U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

In cooperation with the Oklahoma Water Resources Board

Water Use in Oklahoma 1950–2005

Scientific Investigations Report 2009–5212
Cover Credits:

Left photograph shows public supply water tower for Moore, Cleveland County, Oklahoma, taken March 2009 

by Robert Tortorelli, U.S. Geological Survey.

Upper right photograph shows center-pivot irrigation of field corn near Ringwood, Major County, Oklahoma, 

taken July 2003 by S. Jerrod Smith, U.S. Geological Survey.

Lower right photograph shows cattle, 3-Sisters Ranch, Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma, taken March 2009 by 

Jason Masoner, U.S. Geological Survey.
Water Use in Oklahoma 1950–2005

By Robert L. Tortorelli

Prepared in cooperation with the Oklahoma Water Resources Board

Scientific Investigations Report 2009–5212

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey
U.S. Department of the Interior

KEN SALAZAR, Secretary

U.S. Geological Survey

Marcia K. McNutt, Director

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2009

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Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual copyright owners to 

reproduce any copyrighted materials contained within this report.

Suggested citation:

Tortorelli, R.L., 2009, Water Use in Oklahoma 1950–2005: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 

2009–5212, 49 p.
iii

Contents

Abstract ..........................................................................................................................................................1

Introduction.....................................................................................................................................................1

Purpose and Scope ..............................................................................................................................2

Acknowledgments ...............................................................................................................................2

Data-Collection Sources and Methods......................................................................................................2

Water Use 2005 ..............................................................................................................................................2

Source and Water-Use Category of Freshwater Withdrawals.....................................................3

Aggregating Withdrawals by County, Major River Basin, and Principal Aquifer ......................3

County ...........................................................................................................................................3

Major River Basin .......................................................................................................................3

Principal Aquifer..........................................................................................................................9

Public Supply.........................................................................................................................................9

Surface-Water Sources............................................................................................................16

Groundwater Sources...............................................................................................................16

Irrigation...............................................................................................................................................17

Livestock and Aquaculture ...............................................................................................................17

Other Uses............................................................................................................................................18

Thermoelectric Power Generation .........................................................................................19

Domestic (Self-Supplied)..........................................................................................................19

Commercial.................................................................................................................................19

Industrial......................................................................................................................................20

Mining (Self-Supplied) ..............................................................................................................20

Hydroelectric Power .........................................................................................................................20

Comparison of Water Use 1990-2005........................................................................................................20

Total Withdrawals by Category ........................................................................................................20

Withdrawals by Major River Basin..................................................................................................21

Withdrawals by Principal Aquifer....................................................................................................23

Comparison of Water Use 1950–2005 .......................................................................................................28

Summary........................................................................................................................................................28

Selected References...................................................................................................................................30

Appendixes ...................................................................................................................................................33

Glossary................................................................................................................................................35

Appendix 1. Estimated total freshwater withdrawals by county, use, and source 

in Oklahoma, 2005..................................................................................................................38

Appendix 2. Estimated freshwater surface-water withdrawals by major river basin 

and category of use in Oklahoma, 2005.............................................................................47

Appendix 3. Estimated freshwater groundwater withdrawals by principal aquifer 

and category of use in Oklahoma, 2005.............................................................................48

Appendix 4. Map showing Oklahoma county names. ...............................................................49
iv

Figures

1–2. Pie charts showing:

1. Freshwater withdrawals by major category and source in Oklahoma, 2005. ....................4

2. Freshwater withdrawals by source and major category in Oklahoma, 2005. ....................5

3–4. Pipe diagrams showing:

3. Source and use category of freshwater withdrawals in Oklahoma, 2005. .........................6

4. Source and delivery category of freshwater public-supply withdrawals 

in Oklahoma, 2005. ........................................................................................................................7

5–11. Maps showing:

5. Freshwater withdrawals by major category and county in Oklahoma, 2005......................8

6. Freshwater withdrawals by percentage source and county in Oklahoma, 2005.............10

7. Surface-water withdrawals by major category and county in Oklahoma, 2005..............11

8. Selected municipalities and water sources in Oklahoma, 2005. ........................................12

9. Groundwater withdrawals by major category and county in Oklahoma, 2005. ...............13

10. Surface-water withdrawals by major river basin and category in Oklahoma, 2005.......14

11. Groundwater withdrawals by principal aquifer and category in Oklahoma, 2005. .........15

12–18. Bar charts showing:

12. (A) Public supply withdrawals by source in Oklahoma, 1990-2005 (B) Population

by source of water in Oklahoma, 1990-2005...........................................................................22

13. (A) Irrigation withdrawals by source in Oklahoma, 1990-2005 (B) Irrigated acres 

by application method in Oklahoma, 1990-2005.....................................................................22

14. (A) Livestock and aquaculture withdrawals by source in Oklahoma, 1990-2005 

(B) Other water self-supplied by category in Oklahoma, 1990-2005. ................................23

15. (A) Public supply surface-water withdrawals by major river basin in Oklahoma, 1990-

2005 (B) Irrigation surface-water withdrawals by major river basin in Oklahoma, 1990-

2005 (C) Livestock and aquaculture surface-water withdrawals by major river basin in 

Oklahoma, 1990-2005..................................................................................................................24

16. (A) Public supply groundwater withdrawals by principal aquifer in Oklahoma, 1990-

2005 (B) Irrigation groundwater withdrawals by principal aquifer in Oklahoma, 1990-

2005 (C) Livestock and aquaculture groundwater withdrawals by principal aquifer in 

Oklahoma, 1990-2005..................................................................................................................26

17. Freshwater withdrawals by source and population in Oklahoma, 1950-2005. .................29

18. Freshwater withdrawals by category in Oklahoma, 1950-2005...........................................29

Tables

1. Estimated surface-water, groundwater, and total freshwater withdrawals for 

top 10 counties in Oklahoma, 2005............................................................................................ 9

2. Estimated surface-water, groundwater, and total public supply freshwater 

withdrawals for top 10 counties in Oklahoma, 2005.....................................................17

3. Estimated surface-water, groundwater, and total irrigation freshwater withdrawals 

for top 10 counties in Oklahoma, 2005..........................................................................18

4. Estimated surface-water, groundwater, and total livestock and aquaculture

freshwater withdrawals for top 10 counties in Oklahoma, 2005..................................19

5. Estimated freshwater surface-water use and power generated by hydroelectric

power by county and major river basin in Oklahoma, 2005. .......................................21
v

Conversion Factors

Multiply By To obtain

Length

mile (mi) 1.609 kilometer (km)

Area

acre 0.4047 hectare (ha)

Volume

gallon (gal) 3.785 liter (L)

gallon (gal) 0.003785 cubic meter (m3)

million gallons (Mgal) 3,785 cubic meter (m3)

acre-foot (acre-ft) 1,233 cubic meter (m3)

acre-foot (acre-ft) 0.001233 cubic hectometer (hm3)

Flow rate

acre-foot per day (acre-ft/d) 0.01427 cubic meter per second (m3/s)

foot per second (ft/s) 0.3048 meter per second (m/s)

cubic foot per second (ft3/s) 0.02832 cubic meter per second (m3/s)

gallon per minute (gal/min) 0.06309 liter per second (L/s)

gallon per day (gal/d) 0.003785 cubic meter per day (m3/d)

million gallons per day (Mgal/d) 0.04381 cubic meter per second (m3/s)

Vertical coordinate information is referenced to the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD 88).

Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83).
vi
Abstract 

Comprehensive planning for water resources development and use in Oklahoma requires a historical perspective on

water resources. The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation

with the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, summarized the

1950–2005 water-use information for Oklahoma. This report

presents 1950–2005 estimates of freshwater withdrawal for

water use in Oklahoma by source and category in 5-year intervals. Withdrawal source was either surface water or groundwater. Withdrawal categories include: public supply, irrigation,

livestock and aquaculture, thermoelectric-power generation

(cooling water), domestic and commercial, and industrial and

mining. Withdrawal data were aggregated and tabulated by

county, major river basin, and principal aquifer.

The purpose of this report is to summarize water-use data

in Oklahoma through: (1) presentation of detailed information on freshwater withdrawals by source, county, major river

basin, and principal aquifer for 2005; (2) comparison of water

use by source, category, major river basin, and principal aquifer at 5-year intervals from 1990–2005; and (3) comparison

of water use on a statewide basis by source and category at

5-year intervals from 1950–2005.

Total withdrawals from surface-water and groundwater

sources during 2005 were 1,559 million gallons per day—989

million gallons a day or 63 percent from surface-water sources

and 570 million gallons per day or 37 percent from groundwater sources. The three largest water use categories were:

public supply, 646 million gallons per day or 41 percent of

total withdrawals; irrigation, 495 million gallons per day or 32

percent of total withdrawals; and livestock and aquaculture,

181 million gallons per day or 12 percent of total withdrawals.

All other categories were 237 million gallons per day or 15

percent of total withdrawals.

The influence of public supply on the total withdrawals

can be seen in the eastern two-thirds of Oklahoma; whereas,

the influence of irrigation on total withdrawals can be seen in

the western third of Oklahoma. Surface-water sources were

dominant in the eastern half of Oklahoma and groundwater

sources were dominant in the western half of Oklahoma.

Public supply withdrawals increased steadily from 1990–

2000 and then decreased slightly in 2005, mainly because of

a decrease in surface-water withdrawals. Irrigation withdrawals increased from 1990–1995 and then decreased steadily to

2005. Total livestock and aquaculture withdrawals steadily

increased from 1990–2005. The largest increase in the other

categories was for thermoelectric power generation that has

steadily increased and almost doubled from 1990–2005.

Surface-water sources have been increasing in importance from 1950–2005, in part because of the increasing percentage of surface-water for public supply as the total population of Oklahoma and population served by surface-water

sources increased. Groundwater sources have been generally

decreasing in importance as a percentage of total withdrawals in recent years. However, the magnitude of groundwater

withdrawals was greatly dependent on irrigation withdrawals

and specifically irrigated acreage in the panhandle.

Introduction

Water is one of the most valuable natural resources in

Oklahoma. Comprehensive planning for water-resources

development and use in Oklahoma requires a historical

perspective on water resources. Currently no comprehensive

report of historic water use in Oklahoma exists.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has compiled

national estimates by state every 5 years since 1950. The

USGS established the National Water-Use Information Program in 1977 to collect uniform and reliable information on

water use (Hutson and others, 2004). These national estimates

have been reported in a series of water-use reports (MacKichan, 1951, 1957; MacKichan and Kammerer, 1961; Murray,

1968; Murray and Reeves, 1972, 1977; Solley and others,

1983, 1988, 1993, 1998; Hutson and others, 2004; Kenny and

others, 2009). These data can be used along with information

on surface-water and groundwater availability to assess waterresource management needs as demands for water increase

and change.

Water supplies and water uses in the United States have

been affected by population growth, economic trends, legal

decisions, and periodic droughts since 1950. In response to

constraints on water supplies, communities have expanded

water supply infrastructures or instituted water-conservation

measures, farmers have changed crops or agricultural practices, and industries have reused or reclaimed process water.

Population changes affecting water use during the time period

from 1950–2000 include an overall population increase of

Water Use in Oklahoma 1950–2005

By Robert L. Tortorelli
2 Water Use in Oklahoma 1950–2005

90 percent, with a shift in the population of the United States

from rural areas to urban areas and a continuing shift of the

mean geographic center of population west and south (Hobbs

and Stoops, 2002).

The Oklahoma Water Science Center of the USGS,

in cooperation with the Oklahoma Water Resources Board

(OWRB), summarized the 1950–2005 water-use information

for Oklahoma. The data presented here are the result of the

1950–2005 compilation efforts for Oklahoma by the USGS.

Purpose and Scope

The purpose of this report is to summarize water-use data

in Oklahoma through: (1) presentation of detailed information on freshwater withdrawals by source, county, major river

basin, and principal aquifer for 2005; (2) comparison of water

use by source, category, major river basin, and principal aquifer at 5-year intervals from 1990–2005; and (3) comparison

of water use on a statewide basis by source and category at

5-year intervals from 1950–2005.

This report presents estimates of freshwater withdrawal

for water use in Oklahoma by source and category from 1950–

2005 in 5-year intervals. Withdrawal source was either surface

water or groundwater. Withdrawal categories included: public

supply, irrigation, livestock and aquaculture, thermoelectricpower generation (cooling water), domestic and commercial,

and industrial and mining (glossary, back of report). Withdrawal data were aggregated and tabulated by county, major

river basin, and principal aquifer.

This analysis can be used by water-resources managers in

assessing the patterns of water use in Oklahoma. This report

shows the major water use categories and how the water use

categories have changed over time by amount and source by

using 5-year intervals. Amounts of water withdrawn may vary

slightly in categories and sources in tables and figures because

of independent rounding.

Acknowledgments 

The author thanks many people for their contributions to

the data collection and data analysis presented in this report.

Andy Scurlock and Brian Vance of the Oklahoma Water

Resources Board provided summaries of the 2005 Water Use

Reports, which are annual mail surveys. Additional special

thanks go to numerous individuals in local, state and federal

agencies including the City of Oklahoma City, City of Tulsa,

Grand River Dam Authority, Oklahoma Municipal Power

Authority, Oklahoma Pork Council, Oklahoma Corporation

Commission, Oklahoma Department of Commerce, Oklahoma

Department of Environmental Quality, Bureau of Reclamation,

Natural Resources Conservation Service, Southwest Power

Administration, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Tulsa District,

and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. S. Jerrod Smith and Jason

Lewis of the USGS Oklahoma Water Science Center were

contributors to the report.

Data-Collection Sources and Methods

Site-specific water-use data for individual water-use permits for several categories were collected and compiled annually by the OWRB by using a mail-in Water Use Report. These

water-use data for the categories of public supply, irrigation,

livestock and aquaculture, thermoelectric-power generation,

domestic and commercial, and industrial and mining are available in a database at the OWRB. The individual water-use

reports show estimates of the annual amount of water withdrawn and source (surface water or groundwater). The OWRB

also requests information on monthly use and the amount of

water sold and purchased for public supply and industrial permits. These data were supplied to the USGS for each category

aggregated by county, source, and river basin or aquifer.

The water-use data must be supplemented with withdrawal estimates from other data sources because of incomplete reporting. These sources include federal, state, local, and

private agencies, organizations, industries, utilities, and individuals. Primary sources include City of Oklahoma City, City

of Tulsa, Grand River Dam Authority, Oklahoma Municipal

Power Authority, Oklahoma Pork Council, Oklahoma Corporation Commission, Oklahoma Department of Commerce,

Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, Bureau of

Reclamation, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Southwest Power Administration, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Tulsa District, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Additional water-use estimates were made by USGS

on the basis of population and average consumption rates

for water-use categories for which data were not available

or incomplete such as self-supplied domestic and livestock.

These data also were aggregated by county, source, and river

basin or aquifer.

These data were placed in the USGS Aggregate Water

Use Data System (AWUDS) (Perlman, 1998; Hutson, 2007)

in the USGS Oklahoma Water Science Center for the years

1985–2005 and reviewed by USGS headquarters water-use

specialists. These data are available by county on the USGS

Water Use in the United States web site at http://water.usgs.

gov/watuse/. Appendixes 1–3 in back of the report have

water-use estimates from the 2005 Oklahoma AWUDS report

tables and are reported to nearest 0.01 million gallon per day

(Mgal/d); all other figures and tables in the body of the report

present water-use estimates to the nearest whole number of

Mgal/d. The 1990–2005 data were aggregated by the author

and are presented in more detail because categories and consistency of methods are known. The 1950–2005 comparisons

are more general because the earlier years had fewer reporting

categories and methods of compilation may not have been

consistent.

