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Show ALABAMA 77 B. OTHER AGENCIES A number of miscellaneous statutes deal directly or indirectly with the State's water resources. The department of conservation and nat- ural resources, renamed in 1971,5 now includes an office of the director of irrigation.6 The office supervises the organization and programs of irrigation districts and conflicts which may arise between such dis- tricts and the State programs relating to irrigation and water con- servation. The seafood industries are extensively regulated.7 A water resources research institute has been set up at Auburn University. Its research programs include aspects of the hydrological cycle, the supply and demand for water, conservation of water, methods of in- creasing the water supply, and the agricultural, biological, ecologi- cal, economic, engineering, geographic, industrial, legal, recreational, and social aspects of water problems.8 Under the Environmental Im- provement Authorities Act of 1969, public corporations may be organized for the purpose of cooperating with municipalities, coun- ties, industries, and other public or private corporations for the purpose of controlling, abating, or preventing environmental pollu- tion.9 In 1971, legislation was adopted to control the development of "flood-prone" areas through various types of land use and control measures.10 The Alabama statutes also provide for water conservation and irrigation agencies,11 water management districts which deal with drainage problems,12 soil and water conservation districts,13 and watershed conservancy districts.14 The State's six principal inland rivers or waterways (which involve nearly 2,000 miles of navigable water) and the harbors and seaports of the State are exten- sively regulated.15 3. Surface Waters 3.1 Method of Acquiring Bights Since Alabama has no system of permits or appropriations, ri- parian rights ordinarily are acquired by obtaining title to riparian land. In such a situation, the one acquiring title obtains the full range of riparian rights previously owned by the seller, unless the deed contains reservations or restrictions limiting the riparian rights transferred. While such reservations and restrictions appear to be rather common, as are grants of easements or limited water use rights, it has been held that riparian rights themselves cannot be conveyed to nonriparians except by a conveyance of the riparian land.16 s Title 8, sec. 1(1) (1972). « Title 8, sec. 9(1) (1972 Supp.). * See, e.g., Title 8, sec. 130(1) et seq. (1972 Supp.). a Title 8, sec. 266 (1972 Supp.). »Title 8, sees. 270-87 (1972 Supp.). See Knight v. West Ala. Environmental Imp. Authority, 246 So. 2d 903 (Ala. 1971). "Title 12, sees. 341-64 (1972 Supp.). "¦ Title 12, sees. 297>(1) to 297(14) (1972 Supp.). "Title 2, sees. 273(1) to 273(51) (1972 Supp.). w Title 2, sees. 659(1) to 661 (1972 Supp.). i* Title 2, sees. 670(1) et seq. (1972 Supp.). « Title 38. w American Tar Products Co. v. Jones, 17 Ala. App. 481, S6 So. 113 (1920). |