Okla. Stat. tit. 82, § 82-875

- Attorney General to enforce compliance - Acquisition for land for

park or road purposes

A. Except as may be provided in this subsection, the Grand

River Dam Authority shall not prevent free public use of its lands

and lakes for recreation purposes and for hunting and fishing,

except at such points where, in the opinion of the Board of

Directors, such use would be dangerous or would interfere with the

proper conduct of its business. The Authority may, in the interest

of public health and safety, make reasonable regulations governing

such use and, in the interest of defraying costs associated with the

maintenance and policing of public lands administered by the

Authority, prescribe reasonable fees for camping and the use of

Authority facilities and for the use of off-road and all-terrain

vehicles on Authority lands.

B. All existing public rights-of-way to the areas to be flooded

by the impounded waters shall remain open as a way of free public

passage to and from the lakes created, and no charge shall ever be

made to the public for right to engage in hunting, fishing, boating

or swimming in the lakes, and no charges shall ever be made for a

permit to operate or use or for the inspection of boats and

equipment, except that the Authority may prescribe an annual fee for

the issuance or renewal of a permit for a private anchorage, wharf,

dock or boathouse. Such fee shall be used to defray the expenses of

operating and equipping the Authority's Lake Patrol. The public

shall have free use of and access to the waters of the lakes for

private use, and shall have the right to anchorage, wharf, dock,

boat dock, houseboat and landing privileges free of charge when used

for private boating, but such anchorage, wharf, dock, boat dock,

houseboat and landing privileges shall only be allowed after a

permit therefor has been issued. Provided that no permit for any

anchorage, wharf, dock, boat dock, houseboat and landing privileges

shall be issued which would deprive the owner of land adjacent to

the shoreland or lake front or abutting thereon of any anchorage,

wharf, dock, boat dock, houseboat and landing privileges. The

Authority may designate areas closed to such use, where in its

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 82. Waters and Water Rights Page 165

opinion such use would interfere with the health or safety of the

public, or with the proper conduct of the business of the Authority.

The Authority shall prescribe suitable rules for the use of firearms

on its lands and lakes and suitable rules and regulations and rules

of travel, in the interest of public safety, for the use of the

waters of the lakes.

C. The Authority shall prescribe, in the interest of public

safety, suitable rules and regulations governing the keeping for

hire or operations of a boat or boats, surfboards, aquaplanes, sea-

skis or similar devices for pecuniary profit or gain on the waters

of the lakes. The keeping for hire or operation of a boat or boats,

surfboards, aquaplanes, sea-skis or similar devices, for pecuniary

profit or gain, on the waters of the lake, shall only be allowed

after a permit therefor has been issued by the Authority.

Applications for such permits are to be in writing, upon a form

prescribed and furnished by the Authority, and containing such

information as is required by the Authority. For the issuance of

such a permit the Authority shall charge a fee in an amount as

specified by the Authority, and shall have the power to prescribe

the size and type of boat or boats allowed to operate under such

permit and the equipment necessary to such operation. A permit

shall be procured for the construction of wharves, docks, landings

and anchorages when constructed for commercial or rental purposes.

For the issuance of such a permit the Authority shall charge a fee

in an amount as specified by the Authority. The Authority shall

prescribe the type, style and location and equipment of wharves,
h

permit and the equipment necessary to such operation. A permit

shall be procured for the construction of wharves, docks, landings

and anchorages when constructed for commercial or rental purposes.

For the issuance of such a permit the Authority shall charge a fee

in an amount as specified by the Authority. The Authority shall

prescribe the type, style and location and equipment of wharves,

docks, anchorages and landings from which such boats operate and

their rules of travel. Issuance of permits is to be deferred and

withheld unless and until the applicant therefor has paid the permit

fee and procured and deposited with the Authority a good and

sufficient bond, either in cash, or by a surety company licensed to

do business in this state, or public liability and property damage

insurance, written by a company licensed to do business in Oklahoma,

in an amount and in such form as the Authority shall specify, so as

to assure compensation for injuries to or death of persons, and loss

or damage to property for which the holder of such permit may be

legally liable. Upon it being called to the attention of the

Attorney General of Oklahoma by any citizen of Oklahoma that this

section has not been complied with, it shall be the duty of the

Attorney General of Oklahoma to institute the proper legal

proceedings to require the Authority, or its successor, to comply

with the provisions of this section.

D. The Authority may acquire, by purchase, condemnation, or

otherwise, lands suitable for park purposes or roadways along the

shores of the lakes. After acquiring such lands the Authority may,

but shall not be required to, assign or lease the lands to the State

of Oklahoma for park or road purposes and if such assignment is made

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the lands shall be under the supervision and control of the Oklahoma

Tourism and Recreation Commission or the Department of Wildlife

Conservation, which shall keep the lands so assigned open to the

public so that the public in general may have free access to the

lakes.