Chickasaw Nation Investments Improve Quality of Life

Water infrastructure throughout rural Oklahoma is in critical need of improvements, with many water treatment systems feeling the effects of aging infrastructure dating back to the 1960s. The Chickasaw Nation recognizes water is vital for growth and quality of life, so it has partnered with state and local communities to make much-needed repairs, utilizing American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. Water sustainability is a priority for this and future generations.

The Chickasaws understand that water is essential to life. They also understand that working together is the only way to make life better for everybody.
Dr. Tim Faltyn
President, Murray State College
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With an eye on 50-100 years into the future for water sustainability, the Chickasaw Nation is a leading partner in south-central Oklahoma’s water infrastructure improvements. In addition to the Nation’s Community Sustainability Program and the federally funded American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the historic Chickasaw-Choctaw Water Settlement Agreement of 2016 provides a framework for ensuring a sustainable water future and economic growth for the area.

Whether it’s the Citizen Potawatomi Nation building a new plant or the Choctaw Nation working with local communities to improve water quality, tribes know that collaboration is the only way to bring clean, safe water to all Oklahomans. Without reliable and sustainable access to water, health is jeopardized and economic progress stalls. With tribal investment, generations to come will have access to the water they need.

When it comes to water, we’re all in it together, we all benefit from it. It drives the economy, it drives health and safety.
Chuck Hoskin, Jr.
Principal Chief, Cherokee Nation
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Sustainable Water Infrastructure

Before recent upgrades to its water treatment system, the town of Tishomingo relied solely on Pennington Creek for its water supply. Murray State College, local businesses and residents were faced with antiquated water systems and a two-year drought, leading to shortages and an uncertain future. Today, with a partnership between the Chickasaw Nation and state and local governments, Tishomingo has built multiple water lines and a new treatment facility that keeps the town’s water supply stable and primed for future growth.

Chickasaw Nation is a lifesaver for those in city government. They have very knowledgeable staff; they’re very committed to seeing these projects get to the finish line.
Bryce Jones
City Manager, Tishomingo
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Giving Rural Oklahoma the Tools to Grow

Tishomingo is just one of many towns the Chickasaw Nation works with to improve Oklahoma’s aging water infrastructure. In Mill Creek and the Buckhorn Water District, Chickasaw Nation funding partnerships are building new wells, new pump stations and new water lines. These updates will allow Mill Creek and the region around Lake of the Arbuckles to support more businesses and housing opportunities, bringing quality of life and economic growth to local communities.

The Chickasaw Nation understands that together we can do more. We can join funding, we can join brain power, we can just be bigger as a team.
Kara Berst
Deputy Secretary of Outreach and Services, Chickasaw Nation
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The Chickasaw Nation established a community sustainability program that works to provide sustainable water supplies to every community within Chickasaw Nation.
Kris Patton
Director of Natural Resources
Chickasaw Nation
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The settlement agreement is an important backdrop to all of the activity around water in the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations. The good thing about that is the state of Oklahoma and the tribes agreed on a sustainable water future for this area.
Duane Smith
Executive Director, Oka’ Water Institute
East Central University
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The future of southern Oklahoma has never been brighter and I’m proud to say that Murray State College and the Chickasaw Nation are partnering to make some of the best things that have happened in this region for decades, happen.
Dr. Tim Faltyn
President
Murray State College
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People need to know right now that without the Chickasaw Nation, we would not be drilling these wells, we would not be building these pump stations, we would not be running this 14 miles of line, and we’d still be a 1968 system.
Shane “Cornbread” Hale
Manager, Buckhorn Rural Water District 2
Murray County
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