US Laws, Codes, Statutes & Cases

OKLAHOMA STATUTES

TITLE 82.

WATERS AND WATER RIGHTS

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§82-1B.  Moratorium on sale or exportation of surface water and/or groundwater.

A.  In order to provide for the conservation, preservation, protection and optimum development and utilization of surface water and groundwater within Oklahoma, the Legislature hereby establishes a moratorium on the sale or exportation of surface water and/or groundwater outside this state pursuant to the provisions of this section.  Unless otherwise repealed or revoked by the Oklahoma Legislature, the moratorium shall be in effect for a five-year period beginning on the effective date of this act or until such time as the State of Oklahoma conducts and completes a comprehensive scientific hydrological study of the water resources of this state.

B.  Subject to the moratorium set by subsection A of this section, no state agency, authority, board, commission, committee, department, trust or other instrumentality of this state or political subdivision thereof, nor elected or appointed officer, member of any governing body or other person designated to act for an agency or on behalf of the state, or a political subdivision thereof shall contract for the sale or exportation of surface water or groundwater outside the state, or sell or export surface water or groundwater outside the state without the consent of the Oklahoma Legislature specifically authorizing such sale or export of water.

C.  Nothing in this section shall be construed as affecting or intending to affect:

1.  Any contract for the sale or exportation of surface water or groundwater outside the state executed prior to the effective date of this act which has received legislative approval or was executed pursuant to law, provided such sale or exportation of surface water or groundwater does not exceed eight million (8,000,000) gallons of water per month; or

2.  Water contained in agricultural crops, animal and dairy products, beverages, or processed or manufactured products or to products transported in cans, bottles, packages, kegs, or barrels.

Added by Laws 2002, c. 485, § 1, emerg. eff. June 6, 2002.  Amended by Laws 2004, c. 392, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2004.

§82-1C.  Joint Committee on Water Planning.

A.  There is hereby created the Joint Committee on Water Planning.

B.  The purpose of the Committee shall be to study, investigate, examine and analyze issues relating to a comprehensive statewide water study and plan, and to consider and make recommendations to the Legislature regarding:

1.  Principles in developing a public policy for protection, management, conservation, development and utilization of water resources of this state;

2.  The existing conditions concerning waters of the state and its uses for all purposes within the State of Oklahoma;

3.  The infrastructure needs of Oklahoma's communities;

4.  The long-term sustainability of Oklahoma's water supply;

5.  The methods for developing, managing, protecting and conserving water resources of the state but which allow for economic growth and development;

6.  Review beneficial uses of water which reflect the public interest of the entire state while protecting the property rights of Oklahoma citizens.  When reviewing beneficial uses of water, due consideration shall be given to alternatives which allow maximum sustainable growth in Oklahoma while protecting all designated beneficial uses of water, promoting conservation and prudent use, prioritizing public health and welfare considerations, protecting the rights of citizens and the water rights of Oklahoma citizens, in particular the water rights of the citizens in the basins of origin, protecting natural ecosystems, and encouraging methods for voluntary redistribution of excess or surplus water to Oklahoma regions and citizens with inadequate supplies;

7.  The state and federal statutory and case law which may impact the development, management, conservation and use of Oklahoma water;

8.  Regional or statewide systems for the orderly development, management, conservation and use of water resources of the entire state.  For this purpose, the Committee shall recommend either the creation of regional plans or a statewide plan;

9.  Various water management strategies including:  improved conservation, reuse and management of existing water supplies, acquisition of available existing water supplies, development of new water supplies, and preparation for and response to drought conditions in order that sufficient water at the highest quality possible will be available at a reasonable cost to Oklahoma residents to ensure public health, safety and welfare, further economic development and to protect the agricultural, recreational and natural resources;

10.  Cooperative arrangements with other states;

11.  The definition of "excess and surplus water of this state" including water quality and water quantity.  In determining the definition of excess and surplus water of the state, the Committee shall be guided by the principles and policies regarding the waters of this state enumerated in the Oklahoma Statutes including, but not limited to, Section 1084.1 of Title 82 of the Oklahoma Statutes;

12.  The process for determining "excess and surplus" water;

13.  The out-of-basin and out-of-state water sales and/or transfers;

14.  Potential local, state, and federal funding sources for development of a comprehensive statewide water study and plan;

15.  The advice of representatives of the United States Army Corps of Engineers, the Bureau of Reclamation, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, United States Geological Survey, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and other appropriate federal agencies, as well as representatives of state agencies involved in tourism, environmental quality, parks, fish and wildlife, recreation, conservation, public health, agriculture, public utilities and industrial development;

16.  The review of water usage in this state;  

17.  Uniform data regarding the collection, analysis, interpretation and use of information on water quality and water quantity data; and

18.  Such other areas concerning state water resources as deemed necessary by the Committee.

C.  The Committee shall be composed of nineteen (19) legislative members as follows:  seven members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, seven members of the Oklahoma Senate shall be appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and five legislative members appointed by the Governor.

D.  Members shall be appointed after the 1st day of the 1st Session of the 49th Oklahoma Legislature and no later than the last day of February 2003.  The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall each designate a legislative member to serve as cochair of the Committee.  The cochairs of the Committee shall convene a meeting of the Committee within thirty (30) days of the effective date of the appointments.  The membership of the Committee shall determine a meeting schedule by majority approval of the Committee.  A majority of the members present at a meeting shall constitute a quorum.  All meetings of the Committee shall be open to the public and shall be held in accordance with the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act.

E.  The Committee shall be staffed by the staff of the Oklahoma House of Representatives and the Oklahoma State Senate and by any other state agency staff as deemed necessary by the Committee.

F.  The work of the Committee shall be finalized no later than January 15, 2005, and any written recommendations of the Committee shall be made available to the public and delivered to each member of the Oklahoma Legislature by February 1, 2005.

G.  The cochairs of the Committee may appoint subcommittees as deemed necessary from the members of the Committee for the purpose of carrying out its duties pursuant to the provisions of this section.

H.  Legislative members of the Committee shall receive reimbursement from the house in which they serve pursuant to Section 456 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes.

Added by Laws 2002, c. 485, § 4, emerg. eff. June 6, 2002.

§82-1D.  Oklahoma River - Designation of portion of North Canadian River.

A seven-mile section of the North Canadian River, between Meridian Avenue and Eastern Avenue in Oklahoma City, shall be designated as the Oklahoma River for economic development purposes.  The Oklahoma Centennial Commission shall cause suitable markers to be placed along the seven-mile section of the river identifying the river as the "Oklahoma River".

Added by Laws 2004, c. 112, § 1, emerg. eff. April 15, 2004.

§82-105.1.  Definitions.

As used in Sections 105.2 through 105.32 of this title:

1.  "Definite stream" means a watercourse in a definite, natural channel, with defined beds and banks, originating from a definite source or sources of supply.  The stream may flow intermittently or at irregular intervals if that is characteristic of the sources of supply in the area;

2.  "Domestic use" means the use of water by a natural individual or by a family or household for household purposes, for farm and domestic animals up to the normal grazing capacity of the land and for the irrigation of land not exceeding a total of three (3) acres in area for the growing of gardens, orchards and lawns, and for such other purposes, specified by Board rules, for which de minimis amounts are used;

3.  "Regular permit" means a permit granted by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board authorizing the holder to appropriate water on a year-round basis in an amount and from a source approved by the Board;

4.  "Seasonal permit" means a permit granted by the Board authorizing the holder of such permit to divert available water for specified time periods during the calendar year;

5.  "Temporary permit" means a permit granted by the Board authorizing the appropriation of water in an amount and from a source approved by the Board which does not exceed a time period of three (3) months, which does not vest in the holder any permanent right and which may be canceled by the Board in accordance with its terms;

6.  "Term permit" means a permit granted by the Board authorizing the appropriation of water in an amount and from a source approved by the Board for a term of years which does not vest the holder with any permanent right and which expires upon expiration of the term of the permit; and

7.  "Provisional temporary permit" means a nonrenewable permit which may be summarily granted upon administrative approval by the Board and which authorizes an appropriation of water in an amount and from a source approved by the Board.  A provisional temporary permit shall not authorize an appropriation for a period of time exceeding ninety (90) days, shall not vest in the holder any permanent water right and shall be subject to cancellation by the Board at any time within its term in accordance with its provisions.

Added by Laws 1972, c. 256, § 1.  Amended by Laws 1981, c. 35, § 1, emerg. eff. April 8, 1981; Laws 1995, c. 112, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 1995.

§82-105.1A.  Purpose of law - Legislative intent.

It is the intent of the Oklahoma Legislature that the purpose of Section 105.1 through Section 105.32 of this title is to provide for stability and certainty in water rights by replacing the incompatible dual systems of riparian and appropriative water rights which governed the use of water from definite streams in Oklahoma prior to June 10, 1963, with an appropriation system of regulation requiring the beneficial use of water and providing that priority in time shall give the better right.  These sections are intended to provide that riparian landowners may use water for domestic uses and store water in definite streams and that appropriations shall not interfere with such domestic uses, to recognize through administrative adjudications all uses, riparian and appropriative, existing prior to June 10, 1963, and to extinguish future claims to use water, except for domestic use, based only on ownership of riparian lands.

Added by Laws 1993, c. 310, § 1, emerg. eff. June 7, 1993.

§82105.2.  Right to use water  Domestic use  Priorities.

A.  Beneficial use shall be the basis, the measure and the limit of the right to the use of water; provided, that water taken for domestic use shall not be subject to the provisions of this act, except as provided in Section 105.5 of this title.  Any person has the right to take water for domestic use from a stream to which he is riparian or to take stream water for domestic use from wells on his premises.  Water for domestic use may be stored in an amount not to exceed two (2) years' supply.  The provisions of this act shall not apply to farm ponds or gully plugs which are not located on definite streams and which have been constructed under the supervision and specifications of the Soil and Water Conservation Districts.

B.  Priority in time shall give the better right.  From and after the date of June 10, 1963, the following priorities for the use of water and no other shall exist:

1.  Prestatehood uses.  Priorities to the quantity of water put to beneficial use prior to November 15, 1907, to the extent to which the priority has not been lost in whole or in part pursuant to Section 105.16 of this title when the same shall have been perfected as provided by this act and rules and regulations adopted by the Board.  Such said priorities shall date from the initiation of the beneficial use.

2.  Spavinaw, Grand, North Canadian, Blue and North Boggy adjudications.  Priorities decreed to exist in adjudications brought in pursuance of this act where such adjudications have been initiated prior to the date of June 10, 1963, to the extent to which these priorities have not been lost in whole or in part pursuant to Section 105.16 of this title.  Such said priorities shall be dated as of the date assigned to them in the respective adjudication decrees.

3.  Spavinaw, Grand, North Canadian, Blue and North Boggy Rivers  Applications prior to June 10, 1963.  Priorities based upon applications for appropriations where the same shall have been perfected heretofore under the law heretofore applicable to the extent to which the priority has not been lost in whole or in part pursuant to Section 105.16 of this title.  Such said priorities shall be dated as of the date of the application therefor.

4.  All other applications.  Priorities based upon applications for appropriations to the extent the priority has not been lost in whole or in part pursuant to Section 105.16 of this title where the same shall be perfected after June 10, 1963, as provided by this act and rules and regulations adopted by the Board pursuant thereto. Such said priorities shall date from the date of application for the priority.  Any permit to appropriate water issued by the Board from and after June 10, 1963, is hereby presumed to be valid and in full force and effect to the extent not lost in whole or in part due to nonuse, forfeiture or abandonment, pursuant to this title.

5.  Federal withdrawals.  Priorities based on the withdrawal of water by the United States pursuant to Section 105.29 of this title to the extent to which the priority has not been lost in whole or in part through nonutilization as provided by the said section or pursuant to Section 105.16 of this title.  Such said priorities shall vest in the users of said water as of the date of notification given pursuant to Section 105.29 of this title.

6.  Poststatehood  Nonapplicant uses.  Priorities based upon present beneficial use prior to June 10, 1963, and initiated on or subsequent to November 15, 1907, to the extent to which the priority has not been lost in whole or in part pursuant to Section 105.16 of this title where the same has been perfected as provided by this act and rules and regulations adopted by the Board pursuant thereto. Such said priorities as to each quantity of water shall date from the initiation of the beneficial use of that quantity of water. Provided, however, that no priority based solely upon this paragraph shall take priority over priorities which bear a priority date earlier than the effective date of June 10, 1963, and which arise by virtue of compliance with the provisions of the first five paragraphs of this subsection.

7.  Soil Conservation Service sediment pools.  Priorities based upon beneficial use of that portion of the water designated by the Soil Conservation Service engineers as necessary for the sediment pool where landowners have granted easements without compensation for upstream flood control impoundments under the sponsorship of Soil and Water Conservation Districts prior to June 10, 1963, to the extent to which the priority has not been lost in whole or in part pursuant to Section 105.16 of this title when the same shall have been perfected as provided by this act and rules and regulations adopted by the Board.  Such said priorities shall date from the date of the grant of the easement.  Subsequent to June 10, 1963, those landowners who shall grant easements for such upstream flood control impoundments may acquire a priority for beneficial use of that water designated as the sediment pool by complying with paragraph 4 of subsection B of this section.

C.  When any person might claim a priority under more than one of the numbered paragraphs of subsection B of this section, he may elect which paragraphs shall control his priority date.  Nothing in this provision shall be construed to prohibit his electing different priorities under one or more of the paragraphs of subsection B of this section for different quantities of water.

D.  From and after June 10, 1963, the only riparian rights to the use of water in a definite stream, except water taken for domestic use, are those which have been adjudicated and recognized as vested through the proceedings under 82 O.S. Supp. 1963, Sections 5 and 6, orders of the Oklahoma Water Resources Board entered thereunder which became final, and those decreed to exist in the Spavinaw, Grand, North Canadian, and Blue and North Boggy adjudications, all to the extent such rights have not been lost, in whole or in part, due to nonuse, forfeiture or abandonment, pursuant to this title.

Amended by Laws 1988, c. 203, § 2, emerg. eff. June 10, 1988.  

§82105.3.  Right of eminent domain.

Any person, corporation or association may exercise the right of eminent domain to acquire rightofway for the storage or conveyance of water for beneficial use, including the right to enlarge existing structures, and use the same in common with the former owner.  Such rightofway shall in all cases be so located as to do the least damage to private or public property, consistent with proper and economical engineering construction.  Such rights may be acquired in the manner provided by law for the taking of private property for public use.

Laws 1972, c. 256, § 3.  

§82105.4.  Diversion of water.

Water turned into any natural or artificial watercourse by any party entitled to the use of such water may be reclaimed below and diverted therefrom by such party, subject to existing rights, due allowance for losses being made by the Board.

Laws 1972, c. 256, § 4.  

§82105.5.  Impairment of water rights  Suits in district court.

Any person having a right to the use of water from a stream as defined by this act or Section 60 in Title 60 of the Oklahoma Statutes whose right is impaired by the act or acts of another, or others, may bring suit in the district court of any county in which any of the acts complained of occurred.  Provided, however, that nothing herein contained shall be construed to empower district courts to recognize rights to use the water of a stream unless such rights have heretofore been established pursuant to this act or are claimed under Section 60 in Title 60 of the Oklahoma Statutes. Provided, however, that the Attorney General shall intervene on behalf of the state in any suit for the adjudication of rights to the use of water if notified by the Board that the public interests would be best served by such action.

Laws 1972, c. 256, § 5.  

§82105.6.  Adjudication of rights  Suit.

When the Board determines the best interests of the claimants to the use of water from a stream system will be served by a determination of all rights to the use of water of such system, the Board may institute a suit on behalf of the state for the determination of all rights to the use of such water and shall diligently prosecute the same to a final adjudication.  The cost of such suit, including the costs on behalf of the state, shall be charged against each of the parties thereto in proportion to the amount of water rights allotted.  Provided that after the effective date of June 10, 1963, neither the bringing of such suit nor an adjudication in such a suit shall be a condition precedent to the granting of permits and licenses as authorized by this act.  Laws 1972, c. 256, Section 6.

Laws 1972, c. 256, § 6.  

§82105.7.  Parties to suit  Intervention  Orders.

In any suit for the determination of rights to the use of the waters of any stream, brought pursuant to Section 6, any person who is using or who has used water from the stream or who claims the right or who might claim the right to use water from the stream may be made a party to the suit.  Any person who is using or who has used or who claims the right to use water from the stream may intervene.  No person not a party to the suit shall be bound by the decree therein, but the rights determined between the parties thereto and their privities shall be bound in all subsequent litigation.  When any such suit has been filed, the court may by its order, duly entered, direct the Board to furnish data necessary for the determination of the rights involved.

Laws 1972, c. 256, § 7.  

§82105.8.  Decree  Contents  Copies to be filed.

Upon the adjudication of the rights of the use of the waters of a stream system, two or more certified copies of the decree shall be prepared by the clerk of the court, at the cost of the parties, and one copy shall be filed in the office of the Board and the other in the office of the registrar of deeds of each county in which such stream system is situated.  Such decree shall in every case declare, as to the water right adjudged to each party, the priority, amount, purpose, place of use and, as to water used for irrigation, the specific tracts of land to which it shall be appurtenant together with such other conditions as may be necessary to define the right and its priority.

Laws 1972, c. 256, § 8.  

§82105.9.  Application for water rights.

Any person, firm, corporation, state or federal governmental agency, or subdivision thereof, intending to acquire the right to the beneficial use of any water shall, before commencing any construction for such purposes or before taking the same from any constructed works, make an application to the Board, together with the filing fee authorized by law, for a permit to appropriate in the form required by rules and regulations established by the Board. Such rules and regulations shall, in addition to providing the form and manner of preparing and presenting the application, require that such application state all the data necessary for the proper description and limitation of the right applied for, as to the amount of water requested, together with such information as may be necessary to show the method and practicability of the construction and the ability of the applicant to complete the same.  Laws 1972, c.  256, Section 9.

Laws 1972, c. 256, § 9.  

§82-105.10.  Rules governing applications.

A.  1.  The date of receipt of an application for use of stream water in the office of the Oklahoma Water Resources Board shall be endorsed and shall be noted in the records of the Board.

2.  If the application is defective as to form or unsatisfactory as to feasibility or safety of the plan, or as to the showing of the ability of the applicant to carry the construction to completion, the Board shall advise the applicant of the correction, amendments or changes required.  The applicant shall have not more than sixty (60) days from the date the Board so advises to refile such application.  If refiled, corrected as required, within the specified time limit, the application shall, upon being accepted by the Board, take priority as of date of its original filing, subject to compliance with the further provisions of the law and the rules promulgated thereto.  Any corrected application filed after the time allowed shall be treated in all respects as an original application received on the date of its refiling.

3.  The plans of construction may be amended, with the approval of the Board, at any time, provided that no change shall authorize an extension of time for construction or placing the water to beneficial use beyond that authorized in the permit, except as provided in Section 105.15 of this title.  A change in the proposed point of diversion of water from a stream shall be subject to the approval of the Board and shall not be allowed to the detriment of the rights of others having valid claims to the use of water from the stream.

B.  1.  For applications that have been pending for more than three (3) years prior to the effective date of this section, the Board shall provide written notice to the applicant at the applicant's last-known address that the application shall be deemed withdrawn and the priority date based on the original filing date shall be lost unless the applicant provides notice of the application as instructed by the Board.  The Board shall provide an opportunity for a hearing if requested in order for the applicant to show cause why:

a. notice should not be published, and

b. the application should not be deemed withdrawn and the priority date lost.

2.  Cause may be shown by substantial competent evidence that:

a. the applicant has been diligently pursuing plans for the project for which the water is proposed to be used,

b. construction of the project is still practical, and

c. the applicant is still able to complete the project.

3.  If the Board receives no response to the notice, the application shall be deemed withdrawn and priority date lost.

C.  1.  After the effective date of this section, applications may remain pending for more than three (3) years and retain the priority date based on the original filing date if the applicant files a request to extend pending status of the application before the end of the first three-year period and each successive three-year period thereafter and as required by rules promulgated by the Board.

2.  If a request to extend pending status is not filed in time and as required by Board rules, the application will be deemed withdrawn.

Added by Laws 1972, c. 256, § 10.  Amended by Laws 1993, c. 164, § 1, emerg. eff. May 10, 1993; Laws 2000, c. 318, § 1, emerg. eff. June 5, 2000.

§82-105.11.  Notice of application - Protest - Hearing.

A.  Except as otherwise provided by Section 2 of this act for limited quantity stream water permits, upon the acceptance of an application which complies with the provisions of Chapter 1 of this title, and the rules promulgated by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board pursuant thereto, the Board shall instruct the applicant to publish, within the time required by the Board, a notice thereof, at the applicant's expense, in a form prescribed by the Board in a newspaper of general circulation in the county of the point of diversion, and in a newspaper of general circulation published within the adjacent downstream county and any other counties designated by the Board once a week for two (2) consecutive weeks.  Such notice shall give all the essential facts as to the proposed appropriation, among them, the places of appropriation and of use, amount of water, the purpose for which it is to be used, name and address of applicant, the hearing date, time and place if a hearing is scheduled by the Board before instructions to publish notice are given, and the manner in which a protest to the application may be made.  In case of failure to give such notice in accordance with the rules and regulations applicable thereto within the time required, or if such notice is defective, the priority of application shall be lost; however, if proper notice shall be given within thirty (30) days after the Board has given him notice of his failure to give effective and proper notice, the application shall thereafter carry the original date of filing, and shall supersede any subsequent application to the same source of water supply.  Any interested party shall have the right to protest said application and present evidence and testimony in support of such protest.

B.  If the Board does not schedule a hearing on the application before instructing the applicant to publish notice, a hearing shall be scheduled by the Board upon receipt of a protest which meets the requirements of the Board's rules, the Board shall notify the applicant and protestant of such hearing.

Added by Laws 1972, c. 256, § 11.  Amended by Laws 1993, c. 164, § 2, emerg. eff. May 10, 1993; Laws 1995, c. 112, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 1995; Laws 1996, c. 329, § 1, emerg. eff. June 12, 1996.

§82105.12.  Approval of application  Appeal by protestants.

A.  Before the Board takes final action on the application, the Board shall determine from the evidence presented whether:

1.  There is unappropriated water available in the amount applied for;

2.  The applicant has a present or future need for the water and the use to which applicant intends to put the water is a beneficial use.  In making this determination, the Board shall consider the availability of all stream water sources and such other relevant matters as the Board deems appropriate, and may consider the availability of groundwater as an alternative source;

3.  The proposed use does not interfere with domestic or existing appropriative uses; and

4.  If the application is for the transportation of water for use outside the stream system wherein the water originates, the proposed use must not interfere with existing or proposed beneficial uses within the stream system and the needs of the water users therein.  In making this determination, the Board shall utilize the review conducted pursuant to subsection B of this section.

If so determined, and subject to subsection B of this section, the Board shall approve the application by issuing a permit to appropriate water.  The permit shall state the time within which the water shall be applied to beneficial use.  In the absence of appeal as provided by the Administrative Procedures Act, the decision of the Board shall be final.

B.  In the granting of water rights for the transportation of water for use outside the stream system wherein water originates, pending applications to use water within such stream system shall first be considered in order to assure that applicants within such stream system shall have all of the water required to adequately supply their beneficial uses.

The Board shall review the needs within such area of origin every five (5) years to determine whether the water supply is adequate for municipal, industrial, domestic, and other beneficial uses.

C.  The review conducted pursuant to subsection B of this section shall not be used to reduce the quantity of water authorized to be used pursuant to permits issued prior to such review.  Such permits, however, remain subject to loss, in whole or in part, due to nonuse, forfeiture or abandonment, pursuant to this title.

Laws 1972, c. 256, § 12; Laws 1988, c. 203, § 3, emerg. eff. June 10, 1988; Laws 1993, c. 164, § 3, emerg. eff. May 10, 1993.

§82-105.13.  Seasonal, temporary, term and provisional permits - Limited quantity stream water permits.

A.  The Oklahoma Water Resources Board is authorized to issue, in addition to regular permits, seasonal, temporary, term or provisional temporary permits at any time the Board finds such issuance will not impair or interfere with domestic uses or existing rights of prior appropriators and may do so even where it finds no unappropriated water is available for a regular permit.  All seasonal, temporary, term and provisional temporary permits shall contain a provision making them subject to all rights of prior appropriators.  If any such permit is for water impounded in any works for storage, diversion or carriage of water, the applicant must comply with the provisions of Section 105.21 of this title.

B.  Except as otherwise provided by this section, application, notice and administrative hearing as provided in Sections 105.9 through 105.12 of this title shall be required for all permits.  A provisional temporary permit may be immediately and summarily granted upon administrative approval by the Board.  Provisional temporary permits shall:

1.  Not be effective for a period of more than ninety (90) days;

2.  Be granted at the discretion of the Board; and

3.  Be subject to such terms, conditions and rules promulgated by the Board for such purposes.

C.  The Executive Director of the Board may administratively issue permits to use limited quantities of stream water.  Notice, procedures and the maximum quantity authorized for limited quantity stream water permits shall be in compliance with rules promulgated by the Board.  In no event shall the maximum quantity of water authorized in a limited quantity stream water permit exceed the amount of stream water that would otherwise be determined by the Board pursuant to Section 105.12 of this title.

Added by Laws 1972, c. 256, § 13.  Amended by Laws 1981, c. 35, § 2, emerg. eff. April 8, 1981; Laws 1996, c. 329, § 2, emerg. eff. June 12, 1996.

§82105.14.  Denial of permit  Approval of application for lesser amount  Appeal.

If, in the opinion of the Board, the applicant fails to establish the three requirements of Section 12, it shall reject the application.  It shall notify the applicant of the rejection and the reason for its action.  In the absence of appeal as provided by this act, the decision of the Board shall be final.

If the Board denies a permit on the basis that there is no unappropriated water available in the amount applied for but finds that the other requirements were complied with, the applicant may file an amended application and apply for a lesser amount.  Such amendment shall be in writing and sent by certified mail no later than fifteen (15) days after notice of denial of the original application shall have been mailed by the Board.  Upon receipt of the amended application, the Board shall approve the application for the lesser amount at its next regularly scheduled meeting if such amount is sufficient.  Such amendment shall not be deemed a waiver of the right to appeal from the action of the Board in denying the permit on the original application.  Time for perfecting an appeal shall begin to run upon the mailing of notice of either the denial of the permit or approval of the amended application, whichever is later.  Laws 1972, c. 256, Section 14.

Laws 1972, c. 256, § 14.  

§82105.15.  Time for commencement of works.

A.  Any permit shall expire unless the applicant begins construction of the works within two (2) years of the issuance of the permit by the Board.  The Board may, as necessary and deemed appropriate under the circumstances, extend the time for the beginning of construction beyond the time allowed in the permit for good cause shown, such as engineering difficulty or other valid reason over which the applicant has no control.

B.  If the Board does not receive a written notice of commencement of works or request to extend time within thirty (30) days after the end of the two-year period, the permit shall be deemed expired after written notice to the applicant.

C.  Provided, nothing in this section shall be construed as extending the time within which the waters authorized for use must be placed to actual beneficial use as provided in the permit and Sections 105.16 through 105.18 of this title.

Laws 1972, c. 256, § 15; Laws 1981, c. 35, § 3, emerg. eff. April 8, 1981; Laws 1993, c. 164, § 4, emerg. eff. May 10, 1993.

§82105.16.  Time for putting water to beneficial use.

A.  Unless a schedule of use is provided by the Board as authorized in this section, a regular permit shall require that the whole of the amount of the water authorized by the permit be put to beneficial use within a period of less than seven (7) years.

B.  If, upon evidence presented to the Board, and considering the present and future needs of the stream system of origin, it appears that the proposed project, improvement or structure will promote the optimal beneficial use of water in the state, and it further appears that the total amount of water to be authorized by the permit cannot be put to beneficial use within seven (7) years, then the Board shall provide in the permit the time within which the total amount to be authorized shall be put to beneficial use.  This time shall be the useful life of the proposed project, improvement or structure as found by the Board.  In order to insure orderly progress toward total beneficial utilization within the said time set by the Board, the Board shall provide in the permit a schedule of times within which certain percentages of the total amount to be authorized must be put to beneficial use.

C.  Nothing in this act shall be deemed to reestablish any right to the use of any water which has been lost by failure to use same or by forfeiture prior to July 5, 1961.

Laws 1972, c. 256, § 16; Laws 1993, c. 164, § 5, emerg. eff. May 10, 1993.

§82105.17.  Reversion of water to public.

A.  To the extent that the water authorized is not put to beneficial use as provided by the terms of the permit, that amount not so used shall be forfeited by the holder of the permit and shall become public water and available for appropriation.

B.  When the party entitled to the use of water commences using water but thereafter fails to beneficially use all or any part of the water claimed by him, for which a right of use has been vested for the purpose for which it was appropriated for a period of seven (7) continuous years, such unused water shall revert to the public and shall be regarded as unappropriated public water.

Laws 1972, c. 256, § 17; Laws 1993, c. 164, § 6, emerg. eff. May 10, 1993.

§82105.18.  Loss of right to use water  Notice  Hearing.

A.  When the Board has reasonable cause to believe that the right to use water has been lost in whole or in part, as provided in Section 105.17 of this title, the Board may proceed to cancel administratively such right by notifying the claimant of such right, or his latest successor in such rights, by written notification mailed by registered or certified mail to his last known address that there is reasonable cause for believing that he has lost his water rights under the provisions of Section 105.16 or 105.17 of this title.

B.  Such notice shall be mailed at least thirty (30) days prior to the date set for the hearing and shall give the time and place set for the hearing on such water rights; provided that if there is evidence that delivery of such notice by registered or certified mail cannot be made to the claimant, or his successor in such water rights, the Board shall give notice by publishing the same in a local newspaper qualified to publish such notice, nearest the point where said water right had attached, once each week for two (2) consecutive weeks.  Such hearing date shall be set not earlier than thirty (30) days after the last publication date of said notice.

C.  At such hearing the claimant of such water right, or his successor in such right, shall have the right to show cause why such water right should not be declared to have been lost through nonuse.  Such cause may be shown by substantial competent evidence that the failure to beneficially use the water subject to forfeiture was caused by circumstances beyond the control of the claimant and the claimant was ready and willing to use the water.

Procedures of hearings and appeals shall be governed by the Administrative Procedures Act.

D.  Provided, that the failure of the Board to determine that a right to use water has been lost in whole or in part for nonuse shall not in any way revive or continue the said right.

Laws 1972, c. 256, § 18; Laws 1979, c. 140, § 1; Laws 1993, c. 164, § 7, emerg. eff. May 10, 1993.

§82105.19.  Surrender of water rights.

The Board may accept the surrender of any water right by the holder thereof pursuant to rules and regulations adopted by the Board.

Laws 1972, c. 256, § 19.  

§82105.20.  Violations.

The unauthorized use of water, the unauthorized transfer of a water right, the continued use of works which are unsafe after receiving notice to repair, the waste of water, the unauthorized severance of a water right from the land to which it is appurtenant, the refusal to change unsafe works when directed to do so, or the injury or obstruction of waterworks shall be a misdemeanor and each day such violation continues shall be a separate violation.  In addition to filing criminal complaints and any other remedies provided herein, the Board shall have the right to bring an action in the district court of the county wherein such act or omission occurs to enjoin the same.  The Board and its authorized agents shall have a reasonable right to go upon private property in the performance of their duties hereunder and shall have the duty to file complaints of violations of the penal provisions of this section.

Laws 1972, c. 256, § 20.  

§82105.21.  Surplus water.

The owner of any works for the storage, diversion or carriage of water, which contain water in excess of his needs for irrigation or other beneficial use for which it has been appropriated, shall be required to deliver such surplus, at reasonable rates for storage or carriage, or both, as the case may be, to the parties entitled to the use of the water for beneficial purposes.  In case of the refusal of such owner to deliver any such surplus water at reasonable rates as determined by the Board, he may be compelled to do so by the district court for the county in which the surplus water is to be used.

Laws 1972, c. 256, § 21.  

§82105.22.  Severance and transfer of water right.

All water used in this state for irrigation purposes shall remain appurtenant to the land upon which it is used: Provided, that if for any reason it should at any time become impracticable to beneficially or economically use water for the irrigation of any land to which the right of use of same is appurtenant, said right may be severed from said land, and simultaneously transferred, and become appurtenant to other land, without losing priority of right theretofore established, if such change can be made without detriment to existing rights, on the approval of an application of the owner to the Board.  Before the approval of such application, the applicant must give notice thereof by publication once a week for two (2) consecutive weeks in a newspaper or newspapers of general circulation in the county or counties in which each tract of land is located.  The notice shall be in the form prescribed by the Board and shall include the name of the applicant, the date, time and place and kind of use and a description of the nature of the proposed change.  The final publication of the notice shall precede the date of the hearing by at least thirty (30) days.

After proof of notice and hearing, the Board shall issue its order.  The order may deny or grant the application in whole or in part upon such conditions as are necessary to preserve the rights of the parties.  Any person aggrieved by the order may seek relief as provided for in The Administrative Procedures Act.

Laws 1972, c. 256, § 22.  

§82105.23.  Use of water for other purposes.

Any appropriator of water including but not limited to one who uses water for irrigation, may use the same for other than the purposes for which it was appropriated, or may change the place of diversion, storage or use, in the manner and under the conditions prescribed for the transfer of the right to use water for irrigation purposes in Section 105.22 of this title.

Amended by Laws 1988, c. 203, § 4, emerg. eff. June 10, 1988.  

§82105.24.  Assignment of appropiation permit  Transfer of title to land.

Any permit to appropriate water may be assigned, but no assignment shall be binding, except upon the parties thereto, unless filed for record in the office of the Board.  The evidence of the right to use water from any works constructed by the United States or its duly authorized agencies shall in like manner be filed in the office of the Board upon assignment; provided, that no permit to appropriate water for irrigation purposes shall be assigned, or the ownership thereof in any way transferred, apart from the land to which it is appurtenant, except in the manner specially provided by law; provided, further, that the transfer of title to land in any manner whatsoever shall carry with it all rights to use of water appurtenant thereto for irrigation purposes.

Laws 1972, c. 256, § 24.  

§82105.25.  Notice of completion  Inspection.

On the date set for the completion of the work, or prior thereto, upon notice from the owner that the work has been completed, the Board shall cause the work to be inspected after due notice to the owner of the permit.  Such inspection shall be thorough and complete, in order to determine the actual capacity of the works, their safety and efficiency.  If not properly and safely constructed, the Board may require the necessary changes to be made within a reasonable time and shall not issue a certificate of completion until such changes are made.  Failure to make such changes within the time required by the Board shall cause the postponement of the priority under the permit for such time as may elapse from the date for completing such changes until made to the satisfaction of the Board and applications subsequent in time shall have the benefit of such postponement of priority; provided, the Board may accept the report of inspection by a registered professional engineer.

Laws 1972, c. 256, § 25.  

§82105.26.  Certificate of completion.

When the works are found in satisfactory condition, after inspection, the Board shall issue a certificate of completion of construction, setting forth the actual capacity of the works and such limitations upon the water right as shall be warranted by the condition of the works, but in no manner extending the rights described in the permit.  Laws 1972, c. 256, Section 26.

