SAVE OUR WATER

CONGRATULATES MEMBERS’ SELECTION TO PARTICIPATE IN OKLAHOMA COMPREHENSIVE WATER PLAN REGIONAL INPUT MEETINGS

MEDIA RELEASE: July 11, 2008 Contact: Karen Weldin

For Immediate Release 918-452-3184 or 918-605-7405 cell

Karen@KarenWeldin.com

(Eufaula) Save Our Water congratulates Jerry McCormick, Jim Zellner and Karen Weldin for being selected to participate in Regional Input Meetings for the Oklahoma Comprehensive Water Plan. The Regional Input Meetings is the Second Phase of the Oklahoma Comprehensive Water Plan Study. Over 500 people were nominated to participate in the regional meetings and approximately 30 people were selected for each region.

Save Our Water Board Members Jerry McCormick (Canadian resident) and Jim Zellner (Eufaula – Sand Piper Cove resident) have been selected to represent region #11 on August 28^th at the McAlester S.E. Expo Center. Karen Weldin, SOW President and Longtown area resident will be a participant in the region #10 meeting on October 23^rd at the Muskogee Civic Center.

In 1974, the Oklahoma Legislature enacted 82 O.S. §1086.2(1) which requires that the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) develop a strategic guide for managing the State's water resources over the next 50 years. The Oklahoma Comprehensive Water Plan was first published in 1980 and updated in 1997. The Oklahoma Legislature, in 2006, appropriated funds for the second update, which is a five-year study.

The Water Research Institute (WRI), located at Oklahoma State University but serving all of Oklahoma, is assisting the OWRB with the planning process. The WRI has been asked by the OWRB to sponsor a series of meetings across the State to provide Oklahomans an opportunity to shape the next water plan. The first phase included local input meetings allowing all citizens to voice their interests and concerns. Phase Two is the Regional Input Meetings where a list of issues that were raised in the Local Input Meetings will be discussed. To learn more about the Oklahoma Comprehensive Water Plan/Study go to http://environ.okstate.edu/owrri/waterplan/index.asp.

Save Our Water is also gearing up for a busy fall with two public meetings scheduled. One will be Friday, August 1^st and the second one will be Friday, September 5^th. Both meetings will be at the Trinity Episcopal Church, 3 High St., Eufaula. The agenda of these meetings will to meet with local city officials from Stigler, Eufaula, Checotah and McAlester to discuss protecting and preserving the water quality of Lake Eufaula by focusing on area wide clean up through recycling and litter reduction. All interested persons are encouraged to attend these meetings.

Save Our Water will also have a booth at Whole Hawg Days in Eufaula. Members encourage all people to come by and express their ideas and concerns and sign up to get involved!

Save Our Water, Inc. is a group of community leaders, business owners, lake area and Oklahoma residents and concerned citizens who have come together to work to preserve and protect Lake Eufaula and all Oklahoma’s water resources.

For more information, go to www.saveourwaterlakeeufaula.com or call 918-452-3184.