Fog over Sardis Lake in Oklahoma. Photo by Chris Zúniga
The Chickasaw Nation and the Choctaw Nation have reached a settlement in their water rights lawsuit. The tribes sued the state of Oklahoma in August 2011. They asserted ownership to water in the southeastern part of the state under the 1830 Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek. The tribes and the states have been in talks since almost the start of the lawsuit. The parties filed a notice in court on Wednesday announcing a settlement and they will disclose more information at a press conference in Oklahoma City on Thursday afternoon. The federal government, as a trustee for the tribes, recently entered discussions, according to the notice. The United States is not a party to the case but the Department of Justice is involved a closely-related matter with the Oklahoma Water Resources Board. Read More on the Story:
Tribes, Oklahoma reach deal on water rights dispute (AP 8/11)
Deal for water from Sardis Lake may be reached (The Oklahoman 8/11)
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