Oklahoma City 2013: Water rights could be year's biggest issue

Last year, the city used more than 157,000 acre feet of water.

“It's critical today and it's critical for the future,” Couch said of the Kiamichi basin.

Brian Vance, spokesman for the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, said current talks are taking place during a 60-day stay approved by a district judge. The stay is the third one allowed by the courts since talks stalled earlier in 2012.

“Talks are progressive, at least to the level that both sides have agreed to extend the negotiations, so I think both sides remain hopeful that there will be some sort of resolution,” Vance said.

But while a settlement agreement is possible in 2013, it will be some time before the litigation is over. Any settlement agreement adopted next year will ultimately need approval from U.S. Congress and could take years to finally resolve.