Texas Judge Blocks Permit for Controversial Lake Ringgold Reservoir Project
Judge Maya Guerra Gamble revoked the state permit for the proposed Lake Ringgold reservoir, halting a plan that could flood over 16,000 acres in Clay County after ranchers and conservation groups challenged it.
A Texas judge nullified the state’s approval for the Lake Ringgold reservoir on Oct. 9, 2026, citing challenges from ranchers and environmental advocates. The dam, proposed by the city of Wichita Falls on the Little Wichita River, would create a lake covering over 16,000 acres in Clay County and cost roughly $443 million, providing an estimated 65,000 acre-feet of water annually. Opponents, including the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association and the Texas Conservation Alliance, argued the project would submerge productive grazing land, displace more than 25 ranching families, and damage wildlife habitat.
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality had issued the permit in June 2024 despite these concerns. Judge Maya Guerra Gamble’s ruling overturns that permit but does not address the region’s underlying water-supply needs. Wichita Falls Mayor Tim Short said the city has 30 days to decide on an appeal and will continue to explore ways to secure water for the future. The decision marks a significant legal victory for landowners while leaving the city’s drought-resilience plans in limbo.
Why it matters
It stops a costly reservoir that could flood thousands of acres, preserving ranchers’ land and highlighting water-security challenges in Texas.
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