Water Is Life

By Rep. Rick West

As vice chair of the House Agriculture Committee, I attended an interim study last week on the subject of water. Turns out this wasn’t just about any water. It targeted Southeast Oklahoma water. Those who live in the western part of the state want it.

Several of the study presenters compared water to oil, meaning they believe it’s worth a lot of money. Presenters also mentioned the economic development potential if water is piped from here to there. I have to agree with a fellow lawmaker from this area that said his opinion has always been that economic development can come to Eastern Oklahoma where the water is plentiful rather than piping it west for their benefit.

There was a lot of talk in this study about Oklahoma City being a hub in the state. But there’s a lot of Oklahoma that is east of OKC.

I’ll never forget my father-in-law telling me some 30 years ago that Southeast Oklahoma has three things: ticks, chiggers and water. If we let ’em have our water, all we’ll be left with are the ticks and chiggers.

Right now, Oklahoma City owns some water rights to Sardis Lake, but it can only be piped under certain conditions. I would welcome any of these study presenters to come down to LeFlore, McCurtain or Haskell counties to see the drought we’re in here.

One of the presenters kept saying the water that the State of Oklahoma owns. I don’t agree the state owns the surface water in Oklahoma.

I was surprised the tribes were not invited to participate in this study.

I don’t believe the people of LeFlore County or the tribes want to give up our water. Water is life, as they say. I feel bad for Western Oklahoma where their aquifers are being depleted, but we have to look out for our own sustainability. We don’t have oil here, but we do have water, and it’s needed where it is.

Also last week, I met with the CEO of Eastern Oklahoma Medical Center, Tiffany Griffis, and Chief Operating Officer Logan Hayes. We met with Josh Hildebrand, a field representative for U.S. Rep. Josh Brecheen, who discussed how federal block grants are distributed to rural hospitals. Oklahoma received $232 million. EOMC applied for a grant but only received $88,000. They’ve filed an open records request to find out where the remainder of the money went.

Thankfully, this hospital is in relatively good financial shape, but some rural hospitals are living pay day to pay day. We want to make sure the funding was fairly distributed. Griffis and Hayes are top notch, and we’re lucky to have them in Southeast Oklahoma.

Also joining the discussion was Dennis Yochum, LeFlore County Emergency Management director, who gave us an update on the emergency radio system and it’s importance to public safety in our area.

Remember to listen to my Capitol update on the radio at 7:35 a.m. every Thursday on KPRV.

As always, if I can help you with anything, please call my Capitol office at (405) 557-7413 or email me at rick.west@okhouse.gov.

 

Rick West serves District 3 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. His district includes part of LeFlore County.