Don't sell water to Texas, speakers urge
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By Tony Thornton
Published: April 2, 2008
More than a dozen speakers, including two Texans, called on legislators and the governor today to resist any desires to sell Oklahoma water to Texas.
One water activist from southeast Oklahoma suggested that Attorney General Drew Edmondson isn't vigorously defending the state's interests in a federal lawsuit aimed at obtaining 100 billions of gallons a year from Oklahoma.
An appeals court hearing on the lawsuit is scheduled next month in Denver, and a Texas water district has hired "top guns" to win the case, said Charlette Hearn of the Southern Oklahoma Water Alliance.
She questioned why Edmondson hasn't hired outside attorneys for the Tarrant Regional Water District's lawsuit.
"The time is nigh. It's not any time for the attorney general to fumble, because we are watching," said Hearne, of Broken Bow.
Edmondson's spokesman, Charlie Price, said the office is vigorously defending the lawsuit.
"The attorney general is convinced that our attorneys are doing all that can be done," Price said.
State Rep. Jerry Ellis said such lawsuits have become commonplace in the drought-stricken southeast United States.
"Now it's Oklahoma's turn," said Ellis, D-Valliant.
Tarrant Regional is one of two north Texas water districts that applied for permits for Oklahoma's water last year. Both proposed to buy it, and Tarrant Regional subsequently filed the lawsuit.
Both districts seek water from southeast Oklahoma tributaries before it reaches the Red River, where it becomes too salty to drink without expensive treatment.
Most of the ire raised at today's news conference was aimed at the Tarrant district.
While the water district's leaders say they want to pay Oklahoma a fair price, Ellis said that's a joke.
"They're trying to lock in a price now so they won't have to renegotiate in 50 years, when water is crucial," he said.
It wasn't clear whether any recent development other than the pending court hearing prompted the news conference. Ellis said he's unaware of any effort by legislators or Gov. Brad Henry to negotiate a sale. There could be a strong lobbying effort afoot, however, he said.
