Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, has advanced legislation to protect four rivers in southeast Oklahoma from developments that could harm the pristine waterways.
The Senate Agriculture and Wildlife Committee recently approved Senate Bill 2157, which would designate the Glover, Kiamichi, Little and Mountain Fork rivers as “scenic” waterways. The legislation also proposes creating the Southeast Scenic Rivers Commission to manage these rivers.
“These rivers are part of what makes southeast Oklahoma so special,” Bullard said. “They support wildlife, attract visitors, encourage outdoor recreation and help sustain local agriculture. This bill protects private property rights and keeps agriculture strong from federal overreach and industrial takeover. It also ensures that unwanted industrial developments, like hydropower plants, don’t come in and diminish the natural beauty of these rivers and steal our most valuable resource from our farmers and ranchers.”
