OWRB has completed Round 5 Regional Meetings that discussed preliminary draft recommendations from the 2025 Update to the Oklahoma Comprehensive Water Plan (OCWP). The OCWP Team appreciates all attendees who participated. Review what was discussed in previous rounds and the OCWP Roundtable at the Governor’s Water Conference by visiting the Water Planning page on OWRB’s website. Click here to read the Round 5 Summary. The following are a few key takeaways that the OCWP Team heard from meeting participants.
- Formation of regional planning groups in Oklahoma is a high priority for water users across the state. Organizing these groups by a shared water resource (i.e., watershed or aquifer, rather than counties or other political boundaries) received support by many participants.
- Oklahomans support OWRB and their role to enforce the statutory requirements of their water rights administration program. It is a shared belief among many participants that improving this program will make the permitting process more efficient while protecting existing and future water rights holders.
- It is recognized that more funding is needed to support local water projects and programs throughout Oklahoma with current and potential future programs.
- Sports betting tax proceeds, an additional tax on medical marijuana, and an additional tax on bottled water/plastic bottles were highly regarded as possible water funding programs that could be implemented and raise sufficient funding to be effective at addressing water planning, management, and infrastructure challenges. Many supported these programs because they would be additional fees on discretionary spending items, rather than necessary items.
