Join the Fight

The City Wanted Us to Stay Quiet; Let's Not Let Them Win

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• Submit Letters to the Editor: Share your concerns with local (Grand Saline Sun & Canton Herald) and regional newspapers like the Van Zandt News or Tyler Morning Telegraph. Explain why Canton’s reservoir threatens our community and call for action to protect Grand Saline Creek. Offer solutions and press for change. Check submission guidelines.

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• Petition for Withdrawal of the Permit and a City Council Resolution: Help us organize a formal petition demanding that Mayor Lou Ann Everett and the Canton City Council withdraw the TCEQ application and pass a resolution stating that Grand Saline Creek and Van Zandt County will not be considered for future water or recreational projects that displace or impact their communities outside their jurisdiction with eminent domain. Cite their website’s misleading information (e.g., incorrect claims of support from other cities and failure to address community harm) as evidence of bad faith, undermining public trust. 

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• Attend Meetings: Canton City Council Meetings and write to the Canton City Council and Mayor encouraging them to officially withdraw their application for Water Rights on Grand Saline Creek (land outside their jurisdiction) and provide full transparency and accountability on future water needs, population growth projections, and the reservoir project. Urge the Van City Council, to publicly join us in taking a stand against the proposed reservoir.

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• Support Our State Officials: Representative Brent Money and Senator Bob Hall, are championing legislation to prevent cities from using eminent domain to seize property outside their jurisdictions.

  • On August 18, 2025, Rep. Brent Money filed House Bill 162 (HB 162), which prohibits cities from exercising eminent domain beyond their boundaries.

  • Similarly, Sen. Bob Hall introduced Senate Bill 27 (SB 27) to restrict political subdivisions, such as cities, from using eminent domain to acquire private property outside their jurisdictional limits. The bill clearly states: "Notwithstanding any other law, a political subdivision of this state may not take through the use of eminent domain private property located outside the political subdivision’s boundaries."

    • Sen. Hall has also requested that Governor Greg Abbott include this critical issue in the agenda for the current Second Called Special Session.

  • If passed during the 2026 Texas Legislative Session, these bills could prevent the proposed reservoir by blocking Canton’s ability to seize land in Van Zandt County.

  • To contact your representatives and voice your support, visit the East Texas Council of Governments’ Regional Directory for local elected officials’ contact information.

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• ​Spread the Word Online: Help educate our community and post about the issue on social media platforms, using hashtags such as #ProtectGrandSalineCreek, #StopCantonsDam, and #SaveVanZandtCounty to raise awareness. Share facts about the over 5,600-acres that will be flooded and the 143+ landowners that are affected and encourage others to join the fight against government overreach.​​

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• Attend Community Events: Visit our events section and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for important meetings and announcements and join us in voicing opposition.

 

​Your Voices Are Making a Difference!

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• ​​​Local Leaders are Listening: The following cities have officially rescinded any support for the 2010 Grand Saline Dam resolution.  

  • Grand Saline City Council

  • Edgewood City Council

  • Wills Point City Council

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• ​​​​Commissioners Court:   The Van Zandt County Commissioners Court also passed a resolution opposing Canton’s Water Rights Claim and eminent domain plans to build a reservoir on Grand Saline Creek and demanded transparency of the full impact of the reservoir and any future plans that affect citizens outside their jurisdiction.
  They also encouraged Canton to explore alternative water solutions that do not require flooding Van Zandt County properties, protecting their taxpayers from this financial burden and stains to their infrastructure.

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• Grand Saline Independent School District (GSISD): Through Superintendent Micah Lewis, unanimously opposes the City of Canton’s use of eminent domain to take land within GSISD boundaries for the Grand Saline Creek Reservoir, as stated in a letter to Region D Board Members on August 13, 2025, citing the negative impact on students and taxpayers.

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• Van Zandt County Farm Bureau: On August 13, 2025, the Van Zandt County Farm Bureau, led by President Clayton Conway, formally opposed the Grand Saline Creek Reservoir project at the Northeast Texas Regional Water Planning Group (Region D) meeting. Following a unanimous vote by the Farm Bureau Board on August 12, 2025, the organization opposed the City of Canton’s attempt to use eminent domain to seize private farm, ranch, and residential land outside its jurisdiction, viewing it as a misuse of government authority.

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An Unprecedented Win at Region D - August 13, 2025

 

On August 13, 2025, community members, achieved two significant victories at the Northeast Texas Regional Water Planning Group (NETRWPG) - Region D meeting in Pittsburg, Texas, in our fight against the Grand Saline Creek Reservoir project.

 

Our Requests

1. Removal of the Reservoir from the 2026 Region D Plan: We urged the NETRWPG - Region D to remove the proposed Grand Saline Creek Reservoir as an alternate strategy from the 2026 Region D Water Plan and to encourage Canton to explore alternative, sustainable water supply solutions.

2. Request to Deny Canton’s Water Rights Application: We requested that the Region D board write to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to deny Canton’s surface water rights application for the reservoir, citing misleading information and manipulated data in the application.

 

After a nearly four-hour meeting, both requests were unanimously approved by the Region D board, reflecting the strength of our unified opposition and the validity of our concerns.

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These accomplishments mark critical steps in protecting our private farms, ranches, and homes from the City of Canton’s attempt to use eminent domain outside its jurisdiction.

 

Keep Raising Your Voice and Show Them What East Texans are Made of

 

As you can see from the above, every letter, email, and public comment strengthens our community’s stand against Canton’s plan to regulate the Grand Saline Creek watershed and seize land through eminent domain.

 

This “land grab” for a reservoir, driven by tourism rather than necessity, threatens our homes, burdens taxpayers, and risks our community’s heritage.

 

Your advocacy can influence decision-makers and protect Van Zandt County’s future.

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What’s Next?
 

While these victories are significant, the fight is not over.

 

Canton’s permit application remains under review by the TCEQ, and time is running out to ensure its withdrawal. We are actively monitoring the TCEQ process and advocating for Canton’s mayor and city council to voluntarily withdraw the application in favor of viable, sustainable water solutions within their jurisdiction.

 

The TCEQ’s review timeline is ongoing, and delays could allow Canton to push forward with their plans. Continued pressure is essential to secure a final rejection of the water rights permit and prevent the misuse of eminent domain.