Water Use 2005

In this section a general description of the 2005 withdrawal data is followed by withdrawal data in terms of county,
Data-Collection Sources and Methods 3

major river basin, and principal aquifer. Finally, details of

withdrawal data for each water-use category are described.

Source and Water-Use Category of Freshwater 

Withdrawals

Total withdrawals from surface-water and groundwater

sources during 2005 were about 1,559 Mgal/d—989 Mgal/d

or 63 percent from surface-water sources and 570 Mgal/d or

37 percent from groundwater sources (fig. 1, appendixes 1–3).

The three largest water use categories were public supply,

about 646 Mgal/d or 41 percent of total withdrawals; irrigation, 495 Mgal/d or 32 percent of total withdrawals; and

livestock and aquaculture, 181 Mgal/d or 12 percent of total

withdrawals. All other categories (including thermoelectric

power generation, self-supplied domestic and commercial, and

industrial and mining) were 237 Mgal/d or 15 percent of total

withdrawals (fig. 2, appendixes 1–3).

Most of public-supply water was withdrawn from

surface-water sources in 2005. Public supply withdrawals

consisted of about 532 Mgal/d or 82 percent from surfacewater sources and 114 Mgal/d or 18 percent from groundwater

sources. (fig. 1, appendixes 1–3). Most of irrigation water

was withdrawn from groundwater sources in 2005. Irrigation withdrawals consisted of about 361 Mgal or 73 percent

from groundwater sources and 134 Mgal/d or 27 percent from

surface-water sources (figs. 1–2, appendixes 1–3). Most of

livestock and aquaculture water was withdrawn from surfacewater sources in 2005. Livestock and aquaculture withdrawals

consisted of about 126 Mgal/d or 70 percent from surfacewater sources and 55 Mgal/d or 30 percent from groundwater

sources (figs. 1–2, appendixes 1–3).

The largest water-use category for surface-water sources

was public supply, 532 Mgal/d or 54 percent of surface water

withdrawn (fig. 2, appendixes 1 and 2). The largest category

for groundwater sources was irrigation, 361 Mgal/d or 63 percent of groundwater withdrawn (fig. 2, appendixes 1 and 3).

Pipe diagrams are useful for an overall snapshot of water

use by source and use category (figs. 3 and 4). Surface water

supplies most of public supply and self-supplied livestock,

aquaculture, thermoelectric cooling water, commercial, industrial, and mining uses (fig. 3). Groundwater supplies most of

irrigation use and is assumed the source for all self-supplied

domestic use (fig. 3). Public supply includes water delivered to domestic, commercial, industrial, and thermoelectric

power generation (fig. 4). Most of these uses were supplied by

surface-water sources.

Aggregating Withdrawals by County, Major 

River Basin, and Principal Aquifer

Freshwater withdrawal estimates for each water-use

category were aggregated by county, source (surface water or

groundwater), and river basin or aquifer.

County

Total freshwater withdrawals for all uses and the three

major categories of use (public supply, irrigation, and livestock and aquaculture) from all sources in Oklahoma are

shown by county in figure 5 (appendix 1). County names are

shown on the map in appendix 4. The influence of public

supply on the total withdrawals can be seen the in eastern

two-thirds of Oklahoma; whereas, the influence of irrigation on total withdrawals can be seen in the western third of

Oklahoma. Total withdrawals also are presented by source in

ranked order for the top 10 counties in Oklahoma in table 1.

The percentage of water withdrawals from surface water and

groundwater by county is shown in figure 6, which illustrates

the reliance on surface-water sources in the eastern half of

Oklahoma and the reliance on groundwater sources in the

western half of Oklahoma.

Total withdrawals for all uses and the three major categories of use from surface-water sources in Oklahoma are shown

by county in figure 7 (appendixes 1, 2, and 4). The influence

of public supply on the surface-water withdrawals can be seen

in the eastern two-thirds of Oklahoma corresponding to the

withdrawals for the major municipal users: Tulsa, and Grand

River Authority in the northeast, Oklahoma City and Norman in central, Ada and Ardmore in south-central, Oklahoma

City in the southeast, and Lawton in the southwest (fig. 8).

The influence of irrigation on surface-water withdrawals can

be seen in the western third of Oklahoma, especially for the

Altus-Lugert Irrigation District (from Lake Altus, fig. 8). The

influence of aquaculture on livestock surface-water withdrawals can be seen in south-central Oklahoma (fig. 7). Total

surface-water withdrawals also are presented in ranked order

for the top 10 counties in Oklahoma in table 1.

Total withdrawals for all uses and the three major categories of use from groundwater sources in Oklahoma are shown

by county in figure 9 (appendixes 1, 3, and 4). The influence of

public supply on the groundwater withdrawals can be seen in

central and western Oklahoma corresponding to the withdrawals for the major municipal users: El Reno, Mustang, Yukon,

Moore and Norman in central; Enid and Ponca City in northcentral; and Woodward and Guymon in the northwest (fig. 8).

The influence of irrigation on groundwater withdrawals can

be seen in the western one-third of Oklahoma, especially for

the panhandle counties (Cimarron, Texas, and Beaver Counties). The influence of livestock operations on groundwater

withdrawals can be seen in the northwest, especially in the

panhandle. Total groundwater withdrawals also are presented

in ranked order for the top 10 counties in Oklahoma in table 1.

Major River Basin 

Total surface-water withdrawals in 2005 for the public

supply, irrigation, livestock and aquaculture, and other categories in Oklahoma are shown by major river basin in figure

10 (appendix 2). Public supply was the largest category of

surface-water withdrawals in 6 of the 10 major river basins:
4

Water Use in Oklahoma 1950–2005

Freshwater withdrawals by major category and source in Oklahoma, 2005. Figure 1.

Public Supply

Irrigation Livestock and Aquaculture

Total

532 Mgal/d

82%

989 Mgal/d

63%

570 Mgal/d

37%

114 Mgal/d

18%

126 Mgal/d

70%

134 Mgal/d

27%

361 Mgal/d

73%

55 Mgal/d

30%

Note: Total includes all categories and will be more than

the sum of the three major categories. Surface Water

Groundwater

EXPLANATION

Mgal/d, million gallons per day

%, percent
Data-Collection Sources and Methods

5

Freshwater withdrawals by source and major category in Oklahoma, 2005 Figure 2. .

126 Mgal/d

13%

Groundwater Surface Water

Total Water

646 Mgal/d

41%

495 Mgal/d

32%

237 Mgal/d

15%

181 Mgal/d

12%

532 Mgal/d

54%

114 Mgal/d

20%

197 Mgal/d

20%

40 Mgal/d

7%

134 Mgal/d 361 Mgal/d

55 Mgal/d

10%

EXPLANATIONPublic SupplyIrrigationLivestock and Aquaculture

Other

Mgal/d, million gallons per day

%, percent
6 Water Use in Oklahoma 1950–2005

Figure 3. Source and use category of freshwater withdrawals in Oklahoma, 2005.

 Mgal/d Surface Water

Mgal/d Groundwater

989

570

Source: Oklahoma Water Resources Board and various Local, State, and Federal Agencies

(Note: Data in the diagram are rounded; totals may not add to totals because of independent rounding)

Surface

Water

989

Groundwater

570

Domestic Public supply Industrial

25 646 24

Irrigation Thermoelectric Mining Livestock Aquaculture

495 164 3 162 19 25 532 163

Commercial

21

17

EXPLANATION

Values in million gallons per day (Mgal/d)

1,599 Mgal/d Total water use
Data-Collection Sources and Methods 7

Figure 4. Source and delivery category of freshwater public-supply withdrawals in Oklahoma, 2005.

Source: Oklahoma Water Resources Board and various Local, State, and Federal Agencies

(Note: Data in the diagram are rounded; totals may not add to totals because of independent rounding)

532 114

Delivered

Domestic

and Losses

Delivered

Commercial

Delivered

Thermoelectric

319 205 9

257

62

171

34

8

1

Delivered

Industrial

114

16

646 Mgal/d Total public supply use Mgal/d Surface water

Mgal/d Groundwater

532

114

Values in million gallons per day (Mgal/d)
8

Water Use in Oklahoma 1950–2005

F Freshwater withdrawals by major category and county in Oklahoma, 2005. igure 5.

0 100 200

0 200100 KILOMETERS

50 MILES

Albers Equal Area Conic Projection

0.00 - 4.995.00 - 9.9910.00 - 19.9920.00 - 49.9950.00 - 170.00

million gallons per day

0.00 - 0.99

1.00 - 1.99

2.00 - 4.99

5.00 - 9.99

10.00 - 170.00

million gallons per day

0.00 - 0.991.00 - 1.992.00 - 4.995.00 - 9.9910.00 - 170.00

million gallons per day

0.00 - 0.991.00 - 1.992.00 - 4.995.00 - 9.9910.00 - 170.00

million gallons per day

Total Public Supply

Irrigation Livestock and Aquaculture
Data-Collection Sources and Methods 9

North Canadian, Arkansas-Keystone, Neosho-Verdigris, RedSulphur, Lower Canadian, and Red-Washita River basins.

Irrigation was the largest category of surface-water withdrawals only in the western one-third of Oklahoma in two

basins: the Upper Cimarron River Basin; and Red Headwaters River Basin, which supplies the Altus-Lugert Irrigation

District (from Lake Altus, fig. 8). Livestock and aquaculture

surface-water withdrawals were about one-fifth or more of the

withdrawals in half of the major river basins: Lower Cimarron, Arkansas-Keystone, Red-Sulphur, Lower Canadian, and

Red-Washita River basins. Cooling water withdrawals for

thermoelectric power generation were the largest withdrawals

in the other category in two major river basins in eastern Oklahoma: Neosho-Verdigris and Lower Arkansas River basins

(appendix 2).

Principal Aquifer

Total groundwater withdrawals in 2005 for the public

supply, irrigation, livestock, and other categories in Oklahoma are shown by principal aquifer in figure 11 (appendix

3). All minor aquifers are summed in the “not a principal

aquifer” category. Public supply groundwater withdrawals

were 30 percent or more of the withdrawals in more than half

of principal aquifers: Alluvial and terrace, Central Oklahoma, Ada-Vamoosa, Ozark Plateaus, Edwards-Trinity, and

Arbuckle-Simpson aquifers. Irrigation was the largest category

of groundwater withdrawals for more than half of the aquifers: High Plains, alluvial and terrace, Edwards-Trinity, Not

Principal, Rush Springs, and Blaine aquifers. Livestock and

aquaculture groundwater withdrawals were a large volume of

withdrawals in the northwest from two aquifers, High Plains

and alluvial and terrace aquifers, relative to the other aquifers

(appendix 3).

Public Supply

Public-supply systems served about 3.2 million people

or about 92 percent of the population in Oklahoma in 2005

(appendix 1). Surface-water withdrawals for public supply

served about 2.5 million people or 71 percent of the population in 2005. Groundwater withdrawals for public supply

served about 725,000 people or 20 percent of the population

in 2005. Most of public-supply water was withdrawn from

surface-water sources. Public supply had about 532 Mgal/d

or 82 percent withdrawn from surface-water sources and 114

Table 1. Estimated surface-water, groundwater, and total freshwater withdrawals for top 10 counties in 

Oklahoma, 2005.

[Amounts are in million gallons per day. Totals may not add to totals because of independent rounding]

Rank County

Total

surface

water

County

Total

groundwaterCounty Total

water

1 Mayes 107 Texas 167 Texas 167

2 Muskogee 106 Cimarron 51 Muskogee 110

3 Oklahoma 85 Caddo 29 Mayes 107

4 Rogers 84 Harmon 26 Oklahoma 107

5 Jackson 67 Beaver 26 Rogers 84

6 Atoka 56 Oklahoma 22 Jackson 76

7 Cleveland 22 Major 19 Atoka 56

8 Caddo 22 Woodward 16 Cimarron 51

9 Commanche 20 Ellis 15 Caddo 51

10 LeFlore 19 Cleveland 13 Cleveland 35
10 Water Use in Oklahoma 1950–2005

Figure 6. Freshwater withdrawals by percentage source and county in Oklahoma, 2005.

0 200100 KILOMETERS

0 100 200 50 MILES

Albers Equal Area Conic Projection

Surface Water

EXPLANATION

50.0 0 - 59.99

60.0 0 - 69.99

70.0 0 - 79.99

80.0 0 - 89.99

90.0 0 - 100.00

Less than 50.00

Percent

Groundwater

EXPLANATION

50.0 0 - 59.99

60.0 0 - 69.99

70.0 0 - 79.99

80.0 0 - 89.99

90.0 0 - 100.00

Less than 50.00

Percent
Data-Collection Sources and Methods

11

 withdrawals by major category and county in Oklahoma, 2005. Surface-water Figure 7.

0 100 200

0 200100 KILOMETERS

50 MILES

Albers Equal Area Conic Projection

Total

EXPLANATION

0.00 - 1.992.00 - 4.995.00 - 9.9910.00 - 49.9950.00 - 110.00

million gallons per day

PublicSupply

EXPLANATION

0.00 - 0.090.10 - 0.991.00 - 1.992.00 - 9.9910.00 - 110.00

million gallons per day

Irrigation

EXPLANATION

0.00 - 0.090.10 - 0.991.00 - 1.992.00 - 4.995.00 - 110.00

million gallons per day

Livestock and Aquaculture

EXPLANATION

0.00 - 0.090.10 - 0.991.00 - 1.992.00 - 4.995.00 - 110.00

million gallons per day

Surface Water
12

Water Use in Oklahoma 1950–2005

F Selected municipalities and water sources in Oklahoma, 2005. igure 8.

100°

98°

102°

36°

100°

98°

96°

96°

36°

34°

ARKANSAS

MISSOURI

NEW MEXICO

TEXAS

TEXAS

KANSAS COLORADO

Beaver River

Cimarron

River

Fork Salt

River

Arkansas

Caney

River

River Verdigris

Neosho

River

River

North

Canadian

Canadian

River

River

Red

Washita

River

Deep Fork

Red

River

EXPLANATION

County borderState border

Streams

Albers Equal-Area Conic Projection,North American Datum 1983

0 25 50 75 100 MILES

0 25 50 75 100 KILOMETERS

"

"

"

"

" "

"

"

" "

"

"

Guymon

"

Woodward

Enid

PoncaCity

Edmond

El Reno Yukon

Mustang

"

Tulsa

"

Ardmore

Lawton

Purcell

Moore

Norman

Newcastle

Lake

Altus

Lake of the

Arbuckles

Atoka

Lake

McGee Creek

Reservoir

Lake

Lawtonka

Lake

Ellsworth

Lake

Arcadia

Oologah

Lake

Robert S.

Kerr Reservoir

Lake

Eucha

Spavinaw

Lake

Webbers Falls

Reservoir

Lake

Overholser

Lake

Thunderbird

Lake Stanley

Draper

Byrds Mill

Spring

Municipality Moore "

Lake

Hudson

Canton

Lake

Public supply; lakeIrrigation; lakeHydropower; lakePublic supply; spring

"

Ada

" Oklahoma City

Lake

Ponca
Data-Collection Sources and Methods

13

F withdrawals by major category and county in Oklahoma, 2005. Groundwater igure 9.

