Q&A: Where Cherokee Nation’s $65M Water Act funding is going

The Cherokee Nation is marking four years since launching a major initiative to improve access to clean, safe water across its reservation.

Since 2021, the tribe has invested $23.8 million under the Wilma P. Mankiller and Charlie Soap Water Act. Projects range from new water towers to targeted household utility assistance.

The legislation honors two key figures in Cherokee Nation history and prioritizes long-term infrastructure improvements in rural and underserved areas.

Here’s a breakdown of what the act has accomplished and what’s next.

Q: What is the Wilma P. Mankiller and Charlie Soap Water Act?

The act is a legislative initiative passed in April 2021 to improve water access for Cherokee Nation citizens. It allocates at least $2 million each year to address outdated or insufficient water and wastewater systems.

It was named in honor of former Principal Chief Wilma Mankiller and her husband, Charlie Soap, who led major water access efforts in the 1980s.

Q: How much has the Cherokee Nation invested so far?

The tribe has spent $23.8 million in the first four years of the act. In total, $65 million has been allocated for water-related improvements under this initiative.

Q: What major infrastructure has been built?

A new water tower in Adair County now serves approximately 1,100 people in the communities of Bell and Cherry Tree. Another tower is under construction in Nowata.

The Cherry Tree Water District received $8.38 million for systemwide upgrades, including replacing aging water lines and restoring water pressure. Though the Cherokee Nation does not operate this district, the area has been a focus due to critical needs.

Q: How are individual households being supported?

The Cherokee Nation has set aside $500,000 to help low-income and elderly citizens pay their water bills. Another $25,000 has been used to install new water taps in homes built through the tribe’s housing programs.

In 2023, a survey identified 120 citizens with insufficient access to clean water. Those households are now receiving individualized service improvements.

Q: What other tools is the tribe using to guide this work?

The tribe’s Department of Transportation and Infrastructure has partnered with local water districts to create a digital map of the reservation’s water systems. This mapping effort helps the Cherokee Nation quickly identify service gaps and improve efficiency.

In the past, some communities only had paper maps or no records at all, which slowed response times for maintenance and expansion.

Q: What comes next?

The act includes requirements for biennial studies to monitor progress and identify communities still in need. During the anniversary of the act, the tribe announced an additional $500,000 in funding using public health resources.

Survey data shows 8,000 homes within the Cherokee Nation Reservation still lack access to public water systems. The work ahead includes supporting 121 small public water systems and 53 public sewer systems in need of upgrades.

For more information or to read the full report, visit: https://www.cherokee.org/media/h3slduao/mswa.pdf