Laws 1972, c. 256, § 26.  

§82105.27.  Unsafe works to be changed  United States works not subject to inspection.

If the Board shall, in the course of its duties, find that any works used for storage, diversion or carriage of water are unsafe and a menace to life and property, it shall at once notify the owner or his agent, specifying the changes necessary and allowing a reasonable time for putting the works in safe condition.  Upon the request of any party, accompanied by the estimated cost of inspection, the Board shall cause any alleged unsafe works to be inspected.  If they shall be found unsafe by the Board, the money deposited by such party shall be refunded and the fees for inspection shall be paid by the owner of such works; and, if not paid by him within thirty (30) days after the decision of the Board, shall be a lien against any property of such owner, to be recovered by suit instituted by the district attorney of the county at the request of the Board.  The Board may, when necessary, inspect any works for the storage, diversion or carriage of water and require any changes necessary to secure their safety; and the fees for such inspection shall be a lien on any property of the owner and shall be subject to collection as provided herein; provided, that any works constructed by the United States, or by its duly authorized agencies, shall not be subject to such inspection while under the supervision of officers of the United States.  Provided, that liens provided for in this section shall be superior in right to all mortgages or other encumbrances, except ad valorem tax liens, placed upon the land and the water appurtenant thereto or used in connection therewith.

Amended by Laws 1988, c. 203, § 5, emerg. eff. June 10, 1988.  

§82105.28.  Measurement of water.

The standard of measurement of the flow of water shall be the cubic foot per second of time; the standard measurement of the volume of water shall be the acre foot, being the amount of water upon an acre covered one foot deep, equivalent to fortythree thousand five hundred sixty (43,560) cubic  feet.

Laws 1972, c. 256, § 28.  

§82105.29.  Appropriations of water by the United States.

A.  Whenever the proper officers of the United States, authorized by law to construct works for the utilization of waters within the state, shall notify the Board that the United States intends to utilize certain specified waters, the water so described, and unappropriated at the date of such notice, shall not be subject to further appropriation under the laws of this state, provided that upon receipt of notice as hereinabove provided the Board shall prepare and give public notice by publication in at least two newspapers qualified to publish such notices in each county or counties in which such stream system or stream systems are situated, as may be affected by such proposed withdrawal by the United States. Provided that in counties in which there is but one such newspaper, it shall be sufficient to publish the said notice in that newspaper. Such notice shall be published at least thirty (30) days prior to the date set for the hearing, setting forth the date, time and place, together with a general description of the proposed works to be constructed by the United States and location in such stream system, the volume of water requested under such withdrawal and any other pertinent information that will be helpful in apprising all interested parties as to the probable effect of such withdrawal by the United States.  Interested parties may make oral statements for the record at such hearing, or they may present written statements at the hearing or before the hearing, to the Board at its offices. After the hearing the Board shall consider all evidence submitted at the hearing and determine if the proposed withdrawal is in harmony with the best interests of the state.  Provided further, if the Board finds that the withdrawal of waters requested is not in the best interests of the state, then the Board shall:

1.  Have the authority to reduce the amount of water requested for withdrawal; and/or

2.  Attach such conditions to the proposed withdrawal as the Board deems in harmony with the best interests of the state; or

3.  Reject the request for withdrawal in its entirety. Provided further, that the Board shall notify the United States, or its proper officers, of its findings within thirty (30) days after the final decision has been reached by the Board.  Provided further, that if the Board approves the withdrawal of all or a part of the waters requested to be withdrawn by the United States or its authorized officers, such officers shall, within a period of three (3) years from the date of said notice, file plans for the proposed works in the office of the Board for its information and no adverse claim to the use of the waters approved for withdrawal required in connection with such plans initiated subsequent to the date of such notice shall be recognized under the laws of the state, except as to such amount of the water described in such notice as may be formally released in writing by an officer of the United States, thereunder duly authorized; provided, that in case of failure to file plans for the proposed work within three (3) years, as herein required, the water approved for withdrawal specified in the notice given by the United States to the Board shall become public water, subject to general appropriation; provided further that in case the proposed work as detailed in the plans to be filed as herein required is not commenced and continued with due diligence within eight (8) years from the date of filing of the plans with the Board, the water approved for withdrawal specified in the request for withdrawal shall become public water subject to general appropriation; provided, that when actions relating to project authorization for initiation of construction are delayed pending actions of the Congress, or water right adjudications by the state, national emergencies or other valid and good reasons, the Board may extend the period beyond eight (8) years within which work may be commenced or resumed as provided herein by making a finding of fact and filing a report in the office of the Board that it is the opinion of the Board that releasing the waters involved to general appropriation may be detrimental to the best interests of the state and the area involved.  Such finding shall state specifically the additional time to be granted within which proposed work on the project or projects, covered by plans, shall be commenced or resumed.

B.  Any waters withdrawn prior to May 23, 1967, by the United States under statutes of this state in the stream systems of the state shall be only those waters necessary for the plans filed for the project's economic justification and water supply.  Any remaining portion of the waters of such stream system which are not required for the project as planned by the United States and for which plans are duly filed with the Board, as hereinabove provided, shall be subject to general appropriation as provided by state law; provided further, that any withdrawal notice by the United States and the filing of project plans by the United States prior to October 2, 1959, shall be considered as effective and continued in full force to the maximum time allowed above from October 2, 1959. Provided, that as to said water withdrawn by the United States prior to May 23, 1967, the Board may extend such time for the causes and in the manner as provided in this act for the extension of time for the building of works utilizing waters withdrawn after May 23, 1967.

Laws 1972, c. 256, § 29.  

§82105.30.  Extension of period of withdrawal under national emergency.

In case of national emergency, such as war, during periods when materials for the construction of projects as herein contemplated by the United States may not be available, such periods of emergency shall not be chargeable to the maximum period provided for the construction of projects initiated under this act.

Laws 1972, c. 256, § 30.  

§82105.31.  Records of Oklahoma Water Resources Board open to public.

The records of the office of the Board shall be public records, shall remain on file in its office and shall be open to the inspection of the public at all times during business hours. Such records shall show in full all lists of vested water rights in the several stream systems of the state, permits issued, completion of works reports, together with all actions thereon or decisions of the Board affecting any rights or claims to appropriate water. Certified copies of any records or papers on file in the office of the Board shall be evidence equally with the originals thereof and when introduced as evidence shall have the same validity as the originals.

Laws 1972, c. 256, § 31.  

§82105.32.  Effect of act on forfeited water rights and priority dates.

The codifying and renumbering of the several sections of Chapter 1 in Title 82 of the Oklahoma Statutes shall not alter their effectiveness by the adoption of this act; nor shall this act with its several amendments to existing law be deemed to reestablish any water rights that have heretofore been lost or forfeited under laws heretofore in effect prior to the effective date of this act; nor shall the adoption of this act change in any manner priority dates for the right to use water under the laws in effect prior to the adoption of this act.

Laws 1972, c. 256, § 32.  

§82-110.1.  Short title.

This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Oklahoma Dam Safety Act".

Added by Laws 1992, c. 185, § 1, eff. July 1, 1992.

§82-110.2.  Legislative intent.

It is recognized by the Oklahoma State Legislature that properly constructed, operated and maintained dams used to impound water and create reservoirs for the purposes of public and private water supply, irrigation, industrial use, recreation, fish and wildlife, water quality control, flood prevention and control, sediment control, and other beneficial uses constitute vital parts of the State of Oklahoma's water resources, and that reasonable regulation of such construction, operation and maintenance is beneficial and necessary for the public health and welfare and to protect lives and property.  It is the intent of the Legislature that the provisions of this act shall reaffirm and clarify such regulation and the dam safety program of the Oklahoma Water Resources Board already established and shall further provide sufficient basis for communities in the National Flood Insurance Program to obtain favorable consideration of rate decreases for their citizens offered through the Community Rating System administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Added by Laws 1992, c. 185, § 2, eff. July 1, 1992.

§82-110.3.  Definitions.

As used in this act:

1.  "Board" means the Oklahoma Water Resources Board;

2.  "Dam" means any artificial barrier, together with appurtenant works, which does or may impound or divert water;

3.  "Gully plug" means any grade stabilization structure that has less than five (5) acre-feet of water storage available below the principal spillway elevation and less than fifty (50) acre-feet of storage volume below the emergency spillway elevation;

4.  "Owner" means any person who, jointly or severally, owns, controls, maintains, manages, or proposes to construct a dam or reservoir, and includes but is not limited to those persons shown by records of the county registrar of deeds in the county where the dam or reservoir lies to have some interest, by fee, easement, mortgage or otherwise, in the land on which the dam and lake lie, and may also include but is not limited to those persons who may derive a direct pecuniary benefit from the existence of the lake; and

5.  "Person" means any individual, firm, partnership, association, corporation, any trust formed for the benefit of an individual, business or any public entity, federal agency, the State of Oklahoma and any political subdivision thereof, municipalities, and any other legal entity.

Added by Laws 1992, c. 185, § 3, eff. July 1, 1992.

§82-110.4.  Dams subject to regulation under this act.

A.  Dams, together with appurtenant works, which meet the following alternative criterion are subject to the provisions of this act and rules promulgated by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board pursuant to this act:

1.  Dams which are or will be twenty-five feet (25') or more in height measured from the natural stream channel to the top of the dam; or

2.  Dams which have or will have an impounding capacity of fifty (50) acre-feet or more;

provided, that any barrier to the flow of water which does or may impound water and which is or will be six feet (6') or less in height, regardless of storage capacity, or which has or will have a storage capacity of fifteen (15) acre-feet or less, regardless of height, shall not be subject to regulation under this act unless it is determined to have a high hazard potential classification as established by the Board.

B.  No barrier to the flow of water determined by the Board to be designated primarily for roadfill shall be subject to regulation under this act.

C.  Gully plugs are not subject to regulation under this act.

D.  Dams constructed by any agency of the United States Government shall not be subject to regulation under this act during or after construction while such dams remain under the supervision of any officer or agency of the United States.

Added by Laws 1992, c. 185, § 4, eff. July 1, 1992.

§82-110.5.  Oklahoma Water Resources Board - Powers and duties.

The Oklahoma Water Resources Board, in addition to other powers and duties as provided by law, shall have the following powers and duties:

1.  To promulgate rules necessary to carry out the provisions of this act, including but not limited to rules relating to hazard and size classifications, minimum standards for design, operation and maintenance of dams, and fee schedules for inspections and other services provided to carry out the dam safety program authorized by this act;

2.  To review and grant or deny applications to approve plans and specifications for construction of new dams and modifications of existing dams, based on the applicable minimum standards adopted provided that an owner who proposes to construct a new dam classified as having a low hazard potential that will be used primarily for agriculture purposes, and will be designed or constructed with the assistance of a local conservation district or federal agriculture related agency, shall be required only to notify the Board of such construction;

3.  To supervise and oversee construction of new dams and modifications of existing dams;

4.  To inspect existing dams and dams under construction in accordance with the following requirements:

a. dams classified as having a high hazard potential shall be inspected at least once annually,

b. dams classified as having a significant hazard potential shall be inspected at least once every three (3) years, and

c. dams classified as having a low hazard potential shall be inspected at least once every five (5) years;

provided, that the Board shall accept an inspection report of a registered professional engineer having practical experience in the analysis, design and construction of dams and employed or retained by the owner for dams classified as high or significant hazard potential, or by an engineer employed by any United States governmental agency acting in an official capacity, and provided further, for dams classified as low hazard potential, the Board may exempt such inspections as set forth in its rules and may accept an inspection report of a person trained in inspecting dams and who is employed or retained by the owner.  Fees for such inspections conducted by the Board and for reviewing inspection reports prepared by others shall be as set forth in rules promulgated by the Board;

5.  To require maintenance, repairs and modifications of existing dams as necessary, including compliance schedules, so that minimum standards can be met;

6.  To have reasonable access to public and private property for the purpose of inspecting and investigating conditions related to dams and to require that records of owners of dams be inspected and copied;

7.  To cooperate with agencies of federal, state and local governments and private persons, including but not limited to the Oklahoma Conservation Commission and local conservation districts, in carrying out its duties under this act;

8.  To disseminate information about the dam safety program; and

9.  To exercise all incidental powers which are necessary and proper to carry out the purposes of this act.

Added by Laws 1992, c. 185, § 5, eff. July 1, 1992.

§82-110.6.  Effect of act on liability of dam owners.

Nothing in this act shall relieve an owner of a dam from any liability related to the construction and maintenance of such dam.

Added by Laws 1992, c. 185, § 6, eff. July 1, 1992.

§82-110.7.  Supervision of dam safety program.

The dam safety program authorized by this act shall be supervised within the Oklahoma Water Resources Board by an engineer registered with the State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors or successor agency and who shall have practical training or experience concerning the analysis, design, and construction of dams and reservoirs.

Added by Laws 1992, c. 185, § 7, eff. July 1, 1992.

§82-110.8.  Notice of completion of construction - Certification.

A.  Certificates of completion of works from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board shall be required before any water may be impounded by a new dam or before water may be impounded at an elevation higher than that previously authorized by the Board at an existing dam which has been modified.  Said certificate shall contain the date of approval of plans and specifications for the dam, date construction was completed on said dam, and any other conditions as may be required by the Board.

B.  The owner must give notice of completion of construction of the new dam or of modifications to an existing dam to the Board, and the Board shall inspect such dam before issuing a certificate of completion.

C.  The Board may modify, revoke or amend any said certificate as necessary to assure the safety of the dam.

D.  Fees for the inspections and for the issuance of certificates required by this section shall be set forth in rules promulgated by the Board.

Added by Laws 1992, c. 185, § 8, eff. July 1, 1992.

§82-110.9.  Records - Disclosure to Board - Notice of flood events.

A.  Owners of dams are responsible for keeping accurate records pertaining to the design, construction, operation and maintenance of their dams and to make the same available upon request of the Oklahoma Water Resources Board.

B.  Owners of dams must give timely notice to the Board of flood events or other circumstances that may affect the integrity or safety of the dam.  Said notice must be given as required by rules of the Board.

Added by Laws 1992, c. 185, § 9, eff. July 1, 1992.

§82-110.10.  Failure, neglect or refusal to comply with act - Orders - Penalties - Judicial relief.

A.  When an owner fails, neglects or refuses to comply with this act, rules promulgated pursuant to this act, or orders of the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, and there is no imminent peril to the public health or welfare shown, the Board may, after notice and opportunity for hearing, issue an order requiring such owner to take whatever action the Board deems necessary to place the dam in a safe condition, meet the requirements of this act, rules of the Board, or the previous orders of the Board.  Such action may include but is not limited to lowering the level of or removing all water in the reservoir, providing an adequate warning to the public downstream, repair or modification of the existing dam after having the appropriate application for approval of plans and specifications granted, cease all construction work on a dam, and implementation of an appropriate operation and maintenance plan.

B.  When an owner fails, neglects or refuses to comply with this act, rules promulgated pursuant to this act, or orders of the Board, and there is an imminent peril to the public health or welfare shown, the Executive Director of the Board, or Assistant Director in the absence of the Executive Director, may, without notice or opportunity for hearing, issue an emergency order requiring such owner to take actions the Board deems necessary to place the dam in a safe condition.  Said emergency order shall indicate the finding of imminent peril and shall specify the actions that are to be taken immediately.  The order shall also specify a time and place for hearing to be held after such actions are taken.

C.  The Board may impose administrative penalties against owners of dams who fail, refuse or neglect to comply with the provisions of this act, rules of the Board promulgated pursuant to this act, or orders of the Board.  Such administrative penalties shall be imposed only after notice and opportunity for hearing on the proposed imposition of such penalties.  The notice and opportunity for hearing required by this paragraph may be combined with the notice and hearing required in paragraph A of this section.  Said penalties shall not exceed Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) per day for each violation.  Each day a violation continues shall constitute a separate violation.

D.  The Board may seek judicial relief to enforce provisions of this act, rules promulgated pursuant to this act, and orders of the Board by instituting action in the district court where the dam or a major portion thereof is located.

E.  If records and information available to the Board show that there may be more than one owner of the dam subject to administrative or judicial relief authorized by this section, the Board is not required to give all such owners notice of proceedings involving the dam, and such owners who do not receive notice or enter their appearance in the proceedings shall not be deemed indispensable parties, provided however, the Board shall use its best efforts to provide notice to all known owners, considering the number and type of interest of such owners, amount of control exercised over the operation and maintenance of the dam by such owners, the need to expeditiously proceed to hearing, and possible harm by not providing such notice.

Added by Laws 1992, c. 185, § 10, eff. July 1, 1992.

§82-110.11.  Appeals of orders.

Appeals of orders issued by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board pursuant to this act, except emergency orders issued under subsection B of Section 10 of this act, shall be taken pursuant to Article II of the Administrative Procedures Act, Sections 205 et seq. and 301 et seq. of Title 75 of the Oklahoma Statutes.

Added by Laws 1992, c. 185, § 11, eff. July 1, 1992.

§82-110.12.  Effect of act on other laws and rules.

The provisions of this act shall be supplementary to other provisions of law.  Rules of the Oklahoma Water Resources Board relating to dams which were promulgated prior to the effective date of this act shall remain effective until amended.

Added by Laws 1992, c. 185, § 12, eff. July 1, 1992.

§82-110.20.  Cache Creek Water Supply and Flood Impact Task Force.

A.  There is hereby created the Cache Creek Water Supply and Flood Impact Task Force.  The objective of the task force shall be to study and review the hydrological characteristics of streams in the Cache Creek basin and determine the impact of the operation of Lake Lawtonka and Lake Ellsworth in order to consider alternatives for maximizing the water supply and recreation capacity of such lakes for the long-range needs of the region in addition to minimizing the impact of flooding in the agricultural areas near Cache Creek in Comanche and Cotton counties.

B.  The task force shall be a permanent task force until such time it is abolished by the joint agreement of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

C.  Membership of the task force shall be as follows:

1.  One representative from the City of Lawton to be selected by the Lawton City Council;

2.  One representative each from the Comanche County Conservation District and the Cotton County Conservation District to be selected by their respective Board of Directors;

3.  The Executive Director of the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, or a designee;

4.  Members of the Oklahoma State Senate and the Oklahoma House of Representatives who represent districts affected by the water supply, recreational use and flooding impact of Cache Creek, Lake Ellsworth and Lake Lawtonka; and

5.  Other members as deemed necessary by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

D.  Legislative members of the task force shall receive reimbursement for necessary travel expenses pursuant to Section 456 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes.  Non-legislative members shall receive reimbursement for necessary travel expenses pursuant to the State Travel Reimbursement Act.

E.  The first meeting of the task force shall be made by a joint call of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.  Members of the task force shall select a chair and vice-chair at the first meeting.  Subsequent meetings may be held at the call of the chair, or as deemed necessary by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

F.  The task force shall declare findings and submit written recommendations to the Oklahoma Legislature as they deem necessary.

Added by Laws 2000, c. 381, § 1, emerg. eff. June 7, 2000.

§82-277.  Short title.

Sections 1 through 25 of this act shall be known and may be cited as the "Oklahoma Irrigation District Act".

Added by Laws 1992, c. 69, § 1, emerg. eff. April 13, 1992.

§82277.1.  Definitions.

As used in the Oklahoma Irrigation District Act:

1.  "District" means an irrigation district, organized under the laws of this state, including but not limited to those which have a contract with this state or the United States Government, or agencies thereof, under the reclamation laws for the construction, maintenance and operation of an irrigation system;

2.  "Board" means the board of directors of an irrigation district;

3.  "Director" means a director of an irrigation district;

4.  "Assessments" means any annual or special fee imposed by an irrigation district for the payment of organization, maintenance, operating and current expenses, water charges, cost of construction or improvements, emergency repairs and any other lawful expenditure authorized by the directors or the electors;

5.  "Elector" means any person who is of legal voting age and is the owner in fee or the owner of a life estate in at least ten (10) acres or an undivided interest equaling ten (10) acres of irrigable land within said district or proposed district, or any trustee for a beneficiary or guardian of any ward who owns either in fee or a life estate in at least ten (10) acres of irrigable land; or an executor, administrator or trustee of any estate owning at least ten (10) acres of irrigable land in said district or proposed district.  The owner of any remainder of any land subject to a life estate shall not be an elector;

6.  "Irrigable land" means that land which is principally used for the cultivation of crops or the raising and feeding of livestock where value or use can be enhanced by watering through irrigation channels or systems;

7.  "Reclassification" means the process of including or excluding land within the boundaries of an irrigation district; and

8.  "Transfer" means the process of substituting land which is assessed for other land within or immediately adjacent to the boundaries of an irrigation district.

Laws 1973, c. 179, § 1, emerg. eff. May 16, 1973; Laws 1992, c. 69, § 2, emerg. eff. April 13, 1992.

§82277.2.  Proposal by titleholders to organize irrigation district.

If a minimum of ten or a majority of the holders of title to irrigable lands from a common source or combined sources and by the same system or combined systems of works, desire to provide for the irrigation of such irrigable lands, the holders may propose the organization of an irrigation district by petition pursuant to the Oklahoma Irrigation District Act.

Laws 1973, c. 179, § 2, emerg. eff. May 16, 1973; Laws 1992, c. 69, § 3, emerg. eff. April 13, 1992.

§82277.3.  Petition  Contents.

The petition shall be signed by the petitioners, filed with the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, and shall contain the following information:

1.  A specific description of the lands within the proposed district;

2.  The names and addresses of all of the electors within the proposed district as reflected by the records of the county clerk of the county wherein the land is located;

3.  The proposed plan of operation and such additional data and information required by rules and regulations of the Oklahoma Water Resources Board;

4.  An attached map showing the boundaries of the proposed district; and

5.  A request that the district be organized.

Laws 1973, c. 179, § 3, emerg. eff. May 16, 1973; Laws 1992, c. 69, § 4, emerg. eff. April 13, 1992.

§82277.4.  Hearing  Notice  Order.

After receipt of the petition, the Oklahoma Water Resources Board shall:

1.  Set the petition for hearing before a hearing officer in a place of general convenience at the nearest county seat.  The Oklahoma Water Resources Board shall instruct the petitioners to publish, at their expense, notice of said hearing by legal publication for two (2) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation, published in each county containing lands within the boundaries of the proposed district.  Such hearing date shall be set not earlier than thirty (30) days after the last publication date of said notice.  In addition, owners of land included in the proposed district, as reflected by the records of the county clerk of the county wherein the land is located, shall be notified by the petitioners of the hearing by registered or certified mail.  Such notice shall be mailed at least thirty (30) days prior to the date set for the hearing.  The notice shall contain:

a. a brief statement describing the purpose of such hearing,

b. a description of the territory to be included within said district, and

c. the date and the time and place of the hearing at which all persons residing or owning property within the proposed district may appear and be heard concerning the petition;

2.  Permit filing of statements supporting or opposing the same;

3.  Approve or deny the petition and plan as the Oklahoma Water Resources Board deems advisable;

4.  Include or exclude lands within the district, upon application of the owners thereof, provided the Oklahoma Water Resources Board finds that it is in the best interest of the district and the owners of such land;

5.  If the organization of the district is approved, issue an order describing the boundaries of the district.  The order shall be filed of record within thirty (30) days after the date of issuance by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board in the office of the county clerk of each county or counties wherein lands included within the district are located; and

6.  Call a meeting, and instruct the petitioners to give notice by mail of such meeting, of the district electors for the purpose of adopting bylaws and electing directors.

Laws 1973, c. 179, § 4, emerg. eff. May 16, 1973; Laws 1992, c. 69, § 5, emerg. eff. April 13, 1992.

§82277.5.  Electors - Persons eligible to serve - First meeting - Adoption of bylaws - Other business.

A.  1.  Any elector in the division of the district in which he resides may serve as a director in that division.

2.  If an elector does not own irrigable land in the division of the district in which he resides, or resides outside the district, such elector may serve as a director in the division in which the majority of his land is located.

B.  At the time and place established by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board for the first meeting of the electors of the district, the electors shall adopt bylaws.  In addition to any other provisions normally and properly included in bylaws, the bylaws shall, at a minimum, include provisions regarding the following:

1.  Establishing the district's name and principal place of business;

2.  Requiring an annual meeting of electors and providing that a notice of such annual meeting be given, by mail, to each elector not less than fifteen (15) days prior to the annual meeting;

3.  Requiring special meetings of electors and providing that a notice of such special meeting be given, by mail, to each elector not less than fifteen (15) days prior to the special meeting;

4.  Requiring that the electors pursuant to the provisions of this section shall:

a. establish qualifications and a process to elect a board of directors.  The board of directors shall be composed of not less than five members nor more than nine.  The board of directors shall be elected from divisions approximately equal in land area and number of electors.  A director shall be twenty-one (21) years of age or older and an elector in the district, and

b. set the director's terms of office.  The terms of office of the initial board shall be until the date of the first, second, or third annual meeting of the electors.  Successors shall be elected for terms of three (3) years.  For any vacancy on the board due to resignation, death, or any cause resulting in an unexpired term, the board shall appoint a person to complete such unexpired term;

5.  Requiring that any director who ceases to qualify as an elector or a director during his term of office shall immediately cease to be a director and his office shall be vacant;

6.  Requiring that a director may be removed from his office by:

a. a majority vote of the electors in the electing division at any time, and for any reason at an election called upon a petition signed by at least sixty percent (60%) of the electors of the division, or

b. the district judge having jurisdiction of the district for dishonesty, incompetency or failure to perform the duties imposed upon him pursuant to the Oklahoma Irrigation District Act;

7.  Requiring that each elector be entitled to one vote on any election, motion, resolution or proposal properly brought for vote before the electors;

8.  Providing that each elector may vote in person, by proxy or by absentee ballot by procedures established and supervised by the directors; and

9.  Providing for setting and modification of assessments.

C.  Following the adoption of bylaws, the electors shall conduct such other business as may be necessary for the proper organization of the district including but not limited to:

1.  Electing a board of directors pursuant to the district's bylaws; and

2.  Adopting an official seal.

D.  1.  Following the first meeting of electors, the board shall submit the initial bylaws to the Oklahoma Water Resources Board for their approval or disapproval.  The Oklahoma Water Resources Board shall either approve or disapprove the bylaws within sixty (60) days after receiving written notification and a copy of the bylaws from the board.  The failure of the Oklahoma Water Resources Board to disapprove the bylaws within sixty (60) days shall constitute approval.

2.  Upon any subsequent modification or amendment of the bylaws by the electors, the modified or amended bylaws shall be submitted to the Oklahoma Water Resources Board for their approval or disapproval in the same manner and subject to the same conditions as the initial bylaws.  Any modification or amendment of existing bylaws shall not become effective until the Oklahoma Water Resources Board has approved such modifications or amendments in whole, in part or as otherwise authorized by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board.

Laws 1973, c. 179, § 5, emerg. eff. May 16, 1973; Laws 1992, c. 69, § 6, emerg. eff. April 13, 1992.

§82277.6.  Board of directors - Oath of office - Surety bond - Powers and duties - Effect on other laws.

A.  Each director of the board shall take and subscribe to the official oath of office and execute a surety bond to the district conditioned upon the faithful discharge of his duties.

B.  The board shall:

1.  Elect a president or chairman and vice-president or vice-chairman from its members and elect or appoint a secretary-treasurer.  The secretary-treasurer of the board shall be bonded;

2.  Conduct its business in open meeting, pursuant to the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act;

3.  Maintain its records pursuant to the Oklahoma Open Records Act, except those records which are considered private or confidential under applicable laws of the United States;

4.  Have standing to appear before any court of this state.  Such standing shall extend to all matters germane to the powers and duties of the district including but not limited to questions of the validity of the establishment and operation of the district, contracts and collection of delinquent assessments;

5.  On a date specified by the board, each year, prepare a budget, estimating the amount of money required for the ensuing year to meet all obligations of the district and determine the assessments necessary to pay those obligations.  Assessments may be modified or adopted by the Board when determined necessary;

6.  Determine collection procedures for all assessments imposed by the district.  Assessments may be set by the board for all expenses of the district including the establishment and maintenance of a reserve fund, provided, however, that any assessments for construction or improvements and the principal indebtedness and interest which may be incurred relating thereto shall be approved by vote of the electors.  The amount approved by the electors for construction or improvements may include additional amounts necessary for the establishment of a reasonable reserve and the payment of costs of issuance and underwriters' discount.  The maximum amount of principal indebtedness and interest shall not be less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the estimated cost of such construction or improvement, in order to provide for contingencies.  All plans of construction and improvements shall be submitted to the Oklahoma Water Resources Board;

7.  Let contracts for public improvements or public construction projects of the district.  Such improvements or construction projects shall be on sealed bids to the lowest and best responsible bidder and shall be conditioned upon the filing of a performance bond equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the contract price for the faithful performance of the contract except as otherwise provided by the Public Competitive Bidding Act;

8.  Cause an independent auditor to prepare and furnish an annual certified audit of the financial condition of the district for the preceding year to the board.  A copy of such audit shall be submitted to the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, and made available to the electors and creditors of the district; and

9.  In the best interests of the entire district, establish a written comprehensive and reasonable plan of operation for the release, distribution, and use of water among the owners of lands within the district.  Prior to the adoption of any final plan of operation or amendments thereto, the board shall provide for a meeting on the proposed or modified plan of operation.  Notice of the intended action shall be mailed to the electors.  Copies of the plan or amendments thereto shall be made available, at no charge, to the electors.  The board shall fully consider all written and oral submissions respecting the plan or amendments thereto.  A final plan of operation or amendments thereto shall be submitted to the electors for approval at the annual meeting or at a special meeting of the electors called for such approval.  Upon approval of such plan or amendments thereto, the plan or plan as amended shall constitute the official plan of operation for the district.  Copies of the official plan of operation for the district shall be made available to the public.

C.  The board shall have the power and authority to:

1.  Manage and conduct the business affairs of the district;

2.  Make and execute all necessary contracts;

3.  Organize as a municipal corporation;

4.  Employ such agents, officers and employees, including but not limited to a manager, as may be required and prescribe their duties and compensation;

5.  Institute, maintain and defend any and all actions, suits and proceedings, in person or by counsel, in the name of the district;

6.  Appear before the Oklahoma Water Resources Board to protest any application not in conformity with the district's plan of operation or not in the best interests of the district;

7.  Perform any lawful act necessary to provide sufficient water to each elector in the district;

8.  Provide for the proper drainage of all lands affected by the operations of the district;

9.  Procure water either inside or outside of this state;

10.  Develop comprehensive plans for efficient use of streams and groundwater and the control and prevention of waste.  Such plans shall be filed with the Oklahoma Water Resources Board for informational purposes only;

11.  Reclassify or authorize transfer of existing lands of the district as provided in the Oklahoma Irrigation District Act;

12.  For the purposes of the district:

a. acquire by purchase, lease or grant, rights-of-way and improvement locations, and release such acquired interests, provided that the acquisition or release of the property or facilities of public service corporations shall be accomplished as provided for by Section 1722 of Title 69 of the Oklahoma Statutes,

b. enter upon lands for the making of surveys, provided consent for such entry is first obtained,

c. condemn lands in accordance with the procedure provided for condemnation of land by railroad corporations.  The power of eminent domain shall not be exercised to acquire water rights unless the land is acquired in fee.  Oil, gas and minerals shall not be subject to the power of eminent domain, except to the extent necessary to prevent activities adversely affecting the purposes of the district,

d. purchase and acquire leases of water rights,

e. make application for appropriations of water,

f. construct, use, maintain, repair and improve canals, wells, reservoirs and water supply and distribution facilities and appurtenances of all kinds, and

g. enter into contracts and obligations with this state and the United States under the provisions of the Federal Reclamation Act and all other state and federal acts for the acquisition of water supply and distribution facilities;

13.  Accept the appointment of the district as fiscal agent of the United States or this state, or accept authorization of the district by the United States or this state to make collection of money for and on behalf of the United States or this state in connection with any federal or state project, and assume the duties and liabilities incident to such action, and do any and all things required by rules and regulations now or hereafter established by any agency or department of the federal or state government in regard thereto;

14.  Accept gifts of money, property and services;

15.  Sell and dispose of the property of the district if provision is made for the payment of indebtedness thereon and consent is obtained from all lienholders:

a. all property except easements shall be sold by sealed bid to the highest bidder but the board has the right to reject all such bids,

b. if real property has been acquired by the district through the exercise of the power of eminent domain or the imminent threat thereof and the district has determined that such property shall be sold, the immediate former owner, or his heirs at law or devisees, as the case may be, shall have the first option to repurchase the property at the price at which the property was purchased from the owner,

c. if any property acquired by the district through the exercise of the power of eminent domain or the imminent threat thereof is not needed for immediate use, the former owner, or his heirs at law or devisees, as the case may be, shall have first option to lease the property until such time as the property is actually needed for district purposes;

16.  Make surveys;

17.  Carry out research projects;

18.  Upon vote of the electors, construct dams and drainage systems;

19.  Upon vote of the electors, install pumps and equipment to recharge underground basins and subbasins;

20.  Upon vote of the electors, purchase real property;

21.  Upon vote of the electors, borrow money and issue special assessment bonds or notes, in such principal amounts as do not exceed the maximum amount voted by the electors.  All such bonds or notes may bear interest at such fixed or variable rate or rates, in any combination, as may be determined by the directors of the district.  Provided, the average coupon rate thereon shall in no event exceed fourteen percent (14%) per annum;

22.  Appoint committees of electors to undertake studies and report to the board upon any issue germane to the operations and management of the district; and

23.  Generally perform all such acts as shall be necessary to conduct the affairs of the district.

D.  The provisions of this section shall not be construed to affect or supercede any laws of this state relating to the authority or the jurisdiction of any agency of this state or political subdivision of this state to implement their respective duties pursuant to law, but shall be held and construed as auxiliary and supplementary thereto.

Laws 1973, c. 179, § 6, emerg. eff. May 16, 1973; Laws 1989, c. 196, § 4, emerg. eff. May 8, 1989; Laws 1992, c. 69, § 7, emerg. eff. April 13, 1992.

§82277.7.  Assessments  Collection - Delinquent assessments - Certificate.

A.  Each year, the board shall determine the assessments for the ensuing year.

B.  1.  Except as otherwise provided by this subsection, the county treasurer shall be responsible for the collection of any assessments and delinquent assessments made pursuant to the provisions of the Oklahoma Irrigation District Act.  Such assessments shall be collected as other special assessments according to law. The special assessment book maintained pursuant to subsection E of this section shall be the county treasurer's warrant and authority to demand and receive the assessments and delinquent assessments plus interest due and owing.  Such assessments shall become due, payable and delinquent at the same time ad valorem taxes are due, payable and delinquent.

2.  The Board may collect any assessments and delinquent assessments upon written notice to the county treasurer of such collection procedure and as provided for in the official plan of operation for the district.  Such assessments shall be due, payable and delinquent on a specific date set by the board annually.

C.  Any assessments remaining unpaid after they become delinquent shall bear a penalty of one and one-half percent (1 1/2%) per month, or any part of a month, from the date of delinquency until paid.

D.  1.  Assessments collected by the county treasurer shall be certified not later than the first of October of each year to the county treasurer of the county in which the property is situated.

