Oklahoma Water Plan

The Oklahoma Comprehensive Water Plan was first published in 1980 and updated in 1997. The Oklahoma Legislature, in 2006, appropriated funds for the second update, which is a five-year study.  The first phase is being conducted by the Oklahoma Water Research Institute (OWRI).  In addition, all 11 substate planning agencies in Oklahoma, including INCOG, are developing water system infrastructure assessments. 

The Water Plan is a water supply-demand assessment for a 50 year projection covering all of Oklahoma.  Water quality and environmental issues will be considered, but this isn’t primarily a water quality program.  Instead, it focuses on supply-demand projections along with infrastructure needs for the future. 

Many states are going through the water planning process, and results are sobering.  Serious decisions about the future of clean water for all of Oklahoma’s water needs and uses will be made once the study is completed in about 4 years.  This will likely change how water use is perceived, and important water conservation and protection strategies will likely result from this Statewide assessment.  Visit the OWRI’s Water Plan website for more information and learn about how you can become involved. 

A total of 42 public meetings in all parts of Oklahoma are planned.  The meetings held so far have all had good turnout and generated wide-ranging comments. The reports for the meetings held to date are now on the website.  The goal of OWRI is to have meeting reports available on the website within a week of each meeting.

The OWRI is developing a searchable database on-line.  You will be able to search the comments in a variety of ways including by county, category or key word. There will also be a discussion forum.  The forum will be a unique way for citizens to stay involved, share opinions and ideas, and discuss water issues.

The website also has a meeting schedule with 23 meetings scheduled so far.  The dates for the other 19 meetings will be announced this summer.  All meetings begin at 6:30 p.m.

Rev. May 10, 2007