Time to step back and collect the key points of this 8-post series on the Bay Delta Conservation Plan. There were many themes relevant to the BDCP or, for that matter, any other water project. By following them, one can have an accurate assessment of the economics, risks and choices related to a venture. Ignoring them will be a recipe for disappointment if not outright failure. Continue reading
Water in Oklahoma Part Two: Native American Water Rights and the Fight over Water in Southern Oklahoma
In last week’s post, I wrote about the unsuccessful increased claims that Texas tried to make on Oklahoma’s portion of the Red River. In a region that faces continued drought conditions, many parties want to stake a claim to the area’s limited water resources. Southern Oklahoma’s water resources have parties from both directions on the compass that want a share. We already know that Oklahoma’s neighbor to the South, Texas, wants more of the Red River entitlement. However, to the North of these water resources, Oklahoma City and the surrounding suburbs are in need of further water entitlement to sate its citizens’ appetite for water. In this blog post, I will discuss how protracted negotiations and court proceedings have pitted Oklahoma City against the Indian Nations with land and water claims in the Southern part of the state. While the negotiations are still ongoing, the case shows how important limited water resources are to everyone in the region. But first a bit of background.
Guinness: An Irish Water Rights Story
Byline: Kilronan Castle, Ireland
The water crowd should visit the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin, Ireland. The legacy will strike a familiar theme:
established water rights lead to business development and economic expansion
Water in Oklahoma Part One: Both Oklahoma and Texas want it, but who will get it?
In my last two blog posts, I discussed the ongoing water supply challenges that Texas faces. As we saw in last week’s blog post, Texas is not the only state in that region of the United States to face protracted drought. New Mexico, which relies on the Rio Grande River (the same river that supplies much of Northern Mexico and Southern Texas) is facing severe water shortages in some parts of the state. In this post, I would like to continue the theme. Oklahoma faces many of the same challenges that Texas and New Mexico face. However, Oklahoma faces two unique claims to the limited water supplies in the State. First, the State of Texas has been in protracted lawsuits with Oklahoma over entitlement from the Red River Basin. Second, urban areas, particularly Oklahoma City are taking water claims in the Southern part of the State that the Indian Nations in the area claim. I will address the first issue in this week’s post. Continue reading