water rights

590 Words2 Pages

Water is essential to life. By being so important it is crucial to keep it maintained and preserved. Our water supply is affected by environmental, economic, and legal issues. In Oklahoma water is very sacred to its people especially to Native Americans. Both Choctaw and Chickasaw nations are suing the state of Oklahoma for the regulatory authority over Sardis Lake and the water resources it holds. The Choctaw and Chickasaw nations deserve the rights over Sardis Lake because it is their main water supply and they own the rights through the treaty of the Dancing Rabbit Creek of 1830.
Sardis Lake is located in the southeastern part of Oklahoma. Since the lake is in both Choctaw and Chickasaw territory, both tribes have the right to sue. The surface area is 13,610 acres and the water supply storage is 296,200 acre-feet. "In 2010, Oklahoma City claimed to have bought 90% of the rights but the Choctaw nations was not apart of the transaction and believes the state did not have the right to purchase or sell the water" (Sardis Lake). The case was filed on August 18, 2011 and is still in d...

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