0 100 200

0 200100 KILOMETERS

50 MILES

Albers Equal Area Conic Projection

Total

EXPLANATION

0.00 - 1.992.00 - 4.995.00 - 9.9910.00 - 49.9950.00 - 170.00

million gallons per day

Public Supply

EXPLANATION

0.00 - 0.090.10 - 0.991.00 - 1.992.00 - 9.9910.00 - 170.00

million gallons per day

Irrigation

EXPLANATION

0.00 - 0.090.10 - 0.991.00 - 1.992.00 - 4.995.00 - 170.00

million gallons per day

Livestock and Aquaculture

EXPLANATION

0.00 - 0.090.10 - 0.991.00 - 1.992.00 - 4.995.00 - 170.00

million gallons per day

Groundwater
14

Water Use in Oklahoma 1950–2005

F withdrawals by major river basin and category in Oklahoma, 2005. Surface-water igure 10.

Red

Headwaters

Red-Washita

Lower

Canadian

Lower

Arkansas

Neosho-Verdigris

Arkansas-Keystone

Lower

Cimarron

North Canadian

Upper Cimarron

North

Canadian

Red-Sulphur

103°

101° 99° 97° 95°

37°

35°

0 20 40 60 80 100 MILES

0 20 40 60 80 100 KILOMETERS

North Canadian

82%

8%

6%

3%

123 Mgal/d

Upper Cimarron

14%

86%

8 Mgal/d

Lower Cimarron

38%

37%

11%

24 Mgal/d

14%

11%

Arkansas-Keystone

38 Mgal/d

44%

20%

32%

4%

Neosho-Verdigris

246 Mgal/d

81%

7%

11%

1%

Lower Arkansas

165 Mgal/d

19%

9% 64%

8%

Red-Sulphur

108 Mgal/d

68%

18%

8%

6%

Lower Canadian

62 Mgal/d

51%

19%

23%

6%

Red-Washita

134 Mgal/d

19%

49%

24%

8%

Red Headwaters

80 Mgal/d

83%

13%

4%

Water Use Category

PublicSupplyIrrigation Livestock and Aquaculture

Other

38 Mgal/d

Total Basin Withdrawals

25%25%

25%25%

EXPLANATION

4-digit hydrologic unit boundary

Mgal/d, million gallons per day

Albers Equal-Area Conic ProjectionNorth American Datum 1983Lakes from Oklahoma Water Resources Board

%, percent

Surface Water
Data-Collection Sources and Methods

15

 withdrawals by principal aquifer and category in Oklahoma, 2005. Groundwater Figure 11.

Ozark Plateaus

41%

21%

38%

9 Mgal/d

Groundwater

103°

101° 99° 97° 95°

37°

35°

0 20 40 60 80 100 MILES

0 20 40 60 80 100 KILOMETERS

Not a Principal

Aquifer

16%

45%

24%

15%

34 Mgal/d

High Plains

86%

<1% 5%

8%

252 Mgal/d

Edwards-Trinity

(Antlers)

9 Mgal/d

35%

30%

19%

16%

Blaine

27 Mgal/d

2% 2%

96%

Arbuckle-Simpson

7 Mgal/d

11%

43% 42%

4%

Rush Springs

52 Mgal/d

66%

15% 12%

7%

Ada-Vamoosa

48%

13%

39%

8 Mgal/d

48%

36%

10%

6%

133 Mgal/d

Alluvial and terrace Central Oklahoma

40 Mgal/d

4% 66% 3%

26%

EXPLANATION

Principal Aquifer

Edwards-TrinityArbuckle-SimpsonBlaineCentral OklahomaHigh PlainsOzark PlateausRush SpringsAda-VamoosaAlluvial and terrace

Water Use Category

PublicSupplyIrrigation Livestock and

Aquaculture

Other

40 Mgal/d

Total Aquifer Withdrdawals

25%25%

25%25%

Mgal/d, million gallons per day

Albers Equal-Area Conic ProjectionNorth American Datum 1983Aquifers and lakes from Oklahoma Water Resources Board

%, percent
16 Water Use in Oklahoma 1950–2005

Mgal/d or 18 percent withdrawn from groundwater sources

(fig. 1, appendixes 1–3).

Surface-Water Sources

The largest public supply systems using surface-water

sources were the City of Oklahoma City and City of Tulsa

(fig. 8). The 2005 population of Oklahoma City was about

531,000 or 15 percent of the state total and the 2005 population of Tulsa was about 383,000 or 11 percent of the state

total (S. Barker, Oklahoma Department of Commerce, written

commun., 2008). Oklahoma City withdrew water from Lake

Overholser in Oklahoma County (supplied by releases from

Canton Lake); and from Lake Stanley Draper (supplied by

pipeline from Atoka Lake and McGee Creek Reservoir in

Atoka County) averaging about 122 Mgal/d or 23 percent

of public supply surface-water withdrawals (L. Hare, City

of Oklahoma City, written commun., 2007). Tulsa withdrew

water from Spavinaw Lake in Mayes County and Oologah

Lake in Rogers County averaging about 103 Mgal/d or 19 percent of public supply surface-water withdrawals (K. Rowland,

City of Tulsa, written commun., 2007). Both systems supply

several surrounding communities, the amount of withdrawals

and population varies from year to year.

South-central Oklahoma is another area where surfacewater withdrawals were dominant. The largest public-supply

systems in that part of the state were Ardmore (Carter

County), which obtained most of the public-supply water from

Lake of the Arbuckles, and Ada (Pontotoc County), which

obtained water from Byrds Mill Spring (fig. 8, appendix 4).

The 2005 combined population of these two systems was more

than 41,000 or about 1 percent of the state total. These systems

averaged about 19 Mgal/d or 4 percent of the public supply

surface-water withdrawals. The largest surface-water publicsupply system in the southwest was Lawton (Commanche

County), which obtained water from Lake Ellsworth and Lake

Lawtonka (fig. 8, appendix 4). The 2005 population of Lawton

was almost 89,000 or more than 2 percent of the state total.

This system averaged about 16 Mgal/d or 3 percent of the

public supply surface-water withdrawals.

Three agencies in Oklahoma supplied a substantial

amount of surface water from the reservoirs and lakes these

agencies operate: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau

of Reclamation, and Grand River Dam Authority (U.S. Army

Corps of Engineers, 2007; Bureau of Reclamation, 2007;

Grand River Dam Authority, 2007). These agencies provided

water to several municipalities and rural water districts. In

2005 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers supplied more than

104 Mgal/d or almost 20 percent of the public supply surfacewater withdrawals (C. Shultz, Corps of Engineers, written

commun., 2007). The Bureau of Reclamation in 2005 supplied

more than 60 Mgal/d or about 11 percent of the public supply

surface-water withdrawals (L. Hall, Bureau of Reclamation,

written commun., 2007). The Grand River Dam Authority in

2005 supplied more than 42 Mgal/d or about 8 percent of the

public supply surface-water withdrawals (A. Bishop, Grand

River Dam Authority, written commun., 2007). Some of this

water was included in the surface-water public supply systems

mentioned earlier.

Groundwater Sources

Central Oklahoma is an area where groundwater sources

were essential to public-supply systems. The largest systems

in that part of the state were Edmond (Oklahoma County);

Moore and Norman (Cleveland County); El Reno, Yukon,

and Mustang (Canadian County); and Newcastle and Purcell

(McClain County) (fig. 8, appendix 4). These withdrawals

were mostly from the Central Oklahoma Aquifer and alluvial

and terrace aquifers. The 2005 combined population from

these central Oklahoma municipalities supplied by groundwater sources was about 150,000 or more than 4 percent of the

state total. These systems averaged about 21 Mgal/d or 18 percent of the public supply groundwater withdrawals. However,

Edmond (water from Lake Arcadia), Moore (water purchased

from Oklahoma City), and Norman (water from Lake Thunderbird) were examples of communities with mixed sources

of public-supply water, where part of that supply was obtained

from surface-water sources. An additional 135,000 people of

these two communities, or less than 4 percent of the state total

served, were supplied by surface-water sources.

North-central Oklahoma is another area where groundwater public-supply systems were essential. The largest systems

in that part of the state were Enid (Garfield County), with a

served population in 2005 of about 46,000 or 1.5 percent of

the state total, and Ponca City (Kay County), with a served

population about 20,000 or less than 1 percent of the state total

(fig. 8, appendix 4). These two systems withdrew an average

of more than 15 Mgal/d or about 13 percent of the public-supply groundwater withdrawals, mostly from alluvial and terrace

aquifers. However, Ponca City is another example of mixed 

sources of public supply water with part of the supply from

a surface-water source (water from Lake Ponca) that served

about 5,000 additional people.

Northwest Oklahoma is an area where groundwater public supply withdrawals were dominant. The largest systems in

that part of the state were Guymon (Texas County) and Woodward (Woodward County) (fig. 8, appendix 4). The 2005 combined population of these systems was more than 22,000 or

less than 1 percent of the state total. These systems averaged

about 10 Mgal/d or 8 percent of the public supply groundwater

withdrawals, mostly from the High Plains Aquifer.

Note that many of the larger municipalities also sell

water to the surrounding smaller municipalities and rural

water districts. In addition to municipal public supply systems,

Oklahoma has several hundred rural water districts (Oklahoma

Department of Environmental Quality, 2008). Total withdrawals for public supply also are presented by source in ranked

order for the top 10 counties in Oklahoma in table 2.
Data-Collection Sources and Methods 17

Irrigation

Irrigation systems in Oklahoma applied water to more

than 472,000 acres, of which about 87,000 acres, or 18

percent, were irrigated by surface irrigation (includes flood,

furrow, or gravity irrigation) and about 385,000 acres, or 81

percent, were irrigated by sprinkler irrigation (includes center

pivot and micro irrigation). Most of irrigation water was withdrawn from groundwater sources. Groundwater sources supplied 361 Mgal/d or 73 percent of total irrigation withdrawals

and surface-water sources supplied 134 Mgal/d or 27 percent

of total irrigation withdrawals (fig. 1, appendixes 1–3).

Groundwater withdrawals for irrigation in the Oklahoma

Panhandle (Cimarron, Texas, and Beaver Counties), about 217

Mgal/d, represented about 60 percent of groundwater withdrawals and 44 percent of all irrigation withdrawals in Oklahoma (table 3, appendix 1). Most of the water was withdrawn

from the High Plains Aquifer and main crops were wheat and

corn.

Surface-water withdrawals for irrigation in Jackson

County, about 65 Mgal/d, represented about 49 percent of

surface-water withdrawals and 13 percent of all irrigation

withdrawals in Oklahoma (table 3, appendix 1). The largest

surface-water irrigation user was the Altus-Lugert Irrigation

District, Jackson County, which withdrew about 58 Mgal/d, or

about 43 percent of surface-water withdrawals and 12 percent

of all irrigation withdrawals. The water was withdrawn from

Lake Altus in the Red Headwaters River Basin (figs. 8 and 10)

and cotton was the main crop.

Irrigation withdrawals are highly dependent on such

factors as application method, crop type, acreage irrigated,

seasonal climate, and economics such as crop prices, depth to

water, and power costs. Total withdrawals for irrigation also

are presented by source in ranked order for the top 10 counties

in Oklahoma in table 3.

Livestock and Aquaculture

The largest livestock and aquaculture water withdrawals

in Oklahoma were for the cattle industry (National Agricultural Statistics Service, 2006). An inventory on January 1,

2006, indicated 5,450,000 cattle and calves and 2,075,000

beef cows. The hog industry had an inventory of 2,370,000

hogs and pigs on January 1, 2006, with more than half of the

Table 2. Estimated surface-water, groundwater, and total public supply freshwater withdrawals for top 10 counties in 

Oklahoma, 2005.

[Amounts are in million gallons per day. Totals may not add to totals because of independent rounding]

Rank County

Total

surface

water

County

Total

groundwaterCounty Total

water

1 Mayes 93 Oklahoma 18 Oklahoma 94

2 Oklahoma 76 Cleveland 11 Mayes 93

3 Rogers 65 Kay 7 Rogers 65

4 Atoka 54 Woodward 7 Atoka 54

5 Cleveland 21 Major 6 Cleveland 32

6 Commanche 16 Texas 6 Kay 20

7 Muskogee 14 Beckham 4 Commanche 18

8 Carter 14 Garfield 4 Carter 15

9 Okmulgee 14 Custer 3 Muskogee 15

10 Osage 14 Ottawa 3 Okmulgee 14
18 Water Use in Oklahoma 1950–2005

animals in the Panhandle District (National Agricultural Statistics Service, 2006). Poultry was a major industry in northeastern and southeastern Oklahoma.

Most of livestock and aquaculture water was withdrawn

from surface-water sources. Livestock and aquaculture had

126 Mgal/d or 70 percent withdrawn from surface-water

sources and 55 Mgal/d or 30 percent withdrawn from groundwater sources (fig. 1, appendixes 1–3).

The influence of aquaculture on livestock surface-water

withdrawals can be seen in south-central Oklahoma, where

Johnston and Bryan counties had surface-water withdrawals

totaling about 13 Mgal/d or about two-thirds of total aquaculture withdrawals. Aquaculture accounts for about 19 Mgal/d or

about 11 percent of total livestock and aquaculture withdrawals (2005 Oklahoma AWUDS report tables). The influence of

livestock operations on groundwater withdrawals can be seen

in the northwest, especially the panhandle (Cimarron, Texas,

and Beaver Counties) with about 19 Mgal/d or about 34 percent of total livestock and aquaculture groundwater withdrawals (appendix 1). Total withdrawals for livestock and

aquaculture also are presented by source in ranked order for

the top 10 counties in Oklahoma in table 4.

Other Uses

The other uses include the self-supplied uses for thermoelectric power generation, domestic, commercial, industrial

and mining (fig. 3, see glossary). Surface water provides most

of self-supplied thermoelectric power generation, commercial,

industrial and mining uses; whereas, groundwater provides all

self-supplied domestic use.

Deliveries from public-supply providers for domestic,

commercial, industrial, and thermoelectric power generation

uses are included in public-supply withdrawals (fig. 4). Almost

92 percent of all domestic and commercial water in 2005 was

from public-water suppliers (figs. 3 and 4, appendix 1). About

83 percent of total industrial water uses in 2005 was from

public-water suppliers (figs. 3 and 4).

Table 3. Estimated surface-water, groundwater, and total irrigation freshwater withdrawals for top 10 

counties in Oklahoma, 2005.

[Amounts are in million gallons per day. Totals may not add to totals because of independent rounding]

Rank County

Total

Surface

Water

County

Total

GroundwaterCounty Total

Water

1 Jackson 65 Texas 149 Texas 149

2 Harper 7 Cimarron 47 Jackson 74

3 Grady 6 Harmon 25 Cimarron 48

4 Johnston 5 Caddo 24 Caddo 28

5 Muskogee 5 Beaver 21 Harmon 25

6 Bryan 4 Ellis 13 Beaver 21

7 Cherokee 4 Jackson 9 Ellis 13

8 Caddo 4 Major 9 Harper 11

9 Le Flore 4 Tillman 8 Major 9

10 Hughes 2 Roger Mills 5 Tillman 8
Data-Collection Sources and Methods 19

Thermoelectric Power Generation

Thermoelectric power generation requires large amounts

of cooling water (see glossary). This category was the next

largest water withdrawal category after the three major categories, and accounts for about 163 Mgal/d or about 16 percent of

surface water withdrawn (fig. 3, appendixes 1 and 2). Almost

all the withdrawals were from surface-water sources, predominantly in the eastern half of the state with more than half

of withdrawals in the Lower Arkansas River Basin (fig. 10,

appendix 2) (U.S. Department of Energy, 2006).

Domestic (Self-Supplied)

Self-supplied domestic withdrawals were assumed to be

from groundwater sources (fig. 3). Domestic use of water for

the people in Oklahoma that are not served by public supply is

in the self-supplied domestic category. The self-supplied population included about 295,000 people or about 29 percent

of the population supplied by groundwater sources and about

8 percent of the total population of Oklahoma (appendixes 1

and 3). Most of the population in Oklahoma was supplied by

municipal or rural water district public-supply systems.

