Water Protection

The North Texas region is knitted together by waterways that extend into and through farms and ranches, and through towns and cities, and eventually to one of the nearby reservoirs, which are the main source of drinking water for North Texans. Rain falls across different surfaces in North Texas – farms, ranches, parks, neighborhoods, industrial and commercial areas. Protection of natural features in watersheds, in particular the riparian zones along creeks and streams, helps safeguard the quality of the water we drink, the air we breathe and the food we eat. Natural lands absorb water and filter pollutants before reaching the sources of our drinking water. Natural lands and other pervious surfaces also capture and slowly release water over time, thereby decreasing flood damage and recharging groundwater. The priority areas that the Trust focuses on are the watersheds of Lewisville, Ray Roberts and Grapevine lakes, and the future Lake Ralph Hall. The primary way to protect the quality of water in these reservoirs is by permanently preserving natural lands, floodplains, and riparian zones through conservation easements, and by promoting good stewardship and land management practices.