The U.S. Senate passes a bill that will help efforts by the city of Bartlesville to get more water rights from Copan Lake.

 

The Water Resources Development Act of 2024 includes an improved purchase rate for Bartlesville to acquire Copan Lake water acres, decreasing the cost significantly for the city and improving water access for the community.

 

This legislation passed the House of Representatives earlier in December and is now headed to President Joe Biden’s desk to be signed into law.

 

Oklahoma Republican Senator James Lankford released a statement praising the passage of the bill saying he has worked for months to make it easier for Oklahoma communities to buy more water and upgrade water infrastructure.

 

The bill also benefits Sardis Lake, Lake Texoma, a levee project in west Tulsa, and infrastructure in Midwest City, Woodward and Stillwater.

 

The Bartlesville Water Resources Committee met Thursday afternoon to discuss the legislation and its potential benefit to the city in securing additional water rights in Copan Lake.