Contact: Kelly Green | Research Communications | 405-744-5827 | kelly.green@okstate.edu


OWRRI receives environmental excellence award

(Feb. 2, 2008 Stillwater, OK) – The Oklahoma Water Resources Research Institute, which is part of the Institute for Sustainable Environments at Oklahoma State University, has received the Keep Oklahoma Beautiful Team Builder Award.  OWRRI earned the award for its work with the Oklahoma Water Resources Board on the state’s water plan. 
“By empowering citizens to have input in Oklahoma’s long-rang water use and management strategy, and by designing that collaboration in a way that is unbiased and encourages consensus, the (water) plan is reaching its goal of enhancing and preserving Oklahoma’s environment,” the Keep Oklahoma Beautiful organization said in OWRRI’s award letter. 

Dr. Will Focht, director of the ISE, designed the process that – with the help of ISE employees Mike Langston and Jeri Fleming – is being used to involve the public in the development of a comprehensive water plan.  OWRRI is one year into the four-year process of holding local/regional input meetings, planning workshops and town hall meetings – events aimed at generating ideas and feedback on water management strategies for Oklahoma. 

“The goal is to start dialogue that produces recommendations for how water issues should be addressed,” Focht said.  “It involves discussions with a variety of stakeholders including federal, state and local agencies; landowners; environmentalists; industries; and researchers.  The purpose is to produce a water plan that is not only technically sound but is also supported by the state’s citizens and stakeholders.”

“We have enjoyed working with the Water Board, and our partners, the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, the Oklahoma Association of Regional Councils and the Water Research and Education Center,” Langston said. “When you include the hundreds of great citizens who are participating in this process, we are privileged to be part of a team that is committed to improving water management in Oklahoma for generations.”
OWRRI received its award along with several businesses, state and local government programs, community efforts, individuals and non-profits at the Keep Oklahoma Beautiful Environmental Excellence Awards Celebration.  The different awards recognize endeavors in the areas of beautification, enhancement and preservation of Oklahoma's environment. 
OWRRI is one of 54 state and territorial water research institutes that are housed at land-grant universities throughout the U.S. 

Dr. Will Focht (left), Jeri Fleming (center) and Mike Langston (right)
pictured with the Keep Oklahoma Beautiful Team Builder Award.