how often do you think about water and interact with water just on a regular
interact with water just on a regular
interact with water just on a regular basis in the morning you get up you
basis in the morning you get up you
basis in the morning you get up you shower you brush your teeth you go
shower you brush your teeth you go
shower you brush your teeth you go downstairs and cook your breakfast wash
downstairs and cook your breakfast wash
downstairs and cook your breakfast wash your dishes you do your laundry and you
your dishes you do your laundry and you
your dishes you do your laundry and you water your yard when you leave your
water your yard when you leave your
water your yard when you leave your house to go about your day you’ll
house to go about your day you’ll
house to go about your day you’ll interact with countless waterfalls tears
interact with countless waterfalls tears
interact with countless waterfalls tears and you cook your breakfast that isn’t
and you cook your breakfast that isn’t
and you cook your breakfast that isn’t water intensive and you can’t wash your
water intensive and you can’t wash your
water intensive and you can’t wash your dishes you can do your laundry maybe
dishes you can do your laundry maybe
dishes you can do your laundry maybe once a week and watering your yard is a
once a week and watering your yard is a
once a week and watering your yard is a fine a bowl offense when you leave your
fine a bowl offense when you leave your
fine a bowl offense when you leave your house it’ll be in a city that is
house it’ll be in a city that is
house it’ll be in a city that is buckling down and stretching resources
buckling down and stretching resources
buckling down and stretching resources until the tap runs dry my name is Wil
until the tap runs dry my name is Wil
until the tap runs dry my name is Wil Sheldon and I’m a senior geology student
Sheldon and I’m a senior geology student
Sheldon and I’m a senior geology student here at OU u over the past year I’ve
here at OU u over the past year I’ve
here at OU u over the past year I’ve been conducting undergraduate research
been conducting undergraduate research
been conducting undergraduate research on Oklahoma and Texas as long-term water
on Oklahoma and Texas as long-term water
on Oklahoma and Texas as long-term water security and the potential problems we
security and the potential problems we
security and the potential problems we might face from it under dr. Richard
might face from it under dr. Richard
might face from it under dr. Richard Elmore already with our current rate of
Elmore already with our current rate of
Elmore already with our current rate of water depletion the vital resources such
water depletion the vital resources such
water depletion the vital resources such as the Ogallala Aquifer could be
as the Ogallala Aquifer could be
as the Ogallala Aquifer could be depleted within the next 25 years
depleted within the next 25 years
depleted within the next 25 years and additionally climate projections for
and additionally climate projections for
and additionally climate projections for our region’s predict a massive drop-off
our region’s predict a massive drop-off
our region’s predict a massive drop-off and rainfall and rise in evaporation
and rainfall and rise in evaporation
and rainfall and rise in evaporation this coupled with an average rise in
this coupled with an average rise in
this coupled with an average rise in temperature and the potential for four
temperature and the potential for four
temperature and the potential for four times the number of days over 100
times the number of days over 100
times the number of days over 100 degrees by the end of the 21st century
degrees by the end of the 21st century
degrees by the end of the 21st century and we’re looking at a rapidly shrinking
and we’re looking at a rapidly shrinking
and we’re looking at a rapidly shrinking water supply that’s less water coming in
water supply that’s less water coming in
water supply that’s less water coming in and more water going out unless we as a
and more water going out unless we as a
and more water going out unless we as a population take steps to change the way
population take steps to change the way
population take steps to change the way we view our water supply we could see
we view our water supply we could see
we view our water supply we could see the odd water crisis or drought become
the odd water crisis or drought become
the odd water crisis or drought become our new reality what would this look
our new reality what would this look
our new reality what would this look like the last comparable crisis to
like the last comparable crisis to
like the last comparable crisis to what’s being projected as the Dust Bowl
what’s being projected as the Dust Bowl
what’s being projected as the Dust Bowl and many many of us are too young to
and many many of us are too young to
and many many of us are too young to have ever experienced something like
have ever experienced something like
have ever experienced something like this how will this affect you and more
