Google invests $30 million to protect Oklahoma water resources

en.Wedoany.com Reported - Google announced a $30 million investment in Oklahoma to support community water sources, infrastructure, and water access. The first $2.3 million has been allocated to the Oklahoma Conservation Commission (OCC) to remove invasive eastern redcedar in the central part of the state.

Of that amount, $1.5 million is dedicated to clearing approximately 2,000 acres of cedar along the Arkansas River, which is expected to save 100 million gallons of water. Research from OCC's Terry Peach project shows that mechanical cedar removal can replenish approximately 50,000 gallons of water per acre. Another project invests nearly $800,000 to protect the Panhandle aquifer, with an expected savings of 81 million gallons of water. The clearing efforts also involve restoring farmland to native playa wetlands in the Panhandle region.

OCC Executive Director Trey Lam stated that Oklahoma has approximately 15 million acres of cedar, with each tree consuming between 10 and 60 gallons of water per day from the soil. Eastern redcedar is invasive in Oklahoma, depleting groundwater and expanding habitats for ticks and mosquitoes. Historically, wildfires kept cedar spread in check, but centuries of fire suppression have allowed cedar to take over the landscape.

Google's large data center in Pryor uses more than 1.1 billion gallons of water per year, which is five times the amount of water expected to be saved by the aforementioned conservation projects. Google also plans to build a 506-acre data center in Tulsa County. Suzie Shin, Google's data center sustainability manager, stated that the $2.3 million in funding is intended to replenish more than 150 million gallons of water annually for Oklahoma's water sources.

Google noted that the projects require long-term monitoring and maintenance, and it expects to announce more projects receiving a share of the $30 million investment in the coming years. The remaining funds will be directed based on community feedback.