2.  Assessments to be collected by the board which become delinquent shall be certified to the county treasurer of the county in which the property is situated.

E.  1.  The certificate shall be substantially in the following form and shall set forth a table or schedule showing in properly ruled columns:

  a. the names of the owners of the property, which may be as they appear in the petition to establish the district until evidence is furnished the district of a change in ownership,

  b. the description of the property opposite the names of the owners,

  c. the total amount of all assessments on the property,

  d. the total amount of all delinquent assessments on the property,

  e. a blank column in which the county treasurer shall record, as applicable, the delinquent assessments collected by the district or the assessments and delinquent assessments collected by the county treasurer,

  f. a blank column in which the county treasurer shall record the date of payment of the amount due and owing to the district, and

  g. a blank column in which the county treasurer shall report the name of the person who paid the amount due and owing to the district.

2.  The certificate and report shall be prepared in triplicate in a book named "Assessment Book of Irrigation District No.___, or District Name ________, ________ County, Oklahoma".  This district number or name shall also be printed at the top of each page.

3.  Two copies of the certificate shall be forwarded to the county treasurer of the county wherein the land is located.  The county treasurer shall receive the certificate as a special assessment book, and shall certify it as other special assessment records.

4.  It shall be unlawful for any county treasurer to accept payment of the ad valorem taxes levied against any property described therein until the owner has been notified that there is a special assessment noted in the special assessment book.

Laws 1973, c. 179, § 7, emerg. eff. May 16, 1973; Laws 1992, c. 69, § 8, emerg. eff. April 13, 1992.

§82277.8.  Collection of assessments and delinquent assessments - Reports.

A.  If the county treasurer of each county in which lands of the district are located collects any assessments and delinquent assessments, the county treasurer shall make monthly reports of the sums collected.  On the first day of each month, the county treasurer shall issue a warrant payable to the district for all sums collected.  The county treasurer shall make a report to the district, immediately after October 31 of each year, of the total sums collected and of the assessments not collected for the preceding year.

B.  If the board collects assessments and delinquent assessments, the board shall make monthly reports of the sums collected.  The board shall make a report to the district, at the annual meeting of the electors, of the total sums collected and of the assessments not collected for the preceding year.

Laws 1973, c. 179, § 8, emerg. eff. May 16, 1973; Laws 1992, c. 69, § 9, emerg. eff. April 13, 1992.

§82277.9.  Liens  Collection of delinquent assessments - Invalid assessments - Deeds.

A.  1.  All assessments and all costs and expenses of collecting them shall constitute a lien on the lands against which the assessments have been levied.  Such lien shall attach the date the assessment certificate is filed in the office of the county treasurer and shall continue until paid.  Such lien shall be coequal with the lien of ad valorem taxes and all other taxes and special assessments and shall be prior and superior to all other liens.

2.  Delinquent assessments to be collected by the county treasurer pursuant to Section 277.7 of this title shall be collected in the same manner and at the same time as delinquent ad valorem taxes are collected.  Any tax sale shall include all charges, and such lien may be evidenced by any ad valorem tax sale certificate including said charge substantially in the form required by law.

3.  For delinquent assessments to be collected by the board pursuant to Section 277.7 of this title, any actions by the board to enforce a lien established pursuant to this section shall be maintained in the same manner as actions to enforce a mortgage or deed of trust.

B.  If any assessment is declared invalid, the board shall immediately amend all proceedings, remedy all defects or irregularities and make and provide for the collection of new assessments.

C.  Unless expressly declared to the contrary, no warranty deed or deed made pursuant to a judicial sale shall warrant against any portion of any assessment or assessments levied pursuant to this section except installments due before the date of such deed.

Laws 1973, c. 179, § 9, emerg. eff. May 16, 1973; Laws 1992, c. 69, § 10, emerg. eff. April 13, 1992.

§82277.10.  Money judgments against district.

Money judgments against the district shall be satisfied in the manner provided in Sections 365.1 through 365.6 of Title 62 of the Oklahoma Statutes, for paying judgments against county or other municipal subdivisions of this state.  The district is authorized to levy special assessments to carry out the provisions of this section.

Laws 1973, c. 179, § 10, emerg. eff. May 16, 1973; Laws 1992, c. 69, § 11, emerg. eff. April 13, 1992.

§82277.11.  Construction and assessment elections.

A.  When the board calls an election and submits to the electors the question whether or not a construction plan and an assessment shall be levied to raise money to be used for any of the purposes provided in the Oklahoma Irrigation District Act, the election shall be called upon notice and shall be held and the result thereof determined and declared in all respects in conformity with the bylaws of the district.

B.  The notice shall specify:

1.  the proposed construction plan;

2.  the total amount of money proposed to be raised;

3.  the purpose for which it is intended to be used;

4.  the maximum annual assessments proposed to be levied; and

5.  the number of years the assessment shall continue.

C.  The ballots shall contain the words "Construction and Assessment  Yes" and "Construction and Assessment  No." If a majority of the votes are "Construction and Assessment  Yes," the Board shall, at the time of the annual levy thereunder, levy an assessment sufficient to raise the amount payable.

Laws 1973, c. 179, § 11, emerg. eff. May 16, 1973; Laws 1992, c. 69, § 12, emerg. eff. April 13, 1992.

§82277.12.  Water delivery prohibited in delinquent cases.

No water shall be delivered to any land on which there are delinquent assessments owed to the district.  Before any water user who has been delinquent is entitled to the delivery of water, such water user shall procure from the secretarytreasurer a certificate that all assessments have been paid.

Laws 1973, c. 179, § 12, emerg. eff. May 16, 1973; Laws 1992, c. 69, § 13, emerg. eff. April 13, 1992.

§82-277.13.  Repealed by Laws 1992, c. 69, § 27, emerg. eff. April 13, 1992.

§82277.14.  Irregularity or error in land description not jurisdictional.

Any irregularity or error in a description of land shall not be deemed jurisdictional if the land can otherwise be identified.

Laws 1973, c. 179, § 14, emerg. eff. May 16, 1973; Laws 1992, c. 69, § 14, emerg. eff. April 13, 1992.

§82277.15.  Payment of claims against district.

No claims for goods or services shall be paid by the district until the claims have been allowed by the board.  The claims shall be paid only upon warrants signed by the manager and countersigned by the secretary-treasurer.  The warrants shall state the date authorized by the board and for what purpose.  No warrant shall be issued or obligation incurred unless the district has sufficient funds on hand to pay such warrant when it is presented for payment.  The district shall keep records of each warrant as issued and as presented for payment, showing the date and amount of such warrant, to whom payable, the date of the presentation for payment, and the date of payment.  All warrants shall be drawn payable to the claimant or bearer.

Laws 1973, c. 179, § 15, emerg. eff. May 16, 1973; Laws 1992, c. 69, § 15, emerg. eff. April 13, 1992.

§82277.16.  Consolidation.

Two or more districts desiring to consolidate into one district may file a petition with the Oklahoma Water Resources Board and shall attach the following:

1.  A certified resolution authorizing the same approved by the board of directors of all the districts;

2.  A certified resolution authorizing the same approved by the electors of the districts in a meeting called in each district for that purpose;

3.  Approval by the bondholders of the districts; and

4.  Any additional data and information required by rules and regulations of the Oklahoma Water Resources Board.

After receipt thereof, the Oklahoma Water Resources Board may approve or disapprove the petition as it deems advisable.  If the petition is approved, an amended order shall be issued and filed of record in the office of the county clerk of each county or counties wherein lands included within the consolidated district are located within thirty (30) days after date of issuance.

Laws 1973, c. 179, § 16, emerg. eff. May 16, 1973; Laws 1992, c. 69, § 16, emerg. eff. April 13, 1992.

§82277.17.  Tax exemptions.

A.  All property, owned or purchased by a district, both real and personal and reasonably necessary to accomplish the purposes of the district, shall be exempt from taxation by this state, or by any municipal corporation, county or other political subdivision or taxing district of this state.  All property, products and benefits sold, leased or furnished by a district shall be exempt from sales tax.

B.  All bonds, notes and warrants and the interest thereon issued pursuant to the provisions of the Oklahoma Irrigation District Act shall be exempt from taxation by this state or by any municipal corporation, county or other political subdivision or taxing district of this state.

C.  1.  All districts organized under the provisions of the Oklahoma Irrigation District Act shall be exempt from the payment of sales and use taxes on purchases and use of tangible personal property in this state.

2.  Districts shall be exempt from payment of the vehicle excise tax levied on the transfer for first registration of vehicles purchased and used in this state.

Laws 1973, c. 179, § 17, emerg. eff. May 16, 1973; Laws 1992, c. 69, § 17, emerg. eff. April 13, 1992.

§82277.18.  Dissolution.

A.  Upon petition by twentyfive percent (25%) of the electors of a district, the board shall call a special election to determine whether the district should be dissolved and a settlement of its financial obligations made.

B.  The election shall be conducted as provided by the bylaws of the district.  If the electors vote to dissolve the district, the board shall immediately notify all persons having claims against the district of the result of such election and shall adjust, settle and pay all claims.

C.  If the amount realized from the sale of district property, together with other money of the district, is insufficient to pay the indebtedness of the district, assessments shall continue to be made against the land in the district until all obligations are paid.

D.  Within thirty (30) days after all the property of the district has been disposed of and all of its obligations have been paid, the board shall file a certificate of dissolution in the office of the county clerk of each county in which the district is located, and in the office of the Oklahoma Water Resources Board.  The certificate shall be signed by the president and attested by the secretarytreasurer, with the seal of the district affixed.  The certificate shall state that the district has disposed of its property, has been dissolved and shall describe the lands released from the district.

Laws 1973, c. 179, § 18, emerg. eff. May 16, 1973; Laws 1992, c. 69, § 18, emerg. eff. April 13, 1992.

§82277.19.  Inactive districts.

If a district is inactive, the district judge of the county in which the greater part of the district is situated may designate a board of directors who shall act with the same authority and in the same manner in dissolving the district as if such board had been duly elected officers of the district.

Laws 1973, c. 179, § 19, emerg. eff. May 16, 1973; Laws 1992, c. 69, § 19, emerg. eff. April 13, 1992.

§82277.20.  Holding and conveyance of property.

The district shall hold title to its property in its corporate name for the uses and purposes of the district unless required to hold title in some other name or manner by the United States or this state.  The formation of a district shall not transfer water rights to the district under lands included within the district.  Any district which contracts with the State of Oklahoma or the United States may convey district property, with or without consideration, if such property is needed by this state or the United States in connection with the construction, operation or maintenance of an irrigation project.

Laws 1973, c. 179, § 20, emerg. eff. May 16, 1973; Laws 1992, c. 69, § 20, emerg. eff. April 13, 1992.

§82277.21.  Conflict of interest.

A.  Except for contracts of employment, directors and employees shall not be interested, directly or indirectly, in any contract entered into by the district unless the district court of the county wherein the principal office of the district is located considers the contract, the interest of such persons therein and approves the execution thereof.

B.  Directors and employees shall not:

1.  Directly or indirectly accept or request any compensation, gift, loan, entertainment, favor, or service given for the purpose of influencing such director and employee in the discharge of his official duties;

2.  Directly or indirectly spend district funds or permit any property of the district to be used for political campaigns;

3.  Engage in political campaigns in the name of the district;

4.  Disclose confidential information acquired by reason of their official positions to any person, group, or others not entitled to receive such confidential information; or

5.  Use confidential information acquired by reason of their official position for their personal gain or benefit.

C.  A director shall immediately forfeit his office in the event he sues the district for any action, directly or indirectly, related to the operation of the district.

D.  The failure of a director or employee to comply with these prohibitions shall constitute a willful neglect of duty and shall be grounds for removal from office.

E.  Every person who knowingly and willfully violates this section shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be punished by the imposition of a fine of not more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), or by confinement in the county jail for not more than six (6) months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

Laws 1973, c. 179, § 21, emerg. eff. May 16, 1973; Laws 1992, c. 69, § 21, emerg. eff. April 13, 1992.

§82-277.22.  Repealed by Laws 1992, c. 69, § 27, emerg. eff. April 13, 1992.

§82277.23.  Electors, who may become.

A.  A municipality may become an elector in the district by action of the council or trustees in execution of the petition by the mayor or chairman and attestation by the clerk.  The mayor or chairman may cast one vote on behalf of such municipality in all district elections and shall agree to pay an amount equal to the assessments against lands owned or held in trust by such municipality.  Membership by such municipality shall not prevent residents therein who are qualified pursuant to the provisions of the Oklahoma Irrigation District Act from being electors of the district.

B.  A corporation may become an elector in the district by action of its board of directors and execution of the petition by its president and chairman and attestation by its secretary-treasurer. The president or chairman may cast one vote on behalf of such corporation in all district elections and shall agree to pay an amount equal to the assessments against lands owned or held in trust by such corporations.

C.  The United States or the State of Oklahoma or any agency or instrumentality thereof, and the Commissioners of the Land Office, may become electors in districts organized pursuant to the Oklahoma Irrigation District Act and are authorized to agree to pay an amount equal to the assessments against lands owned or held in trust by such governmental entity, agency, instrumentality or department responsible for the supervision of land within a district, shall have one vote in the district and may exercise such vote through the chief officer of such agency or his designated representative.

Laws 1973, c. 179, § 23, emerg. eff. May 16, 1973; Laws 1992, c. 69, § 22, emerg. eff. April 13, 1992.

§82277.24.  Salt water  Exemption.

The provisions of the Oklahoma Irrigation District Act shall not apply to the taking, use, or disposal of salt water associated with the exploration, production and recovery of oil and gas.

Laws 1973, c. 179, § 24, emerg. eff. May 16, 1973; Laws 1992, c. 69, § 23, emerg. eff. April 13, 1992.

§82-277.25.  Reclassification of land - Procedure.

A.  The reclassification of land within any irrigation district now or hereafter organized under the provisions of the Oklahoma Irrigation District Act, may be changed in the manner prescribed by this section.  Such reclassification shall not impair or affect the irrigation district's organization, or its rights in or to property or any of its rights or privileges of whatsoever kind or nature, nor shall it affect, impair or discharge any contract, obligation, lien or charge for or upon which it or the owner of lands therein were or might become liable or chargeable had such reclassification not been made.

B.  The holder or holders of title or evidence of title of any body of land situated within the boundaries of any irrigation district, may file with the board a petition in writing, requesting that such land be reclassified.  The petition shall describe the tracts or body of land owned by the petitioners.  The petition shall be deemed to give the assent of the petitioners to the reclassification in said district of the lands described in the petition and such petition shall be acknowledged in the same manner that conveyances of land are required to be acknowledged.

C.  1.  Upon the filing of a petition for reclassification and payment, by the petitioners to the secretary-treasurer, of sufficient monies to pay the costs of all proceedings on the petition, the secretary-treasurer of the district shall cause notice of such petition to be published once in a newspaper published in the county where the office of the directors is situated.  If any portion of said district or land lies within another county or counties then said notice shall be published in a newspaper published within each of said counties.  The notice shall inform the public of:

a. the filing of such petition,

b. the description of the lands mentioned in said petition which are desired to be reclassified in the district,

c. the reason for reclassification, and

d. a meeting at which all persons interested may appear at the office of the board at the time named in said notice and show cause, if any, why said petition should be granted or denied.

2.  The directors shall consider the petition at any regular or special meeting of the board and at the established office and place of business of the district upon a date not earlier than ten (10) days after the publication of the notice.

3.  A copy of the notice, as published, shall be by the secretary-treasurer of the district mailed to each and all of the then owners of the tracts or parcels of land proposed to be reclassified.  The notice shall be so mailed not later than ten (10) days prior to the date set for the hearing.

D.  The board at the time and place mentioned in the notice shall proceed to hear and consider any written comments which may have theretofore been filed by any person interested in said petition for reclassification, and arguments, if any, by persons interested, in support or opposition to the petition.

E.  1.  If, after giving due consideration, the board determines that:

a. the reclassification is not in the best interest of the district,

b. the reclassification will impair the current or future needs of the then existing electors, or

c. the land is not irrigable, not suitable for irrigation or not otherwise necessary for the irrigation district,

the board shall, by resolution, order that the petition be denied. The resolution shall be included in the minutes of the regular or special meeting of the board held for such purpose.

2.  If, after giving due consideration, the board determines that:

a. the reclassification is in the best interest of the district,

b. the reclassification will not impair the current or future needs of the existing electors, and

c. the land is irrigable, is suitable for irrigation or is otherwise necessary for the irrigation district,

the board shall, by resolution, reclassify the lands mentioned in the petition or determine that some defined portion thereof be reclassified.  The resolution shall be included in the minutes of the regular or special meeting of the board held for such purpose.

3.  If, within thirty (30) days from the making of such determination, three-fourths (3/4) of the qualified electors of the district, in writing to the board, protest against the determination of the board, such determination shall be void.

F.  1.  When the reclassification of land is commenced by petition, the board to whom such petition is presented may require as a condition precedent to the granting of the same that the petitioners severally pay to the district such respective sums, as nearly as the same can be estimated by the board, as the petitioners or their grantors would have been required to pay for:

a. their pro rata share of all bonds and the interest thereon which may have previously thereto been issued by said district had the lands been included in the district at the time the same was originally formed or when the bonds were so issued, and

b. irrigation works or water rights purchased other than by issue of bonds.

2.  The board shall prepare an itemized expenditure listing of such costs incurred which shall also include information detailing how any such estimated sums were determined.

G.  1.  Upon the reclassification of land in the district and if no protest has been filed with the board within thirty (30) days after the entry of said resolution as provided in subsection E of this section, a certified copy of the minutes of the board making such change, and a plat of such district showing such change, certified by the president or chairman and secretary-treasurer, shall be filed for record in the office of the county clerk of each county in which the lands of the district are situated.  The district shall remain an irrigation district as fully to all intents and purposes as if the lands which were reclassified in the district had been included or excluded at the organization of the district.  The district as so changed and all the lands therein shall be liable for all existing obligations and indebtedness of the organized district.

2.  Upon filing of the copies of the minutes and the plat, copies thereof, certified by said county clerk, shall be admissible in evidence to prove the reclassification of said lands in the district.

H.  1.  Lands within the boundaries of the district may also be reclassified by resolution of the board.  Notice of the resolution to reclassify shall be given in the same manner as if the reclassification were by petition of the landowners except that the district shall bear all costs of publication and of the proceedings. The board at the time and place mentioned in the notice shall proceed to hear and consider any written objections which may have theretofore been filed by any person interested in the reclassification, and arguments, if any, by persons interested in support or opposition to the resolution.

2.  The board shall give the same consideration required by subsection E of this section for determining whether the lands specified in the resolution should be reclassified.  If, after the proceeding provided by this section, the board determines that the lands specified in the resolution should be reclassified, the board shall adopt the resolution.  The resolution shall be included in the minutes of any regular or special meeting of the directors held for such purpose.

3.  If, within thirty (30) days from the meeting of such determination, three-fourths (3/4) of the qualified electors of the district protest in writing to the board against the reclassification, the reclassification shall be void.

4.  If any owner of the property reclassified pursuant to this subsection disputes the reclassification of such land, the owner may appeal the decision of the district court of the county having jurisdiction over the lands specified by the resolution.

I.  In case of reclassification of any lands by proceedings under this section, the board shall, at least thirty (30) days prior to the next succeeding regular election, make an order redividing such district for the purpose of electing directors to ensure equality in land area and number of electors.

J.  In case of the reclassification of any lands by proceedings under this section, the owners of the reclassified lands if they are to become assessable irrigable lands shall pay the reasonable costs of construction necessary to commence water delivery to said lands.

Added by Laws 1992, c. 69, § 24, emerg. eff. April 13, 1992.

§82-277.26.  Transfer and substitution of land unsuitable for irrigation.

A landowner who owns assessed irrigable land which is no longer useful or suitable for irrigation may transfer and substitute such land for other land owned by such landowner within the district or to land outside of but adjacent to the district when such transfer is approved by the board of directors of the district.  The unsuitable land from which the transfer is made shall become nonirrigable land and the land to which the transfer is made shall become irrigable land.

Added by Laws 1992, c. 69, § 25, emerg. eff. April 13, 1992.

§82501.  State Board authorized to organize conservancy districts  Members of board as directors of districts.

In addition to the powers conferred upon the Conservation Commission of the State of Oklahoma by Article 5, Chapter 70, Oklahoma Statutes of 1931, as amended by House Bill Number 84, of the Fifteenth Legislature, the said Conservation Commission of the State of Oklahoma is hereby authorized and empowered to determine and map proposed water conservancy and/or water improvement districts and/or soil erosion prevention districts and to perfect the organization of such proposed districts in the manner as hereinafter prescribed. For the purposes of this act and other Laws in connection therewith, the members of the Conservation Commission of the State of Oklahoma may be, by the courts upon which jurisdiction is hereinafter conferred, appointed directors of the conservancy districts hereafter created under the authority of this act.

Laws 1935, p. 343, § 1.  

§82-502.  Organization of districts - Petition - Notice.

When in the opinion of the Conservation Commission of the State of Oklahoma, the organization of irrigation, flood control, reforestation and/or soil erosion prevention districts is necessary and expedient to effect the purposes and intentions of House Bill No. 84, of the Fifteenth Legislature and all laws to which said act is cumulative, said Commission may perfect the organization of said district or districts by filing with the court hereinafter prescribed a petition alleging the necessity of said district, describing with common certainty the area proposed to be included therein and praying for an order of the court directing the formation and organization thereof.  Upon the filing of such petition, without affidavit or further pleading, the clerk of such court shall give notice to all persons interested in or affected by the formation of any such district by publication once a week for two successive weeks in a newspaper, published in the county seat of each county in which any part of the proposed district is located.  Said notice shall run in the name of the State of Oklahoma, shall be captioned "In the matter of the formation of the ....... conservancy district" and shall be addressed "To all persons interested" in the formation thereof; said notice shall recite the filing of such petition and describe with common certainty the area proposed to be included in such district and shall notify all persons interested or affected by the organization of such district to appear in not less than fifteen (15) days after the date of the first publication of said notice and show cause, if any they have, why such district should not be organized.

(a)  In cases where all of said proposed district lies within one county, the petition for the organization thereof shall be filed with the district court of such county and where the proposed district lies in more than one county, but within one judicial district, such petition may be filed in either county of such judicial district.

(b)  In cases where the proposed conservancy district lies in more than one judicial district, the petition for the formation thereof shall be filed in the Supreme Court of the State of Oklahoma.  When such petition is filed in the Supreme Court of the State of Oklahoma, the clerk shall docket the same as an original action in such Court and the Supreme Court or any member thereof, shall forthwith determine which district court of this state is more conveniently near the center or middle of said proposed district and can hear and determine said petition to the greatest convenience of the people within said district, having in view the customary route of travel; and shall thereupon refer and assign said petition and proceeding to such district court and direct the hearing, determination and control and administration of such proceeding as an original action therein.

Laws 1935, p. 343, § 2 emerg. eff. April 26, 1935.

§82503.  Hearing on petition  Order for formation of district.

Upon the hearing had upon any such petition filed as hereinabove set out, if it shall appear to the court that the purposes of Chapter 70, Article 5, Oklahoma Statutes of 1931, as amended by House Bill No. 84, Of the Fifteenth Legislature, will be best served by the creation of the conservancy district and the owners of a majority of the area of land in the proposed district have not filed written protest against the formation of such district, the court shall, by its findings duly entered of record, adjudicate all questions of jurisdiction and declare the districts organized, giving it a name or number in its discretion, by which it shall be known in all proceedings; provided, that no assessment for benefits shall be levied by a conservancy district created under this act.

Laws 1935, p. 344, § 3.  

§82504.  Decree to describe district  State Board as directors.

In such decree the court shall designate the general description of the outline of said district and shall appoint as directors thereof the members of the Conservation Commission of the State of Oklahoma and their successors in office, who shall thereupon have and exercise with reference to such conservancy districts all powers and duties conferred upon said Commission by Chapter 70, Article 5, Oklahoma Statutes of 1931, as amended by House Bill No. 84, of the Fifteenth Legislature of the State of Oklahoma.

Laws 1935, p. 344, § 4.  

§82505.  State Board to control district  Redress accorded persons injuriously affected.

Upon the creation of any such conservancy district, as herein provided, the Conservation Commission of the State of Oklahoma, shall have authority and is hereby empowered and authorized to take such action as is deemed necessary by said Commission to properly carry out the intention and purpose of Chapter 70, Article 5, Oklahoma Statutes of 1931, as amended by House Bill No. 84, of the Fifteenth Legislature of the State of Oklahoma, and said Commission or any member thereof, its servants, agents and employees shall have the right of ingress and egress upon all property comprising said conservancy district; provided, that any person, firm or corporation, private or public, who shall consider itself or himself injuriously affected in any manner whatsoever by any act performed by any official or agent of said Commission may seek redress according to subsection (L), Section 6, House Bill No. 84, of the Fifteenth Legislature of the State of Oklahoma.

Laws 1935, p. 344, § 5.  

§82506.  Jurisdiction of courts over creation of districts.

Jurisdiction of all actions for the creation of conservancy districts as outlined in this act is hereby specifically conferred upon the various district courts of the State of Oklahoma and upon the Supreme Court of the State of Oklahoma to be exercised in the manner herein prescribed.

Laws 1935, p. 345, § 6.  

§82-507.  Costs.

Any petition filed under authority of this act by the Conservation Commission of the State of Oklahoma shall be accepted and filed by the clerk of the court in which the same is filed without costs, and all proceedings thereunder shall be had without cost to the Conservation Commission of the State of Oklahoma, except that such Commission shall be liable for all costs of publishing the notices herein prescribed.

Laws 1935, p. 345, § 7, emerg. eff. April 26, 1935.

§82508.  Appeal from organization of district  Collateral attack.

The Conservation Commission or any landowner affected by any proposed conservancy district or by the creation of any conservancy districts under the provisions of this act, who is aggrieved by any order refusing to establish or establishing such district may, within one hundred eighty (180) days after the rendition of such order, appeal from the same to the Supreme Court of the State of Oklahoma upon giving bond in the sum to be fixed by the court. Provided, however, that where any order is made organizing any such district, such judgment shall not be superseded pending appeal unless fiftyone percent (51%) of the landowners affected by such order join in the appeal.  The organization of any conservancy district hereunder shall not be subject to collateral attack in any suit, action or proceeding except as to jurisdictional questions.

Laws 1935, p. 345, § 8.  

§82509.  Act cumulative.

This act shall be cumulative to Chapter 70, Oklahoma Statutes of 1931, as amended by House Bill No. 84, of the Fifteenth Legislature of the State of Oklahoma, and the powers, duties and limitations hereby imposed upon the Conservation Commission of the State of Oklahoma shall be in addition to those already imposed by said laws.

Laws 1935, p. 346, § 10.  

§82510.  Partial invalidity.

If any part of this act shall be declared invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the remaining portions hereof.

Laws 1935, p. 346, § 11.  

§82521.  County commissioners  Duties concerning conservation  Cooperation with State Board.

The board of county commissioners of the various counties of the State of Oklahoma are hereby authorized to cooperate with the Conservation Commission of the State of Oklahoma in all instances where such cooperation is necessary and will expedite the provisions of this act or any other act to which this act is cumulative, and such boards are further empowered and authorized to devise methods and means to stop and/or prevent soil erosion or soil drifting in their respective counties.  In any county or any part thereof of the state where the Conservation Commission of the State of Oklahoma has not exercised its powers for the prevention and control of soil erosion, the board of county commissioners may order the land subject to soil erosion and drifting to be cultivated, plowed, listed or planted, or may in any other manner take such steps as are necessary to prevent such soil erosion and drifting.  Upon any such order being made by the board of county commissioners, all owners of land within the district designated by the board of county commissioners shall forthwith take such steps as are designated by said board and in case any land owner shall fail or refuse to comply therewith, the board of county commissioners is hereby authorized to employ agents to go upon the land of any such person who shall fail or refuse to comply with such orders, for the purpose of plowing, ditching, listing or planting the same to prevent soil erosion and drifting, and said board of county commissioners is hereby expressly authorized to assess reasonable charges for such services against such lands affected thereby, which charges and assessments shall be levied and collected as other taxes on real estate; provided, that no order for the plowing, ditching, listing or planting of any lands in any given area shall be ordered by any board of county commissioners unless and until sixty percent (60%) of the land owners of such area have filed with such board of county commissioners written requests for such action.

Laws 1935, p. 345, § 9.  

§82526.1.  Ratification and adoption of Compact.

The State of Oklahoma does hereby ratify, approve and adopt the aforesaid Compact, which is as follows:

CANADIAN RIVER COMPACT

The State of New Mexico, the state of Texas, and the State of Oklahoma, acting through their Commissioners, John H. Bliss for the State of New Mexico, E. V. Spence for the State of Texas, and Clarence Burch for the State of Oklahoma, after negotiations participated in by Berkeley Johnson, appointed by the president as the representative of the United States of America, have agreed respecting Canadian River as follows:

ARTICLE I

The major purposes of this Compact are to promote interstate comity; to remove causes of present and future controversy; to make secure and protect present developments within the states; and to provide for the construction of additional works for the conservation of the waters of Canadian River.

ARTICLE II

As used in this Compact:

(a) The term "Canadian River" means the tributary of Arkansas River which rises in northeastern New Mexico and flows in an easterly direction through New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma and includes North Canadian River and all other tributaries of said Canadian River.

(b) The term "North Canadian River" means that major tributary of Canadian River officially known as North Canadian River from its source to its junction with Canadian River and includes all tributaries of North Canadian River.

(c) The term "Commission" means the agency created by this Compact for the administration thereof.

(d) The term "conservation storage" means that portion of the capacity of reservoirs available for the storage of water for subsequent release for domestic, municipal, irrigation and industrial uses, or any of them, and it excludes any portion of the capacity of reservoirs allocated solely to flood control, power production and sediment control, or any of them.

ARTICLE III

All rights to any of the waters of Canadian River which have been perfected by beneficial use are hereby recognized and affirmed. ARTICLE IV

(a) New Mexico shall have free and unrestricted use of all waters originating in the drainage basin of Canadian River above Conchas Dam.

(b) New Mexico shall have free and unrestricted use of all waters originating in the drainage basin of Canadian river in New Mexico below Conchas Dam, provided that the amount of conservation storage in New Mexico available for impounding these waters which originate in the drainage basin of Canadian River below Conchas Dam shall be limited to an aggregate of two hundred thousand 200,000 acrefeet.

(c) The right of New Mexico to provide conservation storage in the drainage basin of North Canadian River shall be limited to the storage of such water as at the time may be unappropriated under the laws of New Mexico and of Oklahoma.

ARTICLE V

Texas shall have free and unrestricted use of all waters of Canadian River in Texas, subject to the limitations upon storage of water set forth below:

(a) The right of Texas to impound any of the waters of North Canadian River shall be limited to storage on tributaries of said River in Texas for municipal uses, for household and domestic uses, livestock watering, and the irrigation of lands which are cultivated solely for the purpose of providing food and feed for the households and domestic livestock actually living or kept on the property.

(b) Until more than three hundted thousand 300,000 acrefeet of conservation storage shall be provided in Oklahoma, exclusive of reservoirs in the drainage basin of North Canadian River and exclusive of reservoirs in the drainage basin of Canadian River east of the 97th meridian, the right of Texas to retain water in conservation storage, exclusive of waters of north Canadian River, shall be limited to five hundred thousand 500,000 acrefeet; thereafter the right of Texas to impound and retain such waters in storage shall be limited to an aggregate quantity equal to two hundred thousand 200,000 acrefeet plus whatever amount of water shall be at the same time in conservation storage in reservoirs in the drainage basin of Canadian River in Oklahoma, exclusive of reservoirs in the drainage basin of North Canadian River and exclusive of reservoirs east of the 97th meridian; and for the purpose of determining the amount of water in conservation storage, the maximum quantity of water in storage following each flood or series of floods shall be used; provided, that the right of Texas to retain and use any quantity of water previously impounded shall not be reduced by any subsequent application of the provisions of this paragraph (b).

(c) Should Texas for any reason impound any amount of water greater than the aggregate quantity specified in paragraph (b) of this article, such excess shall be retained in storage until under the provisions of said paragraph Texas shall become entitled to its use; provided, that, in event of spill from conservation storage, any such excess shall be reduced by the amount of such spill from the most easterly reservoir on Canadian River in Texas; provided further, that all such excess quantities in storage shall be reduced monthly to compensate for reservoir losses in proportion to the total amount of water in the reservoir or reservoirs in which such excess water is being held; and provided further that on demand by the Commissioner for Oklahoma the remainder of any such excess quantity of water in storage shall be released into the channel of Canadian River at the greatest rate practicable.

ARTICLE VI

OKlahoma shall have free and unrestricted use of all waters of Canadian River in Oklahoma.

ARTICLE VII

The Commission may permit New Mexico to impound more water than the amount set forth in Article IV and may permit Texas to impound more water than the amount set forth in Article V; provided, that no state shall thereby be deprived of water needed for beneficial use; provided further that each such permission shall be for a limited period not exceeding twelve (12) months; and provided further that no state or user of water within any state shall thereby acquire any right to the continued use of any such quantity of water so permitted to be impounded.

ARTICLE VIII

Each state shall furnish to the Commission at intervals designated by the Commission accurate records of the quantities of water stored in reservoirs pertinent to the administration of this Compact.

ARTICLE IX

(a) There is hereby created an interstate administrative agency to be known as the "Canadian River Commission."  The Commission shall be composed of three (3) commissioners, one from each of the signatory states, designated or appointed in accordance with the laws of each such state, and if designated by the President an additional Commissioner representing the United States.  The President is hereby requested to designate such a Commissioner.  If so designated, the Commissioner representing the United States shall be the presiding officer of the Commission, but shall not have the right to vote in any of the deliberations of the Commission.  All members of the Commission must be present to constitute a quorum.  A unanimous vote of the Commissioners for the three signatory States shall be necessary to all actions taken by the Commission.

(b) The salaries and personal expenses of each Commissioner shall be paid by the government which he represents.  All other expenses which are incurred by the Commission incident to the administration of this Compact and which are not paid by the United States shall be borne equally by the three states and be paid by the Commission out of a revolving fund hereby created to be known as the "Canadian River Revolving Fund."  Such fund shall be initiated and maintained by equal payments of each state into the fund in such amounts as will be necessary for administration of this Compact. Disbursements shall be made from said fund in such manner as may be authorized by the Commission.  Said fund shall not be subject to the audit and accounting procedures of the States.  However, all receipts and disbursements of funds handled by the Commission shall be audited by a qualified independent public accountant at regular intervals and the report of the audit shall be included in and become a part of the annual report of the Commission.

(c) The Commission may:

(1) Employ such engineering, legal, clerical, and other personnel as in its judgment may be necessary for the performance of its functions under this Compact;

(2) Enter into contracts with appropriate federal agencies for the collection, correlation, and presentation of factual data, for the maintenance of records, and for the preparation of reports;

(3) Perform all functions required of it by this Compact and do all things necessary, proper, or convenient in the performance of its duties hereunder, independently or in cooperation with appropriate governmental agencies.

