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Oklahoma cattlemen need to be involved in water plan discussionBy Doug Rich Most Oklahoma cattlemen would say they have dealt with more than enough water this summer. Unusually high rainfall totals have hampered all types of agriculture in the state this year, but that is no indication of how much water will be available next year or 50 years from now. That is why Oklahoma is in the early stages of developing a comprehensive state water plan. Jeri Fleming, communications director for the Oklahoma Water Research Institute, gave an update on this process during the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association annual meeting. The Oklahoma Water Research Institute has been given the task of conducting local input meetings across the state. The purpose of these meetings is to give Oklahomans the opportunity to identify water issues that need to be considered, present their concerns about these issues, specify questions that should be answered in considering these issues, and to offer their suggestions on how to deal with these issues. Oklahoma law requires that the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) develop a Comprehensive Water Plan and revise it every 10 years. The first plan was developed in 1980 and updated in 1995. The second update is scheduled to be completed by 2011. Fleming said 42 local input meetings have been scheduled across the state and as of July 27, 18 meetings had been held. These local input meetings are just the first stage in the process. These meetings will be followed by regional input meetings, planning workshops, town hall meetings, drafting an Oklahoma Water Plan (OCWP), plan review, and writing the final plan. At the local meetings so far Fleming said they have heard many comments about groundwater rights. "Most people feel the water rights are just fine the way they are," Fleming said. Water sales and transfer have been a popular topic at local meetings, in particular the sale of water to Texas. People attending these local meetings believe that Oklahoma's needs come first. What if this summer was a fluke and the drought is not over after all. Re-use of treated water, dredging of lakes that have reached their 50 year life cycle, water quality, recreation, and Native American water rights are all issues that the new plan will need to consider. "They will use the information from these local meetings to form the foundation of their report," Scott Dewald, OCA Executive Vice-President, said. "If cattlemen are not represented in that foundation they can't expect to be represented when the report is completed. It is critically important they attend these local input meetings and let them know what you are thinking." Dewald said at each of these meetings they will pass out cards and ask those attending to nominate someone to take part in the regional panels that are the next step in the process. Dewald is encouraging producers to nominate themselves to be on those panels so they will be represented when it is time to discuss all of the comments. "This is a six stage process and we need to stay hooked in every stage," Dewald said. "The most important stage is taking place right now in these local input meetings." "As with all government plans, this one will come back for comments after it is drafted, but at that point it will be harder to have any kind of impact on the final report," Dewald said. "They won't be as receptive to comments then as they are now." Fleming said individuals who cannot attend one of these local input meetings can submit their comments and suggestions on the Institute's website http://okwaterplan.info. Comments that have already been made are posted on this site, as well. Doug Rich can be reached by phone at 785-749-5304 or by e-mail at richhpj@aol.com. B 11 8/6/07 5 Star OK Date: 8/2/07
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