Choctaw Nation & Chickasaw Nation
Water Settlement
Transparency Portal
Monitoring reservoir levels and river flows in real-time using official US Army Corps of Engineers data. We layer the 2016 Settlement Agreement guardrails directly onto live charts to ensure accountability.
Sardis Lake
Pushmataha County • USACE Managed
Why it matters: Oklahoma City cannot withdraw water for municipal use if levels fall below the 595 ft floor, ensuring local recreation and wildlife are protected first.
System Status: Monitoring 7 water bodies across the settlement area.
Current Conditions
Live elevation and discharge data from key settlement locations.
Sardis Lake
Hugo Lake
McGee Creek Reservoir
Atoka Lake
Understanding the Settlement
The 2016 agreement resolved decades of uncertainty, affirming tribal sovereignty while establishing a framework for shared water management.
Sovereignty & Rights
Recognizes the Nations' historic treaty rights and establishes a formal role in water planning. The Tribes have a seat at the table for all major water export or transfer decisions.
Environmental Protection
Sets hard "floors" on lake levels. If Sardis Lake drops below conservation thresholds, Oklahoma City's withdrawals must stop to protect fish, wildlife, and tourism.
Regional Cooperation
Creates a predictable system for all users. The "Combined Storage" system balances OKC's needs with the ecological health of the Kiamichi Basin.