this how will this affect you and more
this how will this affect you and more importantly why should you care well
importantly why should you care well
importantly why should you care well first our economy Oklahoma and Texas
first our economy Oklahoma and Texas
first our economy Oklahoma and Texas economies are extremely reliant on
economies are extremely reliant on
economies are extremely reliant on agriculture Oklahoma and Texas are
agriculture Oklahoma and Texas are
agriculture Oklahoma and Texas are ranked fourth and 22nd nationally in
ranked fourth and 22nd nationally in
ranked fourth and 22nd nationally in terms of agricultural production and
terms of agricultural production and
terms of agricultural production and Texas alone accounts for 6% of all
Texas alone accounts for 6% of all
Texas alone accounts for 6% of all farming conducted in the US there’s
farming conducted in the US there’s
farming conducted in the US there’s 78,000 farms in Oklahoma as of 2015 and
78,000 farms in Oklahoma as of 2015 and
78,000 farms in Oklahoma as of 2015 and in Texas one in seven people work in
in Texas one in seven people work in
in Texas one in seven people work in agriculture related jobs
agriculture related jobs
agriculture related jobs additionally combined Oklahoma and Texas
additionally combined Oklahoma and Texas
additionally combined Oklahoma and Texas grossed 20
grossed 20
grossed 20 six billion dollars in 2016 from farming
six billion dollars in 2016 from farming
six billion dollars in 2016 from farming that’s a value higher than the entire
that’s a value higher than the entire
that’s a value higher than the entire gross domestic product of 87 other
gross domestic product of 87 other
gross domestic product of 87 other countries agriculture is an industry is
countries agriculture is an industry is
countries agriculture is an industry is extremely reliant on water Texas and
extremely reliant on water Texas and
extremely reliant on water Texas and Oklahoma with two three point six
Oklahoma with two three point six
Oklahoma with two three point six million acre feet of water in 2010 for
million acre feet of water in 2010 for
million acre feet of water in 2010 for irrigation and livestock purposes that’s
irrigation and livestock purposes that’s
irrigation and livestock purposes that’s the equivalent of draining Lake Eufaula
the equivalent of draining Lake Eufaula
the equivalent of draining Lake Eufaula the largest lake in Oklahoma two times
the largest lake in Oklahoma two times
the largest lake in Oklahoma two times over in one year just for farming and
over in one year just for farming and
over in one year just for farming and that doesn’t even include the additional
that doesn’t even include the additional
that doesn’t even include the additional water withdrawn for other economic uses
water withdrawn for other economic uses
water withdrawn for other economic uses a shrinking water supply was spelled
a shrinking water supply was spelled
a shrinking water supply was spelled disaster for Oklahoma and Texas
disaster for Oklahoma and Texas
disaster for Oklahoma and Texas agricultural industry as the water
agricultural industry as the water
agricultural industry as the water supply shrinks farms that can adapt will
supply shrinks farms that can adapt will
supply shrinks farms that can adapt will either collapse or be forced to switch
either collapse or be forced to switch
either collapse or be forced to switch to dryland crops and this will
to dryland crops and this will
to dryland crops and this will drastically shrink both the volume and
drastically shrink both the volume and
drastically shrink both the volume and value of our agricultural exports
value of our agricultural exports
value of our agricultural exports sending shockwaves through our economy
sending shockwaves through our economy
sending shockwaves through our economy is one of the region’s oldest and most
is one of the region’s oldest and most
is one of the region’s oldest and most stable industries falters and declines
stable industries falters and declines
stable industries falters and declines second as our water supply shrinks it’ll
second as our water supply shrinks it’ll
second as our water supply shrinks it’ll become more disputed water rights in
become more disputed water rights in
become more disputed water rights in Oklahoma and Texas are varying seniority
Oklahoma and Texas are varying seniority
Oklahoma and Texas are varying seniority and ownership belonging from everyone
and ownership belonging from everyone
and ownership belonging from everyone from major corporations to Native
from major corporations to Native
from major corporations to Native American tribes
American tribes
American tribes additionally major water agreements such
additionally major water agreements such
additionally major water agreements such as the Red River Compact govern the
as the Red River Compact govern the
as the Red River Compact govern the rights of her shared bodies of water
rights of her shared bodies of water
