This agreement is to fund the state of oklahoma's water quality management planning program to improve impaired water and protect unimpaired waters across the state by conducting planning that informs…

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 6 awarded $347,000 in formula grant funding to the Oklahoma Secretary of Energy and Environment under the Water Quality Management Planning program (CFDA 66.454) effective January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2029. This award, supported by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), funds comprehensive water quality management planning activities designed to improve impaired waters and protect unimpaired waters across Oklahoma through implementation of Clean Water Act programs.

The primary deliverables include web-based water quality and quantity data products developed by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) ($208,200 subaward); sediment and loading models for the state's sensitive water supply reservoirs; and research on best practices for monitoring emerging contaminants. The Indian Nations Council of Governments (INCOG) ($69,400 subaward) will conduct rural well water testing programs in four counties, develop water quality curriculum and educational materials for students and educators, and create outreach resources for local government and the construction industry. The Association of Central Oklahoma Governments (ACOG) will continue a multi-year groundwater mapping effort to determine aquifer recharge characteristics, production potential, and safe withdrawal zones, while also providing groundwater modeling training to staff. These coordinated efforts represent a collaborative approach to advancing the state's water quality management and protection objectives.

This agreement is to fund the state of oklahoma's water quality management planning program to improve impaired water and protect unimpaired waters across the state by conducting planning that informs and supports implementation of clean water act programs. This agreement is supported by funding provided under the infrastructure investment and jobs act (IIJA) (PL 117-58). Activities:the activities to be performed include the following water quality management planning activities: develop web-based products for oklahoma water resources board (owrb) discrete quality and quantity data monitoring efforts; develop sediment and loading models in several of the states sensity water supply (SWS) reservoirs; researching best practices for contaminants of emerging concern (cecs) monitoring and data management. Indian nations council of governments (incog): utilize rural community outreach efforts to conduct a free rural well water testing program for well owners within the creek, tulsa, wagoner, and roger counties; obtain the tools to educate students on water quality and develop curriculum, resources, and ongoing support to educators; develop outreach and education materials for local government staff, civic and environmental organizations, the construction industry, and the public on basic concepts of water quality. Association of central oklahoma governents (acog): continuation of a multi-year effort to determine the boundaries of the fresh water, recharge characteristics of aquifers, production potential and safe withdrawal zones, and to identify pollution sources and recommend preventative measures; and sending acod staff to training workshops on groundwater modeling techniques. Subrecipient:the oklahoma water resources board (owrb) will receive $208,200 in subaward funding to develop real-time web based water quality and quantity resources for owrb and the public. The indian nations council of governments (incog) will receive $69,400 in subaward funding to provide groundwater well sampling for private land owners and bolster education and outreach efforts. The association of central oklahoma governments (acog) will receive $69,400 in subaward funding to develop groundwater models for the cities of moore and yukon, and send staff to further training workshops to improve their modeling techniques. Outcomes:the anticipated deliverables include a real-time web based water quality and quantity resource, providing groundwater sampling for private well owners, and the development of groundwater models for the cities of moore and yukon. The expected outcomes include a platform for owrb and the public to view real-time water quality and quantity data, bolstered education and outreach efforts for private well owners, and increasing staff groundwater modeling capabilities by attending modeling workshops. The intended beneficiaries include all residents of the state of oklahoma and the tribal lands within the state boundaries.