Commercial

Most of water withdrawn for motels, hotels, restaurants,

office buildings, and other commercial uses was delivered

from public-supply systems with 171 Mgal/d or about 84 percent of delivered commercial withdrawals from surface-water

sources (fig. 4). The largest commercial uses delivered from

public-supply systems were in Oklahoma City (50 Mgal/d)

and Tulsa (27 Mgal/d), as estimated from major customer lists.

Self-supplied commercial withdrawals were about 21

Mgal/d or just 10 percent of the amount of delivered commercial withdrawals. Most of self-supplied commercial withdrawals were from surface-water sources, about 17 Mgal/d or about

79 percent.

Table 4. Estimated surface-water, groundwater, and total livestock and aquaculture freshwater 

withdrawals for top 10 counties in Oklahoma, 2005.

[Amounts are in million gallons per day. Totals may not add to totals because of independent rounding]

Rank County

Total

Surface

Water

County

Total

GroundwaterCounty Total

Water

1 Johnston 8 Texas 11 Texas 11

2 Bryan 8 Beaver 4 Bryan 9

3 Osage 4 Major 4 Johnston 8

4 Grady 4 Harper 3 Osage 4

5 Haskell 3 Cimarron 3 Beaver 4

6 Le Flore 3 Woodward 3 Alfalfa 4

7 Kingfisher 3 Ellis 2 Grady 4

8 Caddo 3 Alfalfa 2 Kingfisher 4

9 Pittsburg 3 Woods 2 Caddo 4

10 Hughes 2 Kingfisher 1 Le Flore 4
20 Water Use in Oklahoma 1950–2005

Industrial

Most of water withdrawn for chemical and allied products, food, mining, paper and allied products, petroleum

refining, steel, and other industrial uses was delivered from

public-supply systems. Surface-water sources were 98 Mgal/d

or about 86 percent of industrial deliveries (fig. 4). The largest

industrial uses delivered from public supply systems were

from Oklahoma City (18 Mgal/d) and Tulsa (20 Mgal/d), as

estimated from major customer lists.

Self-supplied industrial withdrawals were about 24

Mgal/d or just 21 percent of the amount of delivered industrial

withdrawals. Most of self-supplied industrial withdrawals

were from surface-water sources, about 16 Mgal/d or about 67

percent.

Mining (Self-Supplied)

Freshwater withdrawals for water used for the extraction

of naturally occurring minerals including solids, such as coal,

sand, gravel, and other ores; liquids, such as crude petroleum;

and gases, such as natural gas were small, about 3 Mgal/d,

with most of the water withdrawn from surface-water sources

(fig. 3). However, a potential exists for a large increase for

withdrawals in this water-use category—water can be used

for shale gas well hydraulic fracturing (Schein, 2008). This

category also includes uses associated with quarrying, milling,

and other preparations customarily done at the mine site.

Hydroelectric Power 

Water that is used, but not withdrawn, from a surfacewater source such as hydroelectric power generation, navigation, water-quality improvement, fish propagation, and

recreation is referred to as an instream use (see glossary). This

water was not included in the freshwater withdrawal estimates

presented in appendixes 1 and 2. However, hydroelectric

power generation is a major water use that is greatly affected

by climate, because during drought years when streamflow is

low, less power was produced by hydroelectric facilities (Tortorellli, 2008). Instream water-use estimates for hydroelectric

power are included in table 5.

More than 50 percent of the hydroelectric power water

use was in three plants in eastern Oklahoma: Robert S. Kerr

Reservoir (LeFlore County), Webbers Falls Reservoir (Muskogee County) (J. Croston, Southwest Power Administration,

2007), and Lake Hudson (Mayes County) (A. Bishop, Grand

River Dam Authority, written commun., 2007) (fig. 8). These

three plants generated more than 1,000 gigawatt hours of electricity in 2005, or about 40 percent of the hydroelectric power

generated in Oklahoma (table 5).

Comparison of Water Use 1990-2005

In this section the total freshwater withdrawals for the

three major and other categories of water use are compared

graphically in 5-year intervals from 1990–2005. Also the

freshwater withdrawals for the three major water-use categories are compared graphically in 5-year intervals from

1990–2005 by (1) major river basin withdrawals, and (2) principal aquifer withdrawals.

Total Withdrawals by Category

Public-supply water withdrawals increased steadily from

1990–2000 and then decreased slightly in 2005 (fig. 12A),

mainly because of a decrease in surface-water withdrawals.

The total population of the state and the population served

by public-supplied surface water have increased steadily;

whereas, the population served by public-supplied groundwater has remained about the same, and the self-supplied population has steadily decreased (fig. 12B). Self-supplied population

has decreased in part because of the increased number of rural

water districts in rural Oklahoma (Oklahoma Water Resources

Board, 1998). Also the self-supplied population has slowly

decreased because of loss of population in many rural counties. In addition more rural water districts are withdrawing

more water from surface-water sources. Surface-water public

supply withdrawals probably decreased slightly because of

climate, because the summer of 2000 was much drier than the

summer of 2005. Also a 3-percent decrease in commercial and

16 percent in industrial deliveries was reported from 2000–

2005 (J. Kenny, U.S. Geological Survey, written commun.,

2009).

Irrigation water withdrawals increased to about 864

Mgal/d or 44 percent from 1990–1995 and then decreased

steadily to 495 Mgal/d in 2005 (fig. 13A). Surface-water

irrigation withdrawals decreased about 12 percent from

2000–2005. Irrigation water withdrawals depend on application method, crop type, acreage irrigated, seasonal climate,

and economics. Irrigated acreage in 2005 was 16 percent less

than in 1995, but irrigation water withdrawals in 2005 were 43

percent less than in 1995 withdrawals. Part of the reason less

water was used was that application methods have been evolving to use more sprinkler application (including some micro

irrigation) and less surface application on irrigated acreage;

acreage irrigated with sprinkler application remained about

the same from 1995-2005; whereas, acreage that used surface

application decreased by more than half from 1995–2005 (fig.

13B).

Total livestock and aquaculture water withdrawals

steadily increased from 1990–2005. Animal livestock must be

described separately to understand the increase. Cattle numbers have remained about the same from 1990–2005. However, hogs have increased 10 fold and broiler chickens
Comparison of Water Use 1990-2005 21

have almost doubled from 1990–2005, resulting in increased

water withdrawals for these livestock (National Agricultural

Statistics Service, 1991 and 2006). Surface-water withdrawals

have remained about the same, but groundwater withdrawals

for livestock have increased by 55 percent from 1990–2005.

Aquaculture withdrawals have steadily increased (fig. 14A).

Nearly all aquaculture use is from surface water in Oklahoma

(1990–2005 Oklahoma AWUDS report tables).

The largest increase in the other water-use categories was

thermoelectric power generation that has steadily increased

and almost doubled from 1990–2005 (fig. 14B). Nearly all

thermoelectric power generation use is from surface water in

Oklahoma (1990–2005 Oklahoma AWUDS tables). The other

self-supplied water use categories had much smaller and varied changes in withdrawals during these years.

Withdrawals by Major River Basin

Public-supply withdrawals from surface-water sources

increased steadily from 1990–2005 in the two major river

basins with the largest public-supply withdrawals in 2005—

the Neosho-Verdigris River Basin—mainly because of the

Grand River Dam Authority and the City of Tulsa withdrawals, and the North Canadian River Basin—mainly because of

Table 5. Estimated freshwater surface-water use and power generated by hydroelectric power by county and major river basin in

Oklahoma, 2005.

[GWh, Gigawatt-hour; Mgal/d, million gallons per day. Totals may not add to totals because of independent rounding. SWPA, Southwest Power Administration; GRDA, Grand River Dam Authority; OMPA, Oklahoma Municpal Power Authority]

Dam/Reservoir Agency County

name

Majo

 river basin

Net GWh Water Use Average

Mgal/d per

GWh

Instream 

power

Offstream 

power

Instream 

Mgal/d

Offstream

Mgal/d

Broken Bow SWPA McCurtain Red-Sulphur 98 525 5

Eufaula SWPA Haskell Lower Canadian 192 1,991 10

Fort Gibson SWPA Cherokee Neosho-Verdigris 231 3,867 17

Robert S. Kerr/ GRDA Mayes Neosho-Verdigris 235 4,718 20

(Lake Hudson)

Salina GRDA Mayes Neosho-Verdigris 276 3,937 14

Kaw OMPA Kay Arkansas-Keystone 130 1,737 13

Keystone SWPA Tulsa Arkansas-Keystone 310 3,773 12

Pensacola/ GRDA Mayes Neosho-Verdigris 452 3,807 8

(Lake O’ the Cherokees)

Robert S. Kerr SWPA LeFlore Lower Arkansas 580 13,207 23

Tenkiller SWPA Sequoyah Lower Arkansas 95 634 7

Webbers Falls SWPA Muskogee Lower Arkansas 226 7,855 35

TOTALS 2,548 276 42,115 3,937
22 Water Use in Oklahoma 1950–2005

Figure 12. (A) Public supply withdrawals by source in Oklahoma, 1990-2005 (B) Population by source of water in 

Oklahoma, 1990-2005.

Figure 13. (A) Irrigation withdrawals by source in Oklahoma, 1990-2005 (B) Irrigated acres by application method in 

Oklahoma, 1990-2005.

YEAR

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

4,000

4,500

P O P U L A TIO N, IN TH O U S A ND S

Groundwater self-supplied domestic

Groundwater public supplied

Surface-water public supplied

Total

1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010

B

0

200

400

600

800

WITH D R A WA L S , IN MIL L IO N G A L L O NS P E R D A Y

Public Supply, 1990-2005

Surface water

Ground water

1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010

YEAR

A

YEAR

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

WITH D R A WA L S , IN MIL L IO N G A L L O NS P E R D A Y

Irrigation, 1990-2005

Surface water

Groundwater

1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010

A

YEAR

0

200

400

600

800

IR R IG A TE D A C R E S , IN TH O U S A ND S

Irrigated Acres, 1990-2005

Surface application

Sprinkler application

1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010

B
Comparison of Water Use 1990-2005 23

the City of Oklahoma City withdrawals (figs. 8, 10, and 15A).

Public-supply withdrawals increased steadily from 1990–2000

and then decreased slightly in 2005 in the two major river

basins with the next largest withdrawals in 2005—the RedWashita River Basin—mainly because of the City of Ardmore

withdrawals; and the Red-Sulphur River Basin—mainly

because of the City of Oklahoma City withdrawals (fig. 8, 10,

and 15A).

Irrigation surface-water withdrawals decreased in 2005

from a peak in 2000 in the major river basin with the largest

irrigation withdrawals—the Red Headwaters River Basin (fig.

10 and 15B). The decrease in withdrawals was mainly because

of the Altus-Lugert Irrigation District that receives water from

Lake Altus (fig. 8). Although acreage irrigated remained about

the same in the Irrigation District, summer rainfall amounts

were much more in 2005 compared to 2000. This example

illustrates the effect of climate on irrigation withdrawals

(Oklahoma Climatological Survey, 2008a, 2008b).

Livestock and aquaculture surface-water withdrawals

increased steadily from 1990–2005 in the two major river

basins with the largest withdrawals in 2005—the Red-Washita

River Basin, and the Red-Sulphur River Basin (figs. 10 and

15C). Livestock and aquaculture withdrawals in most river

basins have increased steadily from 1990–2005 (fig. 15C).

Withdrawals by Principal Aquifer

Public-supply withdrawals from groundwater sources

increased steadily from 1990–2000 and then decreased slightly

in 2005 in the principal aquifer with the largest withdrawals—

the alluvial and terrace aquifers. This decrease was mainly

because of groundwater public-supply systems in central

Oklahoma area, El Reno and Yukon (Canadian County) and

Newcastle (McClain County); in north-central Oklahoma,

Enid (Garfield County) and Ponca City (Kay County) (figs.

8, 11, and 16A); and dozens of small towns and rural water

districts statewide.

Public-supply withdrawals increased steadily from 1990–

2005 in the principal aquifer with the next largest volume of

withdrawals—the Central Oklahoma Aquifer. This increase

was mainly because of groundwater public-supply systems

in central Oklahoma area, Edmond (Oklahoma County),

Moore and Norman (Cleveland County), Mustang (Canadian

County); and several small towns (figs. 8, 11, and 16A).

Irrigation groundwater withdrawals increased from

1990–1995 and then decreased steadily to 2005 in the principal aquifer with the largest withdrawals—the High Plains

Aquifer—mainly because of irrigation in the panhandle

(Cimarron, Texas, and Beaver Counties) (fig. 11 and 16B).

Groundwater irrigation withdrawals remained about the same

Figure 14. (A) Livestock and aquaculture withdrawals by source in Oklahoma, 1990-2005 (B) Other water self-supplied by 

category in Oklahoma, 1990-2005.

YEAR

0

25

50

75

100

125

150

175

200

225

1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010

Livestock and Aquaculture, 1990-2005

Aquaculture

Surface Water Livestock

Groundwater Livestock

Total

A

YEAR

0

25

50

75

100

125

150

175

200

Industrial

Commercial

Mining

Thermoelectric Power

1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010

Other Water Self-Supplied, 1990-2005

B

WITHDRAWALS, IN MILLION GALLONS PER DAY

WITHDRAWALS, IN MILLION GALLONS PER DAY
24 Water Use in Oklahoma 1950–2005

Figure 15. (A) Public supply surface-water withdrawals by major river basin in Oklahoma, 1990-2005 

(B) Irrigation surface-water withdrawals by major river basin in Oklahoma, 1990-2005 (C) Livestock and 

aquaculture surface-water withdrawals by major river basin in Oklahoma, 1990-2005.

20

40

60

80

100

WITHDR AWAL S , IN MIL L IO N G AL L O NS P E R DAY

Irrigation, 1990-2005

UC IM

R E D-S UL

AR K -K E Y

L C IM

L C AN

NC AN

NE O -V E R

R E D-WAS

R E DHD

L AR K

MAJOR RIVER BASINS

Surface water

1990

1995

2005

B 2000

0

1990

1995

2000

2005

0

50

100

150

200

250

WIT H D R A WA L S , IN MIL L IO N G A L L O NS P E R D A Y

Public Supply, 1990-2005

UC IM

AR K -K E Y

R E D-S UL

L C IM

NC AN

L C AN

NE O -V E R

R E D-WAS

R E DHD

L AR K

MAJOR RIVER BASINS

Surface water

A
Comparison of Water Use 1990-2005 25

Figure 15. (A) Public supply surface-water withdrawals by major river basin in Oklahoma, 1990-2005 

(B) Irrigation surface-water withdrawals by major river basin in Oklahoma, 1990-2005 (C) Livestock and 

aquaculture surface-water withdrawals by major river basin in Oklahoma, 1990-2005.—Continued

1990

1995 2005

2000

0

10

20

30

40

WITHDR AWAL S , IN MIL L IO N G AL L O NS P E R DAY

Livestock and Aquaculture, 1990-2005

UC IM

R E D -SUL

AR K -K E Y

L C IM

NC AN

L C AN

NE O -V E R

R E D -WAS

R E DHD

LAR K

MAJOR RIVER BASINS

Surface water

C

EXPLANATION

UCIM Upper Cimarron

LCIM Lower Cimarron

ARK-KEY Arkansas-Keystone

NEO-VER Neosho-Verdigris

LCAN Lower Canadian

NCAN North Canadian

LARK Lower Arkansas

REDHD Red Headwaters

RED-WAS Red-Washita

RED-SUL Red-Sulphur
26 Water Use in Oklahoma 1950–2005

Figure 16. (A) Public supply groundwater withdrawals by principal aquifer in Oklahoma, 1990-2005 

(B) Irrigation groundwater withdrawals by principal aquifer in Oklahoma, 1990-2005 (C) Livestock and 

aquaculture groundwater withdrawals by principal aquifer in Oklahoma, 1990-2005.

