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The Nature Conservancy in Africa - Conservation in Africa

The Nature Conservancy in Asia Pacific - Conservation in Asia-Pacific

The Nature Conservancy in the Caribbean - Conservation in the Caribbean

The Nature Conservancy in Central America - Conservation in Central America

The Nature Conservancy in North America - Conservation in North America

The Nature Conservancy in the United States - Conservation in the United States

The Nature Conservancy in South America - Conservation in South America

Oklahoma Fresh Water Initiative


Oklahoma Fresh Water Initiative

Of all of the water on Earth, less than 1% is currently available for human uses or consumption. Yet, from this small portion of water found in our lakes, streams and shallow aquifers... all terrestrial and freshwater life is sustained.

The Oklahoma Freshwater Initiative was created in 2003 to work strategically across the entire state to address ecological concerns affecting that limited supply of water.

Biodiversity threats to Oklahoma's freshwater resources can be seen at two pressure points:

  1. QUALITY
  2. QUANTITY
The quality of Oklahoma's streams is largely impacted by sediment and incompatible land uses. Nutrient loading and sediment carried into our streams are the two primary issues of concern. The quantity and timing of natural river flows have been greatly modified in our state. Dams and groundwater extractions have significantly changed the natural balance of freshwater ecosystems in order to meet Oklahomans' growing demand for water.

Oklahoma Fresh Water Initiative

What the Conservancy is doing now attempts to balance human need for water with that of nature's itself. The Conservancy is advancing our Ecologically Sustainable Water Management model as a tool for water managers to help solve complex water issues in Oklahoma. Workshops, studies, and education / outreach efforts will sharpen our collective knowledge about how to sustain the ecological integrity of our most precious natural resource - water.