Oklahoma water news, 2nd qtr 2012

              Thanks to an unprecedented level of support from Governor Fallin,
the State Legislature, citizens, and many in the water user community
during the recently concluded legislative session, implementation of
the 2012 Update of the Oklahoma Comprehensive Water Plan is off to
a magnificent start.
On the heels of the most scientifically defensible and extensively vetted
Water Plan ever developed by the state, our leaders responded with
perhaps the most meaningful collection of water policy legislation
and funding in Oklahoma history. As a result, we now have both
the directive and tools necessary to meet head-on Oklahoma’s water
2nd Quarter 2012
53rd Legislature Advances
Water Plan Implementation
Development of Statewide
Groundwater Monitoring
Program Initiated
Arbuckle-Simpson Hearing
Attracts Large Crowd
Drummond Elected Board
Chairman
Governor Fallin Appoints
Jason Hitch to OWRB
Landscape Irrigation
Controllers Earn
“WaterSense” Label
Governor and Tribes
Create Water Task Force
The Role of Conservation
in Water Management
Utilizing “Marginal
Quality” Waters
Drought Update
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53rd Legislature Advances Water Plan
Implementation
The 2012 legislative session resulted in landmark water
policy improvements for the State of Oklahoma, accelerating
implementation of at least half of the priority recommendations
offered by the 2012 Update of the Oklahoma Comprehensive
Water Plan.
SB 1975: General Appropriations Bill—Provides $6,999,671 to
the OWRB, a 27 percent increase over FY-2012. An additional
$1.5 million, coupled with the extension of existing Gross
Production Tax proceeds, will allow the OWRB to begin
implementation of OCWP recommendations, resulting in
establishment of Oklahoma’s first comprehensive statewide
groundwater monitoring program, restoration of the state’s
comprehensive statewide stream and lake monitoring program
to the level realized in the late 1990s, and a reduction of the
growing backlog of statutorily mandated groundwater and stream
water allocation studies.
HB 3055: Water for 2060 Act—Establishes a statewide goal to use no more fresh water in
2060 than what is used today. The Act creates a 15-member advisory council—chaired by the
OWRB Executive Director with members appointed by the Governor, House Speaker, and
Senate President Pro Tempore—to make recommendations on water conservation practices
and incentives necessary to achieve this goal. The advisory council is required to submit a
final report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor, Speaker of the House of
Representatives, and President Pro Tempore of the Senate within three years.
HJR 1085: Water Infrastructure Credit Enhancement Reserve Fund—Sends State Question 764
to a vote of the people in November’s general election. Approval of SQ 764 would create the
Credit Enhancement Reserve Fund, which would allow the OWRB to increase the leveraging
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