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

WITHDR AWAL S , IN MIL L IO N G AL L O NS P E R DAY

Irrigation, 1990-2005

PRINCIPAL AQUIFERS

Groundwater

AT HP AV CO RS AS BA NP OZ ET

1995 B

1990

2000

2005

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

WITHDR AWAL S , IN MIL L IO N G AL L O NS P E R DAY

Public Supply, 1990-2005

PRINCIPAL AQUIFERS

Groundwater

AT HP AV CO RS AS BA NP OZ ET

A

1990

1995

2000 2005
Comparison of Water Use 1990-2005 27

Figure 16. (A) Public supply groundwater withdrawals by principal aquifer in Oklahoma, 1990-2005 

(B) Irrigation groundwater withdrawals by principal aquifer in Oklahoma, 1990-2005 (C) Livestock and 

aquaculture groundwater withdrawals by principal aquifer in Oklahoma, 1990-2005.—Continued

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

WITHDR AWAL S , IN MIL L IO N G AL L O NS P E R DAY

PRINCIPAL AQUIFERS

Livestock and Aquaculture, 1990-2005

Groundwater

AT HP AV CO RS AS BA NP OZ ET

1990

2005

2000

1995

EXPLANATION

Alluvial and terrace

High Plains

Ada-Vamoosa

Central Oklahoma

Rush Springs

Arbuckle-Simpson

Blaine

Not a Principal Aquifer

Ozark Plateaus

Edwards-Trinity (Antlers)

AT

HP

AV

CO

RS

AS

BA

NP

OZ

ET
28 Water Use in Oklahoma 1950–2005

from 1995–2005 in the other principal aquifers. Irrigation

water withdrawals depend on application method, crop type,

acreage irrigated, seasonal climate, and economics. Panhandle

groundwater irrigated acreage in 2005 was about 80 percent

of the acreage in 1995, but irrigation water withdrawals in

2005 decreased to about 35 percent of 1995 withdrawals.

This irrigation water withdrawal translates to an application

rate that was less than half of what it was in 1995 (from 2.93

to 1.32 acre-feet per acre). The two main crops in the panhandle were corn and wheat; irrigated corn acreage remained

about the same while most of reduction in irrigated acreage

was in irrigated wheat acreage; rainfall in the panhandle was

about normal during all three periods. This decrease in water

withdrawn from the High Plains Aquifer likely indicated

increased efficiency in irrigation water application methods in

the panhandle.

Livestock and aquaculture groundwater withdrawals

increased steadily from 1990–2000 and then decreased slightly

in 2005 in the principal aquifer with the largest withdrawals—the High Plains Aquifer—mainly because of changes in

the number of cattle and hogs in the panhandle counties (figs.

11 and 16C). Livestock withdrawals increased steadily from

1990–2005 in the principal aquifer with the next largest withdrawals—the alluvial and terrace aquifer (figs. 11 and 16C).

Comparison of Water Use 1950–2005

Freshwater withdrawals for water use are compared

graphically in this section in 5-year intervals from 1950–2005

for (1) total withdrawals by source and total population, and

(2) total withdrawals and withdrawals by category.

Surface-water sources have been generally increasing in

importance (fig. 17), in part because of the increasing usage

of surface water for public supply (fig. 12A) at the same

time that the total population of Oklahoma and population

served by surface-water sources increased (fig. 12B). The

population spikes in 1975 and 1985 in off-census years were

because of overly ambitious estimates (fig. 17; Murray and

Reeves, 1977; Solley, Merk, and Pierce, 1988). Self-supplied

or rural domestic water use was combined with livestock

water use in early years, so for consistency these categories

were combined for all years (fig. 18). Livestock withdrawals

have been steadily increasing (figs. 14A and 18) and most of

that water was surface water, in part because of the inclusion

of aquaculture in the category (fig. 14A). Cooling water use

for thermoelectric power generation also has risen steadily in

since 1990 (figs. 14B and 18) and was almost entirely from

surface-water sources (1990–2005 Oklahoma AWUDS tables).

Large surface-water withdrawals in 1965 were mainly because

of extraordinarily large withdrawals for thermoelectric cooling water, more than 300 Mgal/d more than in 1960 and

1970 (figs. 17 and 18) (Murray, 1968). Large surface-water

withdrawals in 1975 were in large part because of industrial

withdrawals, almost 200 Mgal/d more than 1970 (Murray and

Reeves, 1977), possibly illustrating the variability because of

type of industry.

Groundwater sources have been generally decreasing

in importance as a percentage of total withdrawals in recent

years (fig. 17). However, the magnitude of groundwater

withdrawals was greatly dependent on irrigation withdrawals

and specifically irrigated acreage in the panhandle. A great

many large-capacity irrigation wells were developed in the

panhandle, most of which were drilled in 1965–80 (Wahl and

Tortorelli, 1997). In the years that the number of irrigated

acreage exceeded 560,000 acres (1970–80 and 1995), total

groundwater withdrawals were greater than total surface-water

withdrawals. Irrigation withdrawals are varied because these

withdrawals are highly dependent on such factors as application method, crop type, acreage irrigated, seasonal climate,

and economics such as crop prices, depth to water, and power

costs.

Summary

Comprehensive planning for water resources development and use in Oklahoma requires a historical perspective on

water resources. This report presents 1950–2005 freshwater

withdrawal estimates for Oklahoma by source and category in

5-year intervals. Withdrawal source was either surface water

or groundwater. Withdrawal categories include: public supply,

irrigation, livestock and aquaculture, thermoelectric power

generation, domestic and commercial, and industrial and mining. Withdrawal data were aggregated and tabulated by county,

principal river basin, and major aquifer.

The purpose of this report is to summarize water-use data

in Oklahoma through: (1) presentation of detailed information on freshwater withdrawals by source, county, major river

basin, and major aquifer for 2005; (2) comparison of water

use by source, major category, major river basin, and major

aquifer at 5-year intervals from 1990–2005; and (3) comparison of water use on a statewide basis by source and category

at 5-year intervals from 1950–2005.

Total withdrawals from surface-water and groundwater

sources during 2005 were 1,559 million gallons per day—989

million gallons per day or 63 percent from surface-water

sources and 570 million gallons per day or 37 percent from

groundwater sources. The three largest water-use categories

were public supply, 646 million gallons per day or 41 percent

of total withdrawals; irrigation, 495 million gallons per day or

32 percent of total withdrawals; and livestock and aquaculture,

181 million gallons per day or 12 percent of total withdrawals.

All other categories were 237 million gallons per day or 15

percent of total withdrawals.

The influence of public supply on the total withdrawals

can be seen in the eastern two-thirds of Oklahoma; whereas,

the influence of irrigation on total withdrawals can be seen in

the western third of Oklahoma. Surface-water sources were
Summary 29

Figure 17. Freshwater withdrawals by source and population in Oklahoma, 1950-2005.

Figure 18. Freshwater withdrawals by category in Oklahoma, 1950-2005.

P O P UL A TIO N, IN THO US ANDS

0

400

800

1,200

1,600

2,000

2,400

2,800

3,200

3,600

4,000

0

250

500

750

1,000

1,250

1,500

1,750

2,000

2,250

2,500

WITHDR AWAL S , IN MIL L IO N G AL L O NS P E R DAY

1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010

1950-2005

Total Surface Water

Total Groundwater

Total Population

YEAR

0

250

500

750

1,000

1,250

1,500

1,750

2,000

2,250

2,500

0

150

300

450

600

750

900

1,050

1,200

1,350

1,500

Public Supply

Irrigation

Rural Domestic and Livestock

Thermoelectric Power

Other

Total Withdrawals

WITHDRAWALS, IN MILLION GALLONS PER DAY

1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010

YEAR

TOTAL WITHDRAWALS, IN MILLION GALLONS PER DAY
30 Water Use in Oklahoma 1950–2005

dominant in the eastern half of Oklahoma and groundwater

sources were dominant in the western half of Oklahoma.

Public supply was the largest category of surface-water

withdrawals in 6 of the 10 major river basins in 2005: North

Canadian, Arkansas-Keystone, Neosho-Verdigris, RedSulphur, Lower Canadian, and Red-Washita River basins.

Irrigation was the largest category of surface-water withdrawals only in the western one-third of Oklahoma in two basins:

the Upper Cimarron River Basin; and Red Headwaters River

Basin, which supplies the Altus-Lugert Irrigation District.

Livestock and aquaculture surface-water withdrawals were

about one-fifth or more of the withdrawals in half of the major

river basins: Lower Cimarron, Arkansas-Keystone, RedSulphur, Lower Canadian, and Red-Washita River basins.

Cooling water withdrawals for thermoelectric power generation were the largest withdrawals in the other category in two

major river basins in eastern Oklahoma: Neosho-Verdigris and

Lower Arkansas River basins.

Public supply groundwater withdrawals in 2005 were

30 percent or more of the withdrawals in more than half

of principal aquifers: Alluvial and terrace, Central Oklahoma, Ada-Vamoosa, Ozark Plateaus, Edwards-Trinity, and

Arbuckle-Simpson aquifers. Irrigation was the largest category

of groundwater withdrawals for more than half of the aquifers: High Plains, alluvial and terrace, Edwards-Trinity, Not

Principal, Rush Springs, and Blaine aquifers. Livestock and

aquaculture groundwater withdrawals were a large volume of

withdrawals in the northwest with two aquifers, High Plains

and alluvial and terrace aquifers.

Public supply withdrawals increased steadily from 1990–

2000 and then decreased slightly in 2005, mainly because of a

decrease in surface-water withdrawals. The total population of

the state and the population served by public-supplied surface

water have increased steadily; whereas, the population served

by public-supplied groundwater has remained about the same,

and the self-supplied population has steadily decreased.

Irrigation withdrawals increased from 1990–1995 and

then decreased steadily to 2005, mainly because of irrigation

in the panhandle (Cimarron, Texas, and Beaver Counties).

Irrigation water withdrawals depend on application method,

crop type, acreage irrigated, seasonal climate, and economics. Panhandle groundwater irrigated acreage in 2005 was

about 80 percent of the acreage in 1995, but irrigation water

withdrawals in 2005 decreased to about 36 percent of 1995

withdrawals.

Total livestock and aquaculture withdrawals steadily

increased from 1990–2005. Cattle numbers have remained

about the same from 1990–2005. However, hogs have

increased 10 fold and broiler chickens have almost doubled

from 1990–2005, resulting in increased water withdrawals

for these livestock. Surface-water withdrawals have remained

about the same, but groundwater withdrawals for livestock

have increased by 55 percent from 1990–2005. The largest

increase in the other categories was thermoelectric power

generation, which has steadily increased and almost doubled

from 1990–2005.

Surface-water sources have been increasing in importance from 1950–2005, in part because of the increasing

usage of surface-water for public supply at the same time that

the total population of Oklahoma and population served by

surface-water sources increased. Water withdrawals for livestock have been steadily increasing and most of that water was

surface-water withdrawals, in part because of the inclusion of

aquaculture. Cooling water for thermoelectric power generation also has risen steadily since 1990 and was almost entirely

from surface-water sources.

Groundwater sources have been generally decreasing

in importance as a percentage of total withdrawals in recent

years. However, the magnitude of groundwater withdrawals is

greatly dependent on irrigation withdrawals and specifically,

irrigated acreage in the panhandle. Irrigation withdrawals

are varied because these withdrawals are highly dependent

on such factors as application method, crop type, acreage

irrigated, seasonal climate, and economics such as crop prices,

depth to water, and power costs.

Selected References

Bureau of Reclamation, 2007, Oklahoma Facilities, Web

page at http://www.usbr.gov/projects/FacilitiesByState.

jsp?StateID=OK. (Accessed March 14, 2007.)

Dziegielewski, Benedykt, Subhash, C.S., Bik, T.J., Margono,

Heru, and Yang, Xiaoying, 2002, Analysis of water use

trends in the United States—1950–1995: Project Completion Report, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Ill.

variously paged.

Grand River Dam Authority, 2007, Facilities: Available online

at http://www.grda.com/. (Accessed May 10, 2007.)

Gurdak, J.J., McMahon, P.B., Dennehy, K.F., and Qi, S.L.,

2009, Water quality in the High Plains aquifer, Colorado,

Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota,

Texas, and Wyoming, 1999–2004: U.S. Geological Survey

Circular 1337, 63 p.

Hobbs, Frank, and Stoops, Nicole, 2002, U.S. Department

of Commerce, U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2000 Special

Reports, Series CENSR-4, Demographic trends in the

20th Century: U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington D.C., p. 143. Available at http://www.census.gov/

prod/2002pubs/censr-4.pdf. (Accessed December 18, 2003)

Holland, T.W., 2007, Water use in Arkansas, 2005: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2007–5241,

32 p.
Selected References 31

Hutson, S.S., compiler, 2007, Guidelines for preparation of

State water-use estimates for 2005: U.S. Geological Survey

Techniques and Methods Book 4, Chap. E1, 28 p. Available

online at http://pubs.usgs.gov/tm/2007/tm4e1/pdf/tm4-e1.

pdf.

Hutson, S.S., Barber, N.L., Kenny, J.F., Linsey, K.S., Lumia,

D.S., and Maupin, M.A., 2004, Estimated use of water in

the United States in 2000: U.S. Geological Survey Circular

1268, 46 p.

Kenny, J.F., and Hansen, C.V., 2004, Water use in Kansas,

1990-2000: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2004-3133,

4 p.

Kenny, J.F., Barber, N.L., Hutson, S.S., Linsey, K.S.,

Lovelace, J.K., and Maupin, M.A., 2009, Estimated use of

water in the United States in 2005: U.S. Geological Survey

Circular 1344, 52 p.

Lurry, D.L., and Tortorelli, R.L., 1996, Estimated freshwater

withdrawals in Oklahoma, 1990: U.S. Geological Survey

Water-Resources Investigations Report 95-4276, 2 sheets.

MacKichan, K.A., 1951, Estimated use of water in the United

States, 1950: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 115, 13 p.

MacKichan, K.A., 1957, Estimated use of water in the United

States, 1955: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 398, 18 p.

MacKichan, K.A., and Kammerer, J.C., 1961, Estimated use

of water in the United States, 1960: U.S. Geological Survey

Circular 456, 44 p.

Maupin, M.A., and Barber, N.L., 2005, Estimated withdrawals from principal aquifers in the United States, 2000: U.S.

Geological Survey Circular 1279, 46 p.

Murray, C.R., 1968, Estimated use of water in the United

States, 1965: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 556, 53 p.

Murray, C.R., and Reeves, E.B., 1972, Estimated use of water

in the United States, 1970: U.S. Geological Survey Circular

676, 37 p.

Murray, C.R., and Reeves, E.B., 1977, Estimated use of water

in the United States, 1975: U.S. Geological Survey Circular

765, 37 p.

National Agricultural Statistics Service, 2006, Oklahoma

County data 2006—Livestock: Available online at http://

www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Oklahoma/index.

asp. (Accessed August 28, 2008.)

National Agricultural Statistics Service, 2007, 2002 Census of

agriculture—County data, irrigation: Oklahoma: Available

online at http://www.agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2002/

Volume_1,_Chapter_2_County_Level/Oklahoma/index.asp.

(Accessed June 9, 2009.)

National Climatic Data Center, 2008, Climate Visualization

System: Available online at http://www7.ncdc.noaa.gov/

CDO/CDODivisionalSelect.jsp. (Accessed May 31, 2008.)

