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Show 604 OKLAHOMA 2. State Organizational Structure for Water Administration and Control 2.1 Administration of Water Rights Oklahoma has adopted a statutory procedure providing for ad- ministrative control and regulation of waters within the State. The Oklahoma Water Kesources Board has been delegated this responsi- bility. This board, composed of nine members, has the authority to develop a State water plan to assure the best and most effective use and control of water to meet both current and long-range needs of the people of the State.2 The board is authorized to negotiate con- tracts and water compacts with the Federal Government and with other States for the purpose of flood control and water conservation and use, and is authorized to appropriate for use by special purpose districts in the State. The board may appoint an executive director, who then exercises the powers and functions delegated to him by the board.3 To aid in the distribution of water among users, the board is authorized to divide the State into water districts to assure the eco- nomical and satisfactory apportionment of water.4 The members of the Water Resources Board also comprise the Water Conservation Storage Commission.5 This commission assists in developing water storage and control facilities for the use and benefit of the public and for conservation and distribution of water for useful purposes.6 It is the duty of the commission to review any proposed project where water is to be stored and retained. If, after its examination, the commission concludes that there is water in excess of present and future needs of the water users of the contributing watershed, the commission notifies the appropriate State or Federal agency of its conclusions and requests the construction of the project.7 Where projects are constructed in conjunction with the Federal Gov- ernment, the commission may purchase any project water which is not purchased by existing users.8 This water may then be sold for municipal, industrial, agricultural, and other uses by the commission as the needs develop.9 The act creates a water conservation storage fund to be used to carry out the purposes of the act.10 In order to initiate a water right in Oklahoma, an application must be filed with the Water Resources Board, which application must comply with the rules and regulations of the board.11 However, the use of water for domestic purposes is exempted from the oper- ation of the statute, and any person has the right to take water for domestic use from a stream to which he is riparian.12 2Okla. Stat. Ann., Tit. 82, sees. 1085.1, 1085.2 (1972). For convenience, the Oklahoma statutes will hereafter be cited simply by section numbers. 8 Sec. 1085.2. *Sec. 1085.3. 6 Sec. 1085.18. 6 Sec. 1085.17. 7 Sees. 1085.20, 1085.21. 8 Sec. 1085.21. 8 Sec. 1085.22. "Sees. 1085.23, 1085.24. 11 Sec. 105.9. 12 Sec. 105.2. |