Continued rains could help central Oklahoma bounce back » Headlines » The Norman Transcript

Continued rains could help central Oklahoma bounce back » Headlines » The Norman Transcript

EDITORIAL: A struggle for water - Washington Times

EDITORIAL: A struggle for water - Washington Times

Journal Record has a report on some of the possible outcomes of the Supreme Court proceeding in Tarrant Regional

http://journalrecord.com/2013/04/23/no-watertight-solutions-experts-say-more-work-needed-on-tarrant-regional-case/

Transcript of oral argument in Tarrant Regional

http://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/11-889.pdf

5th Annual Oklahoma Water Law Conference

http://www.cle.com/upcoming/PDFs/OKCWAT13.pdf

Oklahoma Watch article on conservation necessitated by shortage

Oklahoma Watch appears committed to in depth reporting on Oklahoma water issues, as indicated by this article.  You may want to bookmark this publication if you are following water in Oklahoma.

http://oklahomawatch.org/2013/03/22/as-water-dwindles-will-oklahomans-conserve/

City of Norman considers tighter control of domestic water wells

http://normantranscript.com/headlines/x1837425076/Private-wells-not-a-solution-for-Norman-water-shortage

A step closer to SCOTUS's hearing on Oklahoma water

Tarrant Regional has filed its brief on the merits.  When I find an online copy, I will post a link here.  In the meantime, read this article in the Journal Record for details: http://journalrecord.com/2013/02/20/tarrant-files-brief-with-high-court-law/

The money quote: Sen. Jerry Ellis: “Texas needs to spend their money, instead of on lawyers and lobbyists, on desalinization plans and enforcing conservation.”

Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations: mediation process working well, parties communicating well

Read more here: http://journalrecord.com/2013/02/19/tribes-ask-judge-to-dismiss-mediator-in-sardis-lake-lawsuit-law/

Hall Estill water law practice

@jimmilton: The #HallEstill #water law practice is deep in experience and active in Oklahoma water issues http://t.co/yURAHCrM @HallEstill

OML Water Summit -- slides from presentations

Follow this link to access the slideshow file for Jim Milton's presentation, or view it below:






Follow this link to access the slideshow file for Ken Williams' presentation, or view it below:

OML Water Summit, Feb. 8, 2013

http://okml.webs.com/Education/Water%20Summit%202013%20Flyer.pdf

Journal Reporter Scott Carter nails it in describing the importance of the legal battle over Oklahoma water

Journal Reporter Scott Carter's January 17, 2013 column nails it in describing the importance of the legal battle over Oklahoma water.  Those who are interested in Oklahoma water should read this column and should watch Mr. Carter's reporting as the legal battle unfolds.

Here is a preview:

Former Gov. David Walters made this same statement several times, then ended his speech with this warning: “If we don’t address the issue, the courts will and Oklahoma will be told what to do with its water, instead of being able to make that decision on its own.”

Read more: http://journalrecord.com/2013/01/17/fourth-reading-walters-words-were-not-heeded-opinion/#ixzz2IMXJvssf

Municipalities set water rationing policy for their wholesale water customers

In a January 17, 2013 article, the Journal Record notes that OKC sets water policy for the metropolitan area.

Oklahoma City sets policy for most of the metro area, as other government structures that buy water from Oklahoma City are contractually obligated to also set rations. The list is comprised of Blanchard, Edmond, El Reno, Moore, Mustang, Newcastle, Norman, Piedmont, Yukon, Canadian County Rural Water District No. 3, the Deer Creek Rural Water Corporation, Tinker Air Force Base and Pottawatomie County Rural Water District No. 3.

This contractual requirement finds its root in a state law that controls wholesale water contracts entered by municipalities.  Title 11, Section 37-119 states the requirement as follows:

The contracts shall provide that the persons or public or private entities outside the corporate limits of the municipality shall be subject to a rationing program consistent with any rationing program ordered by the municipality.

With these provisions required to be contained in municipal wholesale water contracts, we can expect a "trickle down" rationing effect this summer, especially if the predictions are correct in calling for continued drought conditions.

The Journal Record article can be found here: http://journalrecord.com/2013/01/17/cultivating-water-preservation-nurseries-landscapers-ahead-of-okc-policy-in-dealing-with-drought-general-news/

Lone Chimney running out of water

Lake is eleven feet lower than normal. Sixteen thousand residents depend on the lake for water supply. Read more here:

http://kfor.com/2013/01/14/drought-threatens-16000-payne-co-residents-water-supply/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:kfor/mwQaKFOR-LocalNews&utm_content=GoogleReader