Date

8-6-2025

Department

Helms School of Government

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Public Policy (PhD)

Chair

Timothy P. O'Brien

Keywords

water scarcity, water policy, Indigenous, federalism, state rights, national security, tribal sovereignty, environmental policy

Disciplines

Political Science | Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration

Abstract

This dissertation explored the following research question: What are the public policy implications of the McGirt Supreme Court decision on federal water policy and regulations governing shared watersheds between state, tribes, and federal control? Specifically, this study examined the changing freshwater availability within Oklahoma and Montana. Oklahoma is one of the nation’s most diverse water management lands, with over 85% of its water within tribal boundaries. Eleven lakes and reservoirs in central Oklahoma provide water to the increasingly urbanized population. This dissertation aimed to identify integrated regulations regarding water policy and impacts by examining requirements, use, clarity, and climatological data to differentiate perceived versus actual water scarcity within the context of tribal beliefs, metropolitan centers, and population growth. The researcher sought to understand how the McGirt v. Oklahoma (2020) Supreme Court decision has added a layer of complexity to the intersection of regulations and policies established by tribal, state, and federal governments to regulate water use and availability through ownership. Complexity theory supported the study’s theoretical framework. Additionally, the study has a tri-case research design focusing on the ownership of the water as the dependent variable and how McGirt changes the structure.

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