The Oklahoma Water Resources board prepares to hold its first of several meetings next week to discuss recommendations for the 2025 update to the Oklahoma Comprehensive Water Plan.
At least five Round 5 of Regional Meetings will be held next week.
The following is the list of when and where the sessions will be held.
- March 4, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. | SW – Cameron University, McMahon Centennial Complex – McAsland Ballroom A/B, 2800 W. Gore Blvd., Lawton, OK 73505 | West Central, Southwest, Beaver-Cache, and Lower Washita OCWP Planning Regions
- March 5, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. | NW – High Plains Technology Center, Seminar Center, 3921 34th, Woodward, OK 73801 | Panhandle OCWP Planning Region
- March 25, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. | NE – OSU Tulsa, Conference Center – B.S. Roberts Room, 700 N. Greenwood Ave., Tulsa, OK 74106 | Middle Arkansas, Grand, Eufaula, and Lower Arkansas OCWP Planning Regions
- March 26, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. | SE – Kiamichi Technology Center, Conference Room, 13739 SE. 202nd, Talihina, OK 74571 | Blue-Boggy and Southeast OCWP Planning Regions
- March 27, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. | Central – Robert R. Lester Training Center, Classroom A, 3600 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Oklahoma City, OK 73111 | Upper Arkansas and Central OCWP Planning Regions
The state is attempting to update the water plan while also noting that Hydrologic Extremes are a Major State and National Problem, as noted in a recent budget presentation.
Rising costs of floods, droughts, and drought-related wildfire
• Devastating impacts on human life and health, agriculture,
ecosystems, and infrastructure
• These extreme events are becoming more frequent and more
severe
• Oklahoma has led the nation in drought relief payments through
the USDA Livestock Forage Disaster Program, $1.4 billion 2011-
2018
• Drought caused >$500 million economic losses and ~3500 jobs in
SW OK in 2011-2013 alone
• Other major recent impacts include
• 2019 Arkansas river flooding: $3 billion, 5 lives
• Mega-fires burning >100,000 acres in 2016, 2017, 2018