rights of her shared bodies of water already today with a plentiful water
already today with a plentiful water
already today with a plentiful water supply disputes are common in 2007
supply disputes are common in 2007
supply disputes are common in 2007 Tarrant County Texas where Fort Worth is
Tarrant County Texas where Fort Worth is
Tarrant County Texas where Fort Worth is located sue the Oklahoma Water Resources
located sue the Oklahoma Water Resources
located sue the Oklahoma Water Resources Board over access to water inside
Board over access to water inside
Board over access to water inside Oklahoma the suit Tarrant B Herrmann
Oklahoma the suit Tarrant B Herrmann
Oklahoma the suit Tarrant B Herrmann went all the way to the US Supreme Court
went all the way to the US Supreme Court
went all the way to the US Supreme Court later in 2011 the Chickasaw and Choctaw
later in 2011 the Chickasaw and Choctaw
later in 2011 the Chickasaw and Choctaw Native American tribes sued Oklahoma
Native American tribes sued Oklahoma
Native American tribes sued Oklahoma City over an attempt to divert water
City over an attempt to divert water
City over an attempt to divert water from sardis Lake what they saw as a
from sardis Lake what they saw as a
from sardis Lake what they saw as a violation of the 1830 Treaty of Dancing
violation of the 1830 Treaty of Dancing
violation of the 1830 Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek as these disputes become
Rabbit Creek as these disputes become
Rabbit Creek as these disputes become more common our state governments will
more common our state governments will
more common our state governments will need to have a serious conversation of
need to have a serious conversation of
need to have a serious conversation of how water rights are handled moving
how water rights are handled moving
how water rights are handled moving forward should your individual water
forward should your individual water
forward should your individual water rights be respected if the town you live
rights be respected if the town you live
rights be respected if the town you live in is running out of water
in is running out of water
in is running out of water alternatively should towns and farming
alternatively should towns and farming
alternatively should towns and farming communities be supplied with water if
communities be supplied with water if
communities be supplied with water if major cities such as OKC and Dallas are
major cities such as OKC and Dallas are
major cities such as OKC and Dallas are running dry our country is a long and
running dry our country is a long and
running dry our country is a long and problematic history of ignoring of
problematic history of ignoring of
problematic history of ignoring of ignoring Native American rights when it
ignoring Native American rights when it
ignoring Native American rights when it suits us and in times of crisis well
suits us and in times of crisis well
suits us and in times of crisis well that major treaty just mentioned be
that major treaty just mentioned be
that major treaty just mentioned be upheld if cities jobs and infrastructure
upheld if cities jobs and infrastructure
upheld if cities jobs and infrastructure are all on the line much of the water in
are all on the line much of the water in
are all on the line much of the water in Oklahoma and Texas stands to be affected
Oklahoma and Texas stands to be affected
Oklahoma and Texas stands to be affected by the legal battles that will rise from
by the legal battles that will rise from
by the legal battles that will rise from decreased water security and as these
decreased water security and as these
decreased water security and as these disputes increase in frequency it stands
disputes increase in frequency it stands
disputes increase in frequency it stands to affect the amount
to affect the amount
to affect the amount price and even the act
price and even the act
price and even the act you have to the water around you which
you have to the water around you which
you have to the water around you which brings us to our finer made final major
brings us to our finer made final major
brings us to our finer made final major impact the environment as precipitation
impact the environment as precipitation
impact the environment as precipitation decreases and temperatures rise Oklahoma
decreases and temperatures rise Oklahoma
decreases and temperatures rise Oklahoma will see longer droughts more wildfires
will see longer droughts more wildfires
will see longer droughts more wildfires hotter days and less lane to provide
hotter days and less lane to provide
hotter days and less lane to provide relief
relief
relief speaking of wildfires I’ve been
speaking of wildfires I’ve been
speaking of wildfires I’ve been wondering why I’m smelled it all day and
wondering why I’m smelled it all day and
wondering why I’m smelled it all day and I just realized it’s our name tags I
I just realized it’s our name tags I
I just realized it’s our name tags I have to crack a joke this is pretty
have to crack a joke this is pretty
