Grabbing Sardis Lake - A Foolish Deception
June 18th, 2010
DURANT, Okla. – Hello again, everyone! First, an update on Jacob and heartfelt thanks from Deena and me for all the prayers sent up on his behalf.
Jacob is doing well; his broken femur is healing. So many of you have lifted up prayers, called, come by, or sent messages expressing your concern about him and the body cast confining him. We are blessed to live in an area that really is an extended family, and our thanks to you all.
In state government news, the biggest issue right now is the attempt by Oklahoma City leaders to grab one of our most precious natural resources. The Oklahoma Water Resources Board foolishly agreed to transfer the storage rights for Sardis Lake to Oklahoma City.
In exchange, the Oklahoma City Water Utilities Authority assumes the debt Oklahoma owes the federal government for building the lake. What is at stake is an enormous source of potential wealth.
Ironically, out of a packed hearing room at the water board meeting, only one person testified in support of the deal. Jim Couch, city manager for Oklahoma City, began his statement of support bemoaning how bad this deal is for his constituency. Still, he is for the deal.
That should make us all nervous. If it’s such a bad deal for them, why is Oklahoma City pursuing it? The tactic is called “misdirection” and magicians use it all the time to deceive our eyes – just like Oklahoma City and those working to extract this resource are trying to deceive Oklahoma.
Even those supporting the deal know there are problems with this premature effort. The state’s comprehensive water plan is not complete. To begin a massive water transfer before completion of that plan is both foolhardy and makes a waste of the taxpayer dollars invested in it.
There is an even larger problem with this proposal. The basin of origin – rural southeastern Oklahoma – gets absolutely nothing from this transfer: no investments in economic development, and no ability to build a brighter future.
Finally, this transfer is not necessary for the state to pay its debt. The Choctaw and Chickasaw nations offered to make this year’s $5.2 million payment to the federal government, allowing the statewide water plan to be completed.
That, however, would have thrown a “monkey wrench” into plans devised to make this transfer appear necessary to prevent Oklahoma from defaulting on Sardis Lake. We arrived at this point by design; powerful metro interests are greedy for this water now, despite acknowledging it won’t be needed for decades.
This battle, however, is not over; the Water Resources Board will not have the final say. This will – like so many issues relating to our future – end up in court.
On the legislative front, I will remain vigilant – opposing any attempt like this that would put our future at risk. A mistake now might very well cost us our future.
Thanks for reading this week’s “Senate Minute.” Have a great week, and may God bless you all.