(d) The Commission shall:

(1) Cause to be established, maintained and operated such stream and other gaging stations and evaporation stations as may from time to time be necessary for proper administration of the Compact, independently or in cooperation with appropriate governmental agencies;

(2) Make and transmit to the Governors of the signatory states on or before the last day of March of each year, a report covering the activities of the Commission for the preceding year;

(3) Make available to the Governor of any signatory state, on his request, any information within its possession at any time, and shall always provide access to its records by the Governors of the states, or their representatives, or by authorized representatives of the United States.

ARTICLE X

Nothing in this Compact shall be construed as:

(a) Affecting the obligations of the United States to the Indian Tribes;

(b) Subjecting any property of the United States, its agencies or instrumentalities, to taxation by any State or subdivision thereof, or creating any obligation on the part of the United States, its agencies or instrumentalities, by reason of the acquisition, construction or operation of any property or works of whatever kind, to make any payment to any State or political subdivision thereof, state agency, municipality or entity whatsoever, in reimbursement for the loss of taxes;

(c) Subjecting any property of the United States, its agencies or instrumentalities, to the laws of any State to an extent other than the extent to which such laws would apply without regard to this Compact;

(d) Applying to, or interfering with, the right or power of any signatory State to regulate within its boundaries the appropriation, use and control of water, not inconsistent with its obligations under this Compact;

(e) Establishing any general principle or precedent applicable to other interstate streams.

ARTICLE XI

This Compact shall become binding and obligatory when it shall have been ratified by the Legislature of each state and approved by the Congress of the United States.  Notice of ratification by the Legislature of each state shall be given by the Governor of that state to the Governors of the other states and to the President of the United States.  The President is hereby requested to give notice to the Governor of each state of approval by the Congress of the United States.

In Witness Whereof, the Commissioners have executed four counterparts hereof, each of which shall be and constitute an original, one of which shall be deposited in the archives of the Department of State of the United States, and one of which shall be forwarded to the Governor of each state.

DONE at the City of Santa Fe, State of New Mexico, this 6th day of December, 1950.

/s/  JOHN H. BLISS

John H. Bliss

Commissioner for the State of

New Mexico

/s/  E. V. SPENCE

E. V. Spence

Commissioner for the State of

Texas

/s/  CLARENCE BURCH

Clarence Burch

Commissioner for the State of

Oklahoma

Approved:

/s/  BERKELEY JOHNSON

  Berkeley Johnson

Representative of the United

States of America.

§82526.2.  Notice of approval of compact.

Notice of approval of said Compact shall be given by the Governor of the State of Oklahoma to the Governor of Texas and to the Governor of New Mexico and to the President of the United States of America as provided in Article XI of said Compact.  Laws 1951, p. 331, Sec. 2.

Laws 1951, p. 331, § 2.  

§82526.3.  Approval by Texas and New Mexico  Consent of Congress.

The ratification and approval of said Compact by this state shall not be binding or obligatory until it shall have been likewise approved by the Legislature of the State of Texas and the Legislature of the State of New Mexico and consented to by the Congress of the United States of America.

Laws 1951, p. 331, § 3.  

§82531.  Short title  Definitions.

This act may be known and cited as the "Conservancy Act of Oklahoma"; the bonds which may be issued hereunder may be briefly called "conservancy bonds," and shall be so engraved or printed on their face; the districts created hereunder shall be briefly termed "conservancy districts."

The books and records provided for hereunder shall be termed "Conservancy Books of Conservancy Record," and such titles shall be printed, stamped or written thereon.

Wherever the term "publication" is used in this act and no manner specified therefor, it shall be taken to mean three insertions in a weekly paper or in one (1) issue a week for three (3) weeks in a daily newspaper of general circulation in the county or counties wherein such publication is to be made.

Wherever the term "person" is used in this act, and not otherwise specified, it shall be taken to mean person, firm, copartnership, association or corporation, other than county, city, town or other political subdivision.  Similarly, the words "public corporation" shall be taken to mean counties, cities, towns, school districts, road districts, ditch districts, park districts, levee districts and all other governmental agencies clothed with the power of levying general or special taxes or assessments.

Wherever the term "court" is used, and not otherwise specified, it shall be taken to mean the district court wherein the petition for the organization of the district was filed or assigned.

Wherever the terms "land" or "property" are used in this act, they shall, unless otherwise specified, be held to mean real property, as the words "real property" are used in and defined by the laws of the State of Oklahoma, and shall embrace all railroads, tramroads, roads, electric railroads, street and interurban railroads, streets and street improvements, telephone, telegraph, and transmission lines, gas, sewerage and water systems, pipelines and rightsofway of public service corporations, and all other real property whether public or private.

Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 161, § 1; Laws 1957, p. 552, § 1; Laws 1959, p. 374, § 1.  

§82532.  Change of names of boards, commissions, etc.  Transfer of powers and duties to Oklahoma Planning and Resources Board.

Whenever the words "Commission of Drainage and Irrigation" occur in Chapter 139 of the 19231924 Session Laws of the State of Oklahoma, and where the words "Commission of Drainage and Irrigation and Reclamation," and whenever the words "Commission of Drainage and Irrigation" occur in said chapter, and whenever the words "Commissioner of Drainage, Irrigation and Reclamation" occur in Chapter 148, Session Laws of Oklahoma 1925, and whenever the words "Conservation Commission" occur in Chapter 70 of the 1927 Session Laws of the State of Oklahoma, and whenever the words "Conservation Commission" occur in Article 2 and Article 3 of Chapter 70 of the 1935 Session Laws of the State of Oklahoma, and whenever the words "Oklahoma Forest Commission" occur in Chapter 146 of the Session Laws of 1925, and whenever the words "Oklahoma Forest Commission," or "Commission" occur in Chapter 102 of the Oklahoma Session Laws of 1927, and whenever the words "The Oklahoma State Planning Board" occur in Article 23 of Chapter 24 of the 1935 Session Laws of Oklahoma, and whenever the words "The State Engineer" occur in Article 2, Chapter 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes of 1931, occur, there shall be substituted therefor "Oklahoma Planning and Resources Board"; and whatever powers, rights and duties and limitation are conferred under Chapter 42 of the Session Laws of 1925 hereby be transferred to the said Oklahoma Planning and Resources Board.

Laws 1927, c. 70, p. 93, § 4; Laws 1937, p. 74, § 6.  

§82-541.  Conservancy Districts - Master Conservancy Districts - Purpose - Board of Directors.

A.  There is hereby authorized the formation of conservancy districts within this state.  Each such district shall be designated as a "conservancy district" or "master conservancy district".  Such districts shall not be political corporations or subdivisions of the state.  All of the provisions of this chapter shall apply to all such districts except insofar as special provisions shall be made herein relating to master conservancy districts only.  All provisions of this chapter prescribing the contents of pleadings or instruments and using the term "conservancy district" may be modified to use the term "master conservancy district", when the same shall be applicable.  Provided that in the event a master conservancy district is organized, the obligation including the area of a conservancy district shall become the obligation of the master conservancy district to the extent such obligations relate to water resources development and control.

B.  1.  The district court of any judicial district in this state, or any judge thereof when said court is in vacation, is vested with jurisdiction, power and authority, when the conditions stated in Section 542 of this title are found to exist, to establish conservancy districts, which may be entirely within, or partly within and partly without, the judicial district in which said court is located, for all or any of these purposes:

a. of preventing floods,

b. of regulating stream channels by changing, widening and deepening same,

c. of reclaiming or of filling wet and overflowed land,

d. of providing for irrigation where it may be needed,

e. of regulating the flow of streams,

f. of diverting or in whole or in part eliminating watercourses, or part of the flowage thereof, or

g. of developing and providing water for domestic, industrial and agricultural requirements, and to persons within the territory of the district.  This also may include the construction, operation and maintenance of storage, distribution, treatment, supply and other works, installation, improvements and facilities necessary or incidental thereto.  Provided, that no conservancy district shall construct, operate or maintain distribution facilities within the limits of any municipal corporation.

2.  Incident to any purpose provided in this subsection, and to further enable their accomplishment, a master conservancy district may:

a. straighten, widen, deepen, divert or change the course or terminus of any natural or artificial watercourse,

b. build or rebuild reservoirs, canals, levees, walls, embankments, bridges, or dams,

c. maintain, operate and repair any of the construction herein named, and

d. do all other things necessary for the fulfillment of the purposes of this chapter.

C.  Master conservancy districts may be created to include lands constituting all or any part of the area of one or more conservancy and/or irrigation districts and/or municipal corporations and/or lands not included in any such area or areas.  Provided, however, that no conservancy district nor portion thereof shall be incorporated into a master conservancy district without the consent of at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the owners of land and by owners of at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the land area embraced in the conservancy district or that portion thereof to be incorporated into a master conservancy district.  In addition to any or all of the purposes enumerated in subsection B of this section, master conservancy districts may be created for any or all of the following purposes:

1.  To conduct preliminary surveys and to develop a plan for the comprehensive control, regulation and/or use of water from any designated stream, watercourse or watercourse system and/or its basin;

2.  To coordinate the operations, works and facilities of two or more conservancy districts with each other and with improvements, works, and facilities of the master conservancy district;

3.  To enable the acquisition, construction and maintenance of improvements and facilities for common benefit and/or use of constituent areas;

4.  To permit two or more municipal corporations and/or conservancy districts to pool their resources to effect any or all of the foregoing; and

5.  To enter into contracts with municipal corporations, persons and public agencies for the furnishing to them of water, subject, however, to the proviso in subparagraph g of paragraph 1 of subsection B of this section.

D.  1.  Immediately following organization of a master conservancy district, the first board of directors shall be appointed by the district judge and shall consist of such number of persons as the district judge shall designate to provide equitable representation for the component areas and/or for users contracting for a substantial service from the district, and said directors shall serve until their successors have been selected and qualified.  At the first meeting the directors shall elect a president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer from their number, and shall adopt bylaws for the governing of the business of the district, subject to approval by the district judge, and attend to such other business as may come before said board.  The president shall be the chief executive officer of the district, shall preside at the meetings of the board and shall perform all other functions which are necessary and proper for carrying out the provisions of this act, subject to approval of the board.  The vice-president shall act as president whenever the president is absent, or otherwise incapacitated, or fails to act.  The secretary shall be custodian of the district seal, attest to the signature of the president when law requires that it be attested to and shall be charged with the duty of keeping accurate and detailed minutes of meetings of the board.  The treasurer shall be custodian of all monies, funds and credits of the district and shall keep the books and records of the district in proper form.

2.  All officers and employees handling funds of a master conservancy district shall be bonded in a penal sum of not less than Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00), such bond to be a corporate surety bond approved by the judge of the district court establishing the district, for the faithful performance of their duties.  The bond premiums shall be paid by the district and benefits accrue to said district.

3.  All officers and employees shall execute the customary oath of office, which shall be filed with the secretary of the district.

4.  Within two (2) years after the first board of directors has been appointed by the district judge, the district judge shall appoint members to the board as hereinafter provided and fix the total number of such directors for equitable representation.  Provided, however, each component area, including municipal corporations, cities, towns, irrigation districts, and users contracting for a substantial service from the district may elect their respective representation to the board of directors.

5.  Each component area, including municipal corporations, cities, towns, irrigation districts, and users contracting for a substantial service from the district shall be entitled to representation on the board of directors, in accordance with the ratio which their individual, actual and contingent water storage for which it has contractual obligations to the master conservancy district bears to the total water storage for which there are contractual obligations with said district.  In fixing the number of directors to represent a master conservancy district, each component area or user contracting for a substantial service from the district shall be entitled to at least one director, but no such area or user shall be entitled to more than three directors.  The total number of directors and the representation of each such area or user may be changed by the district judge whenever a reallocation is considered by said judge to be necessary for providing proper representation. Provided, however, that if a master conservancy district has been organized on or before January 5, 1957, under the provisions of this title, which has as a part of its purpose the inclusion of a proposed irrigation district or districts, each such proposed district shall be entitled to one representative on the board of directors of the master conservancy district for a period of five (5) years from the effective date of this act; provided, however, that if the proposed irrigation district or districts, as hereinabove described, are not legally organized and have not executed a contract for the repayment of the irrigation costs with the master conservancy district within the aforementioned five-year period, then said offices of directors representing the irrigation interests shall be discontinued and shall have no further representation on said board of directors; provided, further, that if the proposed irrigation districts are organized and have contracted with a master conservancy district under the laws of this state, then said directors shall be elected or selected as provided in this section pertaining to the second board of directors.

The governing body of each such area or user such as a municipal corporation, city, town, irrigation district, conservation district, and/or other user may select or cause to be elected the person or persons to represent them on the board of directors of the master conservancy district and shall submit the name or names of those selected to the district judge who shall appoint said person or persons to membership on the board of directors; provided, however, that only a freeholder who is a qualified elector of this state as provided by law and residing within any county in which the district or any part thereof is located shall be eligible.

6.  Vacancies occurring of unexpired terms of office on the board of directors shall be filled through appointment by the district judge upon the recommendations of the component area or user authorized to make the original selection.  The district judge shall determine whether persons who have been recommended for appointment hereunder are qualified as provided herein.

7.  The board of directors first appointed, and those subsequently appointed, or elected, are hereby authorized and empowered to appoint a manager and such additional personnel as may be necessary and proper for conducting the business of said district; provided, however, that no employee of the district may be a member of the board.

8.  Upon expiration of the two-year term of office of directors first appointed by the district judge, the next succeeding board of directors shall be elected or appointed so that as nearly as possible one-half (1/2) of their number shall serve a term of two (2) years and the remainder for a term of four (4) years.  The board of directors shall meet and determine their respective term of office by lot.  Thereafter, at the expiration of their respective term of office, directors shall be elected or appointed for a term of four (4) years.

9.  On the first Wednesday following each biennial election or appointment of the members of the board of directors by the district judge, as the case may be, they shall meet and organize as a board and elect officers for service as provided above for the first board.

10.  The board of directors shall perform official actions by resolution and a majority of their number shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any and all business of the district.  All official actions including final passage and enactment of all resolutions must be approved by a majority of the board of directors present, a quorum being present, at a regular or special meeting.

11.  The board of directors shall hold regular meetings once a month, the date thereof to be established in the district's bylaws or by resolution.  The president or any three members may call such special meetings as may be necessary in the administration of the district's business, provided that at least five (5) days prior to the meeting date the secretary shall have mailed notice thereof to the address which each member shall file with the secretary.  Notices of special meetings may be waived in writing by any director.

12.  Each director shall be reimbursed for all necessary and reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of his duties pursuant to law, as provided for in the State Travel Reimbursement Act.  In addition to any reimbursement for necessary and reasonable expenses received by the director pursuant to this paragraph, each director shall be entitled to receive a per diem of Fifty Dollars ($50.00) per meeting for not more than two meetings a month.

Laws 1923-24, c. 139, p. 162, § 3; Laws 1955, p. 468, § 1, emerg. eff. June 2, 1955; Laws 1957, p. 553, § 2, emerg. eff. June 6, 1957; Laws 1961, p. 619, § 2, emerg. eff. May 16, 1961; Laws 1963, c. 271, § 1, emerg. eff. June 13, 1963; Laws 1980, c. 30, § 1, emerg. eff. March 24, 1980; Laws 1992, c. 133, § 1, eff. July 1, 1992.

§82541.1.  Board of directors  Federal contracts.

The board of directors of any conservancy district or master conservancy district, notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, and in addition to all other powers conferred by law, hereby is authorized and empowered to enter into any contract or contracts with the dulyconstituted authorities of the federal government under and pursuant to the provisions of Act of Congress approved June 17, 1902, 32 Stat. at Large 388, and Acts amendatory thereof and supplementary thereto (43 U.S.C. Sections 371  611), and is further authorizied and empowered to qualify as a "local organization" as defined in the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act, as amended (68 Stat. 666, 70 Stat. 1088), and to cooperate with the Secretary of Agriculture of the United States in carrying out, maintaining, and operating the works of improvement authorized by said Act, for the accomplishment of the purposes of the district, and by such contract or cooperation to enter into such stipulations and undertakings, assume such duties, establish and enforce such regulations, make such conveyances and assignments, establish such tolls, rates, prices, charges, rentals and assessments, and conform to and enforce such regulations of the Department of the Interior, or such regulations, policies and procedures of the Secretary of Agriculture, pursuant to the aforesaid Federal Acts, as to enable said district to secure the benefits of said Federal Acts.  The board is hereby further authorized and empowered to negotiate and contract with any other federal or state agency and/or any other public entity in matters relating to waters of the district.  For the purpose of such contract or contracts, the board of directors hereby is vested with all powers necessary and requisite to comply with the conditions and requirements of said Federal Legislation, and of regulations promulgated thereunder; and no provision or limitation contained in this Chapter which shall be in conflict with the provisions of such contract or terms of cooperation shall apply to any contracting district, nor shall they impair or limit the power and authority herein conferred.  And such contract or terms of cooperation further may provide that they shall remain in force until the district has fully discharged all obligations incurred to the United States or the State of Oklahoma or its agencies thereunder. Providing, 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.

Laws 1955, p. 469, § 1; Laws 1957, p. 554, § 3; Laws 1961, p. 622, § 3.  

§82541.2.  Organization of master conservancy districts.

Upon proper petition master conservancy districts may be organized in the State of Oklahoma under the provisions of this act.

Laws 1955, p. 470, § 3; Laws 1957, p. 558, § 1; Laws 1961, p. 622, § 4.  

§82542.  Petition  Signatures  Contents  Transfer by Supreme Court to district court.

Before any court shall establish a district as outlined in Section 541 of this title, a petition shall be filed in the office of the Clerk of the Supreme Court of the State of Oklahoma.  Said petition, shall be signed by owners of at least fiftyone percent (51%) of the land area and by not less than fiftyone percent (51%) of the landowners in the area embraced in the proposed district. The governing body of any city or town shall have the power to instruct the mayor or president of the Board of Trustees to sign any such petition by resolution duly passed and entered on the records of the city or town, and the signature for any city or town, as provided herein, shall be accepted in lieu of the signatures of onehalf (1/2) of the owners of the platted land embraced in the corporate limits of said city or town.  The petition for establishing a master conservancy district encompassing land outside the corporate limits of any city or town must contain the signatures of owners of at least fiftyone percent (51%) of the land area and not less than fiftyone percent (51%) of landowners in the area located outside any city or town embraced within the proposed district.

The petition shall be in writing and shall set forth:

First:  The proposed name of the district.

Second:  The necessity of the proposed work and that it will be conducive to the public health, safety, convenience and welfare.

Third:  A general description of the purpose of the contemplated improvement and a map of the territory to be included in the proposed district.  Said description may be given by legal subdivisions or metes and bounds, but it shall be sufficient to accurately describe the outside boundary of the said territory to be included in the district.  Said map and description of outside boundary shall be the basis upon which the court makes its findings of jurisdiction, and if the court finds that the required percentage of signatures of owners of land as shown by outside boundaries of the map attached to the petition have been filed, then the court shall have jurisdiction of the said district subject to appeal as provided herein.  Said district need not be contiguous provided it be so situated that the public health, safety, convenience or welfare will be promoted by the organization as a single district of the territory described and provided further that the intervening territory be not benefited by the construction of the works in the district so formed.

Fourth:  Said petition shall pray for the organization of the district by the name proposed.

The Clerk of the Supreme Court shall docket said petition as an original action in said Court under the name:

In re:  Conservancy District No. ______, and all such proceedings shall successively be numbered serially from No. 1 upward.

The said Supreme Court shall within ten (10) days after the filing of such petition determine which district court of said State is most convenient near the center or middle of said district and can hear and determine said petition with greatest convenience to the people within said proposed district, having in view the customary routes of travel; and shall thereupon refer and assign said petition and proceedings to such district court and direct hearing, determination, control and administration of such proceedings as an original action therein, conformable to laws. Provided, that where all of proposed conservancy district is in one judicial district, the proceeding shall be filed originally with some court clerk in such judicial district in a county embraced within the proposed conservancy district and said court shall exercise complete jurisdiction.

No petition with the requisite signatures shall be declared null and void on account of alleged defects, if the court has once obtained jurisdiction, but the court may at any time after obtaining jurisdiction permit the petition to be amended in form and substance to conform to the facts by correcting any errors in the description of the territory, or in any other particular; and said petition may be further amended by including in the proposed district additional area; Provided, that there shall be sufficient signatures on the original petition, together with those upon any such amendment, to meet the requirements of inclusion of such area had the same been included in the original petition.

Several exactly similar petitions or duplicate copies of the same petition for the organization of the same district may be filed and shall together be regarded as one petition.  All such petitions filed prior to the first hearing of said petition shall be considered by the court as though filed with the first petition placed on file.

In determining when a sufficient number of landowners have signed the petition, the names of the owners of land as shown by the tax roll of the county shall be conclusive for all purposes of this act except that any successor in title to any owner so shown may sign for such person or persons named on the tax roll if it be appropriately indicated: Provided, if any city or town or any part thereof lies within any such proposed district, or if any such city or town has in such district or on any stream below any such improvements any water dams and reservoirs which will be rendered permanently benefited by such improvements, then all property in such city or town shall contribute to the cost of such improvements by contributing to the cost to such city or town as a whole in that proportion which the assessed value of each assessed unit of real property bears to the total assessed value of the real property in such city or town.

Nothing herein provided shall affect the legality of any district created prior to the effective date hereof; and all proceedings for formation of districts, and all districts established, pursuant to former law are hereby validated as though fully conforming to the provisions hereof.

Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 162, § 4; Laws 1957, p. 555, § 4; Laws 1961, p. 622, § 6; Laws 1963, c. 271, § 2, emerg. eff. June 13, 1963. der 82542

§82543.  Court costs.

At the time of filing the petition, the petitioners shall deposit as court costs the sum of Twentyfive Dollars ($25.00), which deposit shall be in lieu of bond and the court may require such additional deposits of costs as may be necessary from time to time.

Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 164, § 5; Laws 1927, c. 70, p. 93, § 5; Laws 1959, p. 375, § 2.  

§82544.  Notice of hearing on petition.

Immediately after the filing of such petition, the clerk of the district court, with whom such petition is filed, or to whom it has been assigned, shall cause notice by publication, to be made of the pendency of the petition and of the time and place of the hearing thereon, and said notice as provided herein shall be given in each county affected by the district, and the time of hearing shall be not less than sixty (60) days from the date of the first publication. Said notice shall also include a map of the proposed district. Provided, that for any district created prior to the passage of this act in which notice of hearing petition was published in only one newspaper in a county affected by the district, such notice shall be deemed sufficient.  The district court in which the petition was filed, or to whom it was assigned, shall thereafter, for all purposes of this act, except as hereinafter otherwise provided, maintain and have original and exclusive jurisdiction coextensive with the boundaries and limits of said district, and of lands and other property to be included in said district, or affected by said district, without regard to the usual or other limits of its jurisdiction and shall convene at the convenient county seat.

Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 164, § 6; Laws 1927, c. 70, p. 94, § 6; Laws 1955, p. 471, § 1; Laws 1961, p. 624, § 8; Laws 1963, c. 271, § 3; Laws 1967, c. 382, § 25, emerg. eff. May 23, 1967.  

§82-545.  Hearing on petition - Objections - Declaration of organization - Corporate powers - Appeal - Decree as final order.

Any owner of real property in said proposed district who wishes to object to the organization and incorporation of said district shall, on or before the date set for the cause to be heard, file, by attorney or in person, his objections why such district should not be organized and incorporated.  Such objections shall be heard by the court as an advance case without unnecessary delay.  Upon the said hearing if it shall appear that the purpose of this act would be subserved by the creation of the conservancy district, and that fiftyone percent (51%) or more of the landowners and number of acres of land within the proposed district have filed written petitions requesting formation of said district, and that by the date of said hearing fiftyone percent (51%) of the number of owners and acres of land in the proposed district have not filed written protest against the formation of the district, the court shall after hearing all evidence and objections, as justice and equity require, by its findings, duly entered of record, adjudicate all questions, and declare the district organized and give it a corporate name, as "Conservancy District No. ______ of the State of Oklahoma," by which in all proceedings it shall thereafter be known.  The district shall be a body corporate with all the powers of a corporation, shall have perpetual existence, with power to sue and be sued to the same extent as an individual in like cases, to incur debts, liabilities and obligations; to exercise the right of eminent domain and of taxation and assessment as herein provided; to issue bonds and to do and perform all acts as herein expressly authorized and all acts necessary and proper for the carrying out of the purpose for which the district was created, and for executing the powers with which it is invested.  In such decree the court shall designate the general description of the outline of said district substantially as set out in petition and designate the place where the office or principal place of business of the district shall be located, which shall be within the corporate limits of the district, if practicable, and if not practicable, within one of the counties affected by the districts and which may be changed by order of court from time to time.  The regular meetings of the board of directors shall be held at such office or place of business but for cause may be adjourned to any other convenient place.  The official records and files of the district shall be kept at the office so established.  If the court finds that the property set out in said petition should not be incorporated into a district, it shall dismiss said proceedings and adjudge the costs against the signers of the petition in the proportion of the interest represented by them.  Any petitioner may within sixty (60) days after the refusal, appeal from an order refusing to establish or establishing such district, to the Supreme Court of the State of Oklahoma, upon giving bond in a sum to be fixed by the Court.  After an order is entered establishing the district, such order shall, unless appeal be taken within ninety (90) days, be deemed final and binding upon the real property within the district, and shall finally and conclusively establish the regular organization of the said district, except as to jurisdictional questions, against all persons, except the State of Oklahoma upon suit commenced by the Attorney General.  Any such suit by the Attorney General must be commenced within thirty (30) days after said decree declaring such district organized as herein provided, and not otherwise.  The organization of said district shall not be directly or collaterally questioned in any suit, action or proceeding except as herein expressly authorized, except as to jurisdictional questions.

Laws 1923-24, c. 139, p. 165, § 7; Laws 1927, c. 70, p. 94, § 7; Laws 1955, p. 471, § 2; Laws 1963, c. 271, § 4, emerg. eff. June 13, 1963.

§82546.  Decree of incorporation filed with Secretary of State.

Within ten (10) days after the said district has been declared a corporation by the court, the clerk of the court shall transmit to the Secretary of State, and the county clerk in each of the counties having lands in said districts, copies of the findings and the decree of the court incorporating said district.

The same shall be filed and recorded in the office of the Secretary of State in the same manner as articles of incorporation are now required to be filed and recorded under the general law concerning corporations and copies shall also be filed and recorded in the office of the county clerk of each county in which a part of the district may be, where they shall become a permanent record, and the county clerk of each county shall receive a fee of Two Dollars ($2.00) for filing, recording and preserving the same, and the Secretary of State shall receive for filing and recording said copies such fees as now are or hereafter may be provided by law for like services in similar cases.  Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 166, Sec. 8; Laws 1955, p. 472, Sec. 3.

Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 166, § 8; Laws 1955, p. 472, § 3.  

§82547.  Irrigation districts  Formation.

Districts may be formed under the provisions of this act for irrigation, or partly for irrigation, by a substantial compliance with the terms as near as possible.  But no such district in its construction or operation shall in any manner interfere with works for the prevention of floods, or the drainage of lands, or materially diminish their protective value.  And the court organizing such irrigation district shall require a statement in the petition and proof to the effect that the organization and operation of the same will not materially interfere with any work or plans for flood prevention, the drainage or protection of lands, or the flow of waters covered by the terms of a contract.  Nor shall any improvement under this act deprive the owners of lands lying upon any stream of water of the ordinary flow in said stream sufficient for domestic and stock uses, without compensation therefor.

Subject to the above, the board of directors shall have the same powers as are herein conferred generally by its provisions as far as applicable.

Special assessments shall be levied and bonds issued as already provided, using the words "Conservancy Special Assessments," or "Conservancy Bonds."

Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 198, § 70; Laws 1957, p. 556, § 5.  

§82549.  Amendment of district boundaries to include other necessary lands  Validation.

Any time subsequent to the entry of the decree creating the district, and prior to the filing of the report of the board of appraisers, land situated outside of the district boundaries, necessary to accomplish the purposes of the district, may be included within the boundaries of said district.  Said lands may be included within the boundaries of said district, by the filing, with the court having jurisdiction of said district, a petition, signed by owners of at least fiftyone percent (51%) of the land area and by not less than fiftyone percent (51%) of the landowners in the area proposed to be added to the said district.  Proceedings of said petition shall conform to the proceedings to create a district as provided in this title.  Upon said hearing, if the court finds that said land is reasonably necessary to be included within said district to accomplish the purposes for which said district was originally created, the court shall amend the boundaries of the district to include said land.

Any amendments to the boundaries of a district heretofore made by a court having jurisdiction thereof according to the procedure herein provided are hereby validated.

Laws 1967, c. 382, § 23, emerg. eff. May 23, 1967.  

§82561.  Appointment of directors  Election of successors.

Within thirty (30) days after entering the decree incorporating said district, the judge having jurisdiction shall call an election of a temporary board of directors, and cause notice thereof to be given by publication thereof in each county in which lands of the district are situated, the last insertion to be not less than thirty (30) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of such meeting, calling a meeting of all of the owners of land within the district at a day and hour specified, at some place in the judicial district in which the district was organized, for the purpose of electing a temporary board of three (3) directors who shall be residents within a county in which the district is located and shall be owners of land within the district; provided, that not more than one director shall be chosen from any one county affected by the district, if there are more than two counties affected by the district.  The district judge shall conduct the election and at such election each and every owner of any land within the district shall be entitled to one vote for each director, in person or by proxy in writing, duly signed and verified by affidavit.  The owners of land voting in such election, either in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of holding such election.  The directors elected shall serve until the first permanent board of directors is elected, as hereinafter provided.

Within twenty (20) days after the confirmation of appraisements of benefits for said district, the court clerk of the district court in which the petition has been filed, or to which it has been assigned, shall give notice, as heretofore provided, calling a meeting of the owners of all the lands on which appraised benefits have been confirmed situated in said district, at a day and hour specified at some public place in the judicial district in which the district was organized, for the purpose of electing a permanent board of three (3) directors who shall be residents within a county in which the district is located and shall be owners of land on which appraised benefits have been confirmed.  The president of the temporary board of firectors shall, in open court and under the supervision of the district judge, conduct the election, and at such election each and every owner of any lands on which appraised benefits have been confirmed shall be entitled to one vote for each director, in person or by proxy in writing duly signed and verified by affidavit.  Said election shall be for terms of one (1), two (2) and three (3) years, and thereafter the terms of directors shall be three (3) years from the date of said election and they shall serve until their successors shall have been elected and qualified as hereinbefore provided.

Each year the court clerk of the district court shall give notice, as heretofore provided, for the yearly election of the Director whose term expires.  The director with the longest term left shall, in open court and under the supervision of the district judge, conduct the election.

The Oklahoma Water Resources Board at any election or meeting may represent the State of Oklahoma and shall have the right to vote for directors or in any matter that shall come up properly before any election or meeting to the extent of the assessment against land owned by the state in such district, which vote may be cast by any person designated by said Oklahoma Water Resources Board; guardians may represent their wards, executors and administrators may represent estates of deceased persons, and private corporations may be represented by their officers or dulyauthorized agents; and any city, county or municipality may be represented by its officers or agents dulyauthorized.

The owners of land on which appraised benefits have been confirmed, voting in the election of a permanent board of directors, either in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of holding such election or any election thereafter.  The persons receiving a majority of the votes cast in any election shall be elected, and the district judge under whose supervision the election is held shall make and enter an order setting forth the results of said election, naming the elected Directors and specifying their respective terms.

Any director appointed or elected may be removed by the district judge having jurisdiction of the conservancy district, for dishonesty, incompetency or failure to perform the duties imposed upon him by this chapter, and any vacancies which may occur in any office shall be filled by appointment by the district judge having jurisdiction of the district for the unexpired term of said Director, such appointee to be qualified as herein set forth.

Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 166, § 9; Laws 1955, p. 470, § 2; Laws 1959, p. 375, § 3; Laws 1967, c. 382, § 1, emerg. eff. May 23, 1967; Laws 1976, c. 254, § 1, emerg. eff. June 15, 1976. 9

§82562.  Board of Directors to organize  Records.

Each director before entering upon his official duties shall take and subscribe to the Constitutional oath before a suitable officer and further that he will honestly, faithfully and impartially perform the duties of his office, and that he will not be interested directly or indirectly in any contract let by said district, which said oath shall be filed in the office of the clerk of said court in the original case.  Upon taking the oath, the Board of Directors shall choose one of their number President of the Board, and shall elect some suitable person Secretary of the Board, who may or may not be a member of the Board.  Upon organization of the Board of Directors, and as often thereafter as may be necessary to correctly reflect all changes therein, a certificate shall be filed in the initial case, by the President of the Board, setting forth the names, addresses and official titles of all officers of the District.  Such Board shall adopt a seal, and shall keep in a wellbound book a record of all its proceedings, minutes of all meetings, certificates, contracts, bonds given by employees and all corporate acts, which record and proceedings, so recorded, shall be signed by the said Board of Directors or such members of said Board, concurring in said acts or proceedings, at the time of the making of such record or on date of the first meeting of the Board thereafter, which shall be open to the inspection of the owners of property in the district, as well as to all other interested parties, said record is hereby declared to be the official record of the district, and shall be conclusive evidence as to all actions, proceedings and notices and the contents thereof affecting said district.

Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 167, § 10; Laws 1967, c. 382, § 2, emerg. eff. May 23, 1967.  

§82563.  Quorum.

A majority of the directors shall constitute a quorum, and a concurrence of the majority in any matter within their duties shall be sufficient for its determination.  Laws 192324, c. 139, p.  168, Sec. 11.

Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 168, § 11.  

§82564.  Secretary and other employes or agents.

The secretary shall be the custodian of the records of the district and of its corporate seal and shall assist the board in such particulars as it may direct in the performance of its duties.  It shall be the duty of the secretary to attest, under the corporate seal of the district, all certified copies of the official records and files of the district that may be required of him by the provisions of this Act, or by any person ordering the same and paying the reasonable cost of transcription and any portion of the record so certified and attested shall be prima facie evidence of the facts therein contained.  The secretary shall serve also as treasurer of the district, unless a treasurer is otherwise provided for by the board.  The board may also employ and discharge a chief engineer who may be an individual, copartnership or corporation, or a member of the board of directors, who is a civil engineer may be designated as chief engineer of the district; an attorney; and such other engineers, attorneys and other agents and assistants as may be useful and necessary; and may provide for their compensation, which, with all other necessary expenditures, shall be taken as a part of the cost of the improvement.  The employment of the secretary, treasurer, chief engineer and attorney for the district shall be evidenced by agreements in writing, which, so far as possible, shall specify the amounts to be paid for their services and be approved by the court, having jurisdiction of the proceedings.  The chief engineer shall be superintendent of all the works and improvements, and shall make a full report to the board each year, or oftener if required by the board, and may make such suggestions and recommendations to the board as he may deem proper.  Laws 192324 ch. 139, P. 168, Sec. 12.

Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 168, § 12.  

§82565.  Plan of improvements  Inspection  Objections  Hearing  Dissolution in certain cases  Proceedings concerning plan.

Upon their qualification, the board shall prepare or cause to be prepared a plan for the improvements for which the district was created.  Such plans shall include such maps, profiles, plans and other data and descriptions as may be necessary to set forth properly the location and character of the work, and of the property benefited or taken or damaged, with estimates of cost and specifications for doing the work.

