OKLAHOMA CITY – Applications for a new $27 million drought relief initiative opened earlier this month.
Oklahoma Conservation Commissioner Trey Lam recently discussed drought relief programs that are available.
The meeting was led by Lam, Pete Nichols of Washita County, Secretary of Agriculture Blayne Arthur, Josh Emerson of McIntosh County, and Julie Cunningham, executive director of the Oklahoma Water Resources Board.
The Water Well Resources program was slated to end in June but has been extended until Dec. 31 due to a shortage in water well drillers. Once the program ends, the $4 million that remains unused in the program will become available for other programs.
“When we cut it off in June, there were still people who hadn’t gotten their ponds cleaned out, so at that time we made the decision to prioritize their needs,” Lam said. “We will be contacting them to see if they still need the work done, did it themselves and need to be reimbursed, or want to cancel.”
Once those people have been taken care of, applications for the new program opened on Nov. 12.
That program will total around $27 million appropriated by the Legislature. A little more than $350,000 will be appropriated to each drought-stricken county. People can apply in person at their local Conservation District office, online, or by mail, and applications will be reviewed, approved, and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
Local conservation districts have the details of the Emergency Drought Commission meeting and are ready to answer questions about the guidelines, dollar amounts, etc., officials indicated.
The Conservation Commission program helps with pond cleanouts, water well installations, pumping unit purchases, laying pipelines, pasture taps (if rural water allows), and tank purchases. It pays 80% of the expenses with a $7,500 cap per person, and the producer is responsible for the remaining 20%.
During the drought that spanned 201115, revenue was at a low and the drought had nearly ended before enough funds could be raised to create even a small drought relief program, so Lam is seeking permanent funding of the program.
“This time,” he said, “the Legislature was very proactive. They addressed the ongoing drought that we had and anticipated this next drought. Still, if you don’t know whether there will be funding for the next drought, it is hard for producers, conservation agencies, and this committee. If we can make this permanent, we could take applications continually. Then, when we went to a D1 drought situation, the committee could meet, declare that drought, and immediately take action. It gives some certainty to producers that there will always be some relief there.”
Lam encouraged producers to share their needs with elected officials, and state agencies. “If water and water resources are your big concerns and every time one of these droughts comes around, you have to liquidate your cattle, let them know that so they can start planning, budgeting, and looking at all of the other priorities. From health care to roads and bridges, everything is a priority, but they need to know that this is a priority, too. Rather than trying to just face a crisis when we come to it, let’s be prepared.”