Oklahoma City took another step in advancing its effort to transfer water from the Sardis Lake reservoir in southeastern Oklahoma, according to a story published by The Oklahoman.
A hearing examiner with the Oklahoma Water Resources Board recommended that Oklahoma City should receive a permit to balance “Oklahoma City’s need for Sardis water against Kiamichi basin conservation needs.”
Hearing examiner Lyn Martin-Diehl with the OWRB sided with Oklahoma City in her findings and conclusions report which was released Tuesday.
Oklahoma City initially applied for the Sardis water permit in 2007 to transfer nearly 115,000 acre feet of water, according to The Oklahoman. Under the planned permit, water will be transferred via pipeline from the Kiamichi River to Lake Stanley Draper, although the actual transfer is several years away from completion.
Last December, OK Energy Today reported that President Obama formally signed the Water Infrastructure for Improvements to the Nation (WIIN) Act into law. While the historic water agreement allows Oklahoma City to have legal access to Sardis Lake for drinking water from the Chickasaw and Choctaw tribes, securing the permit is one of several steps in the process to finalize the settlement and end current litigation.
Martin-Diehl’s favorable recommendation hinged on Oklahoma City’s “beneficial use,” a crucial requirement for obtaining the permit. Her report will go to the full board for further consideration.
