Though portions of the state have recovered from an ugly, three-year drought, Oklahoma lawmakers have yet to actually do anything about it.
Yes, we have a water plan. Yes, it has some good ideas in it. But even with this and the Water for 2060 Act – a piece of legislation that sets a goal of using no more water in 2060 than the state is using right now – lawmakers continue to study water issues without acting.
Consider phosphorus. Across the state, lakes, streams and other bodies of water are filled with phosphorus and nitrates. It’s a great thing if your family tree branches out along the algae line, but not so good for those of us who claim human or animal heritage.
Mix the phosphorus with lots of sunlight and you get blue-green algae, some of which can cause illness and death.
Has the Legislature developed a policy on how to reduce phosphorus or algae blooms? Not yet.
Wait, there’s more.
Oklahoma’s largest cities point to southeastern Oklahoma as their go-to place for new sources of fresh water. Residents in the region, however, will tell you that same water is a vital part of their economy. Take a look at Broken Bow or Clayton and you’ll see big increases in tourism dollars, most of which come from across the border in Texas.
But if those resources are heavily used – or in the case of Canton Lake, completely drained – what happens to the area and the businesses that have developed there?
Since all of Oklahoma’s laws are supposed to be applied equally to all residents, the lack of a water policy has sparked the equivalent of a range war between urban and rural Oklahoma.
Still, the Legislature remains quiet.
This year, at least three legislative studies would examine water and water policy. Those studies follow an effort two years ago, sparked by then-House Speaker Kris Steele, to hold hearings and develop an overarching water policy.
Somehow, though, after the hearings were over and the dust had settled, little policy evolved.
For years, Oklahomans have smiled and patted themselves on the back because of the state’s abundant water supplies. We’ve laid pipelines all across Indian Territory to move water from one area to another. At the same time, we water sidewalks in winter, leave infrastructure broken, hamper efforts to remove pollution from the water we have and sell treated drinking water for fracking.
Sure, we’ve got lots of water – but that won’t help us if it’s so polluted that we can’t use it.
People who survived the Dust Bowl are still living in this state. They remember when the sky turned dark with dirt and the earth withered. Ask them what’s it’s like to go without water.
Then, if you still need proof, drive to Canton Lake and walk on what once was the lake bottom. Travel to Lake Texoma and look at how the shoreline has expanded while the water level has dropped.
Go to Lake Eufaula and read the signs warning swimmers to stay away because of blue-green algae.
We’re better than this.
If we don’t develop a policy soon, at some point our water resources will be so limited and so polluted that they won’t be useable.
At that point, all that talk about abundant water won’t mean a damn thing.