Water in the Choctaw Nation has always served as a vital corridor for our culture, subsistence, trade, and transportation. The Choctaw Nation entered into a Water Settlement Agreement with the Chickasaw Nation, the State of Oklahoma, and Oklahoma City to establish a foundation for protecting our tribal water resources to provide for sustainability and a foundation for a shared economy within the Water Settlement Area. The Water Settlement Agreement focuses on using sound science to promote long-term sustainability of water resources and establishing a new intergovernmental relationship with expectations regarding how water will be managed within the Water Settlement Area.
The Choctaw and Chickasaw Regional Water Planning (CCRWP) team has established the following seven essentials which carefully balance water resource needs with social, environmental, and economic priorities throughout the Water Settlement Area.
- Unity
- Sustainability
- Urban Needs
- Town and Rural Needs
- Tourism
- Agriculture
- Drought Defense
Within the Choctaw Nation’s Office of Water Resource Management (OWRM), we have geared our programs to support these seven essentials and the Water Settlement Agreement. These programs strengthen the sovereignty of the Choctaw Nation and reflect the unique cultural and stewardship values we hold as we work with local governing bodies, the state government, the federal government, multiple academic institutions, landowners, and organizations to shape a sustainable plan for beneficial water management.
Each program manages multiple projects with one goal: long-term sustainability of the water resources within the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Reservation.
Water Policy and Planning
The Water Policy and Planning program is dedicated to the protection, management, and sustainable use of water resources throughout the Choctaw Nation.
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Sustainable Communities
The Sustainable Communities Program ensures safe, reliable water infrastructure for future generations by assisting local water providers and wastewater infrastructure planners.
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Research and Data Acquisition
The Research and Data Acquisition team monitors water quality at over 50 sites through comprehensive testing and targeted site investigations.
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Watershed Management
The Office of Watershed Stewardship protects water resources throughout the Choctaw Nation Reservation by implementing best management practices, including assessing wetlands and riparian zones to reduce runoff, prevent erosion, and limit pollution.
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Surface Mining
The Choctaw Nation Surface Mining Program protects Choctaw Nation's lands, resources, and communities from the impacts of coal mining.
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