Natural Resources Conservation Service, 1998, Irrigation

guide, Oklahoma Supplement, Chapter 4—Water requirements: National Engineering Handbook—Part 652, Notice

OK–1, 23 p.

Oklahoma Climatological Survey, 2008a, Rainfall statistics: Available online at http://climate.mesonet.org/

rainfall/2000summer.php.html. (Accessed September 25,

2008.)

Oklahoma Climatological Survey, 2008b, Rainfall statistics: Available online at http://climate.mesonet.org/

rainfall/2005summer.php.html. (Accessed September 25,

2008.)

Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, 1991, Oklahoma Agricultural Statistics 1990, 103 p.

Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, 1996, Oklahoma Agricultural Statistics 1995, 104 p.

Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, 2001, Oklahoma Agricultural Statistics 2000, 104 p.

Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, 2006, Oklahoma Agricultural Statistics 2006, 107 p.

Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, 2008,

Drinking Water Branch, Drinking Water Supply System

Data: Web page at http://sdwis.deq.state.ok.us/. (Accessed

August 22, 2008.)

Oklahoma Water Resources Board, 1990, Oklahoma Water

Atlas, Publication 135, 360 p.

Oklahoma Water Resources Board, 1998, Rural Water Systems

in Oklahoma, Publication 138, 212 p.

Perlman, H.A., 1998, User’s manual for the National Water

Information System of the U.S. Geological Survey, Chapter

4, Water-Use Data System, Part 2, Aggregate Water-Use

Data System: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report

98–575, 33 p.

Ryder, Paul D., 1996, Ground Water Atlas of the United

States: Segment 4, Oklahoma, Texas: U.S. Geological Survey Hydrologic Atlas 730–E, 30 p.

Schein, Gary, 2008, Stimulation for shale resources plays:

Energy Institute Resource Workshop, January 14–15, 2008,

Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas.

Solley, W.B., Chase, E.B., and Mann, W.B., IV, 1983, Estimated use of water in the United States in 1980: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1001, 56 p.
32 Water Use in Oklahoma 1950–2005

Solley, W.B., Merk, C.F., and Pierce, R.R., 1988, Estimated

use of water in the United States in 1985: U.S. Geological

Survey Circular 1004, 82 p.

Solley, W.B., Pierce, R.R., and Perlman, H.A., 1993, Estimated use of water in the United States in 1990: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1081, 76 p.

Solley, W.B., Pierce, R.R., and Perlman, H.A., 1998, Estimated use of water in the United States in 1995: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1200, 71 p.

Southwestern Power Administration, 2007, 2004–2006 Annual

report: Southwestern Power Administration, 32 p. Available at http://www.swpa.gov/PDFs/SWPA_FY2004-2006_

annual_report.pdf. (Accessed October 17, 2008.)

Tortorelli, R.L., 2002, Statistical summaries of streamflow in

Oklahoma through 1999: U.S. Geological Survey WaterResources Investigations Report 02–4025, 510 p.

Tortorelli, R.L., 2008, Hydrologic drought of Water Year

2006 compared with four major drought periods of the 20th

century in Oklahoma: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific

Investigations Report 2008–5199, 46 p.

Tortorelli, R.L., and McCabe, L.P., 2001, Flood frequency

estimates and documented and potential extreme peak

discharges in Oklahoma: U.S. Geological Survey WaterResources Investigations Report 01–4152, 59 p.

Tortorelli, R.L., Rasmussen, T.J., and Perry, C.A., 2005,

Trends in annual peak flows and mean annual flows of

selected streams within and near Oklahoma: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2005–5192, 116

p.

Tortorelli, R.L., Rea, Alan, and Asquith, W.H., 1999, Depthduration frequency of precipitation for Oklahoma: U.S.

Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report

99–4232, 113 p.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 2007, Tulsa District water

control home page: Available at http://www.swt-wc.usace.

army.mil/. (Accessed March 13, 2007.)

U.S. Department of Energy, 2006, Electric power annual,

2005: Washington, D.C., Energy Information Administration, 88 p.

U.S. Geological Survey, 2008, Water use in the United States:

Available online at http://water.usgs.gov/watuse/. (Accessed

September 1, 2008.)

Wahl, K.L., and Tortorelli, R.L., 1997, Changes in flow in the

Beaver-North Canadian River Basin upstream from Canton

Lake, western Oklahoma: U.S. Geological Survey WaterResources Investigations Report 96–4304, 58 p.
Appendixes 33

Appendixes
34 Water Use in Oklahoma 1950–2005
Appendixes 35

Glossary

Water-use terminology has changed in the series of USGS

water-use Circulars prepared at 5-year intervals. The term

water use as initially used for 1950 in the USGS water-use

Circulars meant withdrawals of water; in the report for 1960,

the term was redefined to include consumptive use of water

and withdrawals. With the beginning of the USGS National

Water Use Information Program in 1978, the term was again

redefined to include return flow and offstream and instream

uses. The term was redefined in the report for 1985 to include

withdrawals plus deliveries from public suppliers. In the

water-use Circular for 2000, water use is defined as initially

used in 1950 as withdrawals of water. The following terms are

referenced in the text and are part of the water-use Circular

series (modified from Kenny and others, 2009). These data for

1985–2005 can be accessed at the USGS water use web site at

http://water.usgs.gov/watuse/wudata.html.

A

animal-specialties water use—water use associated with the

production of fish in captivity, except for fish hatcheries, and

the raising of horses and such fur-bearing animals as rabbits

and pets. Animal-specialties water-use estimates were included

in the 1990 and 1995 water-use Circulars, but were combined

with the livestock categories or aquaculture categories for

2000 and 2005. See also aquaculture water use, fish-farm

water use, livestock water use, and rural water use.

aquaculture water use—water use associated with the farming of organisms that live in water—such as finfish and shellfish—and offstream water use associated with fish hatcheries.

See also fish-hatchery water use, animal-specialties water use,

and livestock water use.

C

closed-loop cooling system—See recirculation cooling system.

commercial water use—water for motels, hotels, restaurants,

office buildings, other commercial businesses, military and

nonmilitary institutions, and (for 1990 and 1995) offstream

fish hatcheries. Water may be obtained from a public-supply

system or may be self-supplied. Commercial water-use estimates were included in some previous water-use Circulars

but were omitted beginning in 2000. In Oklahoma water-use

estimates for 1990–2005, commercial water use category was

included and refers only to self-supplied commercial withdrawals. Most commercial use in Oklahoma is included in and

delivered from public supply. See also fish-hatchery water use,

public-supply water use, public-supply deliveries, and selfsupplied water use.

consumptive use—the part of water withdrawn that is

evaporated, transpired, incorporated into products or crops,

consumed by humans or livestock, or otherwise removed from

the immediate water environment. Consumptive-use estimates

were included in some previous water-use Circulars but were

omitted beginning in 2000. However, these estimates were

included for all Oklahoma water-use estimates for 1990–2005.

Also referred to as water consumed.

conveyance loss—water that is lost in transit from a pipe,

canal, conduit, or ditch by leakage or evaporation. Generally,

the water is not available for further use; however, leakage

from an irrigation ditch, for example, may percolate to a

groundwater source and be available for further use. Conveyance-loss estimates were included in some previous water-use

Circulars but were omitted beginning in 2000. However, these

estimates were included for all Oklahoma water-use estimates

for 1990–2005. See also irrigation water use.

cooling system—an equipment system that provides water for

cooling, such as to condensers at power plants or at factories.

May include water intakes, outlets, cooling towers, ponds,

canals, pumps, and pipes. See also cooling-system type, industrial water use, and thermoelectric-power water use.

cooling-system type—See once-through cooling system and

recirculation cooling system.

D

domestic water use—water used for indoor household activities such as drinking, food preparation, bathing, washing

clothes and dishes, flushing toilets, and outdoor uses such as

watering lawns and gardens. Domestic water use includes water provided to households by a public-water supply (domestic

deliveries) and self-supplied water. In Oklahoma water-use

estimates for 1990–2005, domestic water use category refers

only to self-supplied domestic withdrawals and is assumed

to be totally from groundwater withdrawals. See also publicsupply deliveries, public-supply water use, rural water use,

and self-supplied water use.

F

fish-hatchery water use—water used for raising fish for later

release and in association with the operation of fish hatcheries or fishing preserves. Fish-hatchery water use has been

included in the aquaculture category since 2000. See also

aquaculture water use, commercial water use.

freshwater—water that contains less than 1,000 milligrams

per liter (mg/L) of dissolved solids; generally, more than 500

mg/L of dissolved solids is undesirable for drinking and for

many industrial uses. However, Oklahoma has an exception.

Water withdrawn from the Blaine aquifer often exceeds 1,000
36 Water Use in Oklahoma 1950–2005

mg/L and is used predominantly for irrigation (Lurry and Tortorelli, 1996). See also saline water.

I

industrial water use—water used for fabrication, processing,

washing, and cooling. Includes industries such as chemical

and allied products, food, mining, paper and allied products,

petroleum refining, and steel. Term used in previous water-use

Circulars to describe the combined public-supply deliveries to

industrial users and self-supplied industrial withdrawals. For

2000 and 2005, industrial water use refers only to self-supplied industrial withdrawals. In Oklahoma water-use estimates

for 1990–2005, most of the industrial use in Oklahoma is

included in and delivered from public supply; industrial wateruse category refers only to self-supplied industrial withdrawals. See also cooling system, cooling-system type, mining

water use, public-supply deliveries, public-supply water use,

self-supplied water use, and thermoelectric-power water use.

instream use—water that is used, but not withdrawn, from a

surface-water source such as hydroelectric power generation,

navigation, water-quality improvement, fish propagation, and

recreation. Instream water-use estimates for hydroelectric

power were included in previous water-use Circulars but were

omitted for 2000 and 2005; but were included for all Oklahoma water-use estimates for 1950–2005.

irrigation district—a cooperative, self-governing public corporation set up as a subdivision of the State government, with

definite geographic boundaries, organized, and having taxing

power to obtain and distribute water for irrigation of lands in

the district; created under the authority of a State

legislature with the consent of a designated fraction of the

landowners or citizens. See also irrigation water use.

irrigation water use—water that is applied by an irrigation

system to assist crop and pasture growth, or to maintain vegetation on recreational lands such as parks and golf courses.

Irrigation includes water that is applied for pre-irrigation, frost

protection, chemical application, weed control, field preparation, crop cooling, harvesting, dust suppression, leaching of

salts from the root zone, and conveyance losses. Oklahoma

water-use estimates for 1990–2005 included only crop irrigation. Parks and golf courses are included in the commercial

category for this report, usually delivered by public supply.

See also conveyance loss, micro-irrigation system, sprinkler

irrigation system, and surface irrigation system.

L

livestock water use—water used for livestock watering, feedlots, dairy operations, and other on-farm needs. Types of livestock include dairy cows and heifers, beef cattle and calves,

sheep and lambs, goats, hogs and pigs, horses, and poultry. See 

also animal-specialties water use, aquaculture water use, and

rural water use.

M

micro-irrigation system—an irrigation system that wets only

a discrete part of the soil surface near the plant by means of

applicators (such as orifices, emitters, porous tubing, or perforated pipe) and operated under low pressure. The applicators

may be placed on or below the land surface or suspended from

supports. See also irrigation water use, sprinkler irrigation

system, and surface irrigation system.

mining water use—water used for the extraction of naturally occurring minerals including solids (such as coal, sand,

gravel, and other ores), liquids (such as crude petroleum),

and gases (such as natural gas). Also includes uses associated

with quarrying, milling, and other preparations customarily

done at the mine site or as part of a mining activity. Does not

include water associated with dewatering of the aquifer that

is not put to beneficial use. Also does not include water used

in processing, such as smelting, refining petroleum, or slurry

pipeline operations. These processing uses are included in

industrial water use. Most of mining water use in Oklahoma is

not freshwater withdrawals, but saltwater in conjunction with

the petroleum industry. See also industrial water use and selfsupplied water use.

O

offstream use—water withdrawn or diverted from a groundwater or surface-water source for aquaculture, commercial,

domestic self-supply, industrial, irrigation, livestock, mining,

public supply, thermoelectric power, and other uses. See also

entries for each of these categories of use.

once-through cooling system—also known as open-loop cooling system. Cooling system in which the water is withdrawn

from a source, circulated through the heat exchangers, and

then returned to a body of water at a higher temperature. See 

also cooling system, cooling system type, industrial water use,

and thermoelectric-power water use.

P

public-supply deliveries—amount of water delivered from

a public supplier to users for domestic, commercial, industrial, thermoelectric power, or public water use. Estimates of

deliveries for each purpose were provided for 1995 and earlier

years, but not for 2000. For 2005, only domestic deliveries

were estimated nationally. However these estimates were

included for all Oklahoma water-use estimates for 1990–2005.

See also commercial water use, domestic water use, industrial

water use, public-supply water use, public-water use, andthermoelectric-power water use.

public-supply water use—water withdrawn by public- and

private water suppliers that furnish water to groups of users.

Public suppliers provide water for a variety of uses, such as

domestic, commercial, industrial, thermoelectric power, and

public water use. See also commercial water use, domestic

water use, industrial water use, public-supply deliveries,
Appendixes 37

public water use, and thermoelectric-power water use.

public water use—water supplied from a public supplier and

used for firefighting, street washing, flushing of water lines,

and maintaining municipal parks and swimming pools. Generally, public-use water is not billed by the public supplier. See 

also public-supply deliveries and public-supply water use.

R

recirculation cooling system—also known as closed-loop

cooling system. Water is withdrawn from a source, circulated

through heat exchangers, cooled, and then re-used in the same

process. Recirculation cooling systems may utilize induced

draft cooling towers, forced draft cooling towers, cooling

ponds, or canals. See also cooling system, cooling-system

type, industrial water use, and thermoelectric-power water use.

reclaimed wastewater—wastewater treatment plant effluent

that has been diverted for beneficial uses such as irrigation,

industry, or thermoelectric cooling instead of being released to

a natural waterway or aquifer. See also water use.

return flow—water that reaches a groundwater or surfacewater source after release from the point of use and thus

becomes available for further use. Term used in previous

water-use Circulars. See also water use.

rural water use—water used in suburban or farm areas for

domestic and livestock needs. The water generally is self-supplied, and includes domestic use, drinking water for livestock,

and other uses, such as dairy sanitation, cleaning, and waste

disposal. Term used in previous water-use Circulars. Self-supplied domestic and livestock uses were included as separate

categories for all Oklahoma water-use estimates for 1990-

2005. See also animal-specialties water use, domestic water

use, livestock water use, and self-supplied water use.

S

saline water—water that contains 1,000 mg/L or more of dissolved solids. See also freshwater.

self-supplied water use—water withdrawn from a groundwater or surface-water source by a user rather than being

obtained from a public supply.

sprinkler irrigation system—An irrigation system in which

water is applied by means of perforated pipes or nozzles

operated under pressure so as to form a spray pattern. See

also irrigation water use, micro-irrigation system, and surface

irrigation system.

surface irrigation system—irrigation by means of flood, furrow, or gravity. Flood irrigation is the application of irrigation water in which the soil surface is covered by ponded

water. Furrow is a partial surface-flooding method of irrigation normally used with clean-tilled crops in which water is

applied in furrows or rows of sufficient capacity to contain

the design irrigation stream. Gravity is an irrigation method in

which water is not pumped, but flows in ditches or pipes and

is distributed by gravity. See also irrigation water use, microirrigation system, and sprinkler irrigation system.

