OK Energy Today

Published September 15, 2025

A plan by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board to cut the amount of water farmers and ranchers in northwestern Oklahoma can use drew users to a recent public hearing in Mooreland.

The hearing focused on the board’s first major update to groundwater permit limits since 1983 and drew the attention of several farmers and ranchers from Major and Harper counties. The change was the result of decreasing supplies of groundwater in northwest Oklahoma.

The new plan will cut allocations for new groundwater permits from one acre-foot per acre a year to half that amount. It was the result of decreasing supplies of groundwater in northwest Oklahoma. But some landowners are critical of the new plan.

The Woodward News pointed out that existing groundwater permits won’t be affected but those drilling new water wells will face tighter restrictions.