Oklahoma lawmakers seek oversight on water sales

Email a friend

Two eastern Oklahoma senators say they want the Oklahoma Legislature to set rules for the sale of water to other states.

Oklahoma has had a moratorium on the proposed sale of water from southeastern Oklahoma to Texas entities. But a federal court in New Mexico has struck down a similar moratorium in that state.

Sens. Jim Wilson of Tahlequah and Jerry Ellis of Valliant say the Water Resources Board should not be able to sell water to Texas based on subjective criteria.

Oklahoma's moratorium on water sales expires in November. A trial is set to begin in December on a Texas water district's efforts to buy Oklahoma water.