theadanews.com - Ada, Oklahoma

Local News

August 22, 2011

Tribes' lawsuit backed by pair

Justin Lofton and Gene Lehmann The Ada News

Ada — State lawmakers from Ada voiced support Friday for two Indian tribes suing Oklahoma City, state officials and the Oklahoma Water Resources Board.

District 25 Rep. Todd Thomsen, R-Ada, and District 13 State Sen. Susan Paddack, D-Ada, said the Chickasaw Nation should have a seat at the negotiating table when discussing water resources for southeast Oklahoma. Thomsen said he believes other state legislators understand the Chickasaw Nation’s position.

“I don’t think, at the end of the day, that anybody doesn’t understand the (Chickasaw Nation) feels like it has a right and a position in this water discussion.  The Nation is protecting its interests,” Thomsen said.  “I would hope some effort can be made to work in a more collaborative manner so that maybe this (lawsuit) doesn’t have to go forward.”

He said he thinks water rights and negotiations over those rights will continue to be a hotly debated topic in Oklahoma for many years in the future.

Chickasaw Nation representatives said they joined the Choctaw Nation in the lawsuit against the State of Oklahoma, Oklahoma Water Resources Board, Oklahoma City and Oklahoma City Water Utility Trust in order to get a seat at the bargaining table over water issues.  Gov. Mary Fallin is included in the lawsuit.

“We’ve been trying for more than a decade to enter into meaningful dialogue with the State of Oklahoma about the equitable approach to management of the water that originates within our original territory,” said Neil McCaleb, consultant on economic and water issues to Chickasaw Nation Gov. Bill Anoatubby.  McCaleb said the state has never had meaningful dialogue with Oklahoma Native American tribes regarding water management.

“A year ago, Oklahoma entered into a contract with the city of Oklahoma City that would give them a permit for 134,000 acre-feet of water (from Sardis Lake), which represents 90 percent of the water in Sardis Reservoir,” McCaleb said.  Sardis is located in far southeastern Oklahoma, primarily in Pustmataha County south of Wilburton.

He said the Chickasaw Nation has no problems with cities within the area of reservoirs utilizing water from those reservoirs.

“What the tribes are trying to do is get the state and city to talk to them about their plan to move huge amounts of water out of the basin of origin,” said McCaleb, longtime Oklahoma political leader and former Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs under former President George W. Bush. .

“Unless everybody feels like they’re supposed to be a part of the discussion; feels like they’re actually having their voice heard, you’re going to have this scenario play out (in court),” added Thomsen.

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