{"data":{"id":"us-ar/ark.-code-ann.-15-22-301","jurisdiction":"us-ar","citation":"Ark. Code Ann. § 15-22-301","heading":"Duties of commission","body":"The Arkansas Natural Resources Commission shall: (1) Inventory the surface water resources and underground water resources within this state; (2) Determine the surface water requirements for fish and wildlife; (3) Determine the surface water requirements for navigation; (4) Establish minimum stream flows; (5) Determine the water needs of public water supplies; (6) Determine the water needs for industry; (7) Determine the water needs for agriculture, taking into account the decreasing groundwater tables and the resulting future needs for surface water to augment groundwater supplies; (8) Determine the water needs of all other users; (9) Propose a definition of critical water areas and delineate areas which are now critical or which will be critical within the next thirty (30) years; (10) Define the term \"excess surface water\" and determine the quantity of the excess surface water within the state and where it is located; (11) Define the term \"safe yield\" of a stream, river, or river basin, and a groundwater aquifer; (12) Report periodically to the House Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, and Economic Development and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, and Economic Development; (13) Declare and delineate surplus or excess surface water areas within the state based on a determination that surface water in a defined geographic area is in excess of the amount required for the foreseeable economic development needs of the defined geographic area; (14) Develop guidelines for evaluation of any proposed interbasin transfers in order that the areas of origin would be protected from serious adverse effects during periods of low streamflow; and (15) Develop guidelines for determining the amount of compensation, if any, to interested parties within the area of origin who incur damages as a result of a proposed transfer, including claims of individual water rights holders, adverse effects upon the political subdivisions involved, and adverse environmental effects. Acts 1985, No. 1051, § 2; A.S.A. 1947, § 9-128.1; Acts 1997, No. 317, § 4.\n\nThe Arkansas Natural Resources Commission shall:\n\n(1) Inventory the surface water resources and underground water resources within this state;\n\n(2) Determine the surface water requirements for fish and wildlife;\n\n(3) Determine the surface water requirements for navigation;\n\n(4) Establish minimum stream flows;\n\n(5) Determine the water needs of public water supplies;\n\n(6) Determine the water needs for industry;\n\n(7) Determine the water needs for agriculture, taking into account the decreasing groundwater tables and the resulting future needs for surface water to augment groundwater supplies;\n\n(8) Determine the water needs of all other users;\n\n(9) Propose a definition of critical water areas and delineate areas which are now critical or which will be critical within the next thirty (30) years;\n\n(10) Define the term \"excess surface water\" and determine the quantity of the excess surface water within the state and where it is located;\n\n(11) Define the term \"safe yield\" of a stream, river, or river basin, and a groundwater aquifer;\n\n(12) Report periodically to the House Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, and Economic Development and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, and Economic Development;\n\n(13) Declare and delineate surplus or excess surface water areas within the state based on a determination that surface water in a defined geographic area is in excess of the amount required for the foreseeable economic development needs of the defined geographic area;\n\n(14) Develop guidelines for evaluation of any proposed interbasin transfers in order that the areas of origin would be protected from serious adverse effects during periods of low streamflow; and\nithin the state based on a determination that surface water in a defined geographic area is in excess of the amount required for the foreseeable economic development needs of the defined geographic area;\n\n(14) Develop guidelines for evaluation of any proposed interbasin transfers in order that the areas of origin would be protected from serious adverse effects during periods of low streamflow; and\n\n(15) Develop guidelines for determining the amount of compensation, if any, to interested parties within the area of origin who incur damages as a result of a proposed transfer, including claims of individual water rights holders, adverse effects upon the political subdivisions involved, and adverse environmental effects.","path":["AR Code","Title 15","Chapter 22","Subchapter 3"],"source_url":"https://oss-data-us.vaquill.ai/v2026.08/us_ar_statutes.parquet","current_through":"2026-08-14","vintage":"open-us-law v2026.08, retrieved 2026-09-14","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T18:32:41Z","sha256":"8efcfb765c7c96b38ff183109e77e4f5e99d89c3b117d9f3c7b339435c1ade12","source_id":"us-ar","stale":false,"prev":"us-ar/ark.-code-ann.-15-22-224","next":"us-ar/ark.-code-ann.-15-22-302"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}