State Developing Comprehensive Water Plan

Saturday, September 8th 2007, 7:23 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ The Oklahoma Water Resources Board is developing a comprehensive report on water policy and anticipated supply and demand in Oklahoma over the next 50 years.

Last year, the Legislature appropriated $6.5 million to develop the water plan over the next five years. The plan is scheduled to be delivered by 2011.

Water supplies have become a critical issue in the region due to rising demand and a prolonged drought in recent years.

The OWRB says Oklahomans use almost 645 trillion gallons of ground and surface water each year. Usage is expected to grow as the state's population is projected to increase from 3.5 million today to about 4.8 million by 2060.