In case the board of directors finds that any former survey made by any other district or in any other manner is useful for the purposes of the district, the board of directors may take over the data secured by such survey, or such other proceedings as may be useful to it, and may pay therefor an amount equal to the value of such data of such district. No construction shall be made under the authority of this act which will cause the flooding of any land, village or city or which will cause the water to back up into or on any land, village or city, unless the board of directors shall have acquired and paid for the right to use the land affected for such overflow purpose and shall have paid all damages incident thereto. No railroad shall be required to be constructed with a grade in excess of the ruling grade then existing upon that division of said railroad whereon said change is required, without just compensation.  Upon the completion of such plan, the board shall file a copy of the plan with the court clerk of the court having jurisdiction of such district and cause the court clerk to give notice by publication as provided herein in each county of said district, of the completion of said plan, and shall permit the inspection thereof at his office, by all persons interested.  Said notice shall fix the time and place for the hearing by the court of all objections to said plan, not less than ten (10) days nor more than thirty (30) days after the last publication of said notice.  Any owner of land which will be benefited or directly affected by the construction, operation and maintenance of works proposed in said plan, whether inside or outside of said district, may object to the approval of said plan.  All objections to said plan shall be in writing and be filed with the said court clerk at least five (5) days before the date of hearing fixed in said notice, provided, however, that the court, for good cause shown, shall have authority to extend the time for filing said objections in its discretion.  If at said date the owners of a majority of the area of land in the said district shall file a protest and objection to the plan as a whole, then the court shall order an assessment of the properties in said district sufficient to pay the cost of the proceedings up to said time, said costs to be fixed by the court, and to be prorated equally upon the property included in said district, provided, however, that no assessment for said purpose shall be more than twenty cents ($0.20) per acre on agricultural lands.  Upon the collection of said assessments the court shall order said district dissolved.  If said district be not dissolved by the court, the court shall hear said objections and adopt, reject or refer back said plan to said board of directors.  If said court shall reject said plan, then said board shall proceed as in the first instance under this section to prepare another plan.

If the court should refer back said plan to said board for amendment, then the court shall continue the hearing to a day certain without publication of notice.

If the court refers back said plan to said board, then a certified copy of said journal entry of said court shall be filed with the secretary of the board of directors, and by him be incorporated into the records of the district.  The official plan may be altered in detail from time to time until the assessment roll is filed, and of all such alterations the appraisers shall take notice.  But after the assessment roll has been filed in court, no alterations of the official plan shall be made except as provided herein.

Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 168, § 13; Laws 1955, p. 473, § 4; Laws 1959, p. 376, § 4; Laws 1967, c. 382, § 3, emerg. eff. May 23, 1967.  

§82565.1.  Dissolution of conservancy districts.

A conservancy district created under the provisions of the Conservancy Act of Oklahoma may be dissolved by the district court having jurisdiction of said district, upon an application for that purpose filed by a majority of the members of the board of directors of such district, or upon the petition of a majority of the landowners in such district.  Any such application shall be in writing and shall set forth either that a plan for the improvements for which the district was created has not been prepared and that there is little likelihood that such a plan will be prepared within the next three (3) years; or, that a plan has been prepared but no assessments have been approved by the court and that a period of ten (10) years has elapsed since approval of the plan and that there is little likelihood that such assessment will be made against the benefited land within the next three (3) years.  Such application shall further set forth that all indebtedness of said district has been paid in full and that said district has no indebtedness outstanding and that it will be in the best interests of all landowners within said district to have the district dissolved. Said application must be signed by a majority of the members of the board of directors, or by a majority of the landowners within such conservancy district.  Said application shall be filed with the clerk of the district court having jurisdiction of such district. If the judge of the district court having jurisdiction of such district is satisfied that the application is in conformance with the provisions of this act, he shall order the clerk of said court to give notice by publication, to be made of the pendency of the application and of the time and place of the hearing thereon, and said notice as provided herein shall be given in each county affected by the district and the time of hearing shall not be less than sixty (60) days from the date of the first publication.  Any owner of land in said district who desires to object to the dissolution of said district shall, before the date set for the application to be heard, file his objections and state the reasons why such district should not be dissolved.  Upon said hearing, if the court finds from the evidence presented that the application has been signed by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors or by a majority of the landowners in said district and either that a plan for the improvements for which the district was created has not been prepared and that there is little likelihood that such a plan will be prepared within the next three (3) years; or, that a plan has been prepared but no assessments have been approved by the court and that a period of ten (10) years has elapsed since approval of the plan and that there is little likelihood that such assessment will be made against the benefited land within the next three (3) years, and if the court further finds that all indebtedness of said district has been paid in full and that said district has no indebtedness outstanding and that it will be in the best interests of all landowners in the district to have the district dissolved, the court shall declare said conservancy district dissolved.  Within thirty (30) days after the court has declared said district dissolved, the clerk of said court shall transmit to the Secretary of State, and the county clerk in each of the counties having lands in said district, copies of the order of the court dissolving said district.

Laws 1968, c. 337, § 1, emerg. eff. May 9, 1968; Laws 1976, c. 122, § 1, emerg. eff. May 18, 1976.  

§82566.  Execution of plan  Powers of directors.

The board of directors shall have full power and authority to devise, prepare for, execute, maintain and operate any or all works or improvements necessary or desirable to complete, maintain, operate and protect the official plan.  They may secure and use men and equipment under the supervision of the chief engineer or other agents, or they may in their discretion let contracts for such works, either as a whole or in parts.  Laws 192324 ch.  139, P. 170, Sec. 14.

Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 170, § 14.  

§82567.  Entry upon lands for surveys and examinations.

The board of directors of any district organized under this act, or their employees or agents, including the contractors and their employees, and the members of the Board of appraisers and their assistants, may enter upon lands within or without the district in order to make surveys and examinations to accomplish the necessary preliminary purposes of the district, or to have access to the work, the district being liable, however, for actual damages done, but no unnecessary damage shall be done.  Laws 192324 ch.  139, P.  170, Sec. 15.

Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 170, § 15.  

§82568.  Protection, reclamation or irrigation of lands  Petition and notice of action.

In order to effect the protection, reclamation or irrigation of the land and other property in the district, the board of directors is authorized and empowered to clean out, straighten, widen, alter, deepen or change the course or terminus of any ditch, drain, sewer, river, water course, pond, lake, creek or natural stream in or out of said district; to fill up any abandoned or altered ditch, drain, sewer, river, watercourse, pond, lake, creek or natural stream, and to concentrate, divert or divide the flow of water in or out of said district; to construct and maintain main and lateral ditches, sewers, canals, levees, dikes, dams, retardation dams, irrigation dams, sluices, revetments, reservoirs, holding basins, floodways, pumping stations and siphons and any other works and improvements deemed necessary to construct, preserve, operate or maintain the works in or out of said district; to construct or enlarge or cause to be constructed or enlarged any and all bridges that may be needed in or out of said district; to construct or elevate roadways and streets; to construct any and all of said works and improvements across, through or over any public highway, canal, railroad rightofway, track, grade, fill or cut, in or out of said district; to remove or change the location of any fence, building, railroad, canal or other improvements in or out of said district; and shall have the right to hold, encumber, control, to acquire by donation, purchase or condemnation, to construct, own, lease, use and sell real and personal property, and to acquire, construct, own, lease, use or sell any easement, riparian right, railroad rightofway, canal, cemetery, sluice, reservoir, holding basin, mill dam, water power, wharf, holding basin or franchise in or out of said district for rightofway, or for any necessary purpose, or to acquire, own, lease, use and sell any real estate for material to be used in constructing and maintaining said works and improvement, to replat or subdivide land, open new roads, streets and alleys, or change the course of any existing one; provided, however, that said board of directors shall not exercise any of said powers specified herein without first having in the court having jurisdiction a full and complete petition stating in detail the acts intended to be done, and upon the filing of said petition, a notice shall be published in the county or counties in said district, as hereinbefore provided, setting forth the nature of the relief prayed for, which notice shall be published for not less than thirty (30) days, and shall specify a date on which said petition will be heard by said court, and in the event a protest is filed, said court shall hear all parties interested and make its decree thereon and said decree may be appealed to the Supreme Court of the State of Oklahoma, as is provided in our statutes relating to civil procedure.  The decree of said Court on said hearing shall, either grant in whole or in part, or deny the relief prayed for.

Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 170, § 16; Laws 1927, c. 70, p. 95, § 8. Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 170, § 16; Laws 1927, c. 70, p. 95, § 8.  

§82569.  Contracts  Advertisement  Bond  Waiver of advertisement in emergency  Review by court.

When it is determined to let the work of a conservancy district by contract, contracts in amounts to exceed Seven Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($7,500.00) shall be advertised after notices calling for bids have been published once a week, for three (3) consecutive weeks completed on date of last publication, which shall not be less than fourteen (14) days from the first publication, in at least one newspaper in each county, where any part of the work under terms of the contract is to be performed, and the board may let said contract to the lowest and best bidder, who shall give a good and approved bond, with ample security, equal in amount to the total of the bid, conditioned on the carrying out of the contract, to completion, and shall file the said bond and contract with the secretary of said district in amount and conditions as provided by law, conditioned on the carrying out of the contract.  But this contract shall not be let to another than the lowest bidder until a hearing before the court has been had with notice to all parties interested, as ordered by the court and an order obtained from the court.  Such contract shall be in writing, and shall be accompanied by or shall refer to plans and specifications for the work done, prepared by the chief engineer. Said contract shall be approved by the board of directors and signed by the president of the board and by the contractor, and shall be executed in duplicate.  Provided, that in case of sudden emergency when it is necessary in order to protect the district, the advertising of contracts may be waived upon the unanimous consent of the board of directors, with the approval of the court or the judge in vacation; and provided, further, that the action of said board of directors in awarding a contract shall, upon application of any interested taxpayer, be reviewed by the district court at a time and place specified by the judge of said court and the order of said district court may be appealed from, by either the board of directors or any interested taxpayer, to the Supreme Court of the State of Oklahoma in the same manner as other appeals under civil procedure.

Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 171, § 17; Laws 1927, c. 70, p. 96, § 9, emerg. eff. March 23, 1927; Laws 1963, c. 271, § 5, emerg. eff. June 13, 1963; Laws 1992, c. 133, § 2, eff. July 1, 1992.

§82570.  Dominant right of eminent domain.

Said board, where necessary for the purpose of this act, shall have dominant right of eminent domain over the right of eminent domain of railroad, telegraph, telephone, gas, water power and other companies and corporations, and over townships, villages, counties and cities. In the exercise of this right due care shall be taken to do no unnecessary damage to other public utilities, and, in case of failure to agree upon the mode and terms of interference, their operation or usefulness shall not be interfered with beyond the actual necessities of the case, due regard being paid to the other public interest involved.

Oil, gas and minerals are specifically excluded from the right to condemn, except to the extent necessary to prevent activities adversely affecting the purposes of the district.

Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 171, § 18; Laws 1967, c. 382, § 4, emerg. eff. May 23, 1967.  

§82571.  Condemnation under general law.

Said board shall also have the right to condemn for the use of the district any land or property within or without said district, according to the procedure provided by law for the condemnation of land or other property taken for telegraph, telephone and railroad rightsofway.  Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 171, Sec. 19.

Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 171, § 19.  

§82571.1.  Condemnation for easement purposes  Damages.

When the board of directors of a conservancy district determines that a lesser estate is needed for flood control purposes than fee simple absolute, the board shall have the right to condemn for easement purposes an easement as may be required.

In such cases, the measure of damages payable to a landowner shall be the difference in the fair market value of the entire tract with the easement and the fair market value of the entire tract without the easement.  Commissioners or jurors shall take into consideration in assessing damages for permanent inundation or for flowage easements for intermittent inundation of land, the estimated or anticipated frequency of inundation, the value of the remnant of the estate for landowner's agricultural or other economic use, and such other relevant factors as may be ascertained or anticipated by reasonable evaluation.

Added by Laws 1988, c. 50, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 1988.  

§82572.  Regulations to protect works  Enforcement  Penalty.

Where necessary in order to secure the best results from the execution and operation of the plans of the district, or to prevent damage to the district by the deterioration or misuse, or by the pollution of the waters, of any water course therein, the board of directors may make regulations for and may prescribe the manner of building bridges, roads, or fences or other works in, into, along or across any channel, reservoir, or other construction; and may prescribe the manner in which ditches or other works shall be adjusted to or connected with the works of the district or any watercourse therein.

The construction of any works in a manner harmful to the district or to any water course therein, and in a manner contrary to that specified by the directors, shall be a misdemeanor, and upon conviction shall be punishable by a fine of not more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00).  The directors shall have authority to enforce by mandamus or otherwise all necessary regulations made by them and authorized by this act, and may remove any harmful construction or may close any opening improperly made.  Any person, corporation or municipality willfully failing to comply with such regulations shall be liable for all damages caused by such failure and for the cost of renewing any construction damaged or destroyed.

Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 171, § 20.  

§82573. Bridges or other structures  Changes  Notice  Damages  Appeal.

Whenever the official plan requires the building, modification, removal, or rebuilding of any bridge, grade, aqueduct, or other construction, and a hearing upon the report of the appraisers has been had and a final order issued by the court for appraisals and assessments affecting such construction, the owner of said bridge, grade, aqueduct or other structure shall be bound to make such changes or adjustments within the time specified in the official plan, or within the time directed by the court, which time shall be a reasonable one under all circumstances.  In case such changes or adjustments are not made, the board of directors may make such adjustments or removals.  If the change or improvement of a natural water course is made necessary by the insufficiency of the bridge or other structure to permit the water of the stream to pass through it in time of high water, the work of altering or removing said bridge or other structure shall be at the expense of the owner.  Before the removal or modification of any works outlined in this section, the board of directors shall give thirty (30) days' notice to the owner of such bridge or such construction that the same be adapted to the plans.  In case the owner of any bridge or other structure shall object to the modification or removal of such bridge or other structure on the ground that the cost of the modification will be greater than the benefits resulting from such removal, a hearing shall be had before the district court having the original case, and if such contention is sustained, such modification or removal shall not be required.  If said building, modification or removal, or rebuilding of any bridge, aqueduct or other construction causes damage to the owner or owners thereof, which damages are required under this act to be paid by the conservancy district, the owner or owners thereof shall not be required to make any changes or alterations until the damages have been paid them by the district. The board of directors of any district organized under this law shall have full power and authority to improve in alignment, section, grade or in any other manner any watercourse, and they may require the removal, widening, lengthening, deepening, raising or other change of any public or private road bridge, or railroad bridge, or any aqueduct, or telephone, telegraph, gas, oil, sewer, water or other pipelines or any other construction over, along, across, under or through such watercourse.  In case such change is made necessary in any such structure by the failure of such bridge or other structure to permit the free flow of the water in such stream in time of flood, then the owner of any such construction shall make such change, without cost to the district, or without any claim for damages against the district, except that the district shall pay the cost of excavating the earth for the enlargement of any channel where such excavation or filing is required as a part of plans of the district in making the changes outlined in this section, but the district shall not be required to make such fill or excavation unless it would be necessary to the plans of the district if the bridge or other construction did not exist; provided, however, that the board of directors shall not exercise any of the duties mentioned herein, without first publishing a notice in the county affected, for at least thirty (30) days before the contemplated action is taken and any interested taxpayer may appeal from the decision of the board and the district court that had original jurisdiction of the matter, which appeal shall be lodged by filing a motion in the court of the appellant and any order of the said district court may be appealed from to the Supreme Court of the State of Oklahoma.

Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 172, § 21; Laws 1927, c. 70, p. 97, § 10.  

§82574.  Passing equipment through bridge or grade  Notice to owner.

In case it is necessary to pass any dredge boat or other equipment through a bridge or grade of any railroad company or other corporation, county, township, or municipality, the board of directors shall give thirty (30) days' notice to the owner of said bridge or grade that the same shall be removed temporarily to allow the passage of such equipment or that an agreement be immediately entered into in regard thereto.  The owner of said bridge or grade shall keep an itemized account of the cost of the removal and if necessary, of the replacing of said bridge or grade, and said actual cost shall be paid by the district.  In case the owner of said bridge or grade shall refuse to provide for the passage of said equipment, the board of directors may remove such bridge or grade at its own expense, interrupting traffic in the least degree consistent with good work and without delay or unnecessary damage.  In case they shall be prevented from doing so, the owner of said bridge or grade shall be liable for all damage caused by the resulting delay. Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 173, Sec. 22.

Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 173, § 22.  

§82575.  Establishing stream and rain gauges, etc.  Surveys and investigations.

The board of directors shall also have the right to establish and maintain streamgauges, rain gauges, a flood warning service with telephone or telegraph service, and may make such surveys and examination of rainfall and flood conditions, stream flow, and other scientific and engineering subjects as are necessary and proper for the purposes of the district, and they may issue reports of their findings.

Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 173, § 23.  

§82576.  Cooperation with federal government or other agencies  Outlets in other states.

The board of directors shall also have the right and authority to enter into contracts or other arrangements with the United States Government or any department thereof, with persons, railroad or other corporations, with public corporations, cities and towns, and the state government of this or other states with drainage conservation, conservancy, or other improvement districts, in this or other states, for cooperation or assistance in constructing, maintaining, using and operating the works of the district or the waters thereof, not in violation of Article VI of the Constitution or for making surveys and investigations or reports; and may purchase, lease or otherwise acquire land or other property in adjoining states in order to secure outlets or spend money for securing such outlets or reservoirs or other works in adjoining states, and the Governor of the State of Oklahoma is hereby authorized to assist any conservancy district in negotiating any agreements with other states and the United States, under the power conferred upon him by Section 8 of Article VI of the Constitution of Oklahoma.  That the streams constituting boundaries between this and other states for more than one hundred (100) miles shall not be organized within the conservancy districts until the state governments of this and other states affected shall have executed agreements as to equitable division of costs and benefits between the areas with different states affected by the agreement.

Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 173, § 24; Laws 1957, p. 556, § 6.  

§82577.  Law governing.

The rights of conservancy districts, landowners, municipalities, corporations, and other users of water in conservancy districts shall be governed by the laws of the State of Oklahoma providing for the use of water.  Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 174, Sec. 25; Laws 1957, p. 557, Sec. 7; Laws 1967, c. 382, Sec. 5.  Emerg. eff. May 23, 1967.

Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 174, § 25; Laws 1957, p. 557, § 7; Laws 1967, c. 382, § 5, emerg. eff. May 23, 1967.  

§82601.  Appraisers  Appointment  Organization  Additional board.

At the time of making its order, organizing the district or at any suitable time thereafter; either in term or in vacation the court or judge shall appoint three (3) appraisers, who shall in every case where appraisers are appointed under this act be recommended by the board of directors, and whose duty it shall be to appraise the lands or other property within and without the district to be acquired for rightsofway, reservoirs and other works of the district and to appraise all benefits and damages accruing to all lands within and without the district by reason of the extension of the official plan.  Said appraisers shall be freeholders residing within the counties affected by the district but not interested in said district.  Each of the appraisers shall, before taking up his duties, take and subscribe to an oath that he will faithfully and impartially discharge his duties as such appraiser, and that he will make a true report of such work done by him.  The said appraisers shall at their first meeting elect one of their own number chairman, and the secretary of the board of directors or his deputy shall be exofficio secretary of said board of appraisers during their continuance in office.  A majority of the appraisers shall constitute a quorum and a concurrence of the majority in any matter within their duties shall be sufficient for its determination.  Said appraisers shall continue to hold their offices until excused by the court, and the court shall fill all vacancies in the board of appraisers, or may appoint a new board for subsequent appraisals, as occasion may require.  Such new board, if appointed, shall fill all the requirements of the board of appraisers and perform its duties.

Provided, that if the court shall find that one board of appraisers cannot appraise the lands and property in said district within reasonable time, then the court may appoint such other boards of appraisers as may be found necessary, specifying their territory of operation.

Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 176, § 26.  

§82602.  Appraisals, how made  Duties of appraisers.

(a) During the preparation of the official plan, the board of appraisers shall examine and become acquainted with the nature of plans for the improvement of the lands and other property affected thereby, in order that they may be better prepared to make appraisals.

When the official plan is filed with the secretary of the district, he shall at once notify the board of appraisers, and they shall thereupon proceed to appraise the benefits of every kind to all property within or without the districts which will result from the organization of said district and execution of the official plan; provided, however, that in the case of a district composed in whole or in part of municipal corporations, state or federal institutions, and/or political subdivisions, the board of appraisers may, in lieu of appraising benefits against each separately owned parcel of realty situated within the same, appraise the benefits as a whole to all property situated within the boundaries of said municipal corporation, institution and/or political subdivision.  In such event, the benefits appraised as a whole shall be considered as benefits to the municipal corporation, institution and/or political subdivision.  It shall be the duty of the governing body of the said municipal corporation, institution, and/or political subdivision to collect assessments levied on the appraisal of benefits, as provided in the Conservancy Act of Oklahoma.  Provided, however, that to the extent legally permissible, as now or hereafter provided, such municipal corporation, institutions and/or political subdivisions may pay such portion of any assessments levied under the provisions of this act from funds and revenues otherwise collected and held by them, to the extent such manner of payment is deemed desirable.  In the progress of their work, they shall have the assistance of the attorney, engineer, secretary and other agents and employees of the board of directors.  The board of appraisers shall also appraise the benefits, if any, accruing to cities, villages, counties, townships and other public corporations, as political entities and to the State of Oklahoma.

The appraisers in appraising benefits shall consider only the effect of the execution of the official plan.  The appraisers in making appraisals of benefits shall give due consideration and credit to any other works or of the systems of reclamation already constructed or under construction which form a useful part of the work of the district according to the official plan.

(b) While making the appraisal of benefits as above provided, the board of appraisers shall, if directed by the court, estimate the damages to be substained to each tract of land and to other property which will result from the execution of the official plan, including an estimate of the damages to be sustained by the taking in fee simple of the title to, or of an easement over any land specified by the board of directors as desired to be so taken, for the execution of the official plan; and the board of appraisers shall make a separate detailed report of the same to the clerk of the court, and to the board of directors for its guidance in thereafter fixing the payment of such damages or in determining to proceed by condemnation as provided in Section 607 of this title.

Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 177, § 27; Laws 1961, p. 626, § 11; Laws 1963, c. 271, § 6, emerg. eff. June 13, 1963.  

§82603.  Lands outside district, appraisement of  Bringing in additional owners.

If the appraisers find that lands or other property not embraced within the boundaries of the district will be necessary for or affected by, the proposed improvement, or should be included in the district, they shall appraise the benefits and damages to such land and shall file notice, in the court of the appraisal which they have made upon the lands beyond the boundaries of the district, and to land which in their opinion should be included in the district.  The appraisers shall report to the court any lands which in their opinion should be eliminated from the district.

Provided, that the court in determining the properties benefited by the proposed project or projects and in assessing the benefits derived therefrom, and in the matter of assessments for the construction and maintenance thereof shall upon proper petition and showing, cause to be brought in and made parties to the action all property owners found to be benefited throughout the course of the stream below the points of diversion of water, or to the crossing of the state line by any such stream, whether such property be originally included in the petition or not, such action to be taken by the court after service of summons as required in civil actions upon such property owners of record.  Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 178, Sec. 28.

Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 178, § 28.  

§82604.  Hearing on land excluded from or taken into district  Notice.

If the report of the board of appraisers includes recommendations that other lands be included in the district, or that certain lands be excluded from the district, it shall be the duty of the court clerk where the proceeding is pending to give notice to the owners of such property by publication, to be made as provided in this act for a hearing on the petition for the creation of the district. Such notice to those owners whose lands are to be added to the district may be substantially as shown in the schedule herein.  The time and place of the hearing may be the same as those of hearing of appraisals.  To the owners of property to be excluded from the district it will be sufficient to notify them of that fact, which notice may be recorded with acknowledgment of the owner.

Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 178, § 30; Laws 1959, p. 377, § 5; Laws 1961, p. 627, § 12; Laws 1963, c. 271, § 7, emerg. eff. June 13, 1963.  

§82605.  Report of appraisers  Contents  Filing.

The board of appraisers shall prepare a report of its findings which shall be arranged in tabular form and which shall be known as the conservancy appraisal record.  Such record shall contain the name of the owner of property appraised as it may appear on the current tax roll of the county, a description of the property appraised as per government survey in tracts not exceeding three hundred twenty (320) acres in extent, except as to properties of public service, transportation and public corporations the property of which shall be described as a whole, and the amount of benefits to each tract. They shall also make report of any other benefits, or any other matter which in their opinion should be brought to the attention of the court.  The name of the owner of each tract as the same appears upon the current tax roll of the county shall be conclusive of the fact of such ownership for the purposes of said appraisal record and all proceedings thereon pursuant to this title. No error in the names of owners of real property or in the description thereof shall invalidate said appraisal or the levy of assessments based thereon if sufficient description is given to identify such real property and the owner or owners thereof as aforesaid.

When their report is completed, it shall be signed by at least a majority of the appraisers and deposited with the proper court clerk who shall file it in the original case.  At the same time, copies of that part of the report giving the appraisal of benefits in any county, shall be made, certified to and filed with the court clerk of such county.  Provided, however, that in the case of appraisals of benefits in a district to a municipal corporation, institution and/or political subdivision as provided in Section 602 of this act, the appraisal record need contain only the name of the municipal corporation, institution and/or political subdivision with the amount of the benefits appraised to said municipal corporation, institution and/or political subdivision.

Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 178, § 30; Laws 1959, p. 377, § 5; Laws 1961, p. 627, § 12; Laws 1963, c. 271, § 7, emerg. eff. June 13, 1963.  

§82606.  Notice of hearings on appraisals.

Upon the filing of the report of the appraisers, the clerk of the court shall give notice thereof, as provided in this act, in each county wherein appraisals of lands reflect benefits thereto. Said notice shall be in the name of the state, directed by name to every person returned by the appraisers as the owner of any lot or parcel of lands affected by the proposed improvement, or of any interest therein, and also generally to all other persons, without mentioning their names, who may own such land or any part thereof or may interest therein notifying them of the filing of the report of the appraisers and that on the day fixed in the notice the court will hear said report and any objections that may be filed thereto and any evidence that may be adduced concerning the same, and requiring the persons so informed, and each of them, on the day fixed for hearing, to appear before the court and show cause, if any they have, why said report should not be confirmed as made or as the court may amend the same, and the improvements and assessments made as therein described or as the report may be amended.  Such notice shall contain in appropriate columns, a tabulated description which may be abbreviated as land descriptions usually are abbreviated, of every lot or parcel of land that will be benefited by the proposed improvements, and shall be published as herein provided, the last insertion to be before the day set for the hearing.  Where lands in different counties are mentioned in said report, it shall not be necessary to publish a description of all lands in the district in each county, but only of that part of the said lands situate in the county in which publication is made.  The day for the hearing on the report of the appraisers, so set, shall not be less than thirty (30) days nor more than sixty (60) days from the first publication of the notice. Provided, that the court shall sit for hearing on appraisals under this section in each of the counties where the lands affected be situated.

If the appraisers have prepared an appraisal of damages at the direction of the court, said notice shall include the report of the board of appraisers of their estimates of damages, if any, to be sustained by each property owner as provided in Section 602(b) of this title.

Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 179, § 31; Laws 1961, p. 628, § 13; Laws 1963, c. 271, § 8; Laws 1967, c. 382, § 6, emerg. eff. May 23, 1967.  

§82607.  Hearing on appraisals.

Any property owner may accept the appraisals in his favor of benefits, made by the appraisers, and shall be construed to have done so unless he shall before the date set for hearing in the notice by publication provided for in the preceding section, file exceptions to said report or to any appraisals of benefits.  All exceptions shall be heard by the court, on the day set for hearing, or in case of necessity on order of the court, beginning not less than twenty (20) nor more than thirty (30) days after the date set for the hearing herein, and determined in advance of other business so as to carry out, liberally, the purposes and needs of the district.  The court may, if it deems necessary, return the report to the Board of appraisers for their further consideration and amendment, and enter its order to that effect, and new notice shall be published as provided herein as to any changes made, but shall not be necessary as to the whole report.  If, however, the appraisal roll as a whole is referred back to the appraisers, the court shall not resume the hearing thereon, but new notice shall be given.  But, the court may, without losing jurisdiction over the roll, or without giving new notice, order the appraisers to recast the roll when the order of the court specified the precise character of the changes thereof.

The district, by its Board of directors and any property owner may accept the appraisals of damages and of the value of lands to be taken made by the appraisers by filing their written acceptance with the proper court clerk.  And if within thirty (30) days both the district and the said owner or public or private corporation shall not have filed written acceptance as above, the district, through its Board of directors, shall bring condemnation proceedings to acquire the rights appraised as provided for by the condemnation laws of the state.

Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 180, § 32; Laws 1963, c. 271, § 9; Laws 1967, c. 382, § 11, emerg. eff. May 23, 1967.  

§82608.  Decree on appraisals.

If it appears to the satisfaction of the court after having heard and determined all said exceptions that the estimated cost to the conservancy district of constructing the improvement contemplated in the official plan is less than the benefits appraised, then the court shall approve and confirm said appraisers' report as so modified and amended, and such findings and appraisals shall be final and incontestable as to property within the district.  In considering the appraisals made by the board of appraisers, the court shall take cognizance of the official plan and of the degree to which it is effective for the purposes of the district.  In case the court shall find that the estimated benefits appraised are less than the total costs to the conservancy district of the execution of the official plan, exclusive of interest or deferred payments, or that the official plan is not suited to the requirements of the district, it may at its discretion return said official plan to the directors of the district with the order for them to prepare new or amended plans, or it may disorganize the district after having provided for the payment of all expenditures by assessment prorated as provided herein, in the meantime holding the report of the appraisers in abeyance until such official plan has been prepared and refiled with the court clerk.  Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 180, Sec. 33; Laws 1967, c. 382, Sec. 12.  Emerg. eff. May 23, 1967.

§82609.  Appeal from award.

Any person, or public or private corporation desiring to appeal from an award as to compensation or damages or benefits, shall within thirty (30) days from the judgment of the court confirming the report of appraisers, file with the clerk of the court a written notice of appeal and proceed with his appeal as provided by law in civil cases, taking up only so much of the record as presents the error complained of.  Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 181, Sec. 34.

Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 181, § 34.  

§82610.  Payment before entry.

No property shall be taken under this act until compensation fixed by appraisal, agreement, donation or condemnation has been paid, according to law.

Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 181, § 35.  

§82611.  Filing decree.

Upon the entry of the order of the court approving the report of the appraisers as provided for in this act, the clerk of said court in which the same is entered shall transmit a certified copy of the said decree, and of the appraisals as comfirmed by the court, except those parts from which appeals have been perfected but not determined to the secretary of the district.

When any appeal has been finally determined, the Clerk of the Supreme Court shall certify the amount of each item of the judgment to the clerk of the court having the original case, who shall file the same therein and thereupon transmit certified copies of the same as in this section above provided.

Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 181, § 36.  

§82612.  Change of official plan  Powers and duties of directors.

The board of directors may at any time, when necessary to fulfill the objects for which the district was created alter or add to the official plan, and when such alterations or additions are formally approved by the board and by the court, and are filed with the secretary, they shall become a part of the official plan, but they shall neither materially modify the general character of the work, nor materially increase resulting damages for which the board is not able to make amicable settlement, nor increase the cost more than ten per cent (10%), no action other than a resolution of the Board of directors shall be necessary for the approval of such alterations or additions.  In case the proposed alterations or additions materially modify the resulting damages or materially reduce the benefits, for which the board is not able to make amicable settlement, or materially increase the benefits in such a manner as to require a new appraisal, or increase the cost more than ten per cent (10%), the court shall direct the board of appraisers (which may be the original board, or a new board appointed by the court on petition of the board of directors or otherwise) to appraise the property to be taken, benefited or damaged, by the proposed alterations or additions. Upon the completion of the report of the Board of appraisers, notice shall be given in the same manner as in the case of the original report of the board of appraisers, and the same right of appeal shall exist.  Provided, that where few land owners are affected, if found to be more economical and convenient, personal notice of the pendency of the report of said appraisers shall be given instead of notice by publication; and provided, that if the only question at issue is additional damages or reduction of benefits to property, due to modifications or additions to the plans, the board of directors, may, if they find it practicable, make settlements with the owners of the property damaged instead of having appraisals made by the board of appraisers.  In case such settlements are made, notice and hearing need not be had.  After bonds have been sold, in order that their security may not be impaired, no reduction shall be made in the amount of benefits appraised against property in the district, but in lieu of such reduction in benefits, if any are made, the amount shall be paid to the party in cash.  This provision shall apply to all changes in appraisals under this act.

Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 181, § 36.  

§82613.  Appeal not to delay proceedings  Appeal by directors  Waiver by failure to appeal.

No appeal under this act shall be permitted to interrupt or delay any action or the prosecution of any work under this act.

The board of directors of any district organized under the terms of this act shall have the right to appeal from any order of the district court made in any proceeding under this act.

The failure to appeal from any order of the court after the court acquires jurisdiction of the district in any proceedings under this act within the time specified herein shall constitute a waiver of any irregularity in the proceedings, and the remedies provided for in this act shall exclude all other remedies except as herein provided. Any person having been awarded damages under the provisions of this act may demand and receive the amount awarded to him, as damages without prejudice to his right of appeal from said award.

Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 182, § 38.  

§82614.  Lands exempt and later liable to assessment.

If any lands in any district organized under this act on which benefits have been appraised and confirmed, are not liable for assessment at the time of the execution of the work, but afterwards during the period when such work is being paid for, become liable to taxation or assessment by reason of some change in condition or ownership, such lands shall thereupon be assessed as other lands in said district receiving equal benefits.  Providing that lands owned by Indians, by the State of Oklahoma, or any political subdivision, or any school district, shall be assessable under this act; provided, however, districts established under this act are authorized to enter into contracts providing for payment in lieu of assessments on any such lands.  Any assessments made on lands previously exempt shall not be retroactive or cumulative, and such lands shall be assessed, proportionate to the benefits appraised thereon, for the remaining time required for payment of the cost of such work.

Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 182, § 39; Laws 1967, c. 382, § 7, emerg. eff. May 23, 1967.  

§82615.  Subsequent appraisals  Procedure.

In case any real property within or without any district is benefited which for any reason was not appraised in the original proceedings, or was not appraised to the extent of benefits received, or in case any individual, corporation, municipality, political subdivision or other district shall make use of or profit by the works of any district organized under the act to a degree not compensated for in the original appraisals or in case the directors of the district find it necessary, subsequent to the time when the first appraisals are made to take or damage any additional property within the district, the directors of said district, at any time such conditions become evident shall direct the board of appraisers to appraise the benefits or the enhanced benefits received by such property, including future benefits and future enhanced benefits thereto, or such damages or value of property taken, and the proceedings outlined in this act for appraising lands not at first included within the boundaries of the district, shall in all matters be conformed with, including notice to the party or parties, and as to lands or property without the district, the board of directors shall proceed under the condemnation laws of the State of Oklahoma, or the board may, at its discretion, make any suitable settlement with such individual, other district, corporation, county or municipality for such use, benefit, damage or property taken.

Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 182, § 40; Laws 1967, c. 382, § 8, emerg. eff. May 23, 1967.  

§82616.  Defects and irregularities, how cured.

No fault in petition or any notice or other proceedings shall affect the validity of any proceedings under this act, except to the extent to which it can be shown that such fault resulted in a material denial of justice to the property owner complaining of such fault, and except as to matters concerning the acquirement of original jurisdiction of the district.

In case it is found upon a hearing that by reason of some irregularity or defect in the proceedings the appraisal has not been properly made, the court may nevertheless on having proof that expense has been incurred which is a proper charge against the property of the complainant render a finding as to the amount of benefits to said property, and appraise the proper benefits accordingly, and thereupon said land shall be assessed as other land equally benefited, if original jurisdiction has been acquired and an appeal shall be allowed as is provided in the case of the original appraisement.  In the event that at any time either before or after the issuance of bonds pursuant to the provisions of this act, the appraisals of benefits, either as a whole or in part, be declared by any court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid by reason of any defect or irregularity in the proceedings therefor, whether jurisdictional or otherwise, the said district court is hereby authorized and directed on the application of the board of directors of said district or on the application of any holder of any bonds which may have been issued pursuant thereto, properly and without delay to remedy all defects or irregularities as the case may require, by directing and causing to be made in the manner hereinbefore provided, a new appraisal of the amount of benefits against the whole or any part of the lands in the said district as the case may require.

Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 183, § 41.  

§82630.  Funds, how carried  Vouchers.

(a) The monies of every conservancy district organized hereunder shall be administered through the following funds:

(1) Preliminary fund, by which is meant the funds borrowed in accordance with Section 632, which shall be used for the payment of expenses incurred for the purposes for which such funds may be borrowed.  (2) Improvement fund, by which is meant the proceeds of levies made against the special assessments of benefits equalized and confirmed under the provisions of this act which have not been pledged for the retirement of bonds, notes, warrants or agreements or the payment of interest thereon and the proceeds of all bonds, notes or warrants issued, which shall be used for defraying expenditures incurred in the execution of the official plan and the relocation of utilities, acquisition or construction of properties, works, and improvements of the district including the cost of preparing the official plan and the appraisal, except as paid out of the preliminary funds, the entire cost of construction and superintendence, with all charges incidental thereto, and the cost of administration during the period of construction and may also be used for defraying preliminary expenses in accordance with Section 632 of this act; (3) Bond fund, by which is meant the proceeds of levies made against the special assessment of benefits equalized and confirmed under the provisions of this act which has been anticipated in the issuance of bonds, notes or warrants together with all other receipts pledged for the retirement of bonds, notes or warrants or the payment of interest thereon, which shall be used only for such purposes; (4) Maintenance fund, which is a special assessment to be levied annually for the purpose of upkeep, administration and current expenses as hereinafter provided.

(b) Any surplus monies in any fund of a conservancy district may be transferred to any other fund by the Board with the approval of the court; but no transfer shall be made from the bond fund prior to the final maturity of the bonds, notes or warrants payable therefrom, and no transfer shall thereafter be made which would reduce the balance in such fund below the amount required for the payment of all obligations outstanding against such fund.

(c) No vouchers shall be drawn against the maintenance fund of a conservancy district until assessments have been levied as provided by this act, no bonds shall be issued against the bond fund until an assessmentlevying resolution shall have been properly passed by the board of directors and duly entered upon its records, and not until the property owners shall have been given an opportunity for a period of not less than thirty (30) days to pay the assessments so levied against their respective properties.

Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 183, § 42; Laws 1959, p. 377, § 6; Laws 1963, c. 271, § 10, emerg. eff. June 13, 1963.  

§82631.  Abandonment of project  Sale of lands and property.

In case any such project, or any part thereof, be abandoned as a flood control project, or in the event any land and property acquired by purchase or condemnation in fee simple shall no longer be necessary for the purposes of the district, the same shall not revert to the former owner or owners or their subsequent grantees of the property but shall be sold at public sale to the highest bidder by the board of directors subject to confirmation by the court, with the proceeds to be paid into the improvement fund created by Section 630 of this title; provided, however, members of the board of directors and agents, servants and employees of the district shall have no right to acquire such lands.  The former owner shall be given thirty days (30) notice by certified or registered mail of the sale, and of his right within ten (10) days after the sale to file an election with the court to buy the land at the highest bid price. If the address of such owner is unknown then said notice shall be given by publication for two (2) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the land is located. Such former owner shall have ten (10) days after such sale to file an election to take such land at the highest bid price; and unless such election is filed within said tenday period, such rights shall expire and the court shall confirm the sale free of such right. Such preference right and the requirement that a public sale be held shall not apply if the sale is made to any agency, department or instrumentality of the State of Oklahoma; and a district may sell, transfer or assign property of the district, subject to confirmation of the court, to the State of Oklahoma or any agency department or instrumentality thereof by resolution of the board of directors of said district.

Where lands or interests therein are acquired by the district and not utilized for the purposes for which it was acquired, or which have been utilized but such utilization has ceased, then, after ten (10) years from the date of acquisition, or ten (10) years from the date utilization ceased, as the case may be, such land must be sold at public auction to the highest bidder; and mandamus by any interested party will lie to require such sale.

Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 184, § 43; Laws 1963, c. 271, § 11, emerg. eff. June 13, 1963.  

§82632.  Preliminary work, loans for.

In order to facilitate the preliminary work, which shall include, but not be limited to, the preparation of the official plan, the appraisals and the cost of administration incidental thereto, the board, by resolution, may borrow money at a rate of interest not exceeding six percent (6%), per annum, evidenced by interim bonds or notes of the district payable not later than five (5) years from the date thereof, which resolution shall provide for the levy and collection of an assessment against all property included in the district for the payment of the principal and interest on maturity. Provided, the total amount of money so borrowed with interest shall not exceed twentyfive cents ($0.25) per acre of all lands embraced in the project, and any such interim bonds or notes issued in excess thereof shall be void, but such board shall not issue interim bonds or notes to borrow money as provided above, until such board has been authorized by the court having jurisdiction of such district, after a public hearing, to issue such interim bonds or notes.  Notice by publication, setting forth the purpose, time and place of said hearing shall be given by the Clerk of such court.  Upon said hearing if it appears that it is necessary to fulfill the purposes of such district to borrow money as set forth in the application to the court, the court shall enter an order to such effect.  If said interim bonds or notes shall not have been paid, or refunded by the issuance of bonds or notes for completion of the project prior to the time for the levy and collection of the assessment for payment of the principal and interest thereof, such an assessment shall be levied and collected to pay said principal and interest as hereinabove in this title provided.

Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 184, Sec. 44; Laws 1959, p. 378, Sec. 7; Laws 1963, c. 271, Sec. 12.  Emerg. eff. June 13, 1963.

§82634.  Levy of assessments.

After the list of real property, with the appraised benefits as approved by the court, or that part thereof from which no appeal is pending has been filed with the secretary of the district, then from time to time, as the affairs of the district demand it, the board of directors shall levy on all real or other property upon which benefits have been appraised, an assessment of such portion of said benefits as may be found necessary by said board to pay the cost of the execution of the official plan including superintendence of construction and administration, plus ten percent (10%) of said total, to be added for contingencies, but not to exceed, in the total of principal, the appraised benefits so adjudicated.  The said assessment shall be apportioned to and levied on each tract of land or other property in said district in proportion to the benefits appraised, and not in excess thereof and in case bonds are issued as provided herein and hereafter, then the amount of interest, which will accrue on such bonds, as estimated by said board of directors, shall be included in and added to the said assessment, but the interest to accrue on account of the issuing of said bonds shall not be construed as a part of the cost of construction in determining whether or not the expenses and costs of making said improvements are or are not equal to or in excess of the benefits appraised.  As soon as said assessment is levied, the board shall report it to the court for confirmation.  Upon the entry of the order of the court confirming the assessment the clerk of the court shall transmit a certified copy of said order to the governing or taxing body of each political subdivision assessed and said governing or taxing body shall receive and file the same.  After the court has confirmed the assessment, the secretary of the board of directors, at the expense of the district, shall prepare in duplicate an assessment record of the district.

Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 184, § 45; Laws 1959, p. 378, § 9.  

§82635.  Owners may pay assessments in full  Bonding resolution for unpaid assessments.

When the assessment roll is placed on file in the office of the district, notice by publication shall be given to property owners that they may pay their assessments.  Any owner of real property assessed for the execution of the official plan under the provision of this act shall have the privilege of paying such assessment to the treasurer of the board of directors within thirty (30) days from the time such assessment is placed on file in the office of the district, and the amount to be paid shall be the full amount of the assessment less any amount added thereto to meet interest.  When such assessment has been paid, the secretary of the board shall enter upon the said assessment record opposite each tract for which payment is made the words "paid in full" and such assessment shall be deemed satisfied.  The payment of such assessment shall not relieve the land owners from the necessity for the payment of a maintenance assessment nor for the payment of any further assessment which may be necessary as herein provided.  Any property owner failing to pay assessments in full as provided for herein shall be deemed to have consented to the issuance of bonds as provided for in this act, and to payment of interest thereon.

After the expiration of the period of thirty (30) days within which the property owners may pay their respective assessments, as limited herein, the treasurer of the district shall certify to the board of directors the aggregate of the amount so paid, and thereupon the board of directors shall pass and spread upon their records a bonding resolution in which shall be stated the amount of the assessment, and the amount thereof paid as aforesaid, and thereupon the board shall in the same resolution apportion the uncollected assessment into installments or levies, provide for the collection of interest upon the unpaid installments, and they may order the issuance of bonds (in an amount not exceeding ninety percent (90%) of the levy) in anticipation of the collection of said installments. The residue of the special assessment so levied (not less than ten percent (10%) shall constitute a contingent account to protect the bonds from casual default, and any part thereof in excess of the ten percent (10%) of the next installment of maturing bond principal, together with the next two installments of semiannual interest, if not needed for this purpose, may be transferred from time to time to the maintenance fund of the district.

Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 185, § 46.  

§82636.  Bonds  Issuance  Election  Sale of bonds.

The board of directors may, if in their judgment it seems best, issue bonds not to exceed ninety percent (90%) of the total amount of the assessment exclusive of interest, levied under the provisions of this act, in denomination of not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) bearing interest from date at a rate not to exceed eight and onehalf percent (8 1/2%), per year, payable semiannually, to mature at annual intervals within thirty (30) years, commencing not later than five (5) years, to be determined by the board of directors, both principal and interest payable at such place as may be designated by the board, but such board of directors shall not issue any such bonds until a special election shall have been called and held throughout the territory comprising said improvement district and said election shall be held under the laws of this state, and it shall be necessary that sixty percent (60%) of the owners of property in said district assessed for the execution of the official plan, voting in said election, shall vote in favor of issuing said bonds.  Said bonds shall be signed by the president of the board of directors, attested with the seal of said district and by the signature of the secretary of said board, and shall be approved as to proceedings by the Attorney General as ex officio bond commissioner and registered by the State Treasurer.  Facsimile signatures may be used as provided in the Registered Public Obligations Act of Oklahoma.  In case any of the officers whose signatures, counter signatures or certificates appearing upon bonds or coupons issued pursuant to this act, shall cease to be such officer before the delivery of such bonds to the purchaser, such signatures, or counter signatures and certificates shall nevertheless be valid and sufficient for all purposes, the same as if they had remained in office until the delivery of the bonds.  All of said bonds shall be executed and delivered to the State Treasurer for said district and if said district shall comprise all or part of two or more counties and if said district is elected entirely within one county said bond shall be delivered to the county treasurer of said county, and the board or appointed agent shall sell the same in such quantities and at such dates as the board of directors may deem necessary to meet the payments for the works and improvements of the district.  They shall show on their face the purpose for which they are issued and shall be payable out of the money derived from the conservancy bond fund.  A sufficient amount of the assessment shall be appropriated by the board of directors for the purpose of paying the principal and interest of bonds and the same shall, when collected, be set apart in a separate fund for that purpose based on an equal percentage of increase of all assessments therefor made, such percentage increase to be approved by the district court having jurisdiction, and no other.  All bonds and coupons not paid at maturity shall bear interest at the rate of eight and onehalf percent (8 1/2%), per year, from maturity until paid or until sufficient funds have been deposited at the place of payment.  Any expenses incurred in paying said bonds and interest thereon and reasonable compensation for the fiscal agent for registering and paying same, shall be paid out of the other funds in the hands of the district treasurer and collected for the purpose of meeting the expenses of the administration.  It shall be the duty of said board of directors in making the annual assessment levy, as heretofore provided, to take into account the maturing bonds and interest on all bonds, and to make ample provisions in advance for the payment thereof.  In case the proceeds of the original special assessment made under the provisions of this act are not sufficient to pay the principal and interest of all bonds issued, then the board of directors shall make such additional levy or levies as are necessary for this purpose, and under no circumstances shall any assessment levies be made that will in any manner or to any extent impair the security of the principal and interest of the same.  For such deposits the district shall receive not less than three percent (3%), per year, on daily balances.  The funds derived from the sale of said bonds or any of them shall be used for the purpose of paying the cost of the works and improvements and such costs, expenses, fees and salaries as may be authorized by law and shall be used for no other purpose.

If at any time after the bonds are ready to be issued, the board shall be of the opinion that such bonds cannot advantageously be issued and sold in whole or in part, the said board may sell parts only of the entire issue.  No bonds issued by any conservancy district shall be sold for less than par, and accrued interest to date, and any member of the board of directors or other official of the conservancy district, who shall participate in the sale of said bonds for less than provided above, shall be liable on his official bond for twice the value of the amount lost to the district, by the sale at the suit of the district or any person interested therein.

The district may secure the payment of loans from the United States government in the same manner as it may secure the payment of bonds, and the board of directors may make any necessary regulations to provide for such payment.

A party who has not sought a remedy against any proceeding under this act until after the bonds or any part thereof have been sold or the work or any part thereof constructed, cannot for any cause have an injunction against the collection of special assessments for the payment of said bonds except as to original jurisdiction.

The bonds shall have all the qualities of negotiable paper under the negotiable instrument law of the state, and when executed, sealed, approved and registered in the office of the State Treasurer in conformity with the provisions of this act, and when sold in the manner prescribed herein and the consideration therefor received by the district, shall be incontestable after thirty (30) days from approval by the Attorney General, ex officio bond commissioner.  No proceedings in respect to the issuance of such bonds shall be necessary except such as are required by this act. Whenever the owners of any coupon bond issued pursuant to the provisions of this act shall present such bond to the treasurer or appointed agent of the district with a request for the conversion of such bond into a registered bond, the said treasurer or appointed agent shall cut off and cancel the coupons of any such coupon bond so presented and shall stamp, print or write either upon the back or the face of such bonds, as may be convenient, a statement to the effect that the said bond is registered in the name of the new owner and that thereafter the interest and principal of said bond are payable to the registered owner.  Thereafter and from time to time, such bonds may be transferred by such registered owner in person or by attorney duly authorized on presentation of such bond to the treasurer of the district and the bond again registered as before, a similar statement being stamped, printed or written thereon, such statement stamped, printed or written upon any such bond may be substantially in the following form:

(Date, giving month, year and day)

This bond is registered pursuant to the statutes in such case made and provided, in the name of (here insert name and address of owner) and the interest and principal thereof and hereafter is payable to such owner.

Treasurer ............  Conservancy District.

If any bond shall be registered as aforesaid, the principal and interest of such bond shall be payable to the registered owner.  The treasurer or appointed agent of the district shall enter in a register of bonds to be kept by him or in a separate book, the fact of the registration of such bond and the name and address of the registered owner thereof, so that said register or books shall at all times show what bonds are registered and the name and address of the registered owner thereof.

Amended by Laws 1983, c. 170, § 60, eff. July 1, 1983. Amended by Laws 1983, c. 170, § 60, eff. July 1, 1983.  

§82-636.1.  Authority to contract indebtedness.

The board of directors of any Conservancy District or Master Conservancy District, notwithstanding any other provision of the Conservancy Act of Oklahoma, and in addition to all other powers conferred by law, may borrow money and otherwise contract indebtedness for the purposes set forth in the Conservancy Act of Oklahoma, and, without limitation of the generality of the foregoing, to borrow money and accept grants from the United States of America, or from any corporation or agency created or designated by the United States of America, and, in connection with such loan or grant, to enter into such agreements as the United States of America or such corporation or agency may require; and to issue its bonds, notes or obligations therefor, and to secure the payment thereof by mortgage, pledge or deed of trust on all or any property, assets, franchises, rights, privileges, licenses, rights-of-way, easements, revenues, or income of the District.  The bonds, notes or obligations issued pursuant to this section shall not be secured or retired by any assessment of real property located within the District nor shall they be deemed a general obligation of the State of Oklahoma, any municipality or the District.

Added by Laws 1995, c. 112, § 7, emerg. eff. April 21, 1995.

§82637.  Maintenance assessment  Apportionment  To be additional tax.

To maintain, operate and preserve the reservoirs, ditches, drains, dams, levees, canals or other improvements made pursuant to this act and to strengthen, repair and restore the same, when needed, and for the purpose of defraying the current expenses of the district, the board of directors may upon the substantial completion of said improvements and on or before the first day of October in each year thereafter, levy an assessment upon each tract or parcel of land and other property, upon corporate property, within the district subject to assessments under this act, to be known as a "Conservancy Maintenance Assessment".  Said maintenance assessment shall be apportioned upon the basis of the total appraisal of benefits accruing for the original and subsequent construction, shall not exceed one percent (1%) thereof in any one year unless the court shall by its order find a necessity exists and authorize an assessment of a larger percentage, and shall be certified in duplicate to the county clerk of each county in which lands of said district are situated, said maintenance assessment shall be entered in the same book as general assessments but in a separate column, or in a separate book kept for the purpose of maintenance assessments and if in a separate book, it shall be entered in like manner and at the same time as the annual installment special assessment is entered.  Said county clerk shall certify the same to the treasurer of the county at the same time that he certified the annual installment of the bond fund, and make return thereof and shall be liable for the same penalties for failure or neglect so to do, as may be provided herein for the annual installment of the assessment.  The amount of the maintenance tax paid by any parcel of land shall not be credited against the benefits assessed against such parcel of land; but the maintenance special assessment shall be in addition to any special assessment that has been or can be levied against the benefit appraisal.

§82638.  Petition for readjustment of maintenance assessment  Notice and hearing.

Whenever the owners, or representatives of twentyfive percent (25%) or more of the acreage or value of the lands in the district shall file a petition with the court clerk in whose office the petition was filed, stating that there has been a material change in the value of the property in the district since the last previous appraisal of benefits, and praying for a readjustment of the appraisal of benefits for the purpose of making equitable basis for the levy of the maintenance assessment, the said clerk shall give notice of the filing and hearing of said petition in the manner hereinbefore provided.

Upon hearing said petition if said court shall find there has been a material change in the value of property in said district since the last previous appraisal of benefits, the court shall order that there be a readjustment of the appraisal benefits for the purpose of providing a basis upon which to levy the maintenance assessment of said district.  Thereupon the court shall direct the appraisers of the conservancy district to make such readjustment of appraisal in the manner provided in this act, and said appraisers shall make their report; and the same proceedings shall be had thereon, as nearly as may be, as are herein provided for the appraisal of benefits accruing for original construction.  Provided, that in making the readjustment of the appraisal of benefits said appraisals shall not be limited to the aggregate amount of the original or any previous appraisal benefits, and that after the making of such readjustment of limitations of such annual maintenance assessment to one percent (1%) of the total appraised benefits shall apply to the amount of the benefits as readjusted; and provided, further, that there shall be no such readjustment of benefits oftener than once in ten (10) years.

Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 189, § 49.  

§82639.  Annual levy of special assessment  Special assessment book.

The board of directors shall each year thereafter determine, order and levy the part of the local assessment levied under this act, which shall become due and collectable during each year at the same time the state and county taxes are due and collected, which annual levy shall be evidenced and certified by said board not later than October first of each year to the county clerk of each county in which the real or other property affected by said district is situated.  The certificate of said annual levy shall be substantially as in the schedule herein.

They shall follow a table or schedule showing in properly ruled columns:  1.  The name of the owners of said property, which may be as they appear in the decree of the court confirming appraisals, including the name of a city, county, town or township.  2.  The description of the property opposite the names of the said owners. 3.  The total amount of the said annual installment of all assessments on such piece of property for the account of the funds. 4.  A blank column in which the county treasurer shall record the several amounts as collected by him.  5.  A blank column in which the clerk shall record the date of payment of the different sums. 6.  A blank column in which the county treasurer shall report the names of the person or persons paying the several amounts.

The said certificates and report shall be prepared in triplicate in a wellbound book which shall be endorsed and named "Conservancy Assessment Book of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . District . . . . . . . . . . . . . . County, Oklahoma", which endorsement shall also be printed at the top of each page in said book.

Two copies of that part of such triplicate affecting lands in any county shall be forwarded to the county clerk of such county, one for his use and one for the county treasurer, to whom the clerk shall certify one copy.  It shall be the duty of the county clerk of each county to receive the same as a special assessment book, and to certify the same as other special assessment records to the county treasurer of his county, whose duty it shall be to collect the same according to law.  And such special assessment book shall be the treasurer's warrant and authority to demand and receive the assessment due in his county as found in the same, and it shall be unlawful for any such county treasurer to accept payment of the general taxes levied against any tract, parcel, piece of land or property described in such conservancy assessment book, until the owner has been notified by him that there is a special assessment noted in the conservancy book against such tract of land or other property.

Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 190, § 50; Laws 1967, c. 382, § 14, emerg. eff. May 23, 1967.  

§82640.  Collection of assessments  Duties of county officers  Delinquents.

The county treasurer of each county in which lands of the district lie, shall make daily report to the county clerk of the county of the sums collected by him, and it shall be the duty of the county clerk on the first day of each month to issue his warrant payable to the treasurer of the district for all sums in the hands of the treasurer of the county, according to his report as aforesaid.  Said county clerk shall, as soon as the county treasurer's books report the collections through October 31st, each year, make a report to the treasurer of said district of the sums collected and of the assessments not collected as returned to him by the treasurer of the county.

All assessments or taxes provided for in this act, remaining unpaid after they become due and collectable shall be delinquent and bear a penalty of one per cent (1%) per month from the date of delinquency until paid, and be enforceable by tax sale as a part of the ad valorem tax charge each year.

Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 191, § 51; Laws 1967, c. 382, § 9, emerg. eff. May 23, 1967.  

§82641.  Bond of county treasurer.

Before receiving the aforesaid "Assessment Book" the treasurer of each county in which lands or other property of the district are located, shall execute to the board of directors of the district a bond with at least two good and sufficient sureties or a surety company, and which shall be paid for by the district in a sum not less than the probable amount of any annual levy of said assessment to be collected by him during any one (1) year, on condition that said treasurer shall pay over and account for all assessments so collected by him according to law.  Said bond after approval by said board of directors shall be deposited with the secretary of the board of directors who shall produce same for inspection and use as evidence whenever and wherever lawfully requested so to do.

Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 191, § 52.  

§82642.  Lien of assessments  Correcting irregular assessments  Deeds.

All conservancy assessments as provided for in this title, together with all costs in collecting the same, remaining unpaid after they become due and collectable, shall constitute a lien on the specific properties against which the said assessments have been levied, said lien to be coequal with the lien of ad valorem taxes and all other taxes and all special assessments and shall be prior and superior to all other liens upon all the lands and other property against which such assessments shall be levied as is provided in this title.  Such assessments shall be collected in each county by the county treasurer of each county as and at the time ad valorem taxes are collected, and any tax sale shall include all charges, and such lien may be evidenced by any ad valorem tax sale certificate including said charge substantially in the form required by law.

If any assessment made pursuant to the provisions of this title shall prove invalid, the board of directors shall subsequently amend all acts or proceedings promptly, and without delay remedy all defects or irregularities as the case may require by making and providing for the collection of new assessments or otherwise.

Unless expressly declared to the contrary, no warranty deed or other deed made pursuant to a judicial sale shall warrant against any portion of any assessment or assessments levied hereunder except installments due before the date of such deed.  Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 191, Sec. 53; Laws 1961, p. 629, Sec. 15; Laws 1963, c. 271, Sec. 13; Laws 1967, c. 382, Sec. 15; Laws 1970, c. 328, Sec. 3. Emerg. eff. April 28, 1970.

Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 191, § 53; Laws 1961, p. 629, § 15; Laws 1963, c. 271, § 13; Laws 1967, c. 382, § 15; Laws 1970, c. 328, § 3, emerg. eff. April 28, 1970.  

§82643.  Assessment book to be prima facie evidence.

The "Delinquent Conservancy Book" of the district court shall be prima facie evidence in all courts of all matters therein contained. Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 192, Sec. 54.

Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 192, § 54.  

§82644.  Duties of municipal officers as to assessments against municipality  Dissolution of district  Rights of bond holders.

Whenever assessments are made against a county, city, town or township, it shall be the duty of the governing or taxing body of said political subdivision, upon receipt of the order of the court which established the district, confirming the appraisal of benefits and assessments based thereon, to receive and file the said order, and to immediately take all the legal and necessary steps to collect the same.  It shall be the duty of the said governing or taxing body or persons to levy and assess a tax by a uniform rate in addition to all other taxes authorized, or limitations fixed, upon all the taxable property within the political subdivision, to make out the proper estimate, and fix the proper rate, and certify the same to the county clerk and county treasurer of the county in which such subdivision is, whose duty it shall be to receive same, certify the same for collection to the treasurer of the county as other ad valorem taxes, and his duty it shall be to collect the same for the benefit of the conservancy district, all of said officers above named being authorized and directed to take all the necessary steps for the levying, collection and distribution of such tax.

Nothing in this section shall prevent the assessment of the real estate or other property of corporations or persons situated within such political subdivision, which may be subject to assessment for special benefits to be received.

In the event of any dissolution or disincorporation of any conservancy district organized pursuant to the provisions of this act, such dissolution or disincorporation shall not affect the lien of any assessment for benefits imposed pursuant to the provisions of this act, or the liability of any land or lands in such district to the levy of any future assessments for the purpose of paying the principal and interest of any bonds issued hereunder, and that in event of any failure on the part of the officers of any district to qualify and act or in the event of any resignations or vacancies in office, which shall prevent action by the said district or by its proper officers, it shall be the duty of the county clerk and of all officers charged in any manner with the duties of assessing, levying and collecting for public purposes in any county, municipality, political subdivision in which such lands shall be situated to do and perform all acts which may be necessary and requisite to the collection of any such assessment which may have been imposed and to the levying, imposing and collecting of any assessment which it may be necessary to make for the purpose of paying the principal and interest on said bond.

Any holder of any bonds issued pursuant to the provisions of this act or any person or officers being a party in interest may either at law or in equity by suit, action or mandamus, enforce and compel performance of the duties required by this act of any of the officers or persons mentioned in this act.

Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 192, § 55.  

§82645.  Use of surplus funds.

Any surplus funds in the treasury of the district may be used for retiring bonds, reducing loans or obligations, reducing the rate of assessments or for the accomplishing of any other of the legitimate objects of this district.  Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 193, Sec. 56; Laws 1967, c. 382, Sec. 16.  Emerg. eff. May 23, 1967.

Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 193, § 56; Laws 1967, c. 382, § 16, emerg. eff. May 23, 1967.  

§82646.  Compensation of officials.

Each member of the board of directors and each appraiser shall receive compensation allowed by the court and his necessary expenses for the time actually employed in performing his duties.  Before any duties devolve upon a county clerk or county treasurer under this act the board of directors of the district shall consult them and agree upon the salaries for the extra clerical force, if any, required in their respective offices to carry out the requirements of the law by reason of the establishment of said district, and the said board of directors shall provide for and pay said salaries to said clerk or clerks, while engaged on the work of the district, which clerk shall be selected and appointed by each of said county officers for their respective offices.  In case of disagreement as to the compensation of such extra clerical force, the matter shall be referred to the court for its determination.

§82647.  Borrowing of money  Approval.

Conservancy districts may borrow money in any amount, which, exclusive of interest, does not exceed the assessments then levied but not collected, for any purpose incident to its powers and functions and for any purpose provided by law, and may evidence such debt by contract, agreement, notes or warrants payable within any term not to exceed forty (40) years, and to bear interest at not to exceed the market prime rate per year, provided that the interest rate not exceed twelve and onehalf percent (12 1/2%) per year.  To secure such loan or loans, the directors may pledge any assessment then levied but not collected by the district and may agree to such other terms and conditions, not incompatible with the provisions of this title.  Before any such loan is entered into by the district, the board of directors shall make application to the district court having jurisdiction of said district for approval of such loan.  The application shall set forth, the amount of the loan, the interest rate, the purpose for which the loan is needed and a plan of repayment.  The application shall be set for hearing by the court and notice by publication given to all owners of land upon which assessment has been made by the district, without naming such owners individually.  Upon said hearing, if the owners of land in the district upon which a majority of assessment has been made have not filed written protests before the date of the hearing, and if the court finds that such loan is necessary and in the best interests of the district, the court shall approve the application.

Amended by Laws 1987, c. 208, § 33, operative July 1, 1987; Laws 1987, c. 236, § 62, emerg. eff. July 20, 1987.  

§82648.  Necessity and amount of assessments in master conservancy districts.

The board of directors of any master conservancy district formed under the provisions of this act may determine, by resolution, the necessity and amount of assessments and the respective portions thereof to be paid by the component areas of said district, based upon the relative benefits anticipated for said component areas, and may be adjusted by said board, from time to time, as necessary to insure equitable allocation thereof.  Funds secured in the manner herein provided shall be used to defray the expenses of initial organization, conducting project studies, investigations and payment of other expenses necessary to accomplish the objectives and purposes of the district.  Such component areas through their governing bodies are hereby authorized to make the necessary contributions for defraying the expenses set forth above.

§82649.  Designation of fiscal year  Reports  Accounting.

The board of directors shall designate the fiscal year for the district, which fiscal year shall not be changed except with approval of the district court.

Annually, or more often if the court shall order, and within thirty (30) days of the ending of the fiscal year, the board of directors shall make and file with the clerk of the court having jurisdiction of the district, a report of its proceedings and an accounting of the receipts and disbursements for such fiscal year, using forms approved by the State Auditor and Inspector.  Any interested person may object to such report, in writing, within sixty (60) days of the ending of the fiscal year.  When objections are filed, the Court may order the auditing of district accounts and may order a hearing on such objections, and after giving such notice as the court may direct.

Laws 1967, c. 382, § 20, emerg. eff. May 23, 1967; Laws 1979, c. 30, § 158, emerg. eff. April 6, 1979.  

§82661.  Lands in more than one district.

The same land, if conducive to public health, safety, convenience or welfare, may be included in more than one district and be subject to the provisions of this act for each and every district in which it may be included, provided, that no district shall be organized under this act, in whole or in part, within the territory of a district already organized under this act until the court or courts determine whether the public health, safety, convenience or welfare demand the organization of an additional district, or whether it demand that the territory proposed to be organized into an additional district shall be added to the existing district, and in case the proceedings concerning two or more such districts are before the district court of two or more counties, such determination shall be as provided in the next section.

Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 193, § 58.  

§82662.  Jurisdiction of courts as to districts being organized in same territory.

In case any district or districts are being organized within or partly within and partly without, the same territory in which some other district or districts have been or are being organized, then one district judge of each judicial district in which said conservancy districts have been or are being organized shall confer at the earliest convenient moment after they ascertain the possibility of a conflict in jurisdiction, the sitting to be had in the county having the largest assessed valuation in the proposed district or districts.

At such conference the several judges shall determine to what extent the several districts should be consolidated or to what extent the boundaries should be adjusted in order to most fully carry out the purposes of this act, and they shall by suitable orders make such determination effective.  In the event notices have been issued or jurisdiction acquired in any proceedings concerning territory which is transferred to the district court of another county, such notice shall not become void and jurisdiction so acquired shall not be lost, but in each case the court acquiring jurisdiction over such transferred territory shall hold the same without further notice, as if originally embraced in said district.

At such conferences the decision of the majority of the judges shall be necessary for the determination of any matter, and from such decision or from a failure to decide, appeal may be taken.

The provisions of this and the preceding section shall not operate to delay or to interrupt any proceedings under this act until the question of jurisdiction has been fully determined by the court or courts.

Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 193, § 59.  

§82663.  Union of districts  Petition  Notice  Order.

In case two or more districts have been organized under this act in a territory which, in the opinion of the directors of either of the districts, should constitute but one district, the board of directors of any one of the districts may petition the court uniting said districts into a single district.  Said petition shall be filed in the office of the court clerk of that county which has the greatest valuations of real property, within the districts sought to be included, as shown by the tax duplicates of the respective counties.  Said petition shall set forth the necessity for such union of the two or more districts and that the union of said districts would be conducive to the public health, convenience, safety or welfare, and to the economical execution of the purpose for which the districts were organized.  Upon receipt of said petition the court clerk shall give notice by publication or by personal service, to the board of directors of the district or districts which it is desired to unite with the district of the petitioners.  Such notice shall contain the time and place where the hearing on the petition will be had and the purpose of the same. Such hearing shall be had in accordance with the provisions of this act in original hearing.  After the hearing, should the court find that the averments of the petition are true and that the said districts, or any of them, should be united it shall so order, and thereafter proceed as such.  The court shall designate the corporate name of such, as provided for in this act.  The court shall direct in such order who shall be the directors of such united district who shall thereafter have powers and be subject to such regulations as are provided for directors in districts created in the first instance. All legal proceedings already instituted by or against any of such constituent districts may be revived and continued against such united districts by an order of court substituting the name of such united district for such constituent district and such proceedings shall then proceed as herein provided.

Instead of organizing a new district from such constituent districts the court may, in its discretion, direct that one or more of such districts described in the petition be included into another of said districts, which order shall continue under its original corporate name and organization, or it may direct that the district or districts so absorbed shall be represented on the board of directors of the original district, designating what members of the board of directors of the original district shall be retired from the new board and what members take their places; or it may direct that the included districts or districts shall become subdistricts of the main district.  In case the districts sought to be united were organized in different judicial districts, then the court, to determine the question involved, shall consist of one judge from each of the judicial districts and a majority shall be necessary to render a decision.  From such a decision, or from a failure to decide, any interested property owner may appeal, as herein provided.  No action under the provisions of this section shall operate to interrupt or delay any proceeding under this Act until the questions involved are finally determined.

Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 194, § 60.  

§82663.1.  Union or conversion of drainage districts.

The provisions of Title 82 Oklahoma Statutes, Section 663, relating to the union of conservancy districts shall apply equally to drainage districts organized under the provisions of Title 82 Oklahoma Statutes.  Any drainage district so organized may unite with a conservancy district under those provisions, or any drainage district may become a conservancy district and henceforth be under and governed by the provisions of Title 82 Oklahoma Statutes, Sections 531687 by following those provisions.

Said petition to unite or convert the form of organization and government need contain no other allegations than that the governing board or boards desire to accept the provisions of this act.

Laws 1955, p. 471, § 1.  

§82663.2.  Order for union or conversion of drainage district  Rights, remedies, and obligations.

