The projected costs of Bois d’Arc Lake (formerly Lower Bois d’Arc Creek Reservoir project) project components and separately planned regional water system projects were updated in 2018 to $1.6 billion.

The previous conceptual estimate developed in 2015 was $1.2 billion (2016 dollars), a number reached based on high-level estimates. Numerous key pieces of the projects have advanced since that time, and as a result, we now have a much clearer picture of the total costs.

During the past two years, the projects’ design has moved from 0 to about 50 percent, meaning that estimates for major components are based on project scopes that are more clearly defined and comprehensive. In addition, the reservoir permitting process is now complete and various actual preliminary activities for construction preparation are bid out or in the process of being bid out.

The 2015 projects cost was a baseline estimate that did not fully reflect the complex engineering or other key components. In addition, the updated total cost also accounts for several necessary additions that could not have been known at the time of the 2015 plan. These include:

• Additional mitigation and right-of-way (replanting and stream improvements) as required in the final permit approved in early 2018
• Additional funds for Fannin County roads and bridge improvements and to alleviate impacts of the lake construction
• Further refinements to separately planned water treatment plant in Leonard
• Inflation as well as current commodities and construction pricing

Most of the remaining major projects’ components will be substantially designed and have gone through the bidding process by early 2019. For these reasons, and reasons cited above, the $1.6 billion total more accurately reflects the full scope of the lake and associated projects as well as the updated costs for that work.