 The OCWP Public Outreach Survey asks participants, “In the area where you live, how concerned are you about water shortages occurring in the next 20 to 50 years?” To date, nearly all participants expressed some level of concern about future water availability! Over the next few weeks Team OCWP will be presenting our latest projections on local water availability in our Round 3 regional meetings. We hope you'll join us to discuss potential strategies to meet your future needs!
 Figure 1: Responses to the OCWP Public Outreach Survey Question " In the area where you live, how concerned are you about water shortages occurring in the next 20 to 50 years?"
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Statewide Supply and Demand Projections are in! Let's talk about the future!
The Oklahoma Water Resources Board is pleased to announce the third in a series of stakeholder input meetings, in locations across the state, focused on current policies, supply and demand projections, water quality, and water infrastructure needs.
While anyone may attend, we request participation from local officials, water utility suppliers, regulated industry, commercial agricultural producers, economic development entities, and representing organizations. Round 3 will focus on updated water supply and demand projections through 2075, water quality trends data, and drilling down on local issues.
Round 3 meetings will be held on the following dates and locations. In person meetings are scheduled from 1:00 – 4:00 pm.
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation announced the following funding opportunities.
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WaterSMART for Small Scale Water Efficiency Projects – Eligible projects include canal lining/piping, municipal metering, irrigation flow measurement, SCADA, landscape irrigation measures, high-efficiency indoor appliances and fixtures, and commercial cooling systems. Maximum award amount of $100,000. Application period 2 deadline is July 9, 2024, Application period 3 deadline is January 14, 2025, and Application period 4 deadline is July 8, 2025. This notice of funding opportunity announcement is available at grants.gov by searching for funding opportunity R24AS00059 or by clicking here.
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WaterSMART for Water and Energy Efficiency- Projects should conserve and use water more efficiently (e.g., flow measurement, metering, delivery improvements, canal lining, etc.); increase production of renewable energy (e.g., hydropower, solar, wind energy, etc.); mitigate risks of water conflict; and/or accomplish other benefits that contribute to water supply reliability in the western United States. More details on eligible projects are outlined in Section C.4. of the funding opportunity. The second application period closes on October 30, 5:00 pm. This notice of funding opportunity announcement is available at grants.govby searching for funding opportunity number R24AS00052 or by clicking here. Learn more about the Water and Energy Efficiency Grants by clicking here.
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Title XVI WIIN Act Water Reclamation and Reuse Projects - Eligible activities include planning, design, and construction of water reclamation and reuse facilities. The funding opportunity announcement R23AS00464 is available by clicking here. Applications are due September 30, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.
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Desalination Construction Projects Under the WIIN Act – Eligible activities include planning, design, and construction of facilities to desalinate seawater or brackish surface water or groundwater. The funding opportunity announcement R23AS00465 is available by clicking here. Applications are due September 30, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.
Each year Water Week invites water professionals from across the nation to help advance key water policy priorities such as sustained growth in federal infrastructure investment, addressing water affordability, supporting water research & development, and advancing sound science-based solutions, and making our critical infrastructure more resilient. The Water Environment Federation, WateReuse Association, American Water Works Association, and other organizations participate, offering an opportunity for water professionals to speak to decision makers in Congress about issues important to the water sector. Maximize your time in DC by scheduling meetings for the morning of April 9 and April 10 with your Congressional representatives and other policymakers to advocate for the water sector. Key activities include:
- April 8, National Stormwater Policy Forum (WEF)
- April 9, National Water Policy Fly-In (WEF and WateReuse)
- April 10-11, Onsite Water Reuse Summit (WateReuse)
If you can’t make the trip to Washington DC, consider becoming a WEF Water Advocate. It is a grassroots advocacy program that makes it easy for WEF members to engage with their federal elected officials on matters of importance to the water sector. Membership is free and you will raise your profile among your water professional colleagues as a champion for our sector.
Oklahoma Water Resources Center resumes their “Water You Talking About?” monthly water seminar series on April 18 with a presentation by Kiranmayi Mangalgiri on Contaminants of Emerging Concern and their Relevance in Water Reuse Systems. Find out more and register here.
Find out more about the Oklahoma Well Owner Network free private well water testing here.
Save the date! Water Appreciation Day is April 29. It will be held at the 2nd Floor Rotunda of the Oklahoma State Capitol. This event brings together local, state, and federal agencies and many other organizations to celebrate Oklahoma's water resources and share information on the management and protection of the State's most valuable natural resource
 I was so inspired at the 2024 Ogallala Summit last month in Liberal, KS, as we worked together in groups with our neighboring states to talk about strategies and new technologies and rediscovering very old technologies (that is: Soil Health and Regenerative Agriculture) to change the current trajectory (aka the race to the bottom) of our largest aquifer that feeds the world and is the engine of so many economies! Check out some of the things OK, TX, KS, NB, CO, and others are doing. When you first hear about the many challenges and interconnected problems it can seem insurmountable. HOWEVER, with smart people that are willing to give and take and willing to try new ideas, find more sustainable economic drivers, tackling problems with an "all of the above" approach, you begin to see solutions and find that hopeful future. I can't wait to see what we come up with in the years ahead!
We hope the very same for Oklahoma! We have many and widely varied challenges in this extremely diverse state. Let's inform each other about that, and hear about local challenges; and then let's search for partners, resources, opportunities, and start figuring this out together.
We are excited about the Round 3 meetings, to share the recent draft Supply and Demand projections our team has worked so hard to put together. We hope you'll join us in telling your story and talking about solutions for the future!
Best regards,
Owen Mills
Director of Water Planning,
Oklahoma Water Resources Board
owen.mills@owrb.ok.gov |
