Watershed Innovation Protects $744 Billion Regional Economy Through Strategic Collaboration

A transformative partnership among the Oka’ Institute at East Central University, the Chickasaw Nation, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, and the State of Oklahoma is securing the future of one of the South-Central United States’ most vital water resources through the Lake Texoma Watershed Management Plan.

This groundbreaking initiative safeguards the Lake Texoma watershed—an economic engine that supports more than 2,700 jobs, contributes $83.6 billion in GDP from the Upper Red River counties, and supplies water to over 2 million North Texans. The Dallas-Fort Worth region, which boasts a $744 billion GDP, is planning a new pipeline by 2030 to further enhance water reliability from Lake Texoma.

At the core of the project is a focus on strategic watershed restoration and resilience. The comprehensive management plan addresses sedimentation, nutrient pollution, erosion, and invasive species by implementing science-based land and habitat management practices. The plan is also preparing for long-term wildfire risk reduction through a $4 million agreement establishing a Chickasaw Nation Fire Program, in partnership with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Chickasaw National Recreation Area.

To expand scientific capacity, the initiative funded two Ph.D.-level positions—a Soil Scientist at ECU and a Hydrologist at the Chickasaw Nation—who collaborate in the Curl Lab on ECU’s campus to monitor watershed health and enhance water quality across the Chickasaw Nation’s treaty territory.

This effort is made possible through the creation of the Watershed Sustainability Alliance, a nonprofit established by the Chickasaw Nation and facilitated by the Oka’ Institute. The Alliance unites federal, tribal, state, and local stakeholders to promote inclusive, sustainable, and economically sound watershed stewardship.

“The Lake Texoma project is a model for how collaborative water resource planning can yield both ecological and economic benefits,” said Duane Smith, Executive Director of the Oka’ Institute. “This isn’t just about protecting water—it’s about building resilience and prosperity for our communities.”

For more information, visit www.okainstitute.org.