Texas is running out of water. Our pipes are leaking billions of gallons each year, our rivers and aquifers are under historic stress, and entire communities are left vulnerable every time a drought deepens or a flood overwhelms aging infrastructure.
Special interest groups are trying to capitalize on this crisis for their own gain, and it’s no question that many of these groups will be among the first to raise their hands for funding. But Texans are paying attention. In North Texas, communities are organizing to fight the proposed Marvin Nichols Reservoir - a project that would flood over 67,000 acres of land and cause irreparable damage to local ecosystems and communities. The Sierra Club opposes this specific project, but endeavors like these could receive funding from Proposition 4, and we have to acknowledge that.
That’s why the Sierra’s Club’s support of Proposition 4 comes with a catch. We need dedicated funding to safeguard Texas’ water, but we must make sure those dollars are used wisely, equitably, and sustainably. There will be projects seeking these funds that would be environmentally harmful. Texans deserve better than reservoirs that wipe out entire ecosystems, seawater desalination plants that threaten coastal communities, or oil and gas wastewater reuse projects that move forward despite serious safety concerns.
If passed, Proposition 4 would direct $1 billion annually to the Texas Water Fund starting in 2027 and through 2047. The money would come from surplus state sales tax revenue, and wouldn’t raise taxes. However, we know that money alone won’t fix Texas’ water problems. What will fix them is sustained action, proactive decision-making, and an unwavering commitment to both people and the environment. That’s why, after Election Day, it will be necessary to continue to stay engaged and advocate for sustainable solutions.
Proposition 4 will bring a lot of money to the table, and we need the public at that table, too. Community voices must guide how this historic investment is spent as it is our communities that would most deeply feel the impact of mismanagement. As we learned from the communities that continue to fight the Marvin Nichols Reservoir proposal, our power is in collective action. Big industry and special interests are too powerful to fight alone, but, together, we cannot be ignored.
We’ll need Texans to get involved at the Texas Water Development Board tracking allocations, pushing for water conservation and reuse, and opposing potentially harmful projects. We’ll need Texans to show up at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, fighting for strong surface water quality standards that protect both Texans and our ecosystems. And, as always, we’ll need Texans to advocate at the Legislature, reminding lawmakers that every dollar spent should make our communities more resilient, not sell us out to big industries and special interests.
That’s the hope behind our position: to push for transparency, accountability, and solutions that guarantee a safer and more sustainable water future for all Texans. We also hope to be the bridge and the guide for everyone that wants to join the fight. This is your water future, too, and your voice needs to be heard, speaking truth to power, representing the needs of your community, and protecting our water for generations to come.
Your vote is just the beginning.