NORMAN, Okla. (Legal Newsline) - Oklahoma Attorney General W.A. Drew Edmondson says water issues ought to be the No. 1 issue on the state's agenda.

Speaking to the Oklahoma Water Law Seminar on Monday, the attorney general said he has a keen interest in water issues.

"There is no more critical issue long range when we're talking about our children and our grandchildren than the issue that you all are going to be wrestling with and have been wrestling with already," Edmondson said.

In 2005, the Democratic attorney general sued large-scale poultry farmers, claiming waste from their farms have polluted the Illinois River watershed and Lake Tenkiller.

He says poultry companies are responsible for the runoff of polluted water from tons of poultry waste that has flowed into the waterways as the result of improper storage.

The attorney general has said that pollution generated by poultry producers is an issue of national importance.

"We're dealing with a multi-billion dollar industry and we knew it wasn't going to be easy going in," he said.

From Legal Newsline: Reach reporter Chris Rizo at chrisrizo@legalnewsline.com.