Oklahoma Water Crisis

Oklahoma Water Resources Board moves to lower withdrawal limits from Arbuckle-Simpson aquifer Published: Wed, Mar 14, 2012 The Oklahoma Water Resources Board took steps Tuesday to lower the amount of water that can be removed in a single year from the Arbuckle-Simpson aquifer in southern Oklahoma. Read More

U.S. Justice Department removes state water case from Oklahoma Supreme Court Published: Tue, Mar 13, 2012 The U.S. Justice Department on Monday removed a lawsuit over Oklahoma water from the Oklahoma Supreme Court to federal court in Oklahoma City. Read More

Tribes sue Oklahoma City over water transfers Updated: Fri, Aug 19, 2011 The Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations on Thursday filed a federal lawsuit against Oklahoma City and the Oklahoma Water Resources Board in an effort to halt any new sales and exports of southeastern Oklahoma water without agreement from the tribes. Read More

Oklahoma legislative panel urged to talk with tribes about water rights Published: Thu, Aug 18, 2011 Failure to negotiate would result in lengthy, expensive litigation and would strain the relationship between Oklahoma and American Indian tribes, an attorney tells a joint legislative water committee. Tribes contend the state doesn't have the right to sell some water. Read More

One-third of Oklahoma ranks in the worst drought category Published: Fri, Jul 1, 2011 More than half of Oklahoma is in a severe to exceptional drought Read More

T. Boone Pickens sells water rights to Texas water supplier for $103 million Updated: Thu, Jun 23, 2011 PLAINVIEW, Texas — About a half million West Texans in one of the state's historically driest areas now will have water into the next century following a deal signed Thursday between billionaire oilman T. Boone Pickens and a regional water supplier. Pickens and his Mesa Water Inc. sold the water rights beneath... Read More

Legislative panel to study Oklahoma's water plan Published: Wed, Jun 15, 2011 The committee's goal will be to develop a long-range water policy for Oklahoma, legislative leaders say. Read More

Oklahoma's 50-year water plan draws criticism from lawmakers Updated: Sun, Jun 5, 2011 Oklahoma's 50-year water plan is not yet in final form, but already it is drawing stinging criticism from several eastern Oklahoma lawmakers. Read More

Tribal water rights claims complicate Oklahoma's water planning efforts Published: Sun, Jun 5, 2011 Oklahoma's pre-statehood history as a relocation territory for American Indian tribes has created a legal labyrinth for anyone trying to determine water rights to streams and reservoirs in the state. Read More

Supplying Oklahoma's water needs will be difficult, costly Updated: Fri, Jun 3, 2011 It is expected to cost $87 billion for improvements to meet Oklahoma's drinking water needs over the next 50 years, according to draft sections of the Oklahoma Comprehensive Water Plan currently being circulated in the state. Read More