A federal judge grant a 60-day stay in a water rights lawsuit filed by the Choctaw Nation and the Chickasaw Nation.

The tribes have been in mediation with the state over their claim to the water in southeastern Oklahoma. The stay gives the parties more time to hammer out a possible settlement.

“We think taking additional time to negotiate these very complex issues could be a positive development, because we continue to believe a negotiated resolution is in the best interest of everyone concerned," tribal attorney Mike Burrage told The Oklahoman.

The tribes say they were promised the water by their treaties.

Get the Story:
Oklahoma water rights lawsuit granted another 60-day stay by federal judge (The Oklahoman 5/24)

Related Stories:
Supreme Court asks for DOJ brief in Oklahoma water dispute (04/03)
Editorial: Settle lawsuit over tribes and water in Oklahoma (3/29)
Choctaw and Chickasaw nations in negotiations over water (3/28)
DOJ wants Oklahoma tribal water suit heard in federal court (3/13)
S.E. Ruckman: Oklahoma tribes working to protect water rights (3/6)
Oklahoma's highest court to consider tribal water use case (2/21)
Oklahoma tribes seek to keep water use case in federal court (2/15)
Tribes meet with Oklahoma governor to discuss water case (2/9)
Oklahoma governor asks tribes to drop water rights lawsuit (2/3)
Oklahoma tribes won't dispute existing water use permits (1/27)