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Multiple committee and subcommittee leaders worked with OWRB staff during the 2024 legislative session to secure nearly $1.8 million in additional, recurring general revenue to modernize operations and increase field presence. Another $13.7 million in infrastructure loan and grant funds will allow the state to access an additional $75 million in federal dollars. A portion of these funds will be used to create a new Hazard Mitigation State Revolving Loan Program in cooperation with the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management.
Governor Kevin Stitt signed the following legislation:
HB 2937
--Allows American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) $10 million tribal match with priority on tribes that did not participate in previous ARPA grant match programs.
HB 3182
--Adjusts the meeting schedule of the Emergency Drought Committee to coincide with emergency drought declarations by the Secretary of Agriculture, Food & Forestry.
HB 2197
--Allows provisional temporary permits to be renewed three times for oil and natural gas beneficial use, except in sole source aquifers.
--Provides an opportunity for a permittee to report non-use and authorizes the OWRB to promulgate rules for reporting usage and approval of excused nonuse.
--Gives the OWRB Executive Director the authority to issue cessation orders when unauthorized usage is suspected or usage will damage rights of prior appropriators, and provides opportunities for hearings.
SB 1914
--Removes provisions allowing water permit holders to opt out of participation in groundwater irrigation districts.
The OWRB completed Round 3 OCWP regional meetings in May. The planning team presented information about water demand, which is expected to increase in Oklahoma between now and 2075. In some basins, supply will not likely support growing demand. All basins have at least some groundwater available for permitting. The forecast of available surface water for appropriation in 2075 is currently being determined.
Participants expressed interest in management strategies that could potentially have the greatest water savings for their regions. Demand management options, such as municipal and agricultural conservation and efficiency efforts, were favored by many. Additional water management strategies were recommended by participants and these are being considered by the planning team.
Meeting summaries are available on the OWRB’s water planning webpage under the Public Meetings link.
The Rural Economic Action Plan (REAP) Grant Program is a point-based program designed to assist smaller communities that lack sufficient fiscal capacity. Priority is given to cities, towns, and municipalities with a population less than 1,750, school districts with less than 525 students, and rural water and/or sewer districts with less than 525 non-pasture taps.
The application period for SFY 2025 opens July 1, 2024, and will close September 3, 2024, at 5:00 p.m.
Posted June 27, 2024
OWRB Engineering and Planning Chief, Yohanes Sugeng, and Jeremy Rice with Freese and Nichols, presented “Increasing Resilience through Oklahoma’s First State Flood Plan,” today at the Association of State Floodplain Managers National Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah! Well done representing our State and the OWRB on the accomplishments thus far on the State Flood Plan!
June 20, 2024
OWRB Executive Director, Julie Cunningham, joined several others from partner environmental agencies to provide legislative updates to members and guests of the Environmental Federation of Oklahoma during the Regulatory Newsreel on June 20. There was a full crowd on hand at the UCO Nigh University Center in Edmond to discuss environmental issues and express support for Oklahoma businesses and industries that rely on water.
Posted June 13, 2024
OWRB Lending Manager, Charles de Coune, visits with Ed Bolt, Mayor of Shawnee, during the 2024 Mayor's Conference in Weatherford today. Shawnee is one of hundreds of Oklahoma communities benefiting from the OWRB's low interest financing with a $103,555,000 loan for wastewater treatment plant improvements.
 Kim Peterson, Mayor of Guymon, was presented with a ceremonial OWRB financial assistance loan check. The loan will fund the planning and design for a supplemental water source and supply as well as the rehabilitation of a system lagoon, new lift station, force main piping, and appurtenances.
Posted June 11, 2024
Today we are holding our last Floodplain Management and OFMA workshops for FY 2024 in McAlester! After today, our Floodplain Administrator accreditation process will start over, so if you have received training in the last fiscal year, you will be accredited until June 30, 2025. Any training received after June 30, 2024 will make your FPA accreditation up to date until June 30, 2026. If you are still in need of training, you are not too late! We are offering classes across the state all the way to November. Sign up today.
Posted May 28, 2024
Neal Harmon and Justin Wright from the OWRB’s WATER Division participated in “Explore a Shore” this past weekend at Martin Nature Park. They demonstrated a model of the water cycle and debuted a new model on erosion. Huge thanks to our friends @okcparks for hosting such an awesome educational event.
Posted May 23, 2024
The Floodplain Management team visited Woods County and Guymon to audit their community floodplains this week. This is a reminder that even though you may live in an area that receives very little rainfall throughout the year, you can still be at risk for flooding. If rain occurs at any time, so can flooding. We always strive to make sure participating communities in the NFIP have a healthy floodplain to deter flooding hazards in all corners of the State.
 
Posted May 17, 2024
OWRB WATER division staff were recently at Lake Eucha conducting a bathymetric survey as part of a partnership with the ODEQ. These surveys determine water depth and topography of the bottom of reservoirs. This information is critical to accurately determine sedimentation rates, water and flood storage remaining, dependable yield for water users, maximum quantity of water available during drought.
The program provides accurate determinations of current storage capacities in state reservoirs, which equips water resource managers with information to handle critical water management issues. For many Oklahoma reservoirs, the only available storage volumes are the original estimates made at the time of construction. Because of sediment deposition, the volume of reservoirs will significantly change over time and reduce the amount of water available for water supply, flood control, and recreational and economic benefits to citizens, communities, and industry.
For more information on the bathymetric mapping program check out the program fact sheet on our website.
  
Posted May 16, 2024
Know Your Risk! The OWRB has launched the State of Oklahoma Flood Plan Dashboard, an interactive tool for reviewing and prioritizing flood mitigation needs. The dashboard highlights needs by county, community, State legislative district, or tribal boundary and features NFIP participation and claims, risks to structures in flood hazard areas, dam inventory by hazard risk, project needs, and estimated project costs.
Posted May 10, 2024
May is American Wetlands Month. OWRB WATER Division staff conduct monitoring, assessment and mapping of various wetlands sites in Oklahoma throughout the year. OWRB staff are currently working on updating the National Wetlands Inventory Mapper focusing on Bottomland Hardwood Wetlands around Hugo Lake and the surrounding watershed. For more information on Wetlands month and the importance of wetlands visit the USFWS website.
Posted May 9, 2024
OWRB Streams Monitoring crew members are at OKC River Sports Adventures today at the outdoor classroom from 8 to 3 in Oklahoma City visiting with students about water quality and quantity with opportunities to conduct water chemistry testing.
 
Posted May 9, 2024
Jerri Hargis presented information on the OWRB's financial assistance programs to attendees of the APWAOK/OWEA Joint Technical Conference and Trade Show. Jerri and Zach Bradley greeted guests and answered questions at the Financial Assistance Division exhibit. Visit the OWRB website for more information.
 
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