Background

Water supply and water use are issues growing in importance to Oklahoma and other states of the region.  Significant investment in research and education will be needed, with emphasis in the areas of public policy and economics as well as the physical and engineering sciences.  Pressures on Oklahoma’s water resource come from competing interests of rural and urban sectors.  Significant changes are expected due to population growth, rural development, and a trend seen in Oklahoma towards more drought conditions in the next 20+ years.  Public policy issues are complicated by the longstanding tradition that ground water ownership is a personal property right and, therefore, different from surface water which can be allocated by the state.  Such issues along with water supply development, recreation, tourism and pollution control may be the predominant issues for the economic future of rural Oklahoma. 

For more information contact Larry Sanders at 405-744-9834.

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