T

thermoelectric-power water use—water used in the process

of generating electricity with steam-driven turbine generators. Term used in previous water-use Circulars to describe the

combined public-supply deliveries to thermoelectric-power

plants and self-supplied thermoelectric-power withdrawals.

For 2000 and 2005, thermoelectric-power water use refers

only to self-supplied thermoelectric-power withdrawals. See 

also cooling system, cooling-system type, public-supply water

use, and self-supplied water use.

W

wastewater-treatment return flow—term used in previous

water-use Circulars to describe water returned to the hydrologic system by wastewater-treatment facilities. See also water

use

water use—(1) In a restrictive sense, the term refers to water

that is withdrawn for a specific purpose, such as for public

supply, domestic use, irrigation, thermoelectric-power cooling,

or industrial processing. In previous water-use Circulars, water

use for the domestic, commercial, industrial, and thermoelectric categories included self-supplied withdrawals and deliveries from public supply. (2) More broadly, water use pertains to

the interaction of humans with and influence on the hydrologic

cycle, and includes elements such as water withdrawal, delivery, consumptive use, wastewater release, reclaimed wastewater, return flow, and instream use. See also offstream use and

instream use.

watt-hour (Wh)—an electrical energy unit of measure equal to

1 watt of power supplied to, or taken from, an electric circuit

steadily for 1 hour.

water withdrawal—water removed from the ground or

diverted from a surface-water source for use. See also offstream use and self-supplied water use.
38 Water Use in Oklahoma 1950–2005

Appendix 1. Estimated total freshwater withdrawals by county, use, and source in Oklahoma, 2005. —Continued 

[Amounts are in million gallons per day. Totals may not add to totals because of independent rounding. Source: Oklahoma AWUDS database 2005 county

aggregation. County aggregation may not match major river basin and principal aquifer aggregation due to independent aggregation]

County

Public supply Irrigation Livestock and aquaculture

GroundwaterSurface 

water Total Groundwater

Surface 

water Total Groundwater

Surface 

water Total

Adair 0.00 5.98 5.98 0.00 0.38 0.38 0.24 2.13 2.37

Alfalfa 1.58 0.00 1.58 0.10 0.60 0.70 2.08 2.04 4.12

Atoka 0.08 53.86 53.94 0.00 0.14 0.14 0.21 1.89 2.10

Beaver 0.43 0.00 0.43 20.62 0.08 20.70 4.39 0.00 4.39

Beckham 4.06 0.00 4.06 3.16 0.28 3.44 0.32 0.96 1.28

Blaine 1.66 0.00 1.66 1.54 1.28 2.82 0.89 1.81 2.70

Bryan 0.93 4.48 5.41 0.53 4.30 4.83 0.91 7.83 8.74

Caddo 1.98 9.86 11.84 24.50 3.94 28.44 1.13 2.66 3.79

Canadian 2.55 0.00 2.55 1.75 0.16 1.91 0.51 1.80 2.31

Carter 0.84 14.31 15.15 1.00 0.93 1.93 0.18 1.63 1.81

Cherokee 0.02 5.18 5.20 0.00 4.12 4.12 0.13 0.88 1.01

Choctaw 0.59 1.67 2.26 0.00 0.13 0.13 0.21 1.91 2.12

Cimarron 0.46 0.00 0.46 47.35 0.25 47.60 2.95 0.00 2.95

Cleveland 11.03 21.37 32.40 0.08 0.02 0.10 0.09 0.81 0.90

Coal 0.03 0.62 0.65 0.00 0.04 0.04 0.12 1.12 1.24

Comanche 1.83 16.27 18.10 0.57 1.06 1.63 0.55 1.68 2.23

Cotton 0.31 0.33 0.64 0.01 0.28 0.29 0.45 1.35 1.80

Craig 0.28 0.00 0.28 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.23 2.03 2.26

Creek 1.33 4.24 5.57 0.00 0.13 0.13 0.13 1.57 1.70

Custer 3.16 1.47 4.63 3.14 1.00 4.14 0.78 1.60 2.38

Delaware 0.39 1.77 2.16 0.00 0.01 0.01 0.45 2.36 2.81

Dewey 0.13 0.00 0.13 2.80 0.00 2.80 0.45 1.36 1.81

Ellis 0.57 0.00 0.57 12.56 0.15 12.71 2.23 0.01 2.24

Garfield 3.51 0.00 3.51 0.17 0.00 0.17 0.25 2.26 2.51

Garvin 0.89 1.56 2.45 0.23 0.62 0.85 0.23 2.10 2.33

Grady 2.58 0.00 2.58 0.93 5.66 6.59 0.44 3.68 4.12

Grant 1.27 0.00 1.27 0.50 0.33 0.83 0.15 1.35 1.50

Greer 1.11 0.00 1.11 3.74 0.44 4.18 0.23 0.72 0.95

Harmon 0.74 0.00 0.74 25.14 0.21 25.35 0.15 0.46 0.61

Harper 0.95 0.00 0.95 3.90 6.80 10.70 2.99 0.00 2.99

Haskell 0.00 1.30 1.30 0.00 0.41 0.41 0.23 3.10 3.33

Hughes 0.32 1.61 1.93 0.55 2.36 2.91 0.77 2.49 3.26

Jackson 0.16 0.38 0.54 8.64 65.32 73.96 0.27 0.81 1.08

Jefferson 0.57 4.00 4.57 0.08 0.38 0.46 0.20 1.82 2.02

Johnston 0.60 0.57 1.17 1.15 5.38 6.53 0.14 8.21 8.35

Kay 7.29 13.16 20.45 0.38 0.38 0.76 0.09 0.80 0.89
Appendixes 39

Appendix 1. Estimated total freshwater withdrawals by county, use, and source in Oklahoma, 2005. —Continued 

[Amounts are in million gallons per day. Totals may not add to totals because of independent rounding. Source: Oklahoma AWUDS database 2005 county

aggregation. County aggregation may not match major river basin and principal aquifer aggregation due to independent aggregation]

County

Public supply Irrigation Livestock and aquaculture

GroundwaterSurface 

water Total Groundwater

Surface 

water Total Groundwater

Surface 

water Total

Kingfisher 1.49 0.13 1.62 3.63 0.50 4.13 1.39 2.72 4.11

Kiowa 1.39 9.69 11.08 1.00 0.54 1.54 0.47 1.41 1.88

Latimer 0.00 1.73 1.73 0.00 0.04 0.04 0.09 0.78 0.87

Le Flore 0.16 9.68 9.84 0.64 3.87 4.51 0.99 2.74 3.73

Lincoln 0.37 1.04 1.41 0.00 0.18 0.18 0.26 2.35 2.61

Logan 1.06 1.69 2.75 0.00 0.32 0.32 0.16 1.49 1.65

Love 0.97 0.00 0.97 0.24 0.84 1.08 0.10 0.99 1.09

McClain 2.12 0.16 2.28 1.04 0.60 1.64 0.14 1.17 1.31

McCurtain 0.00 5.76 5.76 0.00 0.40 0.40 0.24 2.17 2.41

McIntosh 0.20 3.19 3.39 0.00 0.04 0.04 0.15 1.33 1.48

Major 6.39 0.00 6.39 8.53 0.61 9.14 3.63 0.00 3.63

Marshall 0.45 2.40 2.85 1.85 1.63 3.48 0.07 0.59 0.66

Mayes 0.00 93.07 93.07 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.24 2.26 2.50

Murray 1.31 12.91 14.22 0.71 1.26 1.97 0.10 1.37 1.47

Muskogee 0.40 14.35 14.75 2.66 4.73 7.39 0.26 2.34 2.60

Noble 0.06 0.99 1.05 0.03 0.03 0.06 0.10 0.91 1.01

Nowata 0.00 0.83 0.83 0.00 0.07 0.07 0.13 1.16 1.29

Okfuskee 0.25 0.96 1.21 0.15 0.04 0.19 0.16 1.24 1.40

Oklahoma 17.53 76.23 93.76 2.06 0.35 2.41 0.24 0.62 0.86

Okmulgee 0.00 14.28 14.28 0.00 0.72 0.72 0.09 1.04 1.13

Osage 0.12 13.90 14.02 0.00 0.11 0.11 0.44 4.00 4.44

Ottawa 3.11 0.00 3.11 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.35 1.78 2.13

Pawnee 0.35 2.56 2.91 0.00 0.08 0.08 0.07 0.61 0.68

Payne 1.58 1.10 2.68 0.29 0.04 0.33 0.14 1.35 1.49

Pittsburg 0.00 7.85 7.85 0.00 0.19 0.19 0.26 2.62 2.88

Pontotoc 0.52 5.48 6.00 0.10 0.64 0.74 0.16 1.96 2.12

Pottawatomie 0.53 4.28 4.81 0.04 0.10 0.14 0.21 1.63 1.84

Pushmataha 0.02 0.57 0.59 0.00 0.06 0.06 0.13 1.16 1.29

Roger Mills 0.38 0.22 0.60 5.04 1.18 6.22 0.41 1.22 1.63

Rogers 0.00 65.10 65.10 0.00 1.93 1.93 0.19 1.75 1.94

Seminole 1.54 0.74 2.28 0.05 0.00 0.05 0.20 1.44 1.64

Sequoyah 0.00 5.80 5.80 0.69 1.19 1.88 0.16 2.39 2.55

Stephens 0.92 0.00 0.92 0.22 0.86 1.08 0.18 2.19 2.37

Texas 6.06 0.00 6.06 149.08 0.28 149.36 11.47 0.00 11.47

Tillman 0.24 0.00 0.24 7.58 0.32 7.90 0.26 0.78 1.04

Tulsa 0.00 0.05 0.05 1.07 0.23 1.30 0.06 0.55 0.61
40 Water Use in Oklahoma 1950–2005

Appendix 1. Estimated total freshwater withdrawals by county, use, and source in Oklahoma, 2005. —Continued 

[Amounts are in million gallons per day. Totals may not add to totals because of independent rounding. Source: Oklahoma AWUDS database 2005 county

aggregation. County aggregation may not match major river basin and principal aquifer aggregation due to independent aggregation]

County

Public supply Irrigation Livestock and aquaculture

GroundwaterSurface 

water Total Groundwater

Surface 

water Total Groundwater

Surface 

water Total

Wagoner 0.00 6.41 6.41 0.29 0.58 0.87 0.12 2.21 2.33

Washington 0.00 3.93 3.93 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.09 0.79 0.88

Washita 1.07 1.42 2.49 2.86 1.10 3.96 0.50 1.52 2.02

Woods 1.78 0.00 1.78 2.01 0.02 2.03 1.87 0.00 1.87

Woodward 7.07 0.00 7.07 4.41 0.25 4.66 2.87 0.00 2.87

Totals 113.67 532.49 646.16 361.39 133.50 494.89 54.92 125.86 180.78
Appendixes 41

Appendix 1. Estimated total freshwater withdrawals by county, use, and source in Oklahoma, 2005. —Continued

[Amounts are in million gallons per day. Totals may not add to totals because of independent rounding. Source: Oklahoma AWUDS database 2005 county

aggregation. County aggregation may not match major river basin and principal aquifer aggregation due to independent aggregation]

County

Thermoelectric-power

generation

Domestic and

commercial

Industrial and

mining

GroundwaterSurface 

water Total Groundwater

Surface 

water Total Groundwater

Surface 

water Total

Adair 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.78 0.09 0.87 0.00 0.00 0.00

Alfalfa 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.07 0.00 0.07 0.00 0.00 0.00

Atoka 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.26 0.01 0.27 0.00 0.00 0.00

Beaver 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.22 0.00 0.22 0.32 0.00 0.32

Beckham 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.32 0.00 0.32 0.00 0.00 0.00

Blaine 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.24 0.79 1.03 0.29 0.00 0.29

Bryan 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.24 0.00 0.24 0.00 0.99 0.99

Caddo 0.19 5.44 5.63 1.30 0.06 1.36 0.00 0.00 0.00

Canadian 0.22 0.00 0.22 1.07 0.01 1.08 0.17 0.00 0.17

Carter 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.02 0.01 0.03 0.02 0.05 0.07

Cherokee 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.63 0.03 0.66 0.00 0.00 0.00

Choctaw 0.00 5.73 5.73 0.40 1.27 1.67 0.00 0.03 0.03

Cimarron 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.10 0.00 0.10 0.00 0.00 0.00

Cleveland 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.48 0.00 1.48 0.03 0.00 0.03

Coal 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.13 0.00 0.13 0.00 0.00 0.00

Comanche 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.81 0.34 1.15 0.17 0.20 0.37

Cotton 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Craig 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.07 0.00 0.07 0.00 0.00 0.00

Creek 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.60 0.00 0.60 0.00 0.00 0.00

Custer 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.30 0.04 0.34 0.00 0.00 0.00

Delaware 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.98 0.00 0.98 0.00 0.00 0.00

Dewey 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.09 0.00 0.09 0.07 0.00 0.07

Ellis 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.12 0.00 0.12 0.01 0.00 0.01

Garfield 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.20 0.00 0.20 0.00 0.00 0.00

Garvin 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.35 0.04 0.39 0.00 0.00 0.00

Grady 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.34 0.28 1.62 0.02 0.00 0.02

Grant 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.06 0.00 0.06 0.00 0.00 0.00

Greer 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Harmon 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Harper 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.08 1.18 1.26 0.00 0.00 0.00

Haskell 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.45 0.00 0.45 0.00 0.00 0.00

Hughes 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.08 0.30 0.38 0.00 0.00 0.00

Jackson 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.09 0.04 0.13 0.52 0.00 0.52

Jefferson 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.00 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00

Johnston 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.00 0.01 0.07 0.06 0.13
42 Water Use in Oklahoma 1950–2005

Appendix 1. Estimated total freshwater withdrawals by county, use, and source in Oklahoma, 2005. —Continued

[Amounts are in million gallons per day. Totals may not add to totals because of independent rounding. Source: Oklahoma AWUDS database 2005 county

aggregation. County aggregation may not match major river basin and principal aquifer aggregation due to independent aggregation]

County

Thermoelectric-power

generation

Domestic and

commercial

Industrial and

mining

GroundwaterSurface 

water Total Groundwater

Surface 

water Total Groundwater

Surface 

water Total

Kay 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.19 0.00 0.19 3.70 0.37 4.07

Kingfisher 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.38 0.00 0.38 0.07 0.00 0.07

Kiowa 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.02 0.02

Latimer 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.11 0.00 0.11 0.00 0.00 0.00

Le Flore 0.00 3.14 3.14 0.54 0.00 0.54 0.00 0.00 0.00

Lincoln 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.52 0.00 1.52 0.00 0.00 0.00

Logan 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.96 0.00 0.96 0.02 0.34 0.36

Love 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.10 0.00 0.10 0.00 0.52 0.52

McClain 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.65 0.00 0.65 0.00 0.00 0.00

McCurtain 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.64 0.00 0.64 0.00 0.64 0.64

McIntosh 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.03 0.03 0.00 0.00 0.00

Major 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.18 0.00 0.18 0.00 0.00 0.00

Marshall 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.06 0.19 0.25 0.00 0.00 0.00

Mayes 0.00 11.62 11.62 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Murray 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.04 0.04 0.03 2.70 2.73

Muskogee 0.00 75.03 75.03 0.79 0.00 0.79 0.00 9.68 9.68

Noble 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.13 0.00 0.13 0.00 0.00 0.00

Nowata 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.06 0.00 0.06 0.00 0.00 0.00

Okfuskee 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.09 0.00 0.09 0.00 0.00 0.00

Oklahoma 0.13 7.30 7.43 2.06 0.08 2.14 0.06 0.00 0.06

Okmulgee 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Osage 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.57 0.50 1.07 0.41 0.13 0.54

Ottawa 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.84 0.00 0.84 0.00 0.00 0.00

Pawnee 0.00 11.89 11.89 0.40 0.00 0.40 0.00 0.00 0.00

Payne 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.67 7.69 8.36 0.00 0.00 0.00

Pittsburg 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.22 0.00 0.22 0.00 0.73 0.73

Pontotoc 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.47 0.00 0.47 2.50 0.01 2.51

Pottawatomie 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.77 0.00 1.77 0.07 0.00 0.07

Pushmataha 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.13 0.23 0.36 0.00 0.00 0.00

Roger Mills 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.06 0.11 0.17 0.00 0.00 0.00

Rogers 0.00 12.28 12.28 0.47 2.49 2.96 0.00 0.00 0.00

Seminole 0.00 13.83 13.83 0.34 0.02 0.36 0.00 0.00 0.00

Sequoyah 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.07 0.00 0.07 0.00 1.25 1.25

Stephens 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.56 0.38 0.94 0.00 0.00 0.00

Texas 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.26 0.00 0.26 0.06 0.00 0.06
Appendixes 43

Appendix 1. Estimated total freshwater withdrawals by county, use, and source in Oklahoma, 2005. —Continued

[Amounts are in million gallons per day. Totals may not add to totals because of independent rounding. Source: Oklahoma AWUDS database 2005 county

aggregation. County aggregation may not match major river basin and principal aquifer aggregation due to independent aggregation]

County

Thermoelectric-power

generation

Domestic and

commercial

Industrial and

mining

GroundwaterSurface 

water Total Groundwater

Surface 

water Total Groundwater

Surface 

water Total

Tillman 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.06 0.00 0.06 0.00 0.00 0.00

Tulsa 0.00 16.72 16.72 0.76 0.18 0.94 0.16 0.00 0.16

Wagoner 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.03 0.03 0.00 0.00 0.00

Washington 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Washita 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.19 0.08 0.27 0.00 0.00 0.00

Woods 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.10 0.00 0.10 0.00 0.00 0.00

Woodward 0.71 0.00 0.71 0.30 0.03 0.33 0.28 0.00 0.28

Totals 1.25 162.98 164.23 29.60 16.57 46.17 9.05 17.72 26.77
44 Water Use in Oklahoma 1950–2005

Appendix 1. Estimated total freshwater withdrawals by county, use, and source in Oklahoma, 2005. 

