{"data":{"id":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-82-82-1086.1","jurisdiction":"us-ok","citation":"Okla. Stat. tit. 82, § 82-1086.1","heading":"Policy of state as to use of surplus and excess water -","body":"State water plan.\n\nA. All of the people have a primary interest in the orderly and\n\ncoordinated control, protection, management, conservation,\n\ndevelopment and utilization of the water resources of the state.\n\nThe people residing within areas where waters originate benefit from\n\nthe optimum development and utilization of water within the area of\n\norigin. The people in water deficient areas benefit by being able\n\nto use excess and surplus waters. The policy of the State of\n\nOklahoma is to encourage the use of surplus and excess water to the\n\nextent that the use thereof is not required by people residing\n\nwithin the area where such water originates. In order to maximize\n\nthe alternatives available for the use and benefit of the public and\n\nwater-user entities and for the use and benefit of the public and\n\nfor the general welfare and future economic growth of the state, it\n\nis therefore the purpose of this act to provide means for the\n\nexpeditious and coordinated preparation of a comprehensive state\n\nwater plan and decennial updates thereof for submission to the\n\nLegislature providing for the management, protection, conservation,\n\nstructural and nonstructural development and utilization of water\n\nresources of this state, in accordance with the following\n\nprinciples:\n\n1. Multiple-purpose dams and reservoir sites, both existing and\n\nplanned or under construction as of the effective date of this act\n\nor amendment thereof, within the area where excess or surplus water\n\noriginates and elsewhere, should be utilized to the maximum;\n\n2. Water should be stored during periods of surplus supply for\n\nuse during periods of short supply; such storage should be in the\n\narea of usage. In such cases where storage in the area of origin\n\nmay be permitted, the purchasing entities shall pay to the county of\n\norigin, in lieu of ad valorem taxes and as part of the total cost of\n\nthe purchase of the water, an amount computed by averaging the tax\n\non land similar to the land taken off the tax rolls as a result of\n\nthe construction of such storage facilities within the county of\n\norigin;\n\n3. Water use within Oklahoma should be developed to the maximum\n\nextent feasible for the benefit of Oklahoma so that out-of-state\n\ndownstream users will not acquire vested rights therein to the\n\ndetriment of the citizens of this state;\n\n4. Only excess or surplus water should be utilized outside of\n\nthe areas of origin and citizens within the areas of origin have a\n\nprior right to water originating therein to the extent that it may\n\nbe required for beneficial use therein;\n\n5. All citizens, municipalities and other water-user entities\n\nin need of water for beneficial use shall be entitled to appropriate\n\nwater and vest rights therein in accordance with priorities as\n\nprovided by law, and shall be entitled to cause same to be made\n\navailable to the water user in the most practicable and feasible\n\nmanner; and\n\n6. Statutory power of the Oklahoma Water Resources Board in the\n\ngranting of water rights to those citizens, municipalities and other\n\nwater-user entities who utilize such water for beneficial use shall\n\nbe preserved.\n\nB. The exercise of the powers granted by this act are in all\n\nrespects for the benefit of the people of the state, for the\n\nincrease of their commerce and prosperity and for the improvement of\n\ntheir health and living conditions. The primary purpose governing\n\nall exercise of powers hereunder shall be to maximize and not to\n\nminimize the alternatives available to all citizens, municipalities\n\nand other water-user entities in acquiring water for beneficial use.","path":["OK Code","Title 82"],"source_url":"https://www.oklegislature.gov/OK_Statutes/CompleteTitles/os82.pdf","current_through":"2026-08-14","vintage":"open-us-law v2026.08, retrieved 2026-09-14","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T18:32:36Z","sha256":"0c1348df7952829aca2fd07d3a86e3847ad1e304c539148bea140a6225d1a169","source_id":"us-ok","stale":false,"prev":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-82-82-1085.96","next":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-82-82-1086.2"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}