Okla. Stat. tit. 82, § 82-1085.2

In addition to any and all other authority conferred upon it by

law, the Oklahoma Water Resources Board shall also have authority:

1. Generally to do all such things as in its judgment may be

necessary, proper or expedient in the accomplishment of its duties;

2. To make such contracts and execute such instruments as in

the judgment of the Board are necessary or convenient to the

exercise of any of the powers conferred upon it by law. Provided,

however, no contract shall be made conveying the title or use of any

waters of the State of Oklahoma to any person, firm, corporation or

other state or subdivision of government, for sale or use in any

other state, unless such contract be specifically authorized by an

act of the Oklahoma Legislature and thereafter as approved by it;

3. To negotiate contracts and other agreements with the federal

government to arrange for the development of water resources and for

the storage and distribution of water for beneficial purposes;

provided, however, that the Board shall act in such capacity only as

an intermediary in assisting others, and under no circumstances

shall the Board have any power or authority to build, construct or

finance any waterways, dams or other such projects for itself,

except as may be otherwise specifically provided by the laws of this

state;

4. To develop statewide and local plans to assure the best and

most effective use and control of water to meet both the current and

long-range needs of the people of Oklahoma; to cooperate in such

planning with any public or private agency, entity or person

interested in water, and is directed to prepare such plans for

consideration and approval by the Legislature; and to aid, at all

times, counties, incorporated cities and towns and special purpose

districts in the state in promoting and developing flood control and

water conservation in the state;

5. To employ and fix the compensation of such officers, agents,

attorneys, technical personnel and employees of the Board as it

shall deem necessary to the proper performance of its duties;

6. To adopt and use an official seal;

7. To promulgate such rules and make orders as it may deem

necessary or convenient to the exercise of any of the powers or the

performance of any of the duties conferred or imposed upon it by

this or any other law;

8. To institute and maintain, or to intervene in, any actions

or proceedings in or before any court, board, commission or officer

of this or any other state or of the United States to stop or

prevent any use, misuse, appropriation or taking of any of the

waters of this state which is in whole or in part in violation of

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 82. Waters and Water Rights Page 212

any law, or of any rules, orders, judgments or decrees of any court,

board, commission or officer of this or any state or of the United

States; and to institute and maintain or intervene in any other

action or proceeding where the Board deems it necessary to the

proper execution and discharge of any of the powers or duties

conferred or imposed upon it by law;

9. To determine, charge and receive fees to be collected in

advance for the filing and examination of applications for permits

to:

a. construct water use works,

b. appropriate groundwater,

c. appropriate stream water,

d. establish vested rights,

e. inspect water use works,

f. file other papers,

g. make copies of documents,

h. make prints of maps and drawings,

i. certify copies of documents, maps and drawings,

j. file transfers of water rights,

k. gauge wells and ditches, changes in point of diversion

and changes in place of use of water,

l. test wells, and

m. hold hearings, make records and provide transcripts of

hearings.

Such fees shall not be collected from any state agency or state

institution;

10. To negotiate contracts or water compacts with the federal

government or any department or bureau thereof, or with any other
ts,

k. gauge wells and ditches, changes in point of diversion

and changes in place of use of water,

l. test wells, and

m. hold hearings, make records and provide transcripts of

hearings.

Such fees shall not be collected from any state agency or state

institution;

10. To negotiate contracts or water compacts with the federal

government or any department or bureau thereof, or with any other

state for the purpose of obtaining assistance and cooperation in the

accomplishment of the purpose of flood control and water

conservation and use in the state. To that end, the Board may match

funds with the federal government and with other states upon such

terms as shall be agreed upon and approved by the Governor of the

state, with the limitation that contracts or water compacts with

other states for the division and apportionment of the cost and use

of the water controlled by interstate projects shall be submitted to

and approved by the Legislature of the state and the Governor of the

state, and Congress and the President of the United States

conformable to the State and Federal Constitutions;

11. To accept gifts and grants of money and property or any

interest therein;

12. To provide funding from federal and state monies for water

and wastewater project purposes to eligible entities for preliminary

engineering reports and planning and feasibility studies;

13. To sell or dispose of real or personal property held by the

Board when no longer needed in such manner as provided by law;

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 82. Waters and Water Rights Page 213

14. To make appropriations of water to all special purpose

districts;

15. To execute and deliver, without actual consideration

therefor, a written release of any easement or easement deed

heretofore given to the Conservation Commission of the State of

Oklahoma, the Planning and Resources Board or the Oklahoma Water

Resources Board on lands situated in this state, whenever it shall

appear to said Oklahoma Water Resources Board that the need for such

easement or easement deed no longer exists; provided, the owner of

the lands affected shall file a written application for such release

with the Oklahoma Water Resources Board;

16. To review disputes involving service areas or territories,

rates for raw or treated water, and abrogation clauses in contracts

among municipalities and rural water districts or not-for-profit

rural water corporations; to recommend mediation and refer parties

in appropriate disputes to mediators and provide technical

information to such mediators; and to recommend other means of

resolving disputes; provided, that no party to such dispute may

initiate action in any district court regarding the dispute until

written notice of the dispute has been filed with the Board;

provided further that the provisions of this paragraph shall not be

construed to diminish any right of access to the court granted to a

party by law;

17. To provide workshop training sessions for board members of

rural water districts and not-for-profit rural water corporations

throughout the year on a regional basis for the purpose of study and

instruction in the areas of financing, law and the ethics, duties

and responsibilities of such board members. Such training shall be

provided by the Board in conjunction with the Oklahoma Rural Water

Association as required by law. To the extent possible, the Board

shall attempt to schedule training workshops in three-hour segments

to be held in any public facility at a time convenient to the

attendees;

18. To establish an agency special account through the Office

of Management and Enterprise Services and the State Treasurer's

Office as necessary for the collection and distribution of funds,

including funds of sponsors and registration fees related to

conferences, meetings and training sessions; and

19. To accredit persons having requisite knowledge in
t a time convenient to the

attendees;

18. To establish an agency special account through the Office

of Management and Enterprise Services and the State Treasurer's

Office as necessary for the collection and distribution of funds,

including funds of sponsors and registration fees related to

conferences, meetings and training sessions; and

19. To accredit persons having requisite knowledge in

floodplain management and in minimization and prevention of flood

hazards and losses.