Supreme Court hears water suit that affects Oklahoma tribes

Monday, April 22, 2013  

The U.S. Supreme Court is hearing oral arguments tomorrow in Tarrant Regional Water District v. Herrmann.

The Oklahoma Water Resources Board, a state agency, doesn't want to sell water to the Tarrant Regional Water District in Texas. The water district claims Oklahoma has to share the water under the Red River Compact, a multi-state agreement.

The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals sided with Oklahoma. The water district has asked the Supreme Court to overturn the decision, and the outcome could affect the rights of the Apache Tribe, the Choctaw Nation and the Chickasaw Nation.

The Apaches have signed a memorandum of understanding with the state. The parties agreed to work together to address water rights and water use issues, the 10th Circuit said in the decision that sided with Oklahoma.

The Choctaws and the Chickasaws have a separate lawsuit pending in federal court that claims ownership of water in the Red River and in southeastern Oklahoma. Turtle Talk has posted their amicus brief in Tarrant Regional Water District v. Hermann.

Get the Story:
U.S. Supreme Court to hear Oklahoma-Texas water dispute (The Oklahoman 4/22)

Supreme Court asks for DOJ brief in Oklahoma water dispute (4/3)