This week’s U.S. Senate passage of the Water Resources Development Act of 2024 includes funding for several water projects in Oklahoma.
The House had passed the measure earlier in December and with this week’s98-1 vote in the Senate, the WRDA heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law. Oklahoma U.S. Sen. James Lankford supported the bill.
“Oklahomans want clean, safe water. We have worked for months to negotiate provisions in the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) to make it easier for Oklahoma communities to upgrade their water infrastructure, buy more water, and expedite essential projects. This legislation is a major win for the entire state of Oklahoma,” said Lankford.
The final bill includes the following vital provisions for Oklahoma:
Study authorizations at Sardis Lake and Lake Texoma to analyze regional water supply, needs for upgrades and improvements to the specific lake authority, and what is needed to support the growing demand in the region.
- Improved purchase rate for Bartlesville to acquire Copan Lake water acres, decreasing the cost significantly for Bartlesville and improving water access for the growing community.
- Expedited completion of projects, including the Tulsa-West-Tulsa Levee project.
- Expanded water infrastructure project authorizations for Midwest City and Woodward.
- Secured water and wastewater infrastructure funds for Stillwater’s water delivery and treatment facility plans.