have to crack a joke this is pretty depressing any way to exacerbate this
depressing any way to exacerbate this
depressing any way to exacerbate this situation is our region’s existing
situation is our region’s existing
situation is our region’s existing geology Oklahoma in Texas
geology Oklahoma in Texas
geology Oklahoma in Texas sit over top miles and miles of a
sit over top miles and miles of a
sit over top miles and miles of a geologic formation known as Aeolian
geologic formation known as Aeolian
geologic formation known as Aeolian dunes these are essentially deactivated
dunes these are essentially deactivated
dunes these are essentially deactivated desert sand dunes that were active in
desert sand dunes that were active in
desert sand dunes that were active in previous geologic eras and we have
previous geologic eras and we have
previous geologic eras and we have hundreds of acres of them either sitting
hundreds of acres of them either sitting
hundreds of acres of them either sitting latent or just below the topsoil
latent or just below the topsoil
latent or just below the topsoil research has shown that these dune
research has shown that these dune
research has shown that these dune fields were as active as early as the
fields were as active as early as the
fields were as active as early as the 1800s when first explorers came into our
1800s when first explorers came into our
1800s when first explorers came into our region
region
region and further research suggests that a
and further research suggests that a
and further research suggests that a small drop in precipitation rising
small drop in precipitation rising
small drop in precipitation rising temperature could see them reactivated
temperature could see them reactivated
temperature could see them reactivated that’s an active desert in the middle of
that’s an active desert in the middle of
that’s an active desert in the middle of Texas and Oklahoma add to that acres and
Texas and Oklahoma add to that acres and
Texas and Oklahoma add to that acres and acres of farmland that can no longer be
acres of farmland that can no longer be
acres of farmland that can no longer be irrigated droughts making it impossible
irrigated droughts making it impossible
irrigated droughts making it impossible for groundwater to reclaim loose
for groundwater to reclaim loose
for groundwater to reclaim loose sediment and rain being it impossible
sediment and rain being it impossible
sediment and rain being it impossible for the ground to be held intact and
for the ground to be held intact and
for the ground to be held intact and we’re looking at a second Dust Bowl one
we’re looking at a second Dust Bowl one
we’re looking at a second Dust Bowl one that’ll be more difficult to reverse and
that’ll be more difficult to reverse and
that’ll be more difficult to reverse and even more difficult to contain our
even more difficult to contain our
even more difficult to contain our environment our economy and the access
environment our economy and the access
environment our economy and the access to the water around us these are just
to the water around us these are just
to the water around us these are just three of the major impacts that water
three of the major impacts that water
three of the major impacts that water security will have on our region should
security will have on our region should
security will have on our region should it be depleted so what can we do about
it be depleted so what can we do about
it be depleted so what can we do about it well first we can change our
it well first we can change our
it well first we can change our individual relationships with water
individual relationships with water
individual relationships with water Oklahoma and Texas withdrew 2.3 million
Oklahoma and Texas withdrew 2.3 million
Oklahoma and Texas withdrew 2.3 million acre feet in 2010 for use in households
acre feet in 2010 for use in households
acre feet in 2010 for use in households that’s more water than is in any lake in
that’s more water than is in any lake in
that’s more water than is in any lake in Oklahoma gone in a year just for use in
Oklahoma gone in a year just for use in
Oklahoma gone in a year just for use in our own homes by making more sustainable
our own homes by making more sustainable
our own homes by making more sustainable lifestyle choices and all the large
lifestyle choices and all the large
lifestyle choices and all the large scale as a whole population we can
scale as a whole population we can
scale as a whole population we can drastically extend the lifespan of our
drastically extend the lifespan of our
drastically extend the lifespan of our existing water supply second we can work
existing water supply second we can work
existing water supply second we can work and invest in technology and innovation
and invest in technology and innovation
and invest in technology and innovation progress is already being made on this
progress is already being made on this
progress is already being made on this front today farms are experimenting with
