Oklahoma Water Resources Board

Legislative panel tapped to chart Okla.'s water needs holds inaugural meeting ...

OKLAHOMA CITY — A legislative panel tasked with planning Oklahoma's water policy for the next 50 years is holding its inaugural meeting.

The 16-member committee will meet Wednesday in the House chamber. The panel is expected to focus on existing water law, interstate compacts and the role of Native American tribes and treaties.

A North Texas water district has unsuccessfully tried to gain access to billions of gallons of southeastern Oklahoma water from three tributaries in far southern Oklahoma and sued the state in an attempt to force the sale of water.

Lawmakers have delayed any action on a proposed sale of water to Texas or water-related legislation for several years pending the release of a water plan being developed by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board that is due out in October.

In The Know: August 10, 2011 | OK Policy Blog

OG&E making progress restoring power to central Oklahoma

Several thousand residents across Oklahoma City remain without power after a severe thunderstorm pummeled central Oklahoma Monday night with heavy rain and high winds.  As of 8:20 a.m., about 10,000 customers were without power in the Oklahoma City metro according to OG&E. That total includes about 900 in Midwest City.  Power was lost to the Hefner water treatment plant Monday night but Oklahoma City spokeswoman Debbie Ragan said power was restored by 10:30 p.m.

Read more from NewsOK at http://newsok.com/oge-making-progress-restoring-power-to-central-oklahoma/article/3592997#ixzz1Ud9yxqs8 and

Winds during thunderstorms powerful as tornado

Winds of up to 96 mph were recorded during Monday night’s thunderstorms. The National Weather Service compared the winds to a tornado or a hurricane.  Straight-line wind speeds recorded Monday at Lahoma in Garfield County were as powerful as an EF-1 tornado and a Category 2 hurricane.  The Oklahoma Mesonet recorded winds at 96 mph during Monday night’s thunderstorm. Wind speeds with EF-1 tornadoes are between 86 and 110 mph, and 95 mph is the highest wind speed in Category 1 hurricanes.  “What we saw yesterday can be more damaging than a weak tornado in many cases,” said forecaster Marc Austin with the National Weather Service in Norman. “You end up with a pretty widespread swatch of wind damage, two to five miles in width or greater.”

Read more from NewsOK at http://newsok.com/winds-during-thunderstorms-powerful-as-tornado/article/3593007#ixzz1UdAmjFPM

Power out for some Edmond, Oklahoma City customers

A round of severe thunderstorms moved through central Oklahoma Tuesday night causing power outages around the metro area.  A round of severe thunderstorms moved through central Oklahoma Tuesday night causing power outages around the metro area.  As of 5:45 a.m., Edmond Electric reports about 1,100 customers without power in parts of Edmond. OG&E, which also serves customers in Edmond, reports about 6,700 more customers without power.  There are reports of downed power lines down at Broadway and Waterloo roads.  OG&E reports about 24,000 customers without power in the metro including 9,000 in Piedmont. There are about 6,000 customers in Oklahoma City without power.

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Water, The Fate of Our Most Precious Resource

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Water wars, privatization, pollution and profit