Water for 2060
With passage of House Bill 3055 (the Water For 2060 Act) in 2012, Oklahoma became the first state in the nation to establish a bold, statewide goal of consuming no more fresh water in 2060 than was consumed in 2010.
Water for 2060 emphasizes the use of education and incentives, rather than mandates, to achieve this ambitious goal without limiting Oklahoma's future growth and prosperity.
Spotlight on Innovators
A fifteen-member advisory council was created in 2013. Chaired by the OWRB, the council was comprised of fourteen members appointed by the Governor, Speaker of the House, and President Pro Tempore of the Senate. The council was tasked with studying and recommending appropriate water conservation practices, incentives, and educational programs to moderate statewide water usage while preserving Oklahoma’s population growth and economic development goals.
Advisory Council Recommendations
All Water Use Sectors
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GOAL Best practices and information sharing
LEGISLATIVE ACTION Support Water for 2060; Coordinator position and provide authority and funding for its activities; provide funding for development and maintenance of the portal.
ESTIMATED COST $300,000-1,000,000 per year depending on extent of outreach
Public Water Supply
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GOAL Developing strategies and benchmarks for Public Water Supply water efficiency
LEGISLATIVE ACTION Provide funding for development and distribution of the guide.
ESTIMATED COST $200,000 initial cost plus annual updating
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GOAL Recognizing Public Water Supply systems with high levels of efficiency and reuse
LEGISLATIVE ACTION Establish the program, annually recognize efficient communities and systems, and provide funds for administration of the program.
ESTIMATED COST $30,000-50,000 per year (plus implications of lower interest rates and statewide Public Water Supply rating)
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GOAL Reducing water loss in transmission/distribution systems
LEGISLATIVE ACTION Provide funding for development and distribution of the guide.
ESTIMATED COST $200,000
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GOAL Reducing water loss in transmission/distribution systems
LEGISLATIVE ACTION Provide funds for state matching-fund grant program.
ESTIMATED COST $1,000,000
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GOAL Best practices and information sharing
LEGISLATIVE ACTION Continue gross production tax funding for OCWP implementation.
ESTIMATED COST $200,000 plus annual allocations for infrastructure mapping
Crop Irrigation
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GOAL Providing financial incentives and mechanisms for irrigators to implement efficient technologies and practices and increase crop yields
LEGISLATIVE ACTION Allocate annual funding for program costs and authorize expansion of the Oklahoma Agricultural Linked Deposit Program.
ESTIMATED COST Funds for OK EQIP and matching grant programs; linked deposits from current OWRB Financial Assistance Program funds
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GOAL Best practices and information sharing
LEGISLATIVE ACTION Provide funding for development and distribution of the guide.
ESTIMATED COST $300,000
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GOAL Reducing or eliminating water waste required to prove out crop insurance claims
LEGISLATIVE ACTION Introduce legislative resolution seeking relief at the federal level.
ESTIMATED COST Negligible
Energy and Industry
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GOAL Facilitating the sharing of best practices and more efficient shared use of supplies between Energy and Industry water users
LEGISLATIVE ACTION None required.
ESTIMATED COST $200,000
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GOAL Increasing awareness and recognition of efficient Energy and Industry water use practices
LEGISLATIVE ACTION Establish the program and annually recognize efficient Energy and Industry water users; provide funds for development of guidance and administration.
ESTIMATED COST $30,000-$50,000 per year
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GOAL Increasing the use of marginal quality water supplies in industrial applications
LEGISLATIVE ACTION None required.
ESTIMATED COST $100,000 and state agency staff time
Members
- J.D. Strong, Chairman (OWRB Executive Director)
- Jim Bachmann (Tulsa)
- Lauren Brookey (Tulsa)
- Tom Buchanan (Altus)
- Bob Drake (Davis)
- Dan Galloway (Stillwater)
- Roger Griffin (Broken Bow)
- Charlette Hearne (Broken Bow)
- Mark Helm (Oklahoma City)
- Nathan Kuhnert (Oklahoma City)
- Phil Richardson (Minco)
- Kevin Smith (Enid)
- Trent Smith (Choctaw)
- Joe Taron (Shawnee)
- Jerry Wiebe (Hooker)
Meetings
April 21, 2015
November 18, 2014
August 19, 2014
May 20, 2014
February 18, 2014
November 19, 2013
August 20, 2013
As part of the state's on-going Water for 2060 initiative, in-depth studies in three Oklahoma Comprehensive Water Plan (OCWP) basins are focused on strategies to prevent future water supply shortages through increased conservation measures, use of marginal quality water supplies, and public water supply source regionalization. The three study basins have been identified by the OCWP as "Hot Spot" basins, which are projected to have the most significant water supply challenges within the next 50 years.
Executive Summary
Public Meetings
Technical Memorandums
Fact Sheets
Fact Sheets
