Study, Navigation from Texarkana to Denison Dam has begun. The Corps of Engineers has approved a feasibility study investigating continuing navigation to Texarkana, from Louisiana. There has been interest in navigation from Texarkana to Denison Dam, 70 miles north of Dallas/Fort Worth. A 1989 Tulsa District study shows that it is physically possible, but the economics was below the 1.0 benefit-to-cost ratio then. The Tulsa District has agreed to conduct a PAS study for an economic analysis. The Red River Authority of Texas (RRA) is the local sponsor and received cost-share funding from the North Central Texas COG. This PAS will commence in 2024 and be completed in 2025. A committee has been established to assist in this study. The committee members include the Red River Valley Association (Chair), Red River Authority of Texas (Local Sponsor), North Central TX COG (provided funding), Choctaw Nation, Chickasaw Nation, TXDOT, OKDOT, and OWRB. The committee will coordinate with the Tulsa District to assist in identifying industries that could use a navigable waterway and provide the required commercial benefits.