Demonstrators paraded around the annual Governor’s Water Conference in Oklahoma City yesterday to protest a deal struck behind closed doors to sell millions of gallons of water from southeastern Oklahoma to drought-stricken Texas. The deal, which is subject to approval by the Oklahoma legislature, has the backing of state officials and the Chickasaw and Choctaw tribes, who say selling surplus water makes good economic sense. But Margaret Ruff, director of the Oklahoma Wildlife Federation, objected to the deal: “The thirsty people are here in this state.”
