Oklahoma Corporation Commission Details Efforts Regarding Fort Gibson Homeowner Water Issue

The Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC) has been contacted by the El Reno-based Bass Law Firm requesting the OCC to purchase a residence in Fort Gibson, OK where water has been reported entering the home from beneath the structure. Under Oklahoma law, the OCC does not have statutory authority to purchase this property.

Since August 2025, OCC staff have conducted an extensive review to determine the potential source of the water intrusion. Over a nine-month period, Commission staff visited the property on 16 separate occasions to conduct water sampling, site inspections, and surveys of the surrounding area. Staff also reviewed historical records and conducted multiple tests in an effort to identify the source of the water. To date, those efforts have not identified a definitive source.

The Commission's investigation has included a review of historical drilling records in the area. Available records indicate the nearest documented well was drilled approximately 415 feet north of the residence in 1946 and was plugged in the following year after being determined to be a dry well. OCC staff also examined historical aerial photography and other records but were unable to identify additional wells in the immediate vicinity.

Historical imagery does show evidence of a previously dammed lake in the broader neighborhood area, as well as several ponds, which may indicate the potential for naturally occurring groundwater conditions, including the possibility of an artesian source.

In addition to the OCC's work, other agencies have conducted testing and evaluations in the area. Currently, those efforts have likewise not identified a definitive source for the water intrusion.

The U.S. Geological Survey also reported a minor earthquake measuring 2.2 in magnitude on August 21, 2025, with an epicenter located less than 10 miles from the neighborhood. Based on recent site observations, OCC staff have noted that the volume of water entering the residence has decreased in recent months.

Further investigation into the precise source of the water would likely require invasive measures, including the potential removal or demolition of portions of the structure to access and test conditions beneath the residence. Currently, the Oklahoma Corporation Commission has utilized all available investigative resources and regulatory authorities to evaluate the situation. Based on the information currently available, staff have been unable to identify a definitive source of the water intrusion.