If such union or reorganization is ordered by the court, the order shall set out the fact that all pending litigation and claims, and outstanding bonds, refunding bonds, warrants, assessments, and obligations shall continue in their status quo, and that all rights, remedies, and obligations are preserved as under the former organization.  Such order shall set the effective date of such change, and on such date all funds, levies, taxes, and assessments shall become operative under the newly formed or organized conservancy district.

Laws 1955, p. 471, § 2.  

§82664.  Remedy for injury by district  Procedure.

Except as otherwise provided or authorized by the Conservancy Act of Oklahoma, any person or public corporation injuriously affected in any manner whatsoever by an act performed by any official or agent of a district established pursuant to the Conservancy Act of Oklahoma, or by the execution, maintenance or operation of the official plan, pursuant to the provisions of the Conservancy Act of Oklahoma, may seek relief for such injury.  Any such remedy shall be subject to the provisions of the Governmental Tort Claims Act.

Added by Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 195, § 61.  Amended by Laws 1967, c. 382, § 18, emerg. eff. May 23, 1967; Laws 2000, c. 59, § 3, emerg. eff. April 14, 2000.

§82665.  Subdistricts  Administration.

Whenever it is desired to construct improvements wholly within or partly within and partly without any district organized under this act, which improvements will affect only a part of said district, for the purpose of accomplishing such work, subdistricts may be organized upon petition of the owners of real property, within or partly within and partly without the district, which petition shall fulfill the same requirements concerning the subdistricts as the petition outlined in Section 4 of this act is required to fulfill concerning the organization of the main district, and shall be filed with the clerk of the same district court, and shall be accompanied by a bond as provided for in Section 5 of this act. All proceedings relating to such subdistricts shall conform in all things to the provisions of this act relating to the organization of districts.  Whenever the court shall, by its order duly entered of record, declare and decree such subdistricts to be organized, the clerk of said court shall thereupon give notice of such order to the directors of the district, who shall thereupon act also as directors of the subdistricts.  Thereafter, the proceedings in reference to the subdistricts shall in all matters conform to the provisions of this act; except that in appraisal of benefits and damages for the purposes of such subdistricts, in the issuance of bonds, in the levying of assessments or taxes, and in all other matters affecting only the subdistricts, the provisions of this act shall apply to this subdistrict as though it were an independent district, and it shall not, in these things be amalgamated with the main district.

The board of directors, board of appraisers, chief engineer, attorney, secretary and other agents and employees of the district shall, so far as it may be necessary, serve in the same capacities for such subdistrict, and contracts and agreements between the main district and the subdistrict may be made in the same manner as contracts and agreements between two districts.  The distribution of administrative expense between the main district and subdistrict shall be in proportion to the interests involved and the amount of service rendered, such division to be made by the board of directors with an appeal to the court establishing the district.  This section shall not be held to prevent the organization of independent districts for local improvements under other laws, within the limits of a district organized under this act, as provided in Sections 59 and 60 of this act.

Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 196, § 62.  

§82666.  Other improvements may come under act  Procedure.

Any territory in which a proceeding has been instituted or is pending for construction of a single or joint or interstate, or county ditch, or township ditch, or underground drain, or levee, or county sewer, or for the cleaning of drains and water courses, or for the removal of drifts, or for the drainage of marshes; or for any sewer district outside of a municipality, or organized under any other law of this state, may become a district or subdistrict under this act, or may be absorbed in and amalgamated with any district organized under the terms of this act in the following manner:

When the officials in charge of any such improvement, or in the board of directors of any district organized under this act, which may desire to annex or absorb such territory, petition the court in which such district was organized under this act, or the court having jurisdiction over all or part of the territory affected by the proceedings which is desired to bring under this act, for an order making the territory affected by any of the improvements above noted a district or subdistrict under the terms of this act, or for amalgamating such territory with an existing district, organized under the terms of this act, the court clerk shall give notice of the pendency of said petition and of a hearing thereon in the same manner as herein provided for notice and hearing on a petition for the organization of a district under this act.  At the time of such hearing the court shall hear the evidence and shall grant the petition or deny the same, as seems most advantageous to all the interests affected thereby.

The court, in its order shall specify whether such territory shall be organized into a district or subdistrict under the terms of this act, or whether it shall be absorbed in or amalgamated with an existing district, organized under this act.  Thereafter the territory affected by said order and the improvements for which said territory was assessed, or for which contracts have been let therein, shall be subject to the terms of this act, and all such orders and procedure shall be had, as are necessary for fulfilling the requirements of this act; provided, that no order of the court shall be made under this section, which shall lessen the security of any issue of bonds or other obligations issued under the terms of this or any other statute.

If a proceeding sought to be joined to or amalgamated with a proceeding under this act is under the jurisdiction of a district court other than the one having jurisdiction of the district organized under this act, then at such hearing the district judge or judges of the county or counties in which such ditch or other improvements is located shall sit with the judge in whose county the district was established under this act, and a majority of those sitting shall be necessary to a decision; and from such decision or from a failure to decide appeal may be taken.

Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 196, § 63.  

§82667.  Annexation of additional land to a master conservancy district.

Additional territory may be annexed to a master conservancy district in the following manner:

(a) A petition praying for such annexation signed by fifty or a majority of the qualified voters residing in the territory and who own taxable property therein, and who duly rendered the same for taxes to the county or counties, (if not situated within a city or town), shall be filed with the board of directors of the master conservancy district.  The petition shall describe the territory by metes and bounds or by other appropriate description, unless such territory is the same as that of a city or town, in which event it shall be sufficient to state that the territory to be annexed is the same as that which is contained within such city or town.

(b) If the board of directors finds that the petition is signed by the required number of qualified persons and otherwise complies with the foregoing subsection, that the annexation would be to the interest of the territory and the master conservancy district, and that the master conservancy district will be able to render service to the territory, it shall, provided a majority of all the board members vote in favor thereof, adopt a resolution stating the conditions, if any, under which such territory may be annexed to the master conservancy district, and declaring its intention to call an election in the territory for the purpose of submitting the proposition of whether or not such territory shall be annexed to the master conservancy district, and fixing a time and place when and where a hearing shall be held on the question of whether the territory will be benefited by the improvements, works and facilities then owned and operated by the master conservancy district. Railroad rightofway, transmission lines and other property of telephone and telegraph and electric and gas utilities which are not situated within the defined limits of an incorporated city or town that will not be benefited by improvements, works and facilities which the master conservancy district is authorized to construct;  therefore, no railroad rightofway, or transmission lines, or other property of electric and gas utilities or rightofway or other property and facilities of telephone and telegraph utilities shall thereafter be annexed to the master conservancy district except such rightofway, transmission lines and other property of electric and gas utilities as are contained within the limits of an incorporated city or town then or thereafter annexed to the master conservancy district.

(c) Notice of the adoption of such resolution stating the time and place of such hearing, addressed to the citizens and owners of property in such territory shall be published once each week for three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper designated by the board of directors and having a general circulation in the territory, the last publication to be at least ten (10) days prior to the date of such hearing.  The notice shall describe the territory in the same manner as hereinabove required or permitted for the petition.  If no newspaper is published in the territory to be annexed, it shall be sufficient if notices are posted at five public places therein and published as aforesaid in a newspaper having general circulation in the territory.  The secretary shall also mail notice of such hearing addressed to the Mayor and governing body of each constituent city at least thirty (30) days prior to the hearing.

(d) All interested persons who reside in the master conservancy district or in the territory seeking annexation may appear at such hearing and offer evidence for or against the intended annexation. Such hearing shall proceed in such order and under such rules as may be prescribed by the board of directors, and the hearing may be recessed from time to time.  If at the conclusion of the hearing, the board of directors finds that all or a part of the lands in such territory will be benefited by the present or contemplated improvements, works or facilities of the master conservancy district, it shall adopt a resolution calling an election in the territory to be annexed, stating therein the date of the election, the place or places of holding the same and appointing a presiding judge for each voting place, who shall appoint the necessary assistant judges and clerks to assist in holding the election.

(e) Notice of said election, stating the date thereof, the proposition to be voted upon and the conditions under which the territory may be annexed, or making reference to the resolution of the board of directors for that purpose, and the place or places for holding the same, shall be published once each week for three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper published in the territory to be annexed and designated by the board of directors, the last publication to be at least ten (10) days before the day set for the election.  If no newspaper is published in the territory to be annexed, it shall be sufficient if notices are posted at five public places therein and published as aforesaid in a newspaper having general circulation in the territory.

(f) Only qualified electors who reside in such territory, who own taxable property therein, and who have duly rendered the same for taxes to the county or counties, in which it is situated (if not situated within a city or town), shall be qualified to vote in said election.  Returns of said election shall be made to the board of directors.

(g) The board of directors shall canvass the returns of the election and adopt a resolution declaring the results thereof.  If such resolution shows that a majority of the votes cast are in favor of annexation to the master conservancy district, such annexation shall thereafter be incontestable except in the manner and within the time for contesting elections under the general election laws. A certified copy of said order shall be recorded in the deed records of the county and/or counties in which a territory is situated.

(h) In calling an election on the proposition for annexation of territory, the board of directors may include as a part of the same proposition the assumption of its part of any obligations of the master conservancy district then outstanding and in force, and, in the case of bonds, those theretofore voted but not yet sold, and for the levy of ad valorem taxes on taxable property in said territory on the same basis as taxes are levied in the remainder of the master conservancy district for the payment of such tax obligations.  If the proposition thus submitted carries by a majority vote, the effect thereof shall be the same as that resulting from the separate assumption election provided for in the next succeeding subparagraph (i).

(i) After territory is added to the master conservancy district, the board of directors of the master conservancy district shall call an election over the entire master conservancy district for the purpose of determining whether the entire master conservancy district as enlarged shall assume the taxes and obligations then outstanding and in force, and, in the case of bonds, those theretofore voted but not yet sold, and whether ad valorem taxes shall be levied, on the basis of benefits, upon all taxable property within the master conservancy district as enlarged for the payment thereof, unless such proposition is favorably voted along with the annexation election and becomes lawfully binding upon the territory annexed.  Notice of the elections provided for in this and the next preceding subparagraph (h) shall be given and said election shall be held in the same manner as elections for the issuance of bonds as provided in the Conservancy Act of Oklahoma.

Laws 1961, p. 624, § 9.  

§82668.  Payment of monies due United States from master conservancy districts  Levies and assessments.

All payments to become due to the United States under any federal contract entered into between a master conservancy district and the United States may be paid from revenues or derived from assessments upon the real property of the district, as provided in the Conservancy Act.  It shall be the duty of the board of directors of a contracting district, pursuant to the provisions of the Conservancy Act, to make and establish all levies, assessments, tolls or charges to meet each year the contract indebtedness and obligation as the same may be provided for in any federal contract heretofore or hereafter entered into by a contracting district and to do any and all acts necessary to carry out the provisions of any such federal contract.

Laws 1961, p. 626, § 10.  

§82669.  Suits for or against district  Name  Service of process.

In all suits in any court for damages, condemnation or other proceedings, whether brought for or against such conservancy district, the same shall be brought in the name of the conservancy district as fixed and established by the decree of incorporation, and shall be under the direction of its board of directors and in all suits against such conservancy district service of summons shall be issued and served upon the president of the board of directors; or, if the president of said board of directors is not found in the county, then upon a member of the board of directors of said district, or if none of the aforesaid directors can be found, then by serving the secretary or treasurer and by leaving a copy thereof at the principal office or usual place of business of said district, with the person having charge thereof.  Laws 1967, c. 382, Sec. 19. Emerg. eff. May 23, 1967.

Laws 1967, c. 382, § 19, emerg. eff. May 23, 1967.  

§82671.  Directors may police district.

The board of directors shall have the right to police the works of the district, and in times of great emergency may compel assistance in the protection of such work, and shall, also, have the right to prevent persons, vehicles or live stock from passing over the works of the district in any manner which would result in damage thereto. Laws 192324 ch. 139, P. 197, Sec. 64.

Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 197, § 64.  

§82672.  Injury to survey marks prohibited  Penalty.

The willful destruction, injury or removal of any bench marks, witness marks, stakes or other reference marks, placed by surveyors or engineers of the district, or by contractors in constructing the works of the district, shall be a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine not exceeding One Hundred Dollars ($100.00).  Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 197, Sec. 65.

Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 197, § 65.  

§82673.  Owners liable for damage to district  Repairs.

All persons and corporations shall be liable for damage done to works of the district by themselves, their agents, their employees, or by their livestock.  All persons guilty of willful damage shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall on conviction be fined not to exceed Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), and costs, and shall be liable for all damages and costs.  The board of directors shall have authority to repair such damage at the expense of the person or corporation committing it.

Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 198, § 66.  

§82674.  Fraud or other illegal acts of officials  Fine.

The making of profit, directly or indirectly, by any officer of any district organized under this act, or by any public officer within the state, out of any contracts entered into by the district, or by use of any contracts entered into by the district, or by use of any money belonging to a district by lending it or otherwise using it, or by depositing the same in any manner, contrary to law, or by removal of any money by any such officer or by his consent and placing elsewhere than is prescribed either by law or by the official acts of the board of directors for the purpose of profit, or any person who shall misrepresent any material fact concerning the proposed project to any property owner when procuring signatures to a petition to inaugurate such project, shall constitute a felony, and on conviction thereof shall subject such officer to imprisonment in the State Penitentiary for a term not exceeding two (2) years, or a fine not exceeding Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), or both such fine and imprisonment, and the officer offending shall be liable personally and upon his official bond for all losses to such district and for all profits realized by such unlawful use of monies.

Added by Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 198, § 67.  Amended by Laws 1997, c. 133, § 593, eff. July 1, 1999; Laws 1999, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 5, § 429, eff. July 1, 1999.

NOTE:  Laws 1998, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 2, § 23 amended the effective date of Laws 1997, c. 133, § 593 from July 1, 1998, to July 1, 1999.

§82675.  Officials removed for cause.

Any director or appraiser of any district organized under this act may be removed for cause upon a motion filed in the original case where said district was organized after a hearing.

Laws 19231924, c. 139, p. 198, § 68.  

§82676.  Performance of duties enforced by mandamus.

The performance of all duties prescribed in this act concerning the organization and administration or operation of the district may be enforced against any officer or against any person or corporation refusing to comply with any order of the board by mandamus at the instance of the board or of any person or corporation interested in any way in such district or proposed district.  And the board may institute such proceedings in the court in the first instance.

Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 198, § 69.  

§82681.  Faulty notice  How corrected.

In any and every case where a notice is provided for in this act, if the court finds that due notice was not given, the court shall not thereby lose jurisdiction, and the proceedings in question shall not thereby be void; but the court shall in that case order due notice to be given, and shall continue the hearing until such time as such notice shall be properly given and thereupon shall proceed as though notice had been properly given in the first instance.

In case any individual appraisal or appraisals, assessment or assessments, or levy or levies, shall be held void for want of legal notice, or in case the board may determine that any notice with reference to any land or lands may be faulty, then the board may file a motion in the original cause asking that the court order notice to the owner of such land or lands given and set a time for hearing as provided in this act.  And in case the original notice as a whole, was sufficient, and was faulty with reference to publication as to certain tracts, only the owners of and persons interested in those particular tracts need be notified by such subsequent notice, and if the publication of any notice in any county was defective or not made in time, republication of the defective notice need be had only in the county in which the defect occurred.

Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 199, § 71.  

§82682.  Questions of validity of districts to be expedited in court.

All cases in which there arises a question of validity of the organization of conservancy districts shall be advanced as a matter of immediate public interest and concern, and heard in all courts at the earliest practicable moment.

The court shall be open at all times for the purpose of this act.

Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 199, § 72.  

§82683.  Act to be liberally construed.

This act being necessary for securing the public health, safety, convenience or welfare, and being necessary for the prevention of great loss of life and for the security of public and private property from floods and other uncontrolled waters, it shall be liberally construed to effect the control and conservation and drainage of the waters of this state.

Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 199, § 73.  

§82684.  Partial invalidity.

In case any section or sections or part of any sections of this act shall be found to be unconstitutional, the remainder of the act shall not thereby be invalidated, but shall remain in full force and effect.

Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 199, § 74.  

§82685.  Repeals  Certain laws not affected.

All acts or parts of acts conflicting in any way with any of the provisions of this act, in regard to improvements of this or a similar character, or otherwise interfering with the execution of this law according to its terms, are hereby declared inoperative and ineffective as to this act, as if they did not exist.  But all such laws and parts of laws shall not be in any way affected by this law. This act shall not repeal Chapter 38 of the Oklahoma Compiled Statutes, 1921, or any amendment thereto, but it shall be an additional remedy.

Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 200, § 75.  

§82686.  Short forms and abbreviations.

For the sake of convenience:

(a) In any orders of the court the words, "The court now here finds that it hath jurisdiction of the parties to and of the subject matter of this proceeding," shall be equivalent to a finding that each jurisdiction upon the court, beginning with the proper signing and filing of the initial petition to the date of the order containing such recital, have been scrutinized by the court and found to meet every legal requirement imposed by this act.

(b) No other or further evidence of the legal hypothecation of the special assessment to the payment of the bonds shall be required than the passage of a bonding resolution by the board of directors and the issuance of bonds in accordance therewith.

(c) In the preparation of any assessment or appraisal roll the usual abbreviations employed by engineers, surveyors and abstractors may be used.

(d) Where properly to describe any parcel of land it would be necessary to use a long description, the appraisers, after locating the land generally may refer to the book and page of the public record of any instrument in which the land is described, which reference shall suffice to identify for all the purposes of this act the land described in this public record referred to.

(e) It shall not be necessary in any notice required by this act to be published to specify the names of the owners of the lands or of the persons interested therein; but any such notice may be addressed, "To All Persons Interested," with like effect as though such notice named by name every owner, of any lands within the territory specified in the notice and every person interested therein, and every lienor, actual or inchoate, except that the notice of assessments or appraisals shall be as provided otherwise herein.

(f) Every district heretofore created or hereinafter declared upon hearing to be a conservancy district shall be an improvement district as provided in Article 16 of the Constitution of Oklahoma, and shall be invested with all the powers and privileges conferred upon such districts by the Constitution of Oklahoma and this act. 3Laws 192324, c. 139, p. 200, Sec. 76; Laws 1959, p. 381, Sec. 11.

§82687.  Forms and suggestions.

The following forms may suffice to illustrate the character of the procedure contemplated by this act; and if substantially complied with, those things being changed which (to meet the requirements of the particular case) should be changed, such procedure shall be held to meet the requirements of this act.

I.  Form of Notice of Hearing on the Petition:  To all persons interested, public notice is hereby given:

(1) That on the ...... day of .......... 19.., pursuant to the provisions of the Conservancy Acts of Oklahoma, there was filed in the office of the court clerk of the district court of ............ County, Oklahoma, the petition of ...... and others for the establishment of a conservancy district to be known as ............ Conservancy District.  (Here insert the purposes.)

(2) That the lands sought to be included in said district comprise lands in .......... and ........ counties, Oklahoma, described substantially as follows:  (Here insert description of land.)

(3) That a public hearing on said petition will be had in said court on ............ the .......... day of ........ at the hour of ........ o'clock .. M., by the district court of ..........  County, at the court house in the city of ........ , ........  County, Oklahoma.

All persons and public or private corporations owning or interested in real estate or other freeholders within the territory hereinbefore described will be given the opportunity to be heard at the time and place above specified, as to whether said district should be established or not.

..............,

Court Clerk of .......... County, Oklahoma.  Dated ........ Oklahoma, .......... 19....

II.  Form of Finding on Hearing:  The court at its discretion may order the formation of said conservancy district in following form substantially:

State of Oklahoma, .......... County, ss:

In the district court of .......... County.

In the matter of .......... Conservancy District.

On this ...... day of ........ 19... this cause coming on for hearing upon the petition of .......... and others, for the organization of a conservancy district under the Conservancy Act of the State of Oklahoma, the court after a full hearing now here finds:

(1) That it hath jurisdiction of the parties to, and the subject matter of this proceeding.

(2) That the purposes for which said district is established are: (Insert the purposes.)

And that it is a public necessity.

(3) That the public safety, health, convenience and welfare will be promoted by the organization of a conservancy district substantially as prayed in said petition (if additional lands are added by petition) except that the following additional lands at the petition of the owners thereof should be, and hereby are included in said districts:  (Here insert additional lands.)

(4) That the general boundaries of said district until specifically delimited by the viewers and engineers are as follows: (Here insert boundaries of district.)

(5) That the said territory last above described should be erected into and created a conservancy district under the Conservancy Act of the State of Oklahoma under the corporate name of ........ Conservancy District.

Wherefore, it is by the court ordered, adjudged and decreed:

That the territory as above described be, and the same hereby is erected into and created a conservancy district, under the Conservancy Act of Oklahoma under the corporate name of .......... Conservancy District, with its office and principal place of business at .........., in .......... County, Oklahoma.

(If directors are appointed at the same time)

And the following persons are hereby appointed directors of said conservancy district, until their successors are elected and qualified:

.....................

.....................

.....................

who are hereby directed to qualify and proceed according to law.

For consideration of other matters herein, this course is retained on the docket.

....................

  Judge.

III.  Form of Notice to Property Owners to Pay Assessment:

.............. Conservancy District.

To All Persons Interested,

Public Notice is Hereby Given:

(1) That on the ........ day of .......... 19..., the board of directors of Conservancy District No......... levied an assessment on all the property in said district in the aggregate sum of $...... and has caused the same to be extended upon the assessment duplicate, which is now in collection by the county treasurer of the county in which the lands are situated.

(2) That the entire assessment against any parcel of land may be paid at any time on or prior to ........ 19... without costs and without interest.

(3) That as soon after ......... day of ........... 19..., as conveniently may be, the board of directors of said district will divide the uncollected part of said assessment into convenient installments, and will issue bonds bearing interest not exceeding eight and onehalf percent (8 1/2%) per year in anticipation of the collection of the several installments of said assessment, pursuant to the Conservancy Act of the State of Oklahoma.

....................

  President.

....................

  Secretary.

IV.  Form of Bond and Coupon:

No...............  $...............

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

State of Oklahoma.

............. Conservancy District.

CONSERVANCY BOND.

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

That ............... Conservancy District, a legally organized conservancy district of the State of Oklahoma, acknowledging itself to owe and for value received hereby promises to pay to bearer ............. Dollars ($..........) on the first day of .........., 19...., with interest thereon from the date hereof until paid at the rate of ........ percent (....%) per year, payable ........... 19...., and semiannually thereafter on the first day of ......... and of ......... in each year on presentation and surrender of the annexed interest coupons as they severally become due.  Both principal and interest of this bond are hereby made payable in lawful money of the United States of America, at the fiscal agency of the State of Oklahoma, in the city of New York.

(Here insert a concise and condensed statement of the proceedings up to the issuing of the bond.)

This bond is one of a series of bonds issued by Conservancy District No. .... for the purpose of paying the cost of constructing a system of flood prevention (or for the other works) for said district and in anticipation of the collection of the several installments of an assessment duly levied upon lands within said district and benefited by said improvement in strict compliance with the Conservancy Act of Oklahoma, and pursuant to an order of the board of directors of said district duly made and entered of record. And it is hereby certified and recited that all acts, conditions and things required to be done in locating and establishing said district and in equalizing appraisals of benefits and in levying assessments against lands benefited thereby, and in authorizing, executing and issuing this bond, have been legally had, done and performed in due form of law; that the total amount of bonds issued by said district does not exceed ninety percent (90%) of the assessments so levied and unpaid at the time said bonds are issued or any legal limitation thereof.

And for the performance of all the convenants and stipulations of this bond and of the duties imposed by law upon said district for the collection of the principal and interest of said assessments and the application thereof to the payment of this bond and the interest thereon, and for the levying of such other and further assessments as are authorized by law and as may be required for the prompt payment of this bond and the interest thereon, the full faith, credit, and resources of said Conservancy District No. ......... are hereby irrevocably pledged.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, The board of directors of ........ Conservancy District has caused this bond to be signed by its president and sealed with the corporate seal of said district, attested by its secretary, and registered by the State Auditor and Inspector of the State of Oklahoma, and the coupons hereto annexed to be executed by the facsimile signature of said president and secretary, as of the ...... day of ...... 19....

....................

  President

Attest:  ....................

Secretary.

FORM OF COUPONS.

No. ............... $ ...............

On the first day of ......... 19..., ......... Conservancy District promises to pay the bearer ......... Dollars ($........) lawful money of the United States of America, at the office of the ......... being semiannual interest due on that date on its conservancy bond dated ......... 19...., No. ......

..........................

President.

..........................

Secretary.

V.  Forms of Notice of Enlargement of District:

State of Oklahoma, County of ...........ss:

In the district court of ......... County.

In the matter of ........... Conservancy District.

NOTICE OF ENLARGEMENT OF DISTRICT.

To all persons and public or private corporations interested:

Public Notice Is Hereby Given:

(1) That heretofore on the ....... day of ............, 19...., in the district court of ......... County of Oklahoma, duly entered a final decree erecting and creating ......... Conservancy District and appointing a board of directors therefor.

(2) That thereafter this court duly appointed:

..............

..............

..............

to be the board of appraisers for said district; that said board of appraisers on the ....... day of ..........., 19...., filed their report recommending the following described lands not originally included in the district, be added thereto:  (Here describe generally the lands which the report of the board of appraisers recommends should be added to the district.)

(3) That on ........... the ....... day of ........... 19... (or as soon thereafter as the convenience of the court will permit) at the court house in .......... Oklahoma, the district court of .......... County, Oklahoma, will hear all persons and public or private corporations who are owners of or interested in the property described in this notice upon the question whether said lands should be added to and included in said Conservancy District.

...............................

Court Clerk, District Court,

..............  County, Oklahoma.

FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF LEVY OF

ASSESSMENTS:

State of Oklahoma, County of ........................... ss:

To the County Clerk and County Assessor of ............ County, Oklahoma:

This is to certify that by virtue and under the authority of the Conservancy Act of Oklahoma, the board of directors of .......... Conservancy District have and do hereby levy the sum of ............... Dollars ($........) which said assessment bears interest as provided by law and is payable in installments, with interest as follows:  (Here insert.)

You are further notified that for the account of the maintenance fund, for the year 19.... , this board has levied the sum of ............. Dollars ($..........)

The amounts of said levies upon the several parcels of land upon which the same are imposed are set forth upon the schedule hereto attached, marked ......... Conservancy District Assessment Book. The said assessment shall be collectable and payable the present year in the sums herein specified at the same time that the state and county taxes are due and collectable and you are directed and ordered to warrant and require the treasurer of ........... County, Oklahoma, to demand and collect such assessments as provided by law, and this Conservancy Assessment Book shall be your authority and the authority of the treasurer to make such collections.

Witness, the signature of the president of said board of directors, attested by the seal of said corporation and the signature of its secretary, this the ......... day of ......... 19....

....................

  President.

(SEAL)

....................

Secretary.

Laws 1967, c. 382, § 21, emerg. eff. May 23, 1967.  

§82688.  Exemption from taxation.

All properties owned by the district, both real and personal, and reasonably necessary to accomplish the purposes of district shall be exempt from taxation by the State of Oklahoma, or by any municipal corporation, county or other political subdivision.  All properties, products and benefits sold, leased or furnished by such districts shall be exempt from sales tax.

All bonds, notes and warrants and the interest thereon, issued pursuant to the provisions of this act, shall be exempt from taxation (except inheritance taxes) by the State of Oklahoma, or by any municipal corporation, county or other political subdivision, or taxing district of the state.

Laws 1967, c. 382, Sec. 21.  Emerg. eff. May 23, 1967.

§82688.1.  Exemption from payment of sales, use and vehicle excise taxes  Registration of vehicles.

Conservancy districts and master conservancy districts organized under the provisions of the "Conservancy Act of Oklahoma" contained in Chapter 5 of Title 82 of the Oklahoma Statutes, shall be exempt from the payment of sales and use taxes on purchases and use of tangible personal property in this state, and from payment of the vehicle excise tax levied on the transfer or first registration of vehicles purchased and used in Oklahoma, and the vehicles of such districts shall be registered each year for a nominal fee of One Dollar ($1.00), after having obtained the proper Oklahoma certificate of title.  Laws 1969, c. 64, Sec. 1.  Emerg. eff. March 5, 1969.

Laws 1969, c. 64, § 1, emerg. eff. March 5, 1969.  

§82861.  District created and territory included  Governmental agency and body politic  Powers  Designation of land and water.

There is hereby created within the State of Oklahoma a conservation and reclamation district to be known as "Grand River Dam Authority", hereinafter called the district, and consisting of that part of the State of Oklahoma which is included within the boundaries of the Counties of Adair, Cherokee, Craig, Delaware, Mayes, Muskogee, Ottawa, Osage, Pawnee, Payne, Lincoln, Logan, Tulsa, Wagoner, Sequoyah, Haskell, Latimer, Pittsburg, McIntosh, Creek, Okmulgee, Nowata, Washington and Rogers.  Such district shall be, and is hereby declared to be, a governmental agency of the State of Oklahoma, body politic and corporate, with powers of government and with the authority to exercise the rights, privileges and functions hereinafter specified, including the control, storing, preservation and distribution of the waters of the Grand River and its tributaries, for irrigation, power and other useful purposes and reclamation and irrigation of arid, semiarid and other lands needing irrigation, and the conservation and development of the forests, minerals, land, water and other resources and the conservation and development of hydroelectric power and other electrical energy, from whatever source derived, of the State of Oklahoma.

Nothing in this act or in any other act or law contained, however, shall be construed as authorizing the district to levy or collect taxes or assessments, or to create any indebtedness payable out of the taxes or assessments, or in any manner to pledge the credit of the State of Oklahoma, or any subdivision thereof.

All that body of land and the water impounded above the Pensacola Dam, Pensacola Project, shall be hereafter designated and known as "Grand Lake O'The Cherokees".  All that body of land and the water impounded above Robert S. Kerr Dam, Markham Ferry Project, shall be hereafter designated and known as "Lake Hudson".  All that body of land and the water impounded above Chimney Rock Dam, Salina PumpedStorage Project, shall be designated and known as "W. R. Holway Reservoir".

Laws 1935, p. 350, § 1; Laws 1937, p. 481, § 1; Laws 1941, p. 472, § 1; Laws 1941, p. 475, § 1; Laws 1949, p. 633, § 1; Laws 1957, p. 562, § 1; Laws 1978, c. 283, § 1, emerg. eff. May 10, 1978; Laws 1981, c. 204, § 9, emerg. eff. May 26, 1981.  

§82-861A.  Grand River Dam Authority - Designation as state agency.

A.  The Grand River Dam Authority, created pursuant to the provisions of the Grand River Dam Authority Act, Section 861 et seq. of Title 82 of the Oklahoma Statutes, is a nonappropriated agency of the State of Oklahoma.  The Grand River Dam Authority herein referred to as the "district" is subject to the laws of the state as they apply to state agencies except as specifically exempted by statute.  All funds generated, received and expended by the district are public funds and subject to state laws and regulations governing the receipt and expenditure of public funds in the same manner as all other state agencies.  The employees of the district are both classified and unclassified state employees subject to the same benefits and restrictions applicable to all state agencies except as otherwise provided by statute.

B.  Recognizing that the district is a unique agency of this state, whose mission requires the ability of the district to function in competition with private industry within the competitive power market, the Legislature hereby requires the Grand River Dam Authority Board of Directors as the rulemaking authority for the district to:

1.  Promulgate appropriate rules governing operations of the agency pursuant to the provisions of Article I of the Administrative Procedures Act, with the exception of rules dealing with the waters of the Grand River and its tributaries; and

2.  Develop written policies and procedures consistent with state laws governing the district's activities including marketing, consumer education, community relations and customer service functions performed by the district.

C.  The district is required to document business expenses necessary to carry out the business of the district.  Expenses shall meet current State of Oklahoma and Internal Revenue Service guidelines for business expense deductibility.

D.  If necessary to comply with the provisions of this act, the Board may, by majority vote, employ an independent audit firm to assist it in its duties.  Funds required for this purpose shall be borne by the district with approval by the Board.

E.  The Board of Directors or the management of the district may seek advice from the State Treasurer or the State Bond Advisor as it deems necessary.

F.  After the effective date of this act, the district shall not provide retail electric power or retail electric service to electric consuming facilities except to:

1.  An existing electric consuming facility if such electric power was being provided by the district on the effective date of this act; and

2.  Any entity located within the boundary of the Oklahoma Ordnance Works Authority/Mid-America Industrial Park or within a two-mile radius of the boundary.

Retail distribution of electric power shall be defined as any sale not for resale.

Added by Laws 2003, c. 459, § 1, eff. July 1, 2003.

§82-862.  Powers, rights and privileges of district.

The district shall have and is hereby authorized to exercise the following powers, rights and privileges:

(a)  To control, store and preserve, within the boundaries of the district, the waters of Grand River and its tributaries, for any useful purpose, and to use, distribute and sell the same within the boundaries of the district; provided, however, that any municipal corporation within the area included within the jurisdiction of the said Grand River Dam Authority shall be entitled to take water from the Grand River and any of its tributaries in any quantities that may be needed by such municipal corporation;

(b)  To develop and generate water power, electric power and electric energy, from whatever source, within the boundaries of the district; to acquire coal or other minerals to be used for the purposes of providing energy sources for electrical generating plants; to acquire or lease any and all railroad connections, equipment, rolling stock, trackage and otherwise, necessary to the transporting of coal and other minerals to generating plant sites within the district; and to buy, sell, resell, interchange and distribute electric power and energy in order to carry forward the business and functions of the district now or hereafter authorized by law and may enter into contracts for such purposes, such contracts to run for a period of not to exceed fifty (50) years except those contracts provided for in paragraphs (f) and (g) of this section.  All contracts may contain such reasonable provisions, limitations, qualifications, protective clauses and rights and obligations of purchase and sale, and such provisions for the dedication of the use of facilities and the construction of additional facilities to serve the load requirements of all the parties as may be deemed advisable by the district to safeguard the business and properties of all the parties to such contracts, all within the limits of sound business judgment and practice, good conscience, and not contrary to the public policy of the state;

(c)  To prevent or aid in the prevention of damage to person or property from the waters of the Grand River and its tributaries;

(d)  To forest and reforest and to aid in the foresting and reforesting of the watershed area of the Grand River and its tributaries and to prevent and to aid in the prevention of soil erosion and floods within said watershed area;

(e)  To acquire by purchase, lease, gift, or in any other manner, and to maintain, use and operate or to contract for the maintenance, use and operation of any and all property of any kind, real, personal, or mixed, or any interest therein, including trucks of any size or weight and passenger vehicles and to own, construct, operate and maintain any project or works in conjunction or jointly with, as tenants in common, any public or private corporation duly authorized and qualified to do business within this state including, but not limited to, rural electric cooperatives of the State of Oklahoma or the United States of America, or any department, subdivision or agency of the State of Oklahoma or the United States of America, or with any "public agency" as defined under the Interlocal Cooperation Act, Sections 1001 through 1008 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes, within or without the boundaries of the district, necessary, incidental or convenient to the exercise of the powers, rights, privileges and functions conferred upon it by this act;

(f)  In addition to any other powers conferred, the district shall have power and authority to participate and enter into agreements with any public or private corporation duly authorized and qualified to do business within the State of Oklahoma including, but not limited to, rural electric cooperatives, the state or the United States of America or any department, subdivision or agency of the state or the United States of America, or with any "public agency" as defined under the Interlocal Cooperation Act, Sections 1001 through 1008 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes, for the purpose of planning, acquiring, financing, owning, operating and maintaining an undivided ownership of any steam, oil, gas, coalfired, thermal, geothermal, solar, waste or refuse reclamation powered electric generating plant or plants or any facilities of every kind necessary, incidental or convenient for the production, generation and transmission of electric power and energy including, but not limited to, any and all related transmission facilities, which shall be used as common facilities.  The agreements shall provide that the district and any participants therein shall have the incidents of tenant in common to any plant or facility.  It shall also be provided in the agreements that the district and any participant in the project shall own a percentage of any common facility equal to the percentage of the money furnished or the value of property supplied by it for the acquisition and construction thereof and shall own and control a like percentage of the electrical output thereof.

