Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma

Welcome to the water policy section of the Choctaw Nation website. The future of water resources in our region of Southeast Oklahoma is of critical importance to the Choctaw people. We take very seriously our responsibility to protect the natural environment– the plants, animals and fish – that depend on our abundant, clean, fresh water. We are fully committed to protecting this resource for future generations as well as for today’s recreation opportunities and economic development of Southeast Oklahoma. I hope you find the information here helpful and inspiring. By all of us working together, we hope to develop the scientific plans and programs needed to protect our future and our water in a way that will benefit all Oklahomans.

• Videos

  • Larry Echo Hawk visits Sardis Lake
  • What’s Right :30
  • Heart of the Choctaw Nation :30
  • Now as Then :30
  • These Rivers and Lakes :30
  • Oklahoma Forum - The Controversy Over Sardis Lake Water Rights

• Sardis Lake

  

  Sardis Lake in southeastern Oklahoma is located just north of Clayton. Sardis Lake has 117 miles of shoreline and 14,360 surface acres. The lake is an impoundment of Jackfork Creek, a tributary of the Kiamichi River.

  In 1977 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, began construction of the dam under a contract with the state of Oklahoma for the purpose of selling water to municipalities and industrial customers in Oklahoma. In early 2010, Oklahoma City claims to have bought the rights to 90% of the water in Sardis Lake, but the Choctaw Nation, which was not involved in the transaction, believes the city does not have the right to purchase the water and the state had no right to sell the water rights.

• News

  • Sardis Issue Will Reach Boiling Point
    
  • It’s a Health Hazard
    
  • Voters turn down water, sanitation increases
  • Oklahoma elections: Water issues await next governor
  • Henry Still in Meetings About Sardis
    
  • Standing Their Ground

• Water Documents

  Corps of Engineers Letter to Governor Henry
  Larry Echo Hawk Letter to the Oklahoma Water Resources Board

• How You Can Help

  Write Gov. Mary Fallin, Treasurer Ken Miller, your local legislator and your Federal legislators and tell them no one should consider any water agreement until statewide water studies are completed, reviewed by the public and verified by outside experts.

  Governor Mary Fallin
  State Capitol Building
  2300 N. Lincoln Blvd., Room 212
  Oklahoma City, OK 73105

  Treasurer Ken Miller
  State Capitol Building
  2300 N. Lincoln Blvd., Room 217
  Oklahoma City, OK 73105

  Click here to find your local representatives.

  Federal Representatives

  Congressman Dan Boren
  431 W Broadway
  Muskogee, OK 74401
  (918) 687-2533

  Congressman Tom Cole
  2420 Spring Dr, Suite 120
  Norman OK 73069
  (405) 329-6500

  Congressman Frank Lucas
  720 South Husband, Suite 7
  Stillwater OK 74075
  (405) 624-6407

  Congressman John Sullivan
  5727 S Lewis Ave Ste 520
  Tulsa OK 74105-7146
  (918) 749-0014

  Congressman James Lankford
  1015 North Broadway, Suite 310
  Oklahoma City OK 73102
  (405) 234-9900

  Senator Tom Coburn
  100 North Broadway, Suite 1820
  Oklahoma City OK 73102

  Senator James Inhofe
  1924 S Utica Avenue Suite 530
  Tulsa OK 74104-6511
  (918) 748-5111