Oklahomans for Responsible Water Policy (ORWP) is a grassroots organization formed in March 2010 that is made up farmers, ranchers, business owners, landowners, elected leaders , environmental advocates and many others. Focusing on water, ORWP’s core mission is to preserve and protect the economy, agriculture, environment, habitat and local beneficial uses of all the water in Southeastern Oklahoma.

The group has a diverse 14-member board of directors and is rapidly growing and building membership throughout the state. In early April, in its first action, more than 40 members of the group signed a letter to Gov. Henry expressing deep concerns about a plan to assign water storage rights in Sardis Lake to Oklahoma City , some surrounding towns and the so-called Central Oklahoma Water Resources Authority (COWRA), an entity that we believe is privately funded. The plan would attempt to give exclusive authority to Oklahoma City and COWRA to determine how Sardis Lake storage for drinking water will be drawn and used.

ORWP believes that all necessary water studies should be completed and scientifically validated before any decisions regarding Oklahoma’s water future are made.

*(Titles and organizations’ names for identification purposes only)