Why Revoking Canton’s Water Rights for Grand Saline Creek and Transferring Them to Another Town Is a Bad Idea

Artistic depiction of Grand Saline Creek, a winding stream through a barren landscape with twisted trees under a stormy sky, symbolizing the urgent need to protect Van Zandt County’s water rights, land, and endangered species from potential destruction and eminent domain threats.

The Backstory

We've been asking the City of Canton, TX to withdraw their April 2025 water rights application from TCEQ ever since we became aware of their intentions in June. This would stop their plans to use eminent domain for a recreational reservoir, a proposed solution to address a possible future water need to accommodate potential new residents moving into the area, which threatens the land and homes of current Van Zandt County residents.

Why Not Let Someone Else Claim the Rights?

Granting those rights to another town, might seem like a protective solution to protect the creek and land from falling into the hands of Canton or Dallas, however it's not a smart move for Van Zandt County or the private landowners that would be affected.

This well intended approach could harm our local communities while ignoring better solutions. Here’s why it’s a bad idea and what alternatives make more sense.

Why It’s a Bad Idea:

1. Private Landowner Rights at Risk: Transferring water rights to another town doesn’t guarantee protection for Van Zandt County’s private landowners. Any new town gaining these rights could still pursue development projects, like smaller reservoirs or water diversions, that threaten private property through eminent domain or regulatory overreach.

   
   

   Even a well-meaning town could prioritize its own growth, leaving our landowners with less water for agriculture or personal use. (Plus, as we all know, mayors and governments change, and any town holding the water rights could become corrupted, and the affected landowners in Van Zandt County would have no way to vote for change.)

   
   

   Read Reservoirs and the Disappearing Land for more insights on what can go wrong.

   
   

2. No Guarantee Against Dallas: Shifting rights to another town might not prevent Dallas or other large entities from eventually acquiring them through negotiations or legal maneuvers. Only local control and awareness can help ensure Van Zandt County’s communities keep the upper hand on our land.

   
   

3. Environmental Concerns Remain: Even without a reservoir, redirecting water to another town could alter Grand Saline Creek’s flow, harming local ecosystems, wildlife, and water quality, especially downstream of existing wastewater facilities. Any remaining private landowners relying on the creek for agriculture or personal use could see reduced access.

   
   

4. Community Division: Pitting one town against another for water rights risks escalating regional tensions in East Texas, where water disputes are already heated. The Northeast Texas Regional Water Planning Group’s rejection of Canton’s application shows skepticism about such projects. A new town attempting to claim the water rights along Grand Saline Creek could face similar pushback, prolonging conflict.

   
   

5. Economic Impact on Landowners: Transferring rights could devalue private land in Van Zandt County by creating uncertainty about future water access or development restrictions, hitting families and the Grand Saline ISD tax base hard.

Better Alternatives:

1. Collaborate on Obtaining Available Resources: Our communities—Grand Saline, Edgewood, Fruitvale, Van, and Canton—can partner within Van Zandt County to access Toledo Bend Reservoir, Texas’s largest lake, where the state holds 50% of the water. A joint effort, especially if backed by Region D planning group, can meet future needs without touching our creek or flooding Van Zandt County.

   
   

2. Regional Water Cooperation: Canton could follow the recommendations of their own engineering report and negotiate water-sharing agreements with nearby cities like Tyler, ensuring Van Zandt County retains control over its water while meeting regional needs. This avoids transferring rights and keeps decision-making local.

   
   

3. Conservation and Efficiency Programs: Region D also recommended reclamation, re-use, and conservation strategies. Van Zandt County could proactively promote water conservation within growing cities through incentives for new developments and landowners to adopt water-saving practices, like drip irrigation or rainwater harvesting, supplementing Canton's water needs, and preserving Grand Saline Creek’s natural flow without external claims.

   
   

4. Start a Groundwater Conservation Group: Form a Van Zandt County (or East Texas) Groundwater Conservation Group, to study and improve local groundwater access. This reduces any need for damming and flooding Grand Saline Creek, protects our land and our aquifer from outside interests, and ensures sustainable water for our communities.

   
   

5. Community Advocacy and Policy: Push for local policies to stop water grabs by cities like Canton and Dallas, who seek to claim land and water outside of their jurisdiction to lure developers without conserving what they already have or planning for growth responsibly. Let’s protect Van Zandt County from their unchecked expansion.

In Conclusion:

Transferring Grand Saline Creek’s water rights to another town won’t protect Van Zandt County’s landowners or stop Canton's or Dallas’s influence—it just shifts the threat.

Let’s focus on asking Canton to withdraw their water rights application, to keep Van Zandt County land and water in the hands of the homeowners, protect private property, and encourage implementing sustainable solutions.

Join the Grand Saline Creek Coalition to help identify viable, sustainable solutions, and urge county leaders to prioritize our community’s future!