front today farms are experimenting with
front today farms are experimenting with new technology that cuts water loss to
new technology that cuts water loss to
new technology that cuts water loss to Europe from irrigation due to
Europe from irrigation due to
Europe from irrigation due to evaporation entire cities are working to
evaporation entire cities are working to
evaporation entire cities are working to recycle their water supply to cut down
recycle their water supply to cut down
recycle their water supply to cut down on their usage and with additional
on their usage and with additional
on their usage and with additional withdrawals these are things you can
withdrawals these are things you can
withdrawals these are things you can work on and develop today this crisis
work on and develop today this crisis
work on and develop today this crisis will take everyone from economists to
will take everyone from economists to
will take everyone from economists to lawyers to engineers to solve and by
lawyers to engineers to solve and by
lawyers to engineers to solve and by working together we can build a more
working together we can build a more
working together we can build a more sustained
sustained
sustained future for tomorrow lastly political
future for tomorrow lastly political
future for tomorrow lastly political action this is perhaps the single most
action this is perhaps the single most
action this is perhaps the single most important step we can take to secure a
important step we can take to secure a
important step we can take to secure a long-term water security if we’re to
long-term water security if we’re to
long-term water security if we’re to sustain our standard of living for the
sustain our standard of living for the
sustain our standard of living for the next hundred years we will need to see
next hundred years we will need to see
next hundred years we will need to see major differences in the way that our
major differences in the way that our
major differences in the way that our government views and handles water we
government views and handles water we
government views and handles water we need to make sure that in a time of
need to make sure that in a time of
need to make sure that in a time of crisis our government will make sure
crisis our government will make sure
crisis our government will make sure water rights are distributed equitably
water rights are distributed equitably
water rights are distributed equitably fairly and legally we need our
fairly and legally we need our
fairly and legally we need our government to recognize finally the
government to recognize finally the
government to recognize finally the social and economic costs of climate
social and economic costs of climate
social and economic costs of climate change and take steps to make our water
change and take steps to make our water
change and take steps to make our water sustainable present and in the future
sustainable present and in the future
sustainable present and in the future this all starts with you a politician
this all starts with you a politician
this all starts with you a politician will not introduce legislation on a
will not introduce legislation on a
will not introduce legislation on a subject unless their constituents have
subject unless their constituents have
subject unless their constituents have let them know it’s something they care
let them know it’s something they care
let them know it’s something they care about call your representatives here in
about call your representatives here in
about call your representatives here in Oklahoma or back home in Texas and ask
Oklahoma or back home in Texas and ask
Oklahoma or back home in Texas and ask them what they’ll do for you if water
them what they’ll do for you if water
them what they’ll do for you if water and security was to threaten your home
and security was to threaten your home
and security was to threaten your home your job or your family use the ballot
your job or your family use the ballot
your job or your family use the ballot box to make your opinion on this issue
box to make your opinion on this issue
box to make your opinion on this issue heard by working together and taking
heard by working together and taking
heard by working together and taking action today we can make oklahoma and
action today we can make oklahoma and
action today we can make oklahoma and texas leaders in our regional water
texas leaders in our regional water
texas leaders in our regional water sustainability but by failing to
sustainability but by failing to
sustainability but by failing to recognize this problem and taking the
recognize this problem and taking the
recognize this problem and taking the necessary steps will face a much harder
necessary steps will face a much harder
necessary steps will face a much harder and more difficult path to water
and more difficult path to water
and more difficult path to water security in our future thank you
security in our future thank you
security in our future thank you [Applause]
”
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