Meetings set on state water plans / Lawton Constitution

By Andrew Griffin
Special Correspondent
The Lawton Constitution
Posted: April 15, 2007

OKLAHOMA CITY — With the state entering the beginning stages of planning for the state’s 50-year Oklahoma Comprehensive Water Plan, state officials are beginning a yearlong tour of the state to share their opinions with the public about what should be included.
At Tuesday’s monthly meeting of the Oklahoma Water Resources Board in Oklahoma City, OWRB Executive Director Duane Smith explained to the board that between now and 2060 surface water and groundwater issues in the state will be increasingly important.
One of the topics addressed during the meeting was the water plan, which will be discussed at meetings around the state, including Altus, Hobart and Lawton.
“Water-use projects over the next 50 years are not expected to go up very much,” Smith said as he gave the board a presentation addressing Oklahoma water issues.
And after showing the board a chart showing rainy and dry periods throughout Oklahoma history and noting that the state is apparently entering a dry stretch, Smith added, “The next 50 years will be very exciting for the OWRB in terms of conflict.”
In addition, the tour is part of a legislative mandate that the OWRB develop and periodically update the state’s comprehensive water plan, which includes estimates on projected water demands and water supply infrastructure needs.
“As a state, we’re facing difficult decisions on a variety of water-related issues that will affect us, our kids and their kids,” said Mike Langston, assistant director of the Water Research Institute at Oklahoma State University, said.
To find out more about the Oklahoma Comprehensive Water Plan visit www.okwaterplan.info.