The OCWP is a multi-year project that defines water supply challenges and charts a course to addressing them. In recognition of the incredible diversity in water supplies and uses across the state, we complete our analysis at the basin and regional level. We seek input from stakeholders across all water sectors to support technical and policy work. The following is a summary of OCWP activities so far:
- Compiled a database of local plans for infrastructure projects and programs identified by water/wastewater systems as necessary to replace often 40+ year-old infrastructure and/or meet current treatment standards, with a combined price tag of ~$24B and counting – most of which is targeted for the near term (within 10 years). Although these projects are critically needed infrastructure, if past experience is any guide, it is likely that most of those projects will continue to be deferred indefinitely for a myriad of reasons. A common thread for small systems is the challenge of financing 10’s of millions of $$ to be paid by only a few hundred rate-payers. Such a database demonstrates to state leaders the terrific need that is out there and emphasizes that additional strategies need to be employed.
- Formed interagency coordination workgroups to focus on critical topics – including water workforce, source water protection collaboratives, the nation’s first state-level water reuse action plan, and a crop irrigation exploratory workgroup to identify, document and shed light on the multifaceted challenges faced by producers and local industry using a finite resource and potential water management strategies.
- Facilitated multiple meetings with water and wastewater technical assistance programs including Tribal Nations, Strategic Alliance partners, Communities Unlimited and others regarding how to meet the enormous gap in infrastructure funding needs and increased assistance to systems across our state for managerial and technical training.
- Projected water demands and anticipated supply shortages for each basin in each decade from now through 2075, then systematically identified the water management strategies that would be most effective in each of the OCWP’s 82 planning basins to avoid these shortages. This helps local water users plan their futures and helps OWRB identify the strategies that would benefit the most from state-level implementation support, such as water reuse and demand management.
- Held two rounds of “Focus Basin” meetings to help chart a course for addressing a diverse set of water management challenges in four areas around the state – such as dramatic growth and significant growth potential, resource constraints and concerns over diminishing groundwater levels, and competition for limited resources.
- Held four rounds of regional stakeholder meetings, engaging with over 800 participants, to identify local challenges and contemplate policy recommendations to address them, unique to each region of Oklahoma.
- And loosely modeled from the Ogallala Summit, we held an interactive roundtable discussion at the 2024 Oklahoma Governor’s Water Conference focused on generating new ideas for funding long-term sustainable water supplies, wastewater, and stormwater projects. Look for a summary of this session soon on OWRB’s Water Planning Public Meetings
