Pennington Creek in south-central Oklahoma is the only source of drinking water for the town of Tishomingo. Residents there are worried limestone mining operations threaten the creek. Now, the city council is taking on the companies doing the digging.

The crippling five-year drought Oklahoma finally broke out of in 2015 is still fresh in the memory of the state’s water regulators, which is looking for ways the state can better withstand future dry spells.

The court was hearing an appeal of the limit from groups including the Oklahoma Farm Bureau, Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association, Oklahoma Aggregates Association, and mining company TXI.

But raising taxes, even in the guise of a voter-approved fee, is a tough task in red-state Oklahoma.

Tom Buchanan: He’s the vice-chairman of the Oklahoma Water Resources Board. He’s also president of the Oklahoma Farm Bureau.

That means it won’t become law — this year. McCall, R-Atoka, fully expects to try again.

SB1184, by Sen. Susan Paddack, D-Ada, would change the permitting process at the state Department of Mines.

Limestone and sand miners are getting a lot of attention from the state legislature lately.

On Monday, the House Appropriations and Budget Committee passed HB1876.