  The North Sulphur River – the site of proposed Lake Ralph Hall – is experiencing environmental problems. To protect valuable farm land, the natural river channel was altered and straightened in the 1930's. In the ensuing 75 years, the channel has severely eroded to its current size of about 200 feet wide and 60 feet deep, which is almost 10 times its original size. As shown in this recent photograph, the erosion continues in the channel and in its connecting tributaries. |
Over time, hundreds of acres of valuable land has eroded away from the channel and its connecting tributaries, washing away valuable soil, trees and wildlife habitat. Because of the continuous erosion, some state highway bridges crossing the North Sulphur River have been replaced. |
  With Lake Ralph Hall, we will have a chance to turn this environmental problem into a healthy asset as illustrated by the photograph on the right. The new lake will also help to restore wildlife and other native habitat to the area, as well as provide a source of water to North Texans for future generations. |