-- Continued

[Freshwater amounts are in million gallons per day. Population values are in thousands. Totals may not add to totals

because of independent rounding] Source: Oklahoma AWUDS database 2005 county aggregation. County aggregation

may not match major river basin and principal aquifer aggregation due to independent aggregation]

County

Population

Total Public supply Selfsupplied

GroundwaterSurface 

water Total Groundwater

Surface 

water

Groundwater Total

Adair 1.02 8.58 9.60 0.03 12.79 9.14 21.96

Alfalfa 3.83 2.64 6.47 4.87 0.00 0.86 5.73

Atoka 0.55 55.90 56.45 1.06 10.26 3.03 14.34

Beaver 25.98 0.08 26.06 2.78 0.00 2.62 5.40

Beckham 7.86 1.24 9.10 16.83 0.00 1.98 18.81

Blaine 4.62 3.88 8.50 11.74 0.00 1.13 12.87

Bryan 2.61 17.60 20.21 6.95 28.01 2.78 37.73

Caddo 29.10 21.96 51.06 11.82 6.55 11.73 30.09

Canadian 6.27 1.97 8.24 63.09 35.36 0.00 98.45

Carter 2.06 16.93 18.99 8.02 38.79 0.22 47.03

Cherokee 0.78 10.21 10.99 0.20 36.79 7.43 44.42

Choctaw 1.20 10.74 11.94 3.70 6.93 4.70 15.32

Cimarron 50.86 0.25 51.11 1.68 0.00 1.12 2.80

Cleveland 12.71 22.20 34.91 61.90 149.66 12.67 224.23

Coal 0.28 1.78 2.06 0.69 3.47 1.57 5.74

Comanche 3.93 19.55 23.48 12.94 95.50 2.19 110.63

Cotton 0.77 1.96 2.73 2.38 4.14 0.00 6.52

Craig 0.58 2.03 2.61 2.19 12.07 0.80 15.06

Creek 2.06 5.94 8.00 11.55 50.08 7.05 68.68

Custer 7.38 4.11 11.49 12.12 9.85 3.32 25.28

Delaware 1.82 4.14 5.96 4.61 23.10 11.50 39.21

Dewey 3.54 1.36 4.90 3.47 0.00 1.07 4.54

Ellis 15.49 0.16 15.65 2.58 0.00 1.38 3.96

Garfield 4.13 2.26 6.39 55.43 0.00 1.46 56.89

Garvin 1.70 4.32 6.02 9.12 13.91 4.15 27.18

Grady 5.31 9.62 14.93 14.19 19.44 15.74 49.37

Grant 1.98 1.68 3.66 4.15 0.00 0.65 4.80

Greer 5.08 1.16 6.24 5.87 0.00 0.00 5.87

Harmon 26.03 0.67 26.70 3.05 0.00 0.00 3.05

Harper 7.92 7.98 15.90 2.38 0.00 0.96 3.34

Haskell 0.68 4.81 5.49 0.00 6.81 5.28 12.09

Hughes 1.72 6.76 8.48 1.43 11.53 0.94 13.90

Jackson 9.68 66.55 76.23 2.70 22.56 1.08 26.34
Appendixes 45

Appendix 1. Estimated total freshwater withdrawals by county, use, and source in Oklahoma, 2005. 

-- Continued

[Freshwater amounts are in million gallons per day. Population values are in thousands. Totals may not add to totals

because of independent rounding] Source: Oklahoma AWUDS database 2005 county aggregation. County aggregation

may not match major river basin and principal aquifer aggregation due to independent aggregation]

County

Population

Total Public supply Selfsupplied

GroundwaterSurface 

water Total Groundwater

Surface 

water

Groundwater Total

Jefferson 0.86 6.20 7.06 1.61 4.70 0.14 6.45

Johnston 1.97 14.22 16.19 6.40 3.78 0.11 10.29

Kay 11.69 14.71 26.40 26.85 17.11 2.24 46.20

Kingfisher 6.92 3.35 10.27 10.23 0.00 4.01 14.24

Kiowa 2.86 11.66 14.52 4.23 5.66 0.00 9.89

Latimer 0.20 2.55 2.75 0.00 9.29 1.32 10.61

Le Flore 2.33 19.43 21.76 0.70 42.35 6.36 49.40

Lincoln 2.15 3.57 5.72 4.74 9.95 17.65 32.35

Logan 2.20 3.84 6.04 10.20 14.96 11.26 36.42

Love 1.41 2.35 3.76 5.35 3.49 0.31 9.15

McClain 3.95 1.93 5.88 17.02 5.55 7.43 30.00

McCurtain 0.88 8.97 9.85 0.00 26.40 7.49 33.88

McIntosh 0.35 4.59 4.94 1.43 18.39 0.00 19.82

Major 18.73 0.61 19.34 5.22 0.00 2.09 7.31

Marshall 2.43 4.81 7.24 3.88 9.83 0.65 14.36

Mayes 0.24 106.95 107.19 0.63 38.79 0.00 39.42

Murray 2.15 18.28 20.43 9.95 2.86 0.00 12.81

Muskogee 4.11 106.13 110.24 2.81 61.02 6.85 70.68

Noble 0.32 1.93 2.25 1.87 7.80 1.52 11.20

Nowata 0.19 2.06 2.25 0.00 10.12 0.69 10.81

Okfuskee 0.65 2.24 2.89 1.88 8.43 1.10 11.41

Oklahoma 22.08 84.58 106.66 122.23 547.93 14.04 684.20

Okmulgee 0.09 16.04 16.13 1.46 38.20 0.00 39.67

Osage 1.54 18.64 20.18 4.64 33.93 6.76 45.33

Ottawa 4.30 1.78 6.08 24.71 1.10 6.99 32.80

Pawnee 0.82 15.14 15.96 3.68 8.49 4.65 16.82

Payne 2.68 10.18 12.86 13.02 52.48 7.92 73.43

Pittsburg 0.48 11.39 11.87 0.00 44.55 0.00 44.55

Pontotoc 3.75 8.09 11.84 6.28 23.44 5.49 35.21

Pottawatomie 2.62 6.01 8.63 9.94 37.32 20.83 68.08

Pushmataha 0.28 2.02 2.30 0.00 10.12 1.54 11.66

Roger Mills 5.89 2.73 8.62 1.90 0.73 0.68 3.31

Rogers 0.66 83.55 84.21 0.00 74.93 5.58 80.51
46 Water Use in Oklahoma 1950–2005

Appendix 1. Estimated total freshwater withdrawals by county, use, and source in Oklahoma, 2005. 

-- Continued

[Freshwater amounts are in million gallons per day. Population values are in thousands. Totals may not add to totals

because of independent rounding] Source: Oklahoma AWUDS database 2005 county aggregation. County aggregation

may not match major river basin and principal aquifer aggregation due to independent aggregation]

County

Population

Total Public supply Selfsupplied

GroundwaterSurface 

water Total Groundwater

Surface 

water

Groundwater Total

Seminole 2.13 16.03 18.16 16.00 4.66 3.98 24.64

Sequoyah 0.92 10.63 11.55 0.00 39.95 0.82 40.77

Stephens 1.88 3.43 5.31 10.10 26.20 6.62 42.93

Texas 166.93 0.28 167.21 17.53 0.00 2.60 20.13

Tillman 8.14 1.10 9.24 1.70 6.16 0.67 8.53

Tulsa 2.05 17.73 19.78 0.00 561.68 8.94 570.62

Wagoner 0.41 9.23 9.64 0.00 64.19 0.00 64.19

Washington 0.09 4.72 4.81 0.00 49.00 0.00 49.00

Washita 4.62 4.12 8.74 8.12 1.14 2.20 11.46

Woods 5.76 0.02 5.78 7.38 0.00 1.11 8.49

Woodward 15.64 0.28 15.92 15.51 0.00 3.50 19.01

Totals 569.88 989.12 1,559.00 724.72 2,524.28 294.69 3,543.67
Appendixes 47

Appendix 2. Estimated freshwater surface-water withdrawals by major river basin and category of use in Oklahoma, 2005.[Freshwater amounts are in million gallons per day. Population values are in thousands. Totals may not add to totals because of independent rounding. Source: Oklahoma AWUDS database 2005 majorriver basin aggregation. Major river basin aggregation may not match county and principal aquifer aggregation due to independent aggregation]

Other Population

Principal river basin Public supply Irrigation Livestock and aquaculture Thermo- electric Domestic1 and commercial Industrial and mining Total Public supply Self- supplied 1 Total

Upper Cimarron 0.00 7.03 0.00 0.00 1.18 0.00 8.21 0.00 0.00 0.00Lower Cimarron 3.44 2.56 8.92 0.00 8.48 0.34 23.74 193.32 0.00 193.32Arkansas-Keystone 16.94 1.38 7.79 11.89 0.00 0.37 38.37 36.32 0.00 36.32Neosho-Verdigris 199.25 2.58 17.20 23.90 3.23 0.13 246.29 540.23 0.00 540.23Lower Canadian 31.63 3.98 12.07 13.83 0.00 0.73 62.24 240.89 0.00 240.89North Canadian 100.92 3.85 10.10 7.30 0.44 0.00 122.61 548.31 0.00 548.31Lower Arkansas 31.63 13.48 14.11 94.89 0.12 10.93 165.16 573.86 0.00 573.86Red Headwaters 10.25 66.29 3.12 0.00 0.04 0.00 79.70 28.14 0.00 28.14Red-Washita 65.23 26.04 32.56 5.44 1.57 3.54 134.38 246.54 0.00 246.54Red-Sulphur 73.21 6.32 20.02 5.73 1.51 1.67 108.46 116.67 0.00 116.67Totals 532.50 133.51 125.89 162.98 16.57 17.71 989.16 2,524.28 0.00 2,524.28

1Groundwater is assumed the source for all self-supplied population.
48 Water Use in Oklahoma 1950–2005 Appendix 3. Estimated freshwater groundwater withdrawals by principal aquifer and category of use in Oklahoma, 2005. [Freshwater amounts are in million gallons per day. Population values are in thousands. Totals may not add to totals because of independent rounding. Source: Oklahoma AWUDS database 2005 prin- cipal aquifer aggregation. Principal aquifer aggregation aggregation may not match county and major river basin aggregation due to independent aggregation]

Aquifer

Other Population

Public 

supply Irrigation

Livestock

and

aquaculture

Thermoelectric Domestic1 and commercial Industrial and mining Total Public supply Self- supplied 1 Total

Alluvial and terrace 47.45 63.57 13.19 0.93 5.42 2.01 132.57 318.60 43.92 362.52High Plains 13.54 216.61 20.72 0.00 0.77 0.47 252.11 39.14 8.60 47.74Ada-Vamoosa 3.64 0.00 1.02 0.00 2.99 0.00 7.65 33.30 35.15 68.45Central Oklahoma 26.65 1.79 1.29 0.13 7.51 2.96 40.33 190.12 75.15 265.27Rush Springs 7.80 33.83 6.33 0.19 3.07 0.38 51.60 36.96 32.20 69.16Arbuckle-Simpson 2.85 0.71 0.25 0.00 0.17 2.59 6.57 20.78 1.94 22.73Blaine 0.00 26.32 0.52 0.00 0.09 0.52 27.45 0.00 1.12 1.12Not a Principal Aquifer 5.51 15.46 8.12 0.00 4.80 0.17 34.06 37.83 43.56 81.39Ozark Plateaus 3.60 0.00 1.80 0.00 3.38 0.00 8.78 30.28 36.67 66.97Edwards-Trinity (Antlers) 2.67 3.16 1.69 0.00 1.39 0.00 8.91 17.72 16.33 34.05Totals 113.72 361.44 54.94 1.25 29.59 9.11 570.04 724.73 294.66 1019.39

1Groundwater is assumed the source for all self-supplied population.
Appendixes 49 Appendix 4. Oklahoma county names.

County border

0 100 200 50 MILES

Albers Equal Area Conic Projection

Political boundaries from the University of Oklahoma Center for Spatial Analysis

Cimarron Texas Beaver Harper Woods

Woodward

Roger Mills

Ellis Major

Alfalfa Osage

Payne

Pawnee

Kay

Noble

Grant

Garfield

Dewey

Custer

Washita Beckham

Greer Kiowa

Comanche

Harmon

Jackson

Tillman

Cotton

Stephens

Jefferson

Love

Logan Kingfisher

Canadian

Blaine

Caddo

Grady

McClain

Oklahoma

Cleveland

Lincoln

Nowata Craig Ottawa

Washington Tulsa

Pottawatomie

Seminole

Marshall

Bryan Choctaw McCurtain

Le Flore

Haskell

Sequoyah

Adair

Delaware

Muskogee Okmulgee

Creek

Okfuskee

Mayes

Rogers

Cherokee Wagoner

Pushmataha

Latimer Pittsburg

McIntosh

Hughes

Coal

Atoka

Murray

Garvin Pontotoc

Carter Johnston

EXPLANATION

0 200100 KILOMETERS

State border
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Lafayette Publishing Service Center

For more information concerning this publication, contact

Director, USGS Oklahoma Water Science Center

202 NW 66th St., Bldg. 7

Oklahoma City, OK 73116

(405) 810-4400

Or visit the Oklahoma Water Science Center web site at:

http://ok.water.usgs.gov
Tortorelli—Water Use in Oklahoma 1950–2005—SIR 2009–5212

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