Each participant shall defray its own interest payments and other payments required to be made or deposited in connection with any financing undertaken by it to pay its percentage of the money furnished or value of property supplied by it for the planning, acquisition and construction of any common facility, or any additions or betterments thereto.  The agreement shall further provide a uniform method of determining and allocating operation and maintenance expenses of the common facility.

In carrying out the powers granted in this section, the district and each participant shall be severally liable only for its own acts and not jointly or severally liable for the acts, omissions or obligations of others.  No money or property supplied by the district or any participant for the planning, financing, acquiring, constructing, operating or maintaining of any common plant or facility shall be credited or otherwise applied to the account of any other participant therein, nor shall the undivided share of the district or any participant therein be charged, directly or indirectly, with any debt or obligation of any other participant or be subject to any lien as a result thereof.  No action in connection with a common facility shall be binding upon the district except as expressly authorized and provided for in the participation agreement;

(g)  In addition to the powers conferred in paragraph (f) of this section, the district shall have power and authority to participate and enter into agreements with any public or private corporation duly authorized and qualified to do business within this state including, but not limited to, rural electric cooperatives, the State of Oklahoma or the United States of America or any department, subdivision or agency of the State of Oklahoma or the United States of America, or with any "public agency" as defined under the Interlocal Cooperation Act, Sections 1001 through 1008 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes, for the purpose of planning, acquiring, financing, owning, operating and maintaining undivided ownership interests in any steam, oil, gas, coalfired, thermal, geothermal, solar, waste or refuse reclamation powered electric generating plant or plants or any other facilities of every kind necessary, incidental or convenient for the production, generation and transmission of electric power and energy including, but not limited to, any and all related transmission or other facilities which are to be used as common facilities and to cooperate with other state agencies and public trusts to promote economic development in the state and to assist in attracting industry to the state.  Such undivided ownership interests may be created by an agreement entered into with respect to property to be acquired by the district.  Any such agreement may be a sale agreement, with the purchase price payable at one time or in installments at such time and over such period as shall be agreed to by the parties thereto, a lease agreement, with a nominal purchase option, or any other type of agreement.  In addition to the purchase price, the district shall be fully indemnified as to operation, maintenance, administrative and other expenses incurred with respect to such undivided interest.  Any payment received in respect to any such agreement shall be deemed revenues of the Authority.  The district is hereby authorized to enter into any such agreement in order to sell, lease or otherwise convey undivided ownership interests in any such property.  Any such agreement shall specify the undivided interest to be owned or acquired by each of the participants, provide for a waiver of partition, prescribe the time of vesting of such interest and the amount of electrical output to be owned and controlled by any participant.

Each participant shall defray its own interest and other payments required to be made or deposited in connection with any financing undertaken by it to pay its percentage of the money furnished or value of property supplied by it for the planning, acquisition and construction of any common facility, or any additions or betterments thereto.  The agreement shall provide a uniform method of determining and allocating operation and maintenance expenses of the common facility.

In carrying out the powers granted in this section, the district and each participant shall be severally liable only for its own acts and not jointly or severally liable for the acts, omissions or obligations of others.  No money or property supplied by the district or any participant for the planning, financing, acquiring, constructing, operating or maintaining of any common plant or facility shall be credited or otherwise applied to the account of any other participant therein, nor shall the undivided share of the district or any participant therein be charged, directly or indirectly, with any debt or obligation of any other participant or be subject to any lien as a result thereof.  No action in connection with a common facility shall be binding upon the district except as expressly authorized and provided for in the participation agreement;

(h)  To acquire by condemnation any and all property of any kind, real, personal, or mixed, or any interest therein, within or without the boundaries of the district, necessary, incidental or convenient to the exercise of the powers, rights, privileges and functions conferred upon it by this act, in the manner provided by general law with respect to condemnation; provided that nothing in this act shall ever be construed to authorize the district to acquire by condemnation any privately, municipally or publicly owned electric public utility system or any part thereof outside of the high-water mark of a reservoir area or outside a properly located damsite, except the districts may require the relocation of transmission lines and substations so owned where such relocation is necessary for the construction and maintenance of dams, reservoirs, levees, spillways and floodways, and in such event just compensation shall be paid.  Provided that the Grand River Dam Authority shall have the right to cross transmission lines of other electric utility companies under proper engineering standards of construction as approved by the Corporation Commission;

(i)  Subject to the provisions of this act, from time to time sell, which shall include, but not be limited to, an installment sale agreement, lease with nominal purchase options, or otherwise dispose of any property of any kind, real, personal or mixed, or any interest therein, which shall not be necessary to the carrying on of the business of the district;

(j)  To overflow and inundate any public lands and public property and to require the relocation of roads and highways in the manner and to the extent necessary to carry out the purposes of this act; provided, that said district shall be liable in damages to the State of Oklahoma or any subdivision thereof for any injury occasioned or expense incurred by reason thereof;

(k)  To construct, extend, improve, maintain and reconstruct, to cause to be constructed, extended, improved, maintained and reconstructed, and to use and operate any and all facilities of any kind necessary, incidental or convenient to the exercise of such powers, rights, privileges and functions;

(l)  To sue and be sued in its corporate name in contracts, reverse condemnation, tort, equity, mandamus and similar actions and in its own name plead and be impleaded, provided, however, that any and all actions of law or in an equity against the district shall be brought in the county in which the principal office of the district shall be located or in the county where the cause of action arose;

(m)  To adopt, use and alter a corporate seal;

(n)  To make bylaws for the management and regulation of its affairs;

(o)  To appoint officers, agents and employees, to prescribe their duties and to fix their compensation; and enter into contracts with labor unions, provided, that contracts with labor unions shall not abrogate the rights of the district to cooperate and carry out Veterans on the Job Training;

(p)  To make contracts and to execute instruments necessary, incidental or convenient to the exercise of the powers, rights, privileges and functions conferred upon it by this act;

(q)  To borrow money for its corporate purposes and, without limitation of the generality of the foregoing, to borrow money and accept grants from the United States of America, or from any corporation or agency created or designated by the United States of America, and, in connection with any such loan or grant, to enter into such agreements as the United States of America or such corporation or agency may require; and to make and issue its negotiable bonds for money borrowed, in the manner provided in this act.  Nothing in this act shall authorize the issuance of any bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness of the district, except as specifically provided in this act;

(r)  To prescribe and enforce rules for the use for recreational and commercial purposes of the lakes created by the district by impounding the waters of said lakes, and the shorelands of the district bordering thereon, including the use of firearms, the inspection of all boats of every character proposing to operate or operating on said lakes, the issuance of permits for the operation of boats, surfboards, aquaplanes, seaskis or similar devices on said lakes for hire; the charging and collection of fees for the inspection or operation of such boats, surfboards, aquaplanes, seaskis or other similar devices on said lakes for hire; preventing the launching or operation of any commercial or forhire boat, surfboard, aquaplane, seaski or similar device for hire, on the waters of said lakes, without a certificate of inspection and a permit for such use; prescribing the type, style, location and equipment of all wharves, docks and anchorages along the shores and upon the water of said lakes; the issuance of permits for wharfage, dock or anchorage privileges and charging fees for such commercial or private permits; and the establishment and maintenance of public wharves, docks or anchorages and the charging and collection of fees for the use thereof by the public; to appoint or employ such persons as the district may deem proper and suitable for the purpose of enforcing such rules and regulations as may be issued hereunder, or as may be issued pursuant to the provisions of Sections 4200 et seq. of Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes, and for the enforcing of the provisions of this act, and all violations of criminal laws occurring within the boundaries of the counties where real property owned or leased by the Grand River Dam Authority is located, which employees shall have the power of peace officers during the performance of those duties, except in the serving or execution of civil process;

(s)  To do any and all other acts or things necessary, incidental or convenient to the exercise of the powers, rights, privileges or functions conferred upon it by this act or any other act or law.  Provided said district shall be liable for damage caused by said district, its agents, servants and employees in creating, constructing, maintaining or operating said district to any corporation, partnership, person or individual whose property, either real or personal, within or without said district, has been damaged and said damages may be determined by appropriate action as provided by law.  Nothing in this act shall be construed as rendering the district liable for damage where it is not liable on general principles of law or statute or Constitutional provision.

Provided, however, that in the course of exercising its powers as herein enumerated, the said district shall at all times consider the rights and needs of the people living within and upon the land lying within the watershed of the rivers or streams developed by the district; provided, however, that nothing herein shall prevent the district from selling for irrigation purposes within the boundaries of the district any water impounded by it under authority of law, provided that nothing herein contained shall authorize the state to engage in agriculture except for educational and scientific purposes and for the support of its penal, charitable, and educational institutions; and

(t)  To support and assist the efforts of state, regional and local development organizations, political subdivisions, industrial committees, chambers of commerce, tourism organizations, agricultural organizations, environmental organizations and other similar public and private agencies to obtain new and foster expansion of existing service, industrial and manufacturing facilities, businesses and enterprises to enhance the quality of life for the citizens of the district and the state.  Provided, support and assistance shall be limited to an amount not to exceed a total of Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($15,000.00) per year for one or more projects or efforts that are for the benefit of or impact the quality of life for each city or community located within the boundaries of the district.

(u)  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the General Manager, department heads and other essential employees of the district, as designated by the General Manager, may be permitted to use a district owned vehicle to provide transportation between the employee's residence and the assigned place of employment and between the residence and any location other than the assigned place of employment to which the employee travels in the performance of the employee's official duty.

Added by Laws 1935, p. 351, § 2.  Amended by Laws 1941, p. 472, § 2; Laws 1945, p. 413, § 2; Laws 1947, p. 622, § 1, emerg. eff. May 21, 1947; Laws 1949, p. 634, § 2, emerg. eff. April 21, 1949; Laws 1957, p. 563, § 1, emerg. eff. May 22, 1957; Laws 1970, c. 263, § 1, emerg. eff. April 23, 1970; Laws 1981, c. 204, § 10, emerg. eff. May 26, 1981; Laws 1986, c. 276, § 19, operative July 1, 1986; Laws 1990, c. 94, § 1, emerg. eff. April 18, 1990; Laws 1998, c. 391, § 13, emerg. eff. June 10, 1998; Laws 2003, c. 459, § 2, eff. July 1, 2003; Laws 2004, c. 524, § 1.

§82-862.1.  Grand River Dam Authority - Exemptions.

In addition to the powers, rights and privileges enumerated in Section 862 of this title, the Grand River Dam Authority shall be exempt from the provisions of the:

1.  Oklahoma Open Records Act, exclusively limited to customer proprietary information the Authority is contractually obligated to keep confidential;

2.  Oklahoma Open Meeting Act, exclusively limited to authorizing the Grand River Dam Authority Board of Directors to confer on matters pertaining to:

a. coal or gas supply contracts, and

b. rail or truck transportation contracts; and

3.  Public Building Construction and Planning Act.

Added by Laws 2001, c. 397, § 7, emerg. eff. June 4, 2001.  Amended by Laws 2003, c. 461, § 18, eff. July 1, 2003; Laws 2004, c. 524, § 2.

§82-862.2.  Contracts.

Contracts entered into by the Grand River Dam Authority prior to November 1, 2006, for construction, labor, equipment, materials, or repairs necessary for electric generation, administration, and transmission shall not be considered public construction contracts or be subject to the provisions of Title 61 of the Oklahoma Statutes.

Added by Laws 2005, c. 234, § 3, emerg. eff. May 26, 2005.

§82-863.  Repealed by Laws 1998, c. 391, § 16, eff. Jan. 1, 1999.

§82-863.1.  Repealed by Laws 1949, p. 641, § 7.

§82-863.2.  Board of Directors.

A.  The powers, rights and privileges and functions of the Grand River Dam Authority, hereinafter referred to as the "district", shall be exercised by a seven-member Board of Directors, to be appointed according to the provisions of this section.

B.  The Board shall have rulemaking authority pursuant to the provisions of Section 861 et seq. of this title.  By majority vote, the Board shall have the authority to grant exemptions from any rules not promulgated pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act which deal with the waters of the Grand River and its tributaries.  The Board shall be responsible for approving business expenses of the district necessary to carry out the business of the district.  It shall be the duty of the Board of Directors to oversee the functions of the district and ensure the operations of the district are in compliance with all applicable state laws and that expenses of the district comply with state and federal guidelines for business expense deductibility.

C.  Members appointed to the Board or who serve as designees shall be domiciled in the State of Oklahoma and shall have paid state income taxes for a minimum of one (1) year prior to the date of appointment.

D.  No person shall be eligible to serve on the Board of Directors if the person, during the three (3) years prior to the appointment, has been employed by an investor-owned utility company, or has held a federal, state or county office, elective or appointive.

E.  A member of the Board may be eligible to serve on the Oklahoma Ordnance Works Authority Board of Trustees, if appointed to that position by the Governor.

F.  On July 1, 2003, or on the effective date of this act, whichever occurs later, all positions of the current Board of Directors shall be deemed vacant, and the new members of the Board of Directors shall be appointed as follows:

1.  The Governor shall appoint a director to represent the industrial and commercial customers of the district;

2.  The Governor shall appoint a director to represent economic development interests, lake enthusiasts and property owners;

3.  The Governor shall appoint an at-large director;

4.  The President Pro-Tempore of the Oklahoma State Senate shall appoint an at-large director;

5.  The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint an at-large director;

6.  The General Manager of the Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives, or designee, shall be a voting ex-officio director; and

7.  The Executive Director of the Municipal Electric Systems of Oklahoma, or designee, shall be a voting ex-officio director.

G.  The initial term of office for the five directors appointed pursuant to subsection F of this section shall be as follows:

1.  The at-large director appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall serve for a term of seven (7) years;

2.  The at-large director appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall serve for a term of six (6) years;

3.  The director appointed by the Governor representing economic development interests, lake enthusiasts and property owners shall serve for a term of five (5) years;

4.  The director appointed by the Governor to represent industrial and commercial customers shall serve for a term of four (4) years; and

5.  The at-large director appointed by the Governor shall serve for a term of three (3) years.

H.  A successor to a director of the Board shall be appointed in the same manner as the original director and shall serve a term of seven (7) years.

I.  Any director appointed to fill a vacancy on the Board occurring prior to the expiration of the term for which the predecessor was appointed shall be appointed for the remainder of such term.

J.  No director shall be appointed to more than one seven-year term; provided, however, a director may be appointed to fill the unexpired portion of a term and shall be eligible for reappointment to serve a full seven-year term.

K.  Each director shall qualify by taking the official oath of office prescribed by general statute.

L.  Any person serving on the Board of Directors on July 1, 2003, may serve on the Board as provided in this section if they are so appointed or designated and such person is eligible to serve under the provisions of this section.

M.  Any director or designee may be removed for just cause by the Governor.

N.  Each director shall be allowed actual and necessary expenses incurred by such director for attending meetings of the Board and authorized business of the district pursuant to the provisions of the State Travel Reimbursement Act.  No director shall hold any other position of employment within the Grand River Dam Authority at the same time such director is serving on the Board.

O.  The time and place of the regular meetings and the manner in which special meetings may be called shall be set forth in the bylaws of the district.  Four directors shall constitute a quorum at any meeting, and, except as otherwise provided in this act or in the bylaws, all action may be taken by the affirmative vote of the majority of the Board present at any such meeting, except that no contracts which involve an amount greater than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00), or which are to run for a longer period than one (1) year, and no bonds, notes or other evidence of indebtedness, and no amendment of the bylaws, shall be valid unless authorized or ratified by the affirmative vote of at least four directors.

P.  At the first meeting of the Board following July 1, 2003, the members appointed pursuant to this section shall, by majority vote, elect a chair and chair-elect who shall serve as the vice-chair.  The chair and the chair-elect shall serve a term of one (1) year.  Thereafter, the membership of the Board shall elect a chair-elect, at the first meeting of each year and the previous chair-elect shall assume the position of chair for the ensuing year.  A member may serve more than one term as chair or chair-elect during their tenure on the Board, provided, however, they may only serve one term in any three-year period.

Q.  The Asset Committee shall be chaired by the director appointed to represent economic development interests, lake enthusiasts and property owners.  Other members of the Committee may be selected by the Board.

R.  The Board may appoint temporary or permanent subcommittees which may include employees of the district or other persons for any purpose it deems necessary or appropriate.

S.  The Board is authorized to adopt or amend the bylaws of the district as necessary to comply with the provisions of this act.

T.  For the purposes of Section 4254 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes, the directors of this board, appointed pursuant to this section, shall not be considered state officers or state employees.

Added by Laws 2003, c. 459, § 3, eff. July 1, 2003.  Amended by Laws 2004, c. 524, § 3.

NOTE:  Editorially renumbered from Title 82, § 863.1 to avoid a duplication in numbering.

§82-863A.  Repealed by Laws 2003, c. 459, § 13, eff. July 1, 2003.

§82-864.  Appointment of secretary and other officers - Compensation of officers, agents and employees.

A.  1.  The Board of Directors of the Grand River Dam Authority shall select a secretary who shall keep true and complete records of all proceedings of the Board.  Until the appointment of a secretary, or in the event of absence or inability to act, a secretary pro tempore shall be selected by the Board.

2.  The Board shall also select a general manager, who shall be the chief executive officer of the district, and a treasurer, who may also hold the office of secretary.

3.  All such officers shall have the powers and duties, and shall hold office for such term and be subject to removal in such manner as may be provided in the compensation of such officers.  The Board may appoint such officers, fix their compensation and term of office and the method by which they may be removed and delegate to them such other powers and duties as it may deem appropriate.

4.  Except for the purpose of inquiry, the Board and its members shall deal with the operations of the district solely through the general manager.  The Board and its members shall not:

a. direct or request the general manager or other authority to appoint or remove officers or employees except as herein provided,

b. participate in any manner in the appointment or removal of officers and employees of the district, except as provided by law, or

c. give orders or ordinary administrative matters to any subordinate of the general manager either publicly or privately.

B.  The general manager may appoint such other officers, agents, and employees, fix their compensation pursuant to the provisions of this section, and term of office and the method by which they may be removed, and delegate to them such of its power and duties as the general manager may deem proper.

C.  Except as provided in subsection A of this section, the compensation of the classified employees of the Grand River Dam Authority shall be computed as follows:

1.  Beginning July 1, 1993, and biannually thereafter, the Office of Personnel Management shall conduct a comprehensive classification and compensation study of all classified positions in the Grand River Dam Authority.  The study shall be limited to an analysis of prevailing rates of pay for all positions in electrical generating utilities for jobs comparable to those performed by employees of the Grand River Dam Authority.  Such study shall compare all classified positions within the Grand River Dam Authority, including support and maintenance staff employees, with comparable positions within other similarly sized electrical generating utilities only.  Each biannual report shall be provided to the Governor, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Board of Directors of the Grand River Dam Authority.  The report shall include an analysis of all classified positions and classifications and recommend an average comparable pay scale developed through the study.  The Grand River Dam Authority shall bear the cost of the study;

2.  Upon the issuance of any such report, the Board of Directors of the Grand River Dam Authority shall implement the classification and compensation recommendations as appropriate, if fiscal constraints and commitments to ratepayers permit; and

3.  The Board of Directors of the Grand River Dam Authority may implement adjustments in compensation to correct inequities as determined by the Board of Directors.  The total of these adjustments and those described in paragraph 2 of this subsection may increase the base payroll in excess of the recommendation in the Office of Personnel Management study.

Added by Laws 1935, p. 353, § 4.  Amended by Laws 1993, c. 299, § 1, eff. July 1, 1993; Laws 1997, c. 240, § 2, emerg. eff. May 23, 1997; Laws 1998, c. 391, § 15, eff. Jan. 1, 1999; Laws 2003, c. 459, § 4, eff. July 1, 2003.

§82-864.1.  Retired employees - Payment of health insurance premiums.

Except as otherwise provided for in this section, for the life of a retired employee, the Grand River Dam Authority shall pay not less than Sixty Dollars ($60.00) of its retired member's, employee only, health insurance premiums as long as the retiree elects to continue participation in one of the plans offered by the State and Education Employees Group Insurance Board.  Such payment made by the Grand River Dam Authority shall be in addition to any amount contributed by the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System pursuant to Section 1316.2 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes.  At its discretion, the Board of Directors of the Grand River Dam Authority may elect to pay more than Sixty Dollars ($60.00) toward the health insurance premium of a retired employee.

If the sum of the amount paid by the Grand River Dam Authority plus the medical supplement paid by the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System pursuant to Section 1316.2 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes exceeds the amount of the retired member's, employee only, health insurance premium, the Authority may reduce the amount it contributes.

Added by Laws 2003, c. 459, § 5, eff. July 1, 2003.  Amended by Laws 2004, c. 524, § 4; Laws 2005, c. 234, § 4, emerg. eff. May 26, 2005.

§82865.  Surplus funds and revenue of district  Deposit  Disbursement of district funds  Official bonds.

The surplus funds and revenues of the district shall be deposited in interest bearing accounts yielding a rate of return at least equal to that earned by the Treasurer of the State of Oklahoma on like amounts invested for the same period.  In addition, the surplus funds and revenues of the district shall be deposited in accordance with Section 870 of this title and any bond resolutions issued thereunder.  The money of the district shall be disbursed only on check, drafts, orders or other instruments signed by such persons as shall be authorized to sign the same by the bylaws or resolution concurred in by not less than four directors; such persons may execute or cause to be executed checks with a facsimile signature in lieu of their manual signatures.  The general manager, the treasurer and all other officers, agents and employees of the district who shall be charged with the collection, custody or payment of any funds of the district shall give bond conditioned on the faithful performance of their duties and an accounting for all funds and property of the district coming into their respective hands, each of which bonds shall be in form and amount and with a surety, which shall be a surety company authorized to do business in the state, approved by the Board, and the premiums on such bonds shall be paid by the district and charged as an operating expense.

Laws 1935, p. 353, § 5; Laws 1947, p. 624, § 2; Laws 1957, p. 565, § 2; Laws 1970, c. 263, § 3, emerg. eff. April 23, 1970; Laws 1981, c. 204, § 12, emerg. eff. May 26, 1981.  

§82866.  Domicile of district  Accounts and records  Contracts  Annual audit  Filing  Public inspection.

The domicile of the district shall be in the City of Vinita, County of Craig, where the district shall maintain its principal office in charge of its general manager, until otherwise designated by the affirmative vote of four directors.  The district shall cause to be kept complete and accurate accounts conforming to approved methods of bookkeeping.  The accounts and all contracts, documents and records of the district shall be kept at the principal office.  The accounts and contracts shall be open to public inspection at all reasonable times.  The Board shall cause to be made and completed within ninety (90) days after the end of each calendar year an audit of the books of account and financial records of the district for such calendar year, such audit to be made by an independent certified public accountant or firm of certified public accountants.  Copies of a written report of such audit, certified to by the accountant or accountants, shall be placed and kept on file with the Governor, the State Treasurer, Oklahoma Department of Libraries and the State Auditor and Inspector of the State of Oklahoma, and at the principal office, and shall be open to public inspection at all reasonable times.  The audit shall also be filed with the Director of State Finance, in accordance with the requirements set forth for financial statement audits in Section 212A of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes.

Added by Laws 1935, p. 353, § 6.  Amended by Laws 1939, p. 561, § 2, emerg. eff. April 8, 1939; Laws 1955, p. 475, § 2, emerg. eff. Feb. 14, 1955; Laws 1981, c. 204, § 13, emerg. eff. May 26, 1981; Laws 1996, c. 290, § 20, eff. July 1, 1996.

§82867.  Officers and employees to have no interest in contracts  Fine.

No director, officer, agent, or employee of the district shall be directly or indirectly interested in any contract for the purchase of any property or construction of any work by or for the district, and if any such person shall be or become so interested in any such contract, he shall be guilty of a felony and, on conviction thereof shall be subject to a fine in an amount not exceeding Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) or to confinement in the county jail for not less than one (1) year nor more than ten (10) years, or both.

Added by Laws 1935, p. 354, § 7.  Amended by Laws 1997, c. 133, § 594, eff. July 1, 1999; Laws 1999, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 5, § 430, eff. July 1, 1999.

NOTE:  Laws 1998, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 2, § 23 amended the effective date of Laws 1997, c. 133, § 594 from July 1, 1998, to July 1, 1999.

§82868.  Board authorized to fix and collect rates and charges  State's power to fix charges not to impair contracts.

The board shall establish and collect rates and other charges for the sale or use of water, water connections, power, electric energy or other services sold, furnished, or supplied by the district which fees and charges shall be reasonable and nondiscriminatory and sufficient to produce revenue adequate:

(a) To pay all expenses necessary to the operation and maintenance of the properties and facilities of the district;

(b) To pay the interest on and principal of all bonds issued under this act when and as the same shall become due and payable;

(c) To pay all sinking fund and/or reserve fund payments agreed to be made in respect of any such bonds, and payable out of such revenues, when and as the same shall become due and payable; and

(d) To fulfill the terms of any agreements made with the holders of such bonds and/or with any person in their behalf.  Out of the revenues which may be received in excess of those required for the purposes specified in subparagraphs (a), (b), (c) and (d) above, the board shall establish a reasonable depreciation and emergency fund, and retire (by purchase and cancellation or redemption) bonds issued under this act, or apply the same to any corporate purpose.  It is the intention of this act that the rates and charges of the district shall not be in excess of what may be necessary to fulfill the obligations imposed upon it by this act.

Nothing herein shall be construed as depriving the State of Oklahoma of its power to regulate and control fees and/or charges to be collected for the use of water, water connections, power, electric energy, or other services, provided, that the State of Oklahoma does hereby pledge to and agree with the purchasers and successive holders of the bonds issued hereunder that the state will not limit or alter the power hereby vested in the district to establish and collect such fees and charges as will produce revenues sufficient to pay the items specified in subparagraphs (a), (b), (c), and (d) of this Section 8, or in any way to impair the rights or remedies of the holders of the bonds, or of any person in their behalf, until the bonds, together with the interest thereon, with interest on unpaid installments of interest and all costs and expenses in connection with any action or proceedings by or on behalf of the bondholders and all other obligations of the district in connection with such bonds are fully met and discharged.

Laws 1935, p. 354, § 8.  

§82-869.  Sources for payment of obligations of district.

A.  Any and every indebtedness, liability or obligation of the district, for the payment of money, however entered into or incurred, and whether arising from contract, implied contract or otherwise, shall be payable solely (1) out of the revenues received by the district in respect of its properties, subject to any prior lien thereon conferred by any resolution or resolutions theretofore adopted as in this act provided, authorizing the issuance of bonds or (2), if the Board shall so determine out of the proceeds of sale or issuance by the district of bonds or bond anticipation notes payable solely from such revenues.

B.  Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, the district is hereby authorized to accept state appropriations to pay any lease-purchase obligations for property purchased from the sale of bonds as provided by law in Section 301 et seq. of Title 73 of the Oklahoma Statutes.

Added by Laws 1935, p. 354, § 9.  Amended by Laws 1981, c. 204, § 14, emerg. eff. May 26, 1981; Laws 2001, c. 71, § 1, emerg. eff. April 10, 2001.

§82870.  Bonds  Authorization to issue  Provisions of resolution and indenture or agreement  Approval by Attorney General  Registration  Notice of meetings and conference concerning certain coal plants.

The district shall have power and is hereby authorized to issue from time to time, as the need therefor arises, revenue bonds for its corporate purposes of not to exceed One Billion Four Hundred Ten Million Dollars ($1,410,000,000.00), in such amount or amounts as are necessary, incidental or convenient to the exercise of the powers, rights, privileges and functions conferred upon it by this act, or any other act or law, and without limitations of the generality of the powers, rights and privileges heretofore granted, for acquiring a steam generating plant or plants and related facilities, and to extend, improve and reconstruct the same; and for constructing, installing and acquiring dams, reservoirs, hydroelectric power plants, or any steam, oil, gas, coalfired, thermal, geothermal, solar or waste or refuse reclamation powered electrical generating plant or plants or any other electrical power or generating facilities; or any plant or plants for the production of steam for heating and processing purposes; and all and any facilities of every kind necessary, incidental or convenient for the production and generation of electric power and energy; and for acquiring, constructing and installing transmission lines, substations and all facilities necessary, incidental or convenient to the sale, resale, interchange and distribution of electric power and energy; and for carrying on the business and functions of the district, as is now or hereafter may be authorized by law; and for acquiring additions and improvements to and extensions of facilities, at any time existing, of the district; and for the acquisition of lands and rightsofway for such use as is now, or may be, authorized by law for the construction, replacement and repair of any dams, plants or other facilities of the district; and to enable it to finance, in cooperation with any "public agency", as defined under the Interlocal Cooperation Act, Sections 1001 through 1008 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes, any other agency of government, rural electric coop corporation, or any private or public corporation, the development and utilization of electrical energy or the water resources and rights in waters vested in said district for such purposes as are, or may be, authorized by the laws of Oklahoma, and for financing and refinancing present outstanding obligations of the district, including the payment of any claims, charges or interest on bonds required to be paid.  The bonds herein authorized may either be (1) sold for cash, at public or private sale, at such price or prices as the Board shall determine, provided that the interest cost of the money received computed to maturity in accordance with standard bond tables in general use by banks and insurance companies shall not exceed fifteen percent (15%) per year, or (2) may be issued on such terms as the Board shall determine in exchange for property of any kind, real, personal or mixed, or any interest therein which the Board shall deem necessary, incidental or convenient for any such corporate purposes, or (3) may be issued in exchange for like principal amounts of other obligations of the district, matured or unmatured, or (4) may be issued in such principal amounts that when the proceeds thereof are invested in legal and qualified investment, the proceeds together with the resulting proceeds of such investments will be sufficient to retire the outstanding initial indebtedness or any portion thereof at maturity or at prior redemption. The proceeds of sale of such bonds shall be deposited in such bank or banks or trust company or trust companies, and shall be paid out pursuant to such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon between the district and the purchasers of such bonds.  All such bonds shall be authorized by resolutions of the Board concurred in by at least four of the members thereof, and shall bear such date or dates, mature at such time or times, bear interest at such rate or rates, not exceeding fifteen percent (15%) per year payable annually or semiannually, be in such denominations, be in such form, either coupon or registered, carry such registration privileges as to principal only or as to both principal and interest, and as to exchange of coupon bonds for registered bonds or vice versa, and exchange of bonds of one denomination for bonds of other denomination, be executed in such manner and be payable at such place or places within or without the State of Oklahoma as such resolution or resolutions may provide. Any resolution or resolutions authorizing any bonds may contain provisions which shall be part of the contract between the district and the holders thereof from time to time (a) reserving the right to redeem such bonds at such time or times, in such amounts and at such prices, not exceeding one hundred five percent (105%) of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued interest, as may be provided, (b) providing for the setting aside of sinking funds or reserve funds and the regulation and disposition thereof, (c) pledging to secure the payment of the principal of and interest on such bonds and of the sinking fund or reserve fund payments agreed to be made in respect of such bonds all or any part of the gross or net revenues thereafter received by the district in respect of the property, real, personal or mixed, to be acquired or constructed with such bonds or the proceeds thereof, or all or any part of the gross or net revenues thereafter received by the district from whatever source derived, (d) prescribing the purposes to which such bonds or any bonds thereafter to be issued, or the proceeds thereof, may be applied, (e) agreeing to fix and collect rates and charges sufficient to produce revenues adequate to pay the items specified in subparagraphs (a), (b), (c) and (d) of Section 868 of Title 82 of the Oklahoma Statutes and prescribing the use and disposition of all revenues, (f) prescribing limitations upon the issuance of additional bonds and upon the agreements which may be made with the purchasers and successive holders thereof, (g) with regard to the construction, extension, improvement, reconstruction, operation, maintenance and repair of the properties of the district, carrying of insurance upon all or any part of said properties covering loss or damage or loss of use and occupancy resulting from specified risk, (h) fixing the procedure, if any, by which, if the district shall so desire, the terms of any contract with the holders of such bonds may be amended or abrogated, the amount of bonds the holders of which must consent thereto, and the manner in which such consent may be given, (i) for the execution and delivery by the district to a bank or trust company authorized by law to accept trusts, or to the United States of America or any office or agency thereof, of indentures and agreements for the benefit of the holders of such bonds setting forth any or all of the agreements herein authorized to be made with or from the benefit of the holders of such bonds and such other provisions as may be customary in such indentures or agreements, and (j) such other provisions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the act, as the Board may approve.

Any such resolution and any indenture or agreement entered into pursuant thereto may provide that in the event that (a) default shall be made in the payment of the interest on any or all bonds when and as the same shall become due and payable, or (b) default shall be made in the payment of the principal of any or all bonds when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at the maturity thereof, by call for redemption or otherwise, or (c) default shall be made in the performance for any agreement made with the purchasers or successive holders of any bonds, and such default shall have continued such period, if any, as may be prescribed by said resolution in respect thereof, the trustee under the indenture or indentures entered into in respect of the bonds authorized thereby, or if there shall be no such indenture, a trustee appointed in the manner provided in such resolution or resolutions by the holders of twentyfive percent (25%) in aggregate principal amount of the bonds authorized thereby and at the time outstanding may, and, upon the written request of the holders of twentyfive percent (25%) in aggregate principal amount of the bonds authorized by such resolution or resolutions at the time outstanding, shall, in his or its own name, but for the equal and proportionate benefit of the holders of all of such bonds, and with or without possession thereof,

(1) By mandamus or other suit, action or proceeding at law or in equity, enforce all rights of the holders of such bonds,

(2) Bring suit upon such bonds and/or the appurtenant coupons,

(3) By action or suit in equity, require the district to account as if it were the trustee of an express trust for the bondholders,

(4) By action or suit in equity, enjoin any acts or things which may be unlawful or in violation of the rights of the holders of such bonds, and/or

(5) After such notice to the district as such resolution may provide, declare the principal of all of such bonds due and payable, and if all defaults shall have been made good, then with the written consent of the holder or holders of twentyfive percent (25%) in aggregate principal amount of such bonds at the time outstanding annul such declaration and its consequence; provided, however, that the holders of more than a majority in principal amount of the bonds authorized thereby and at the time outstanding by instrument or instruments in writing delivered to such trustee have the right to direct and control any and all action taken or to be taken by such trustee under this paragraph.  Any such resolution, indenture or agreement may provide that in any such suit, action or proceeding, any such trustee, whether or not all of such bonds shall have been declared due and payable, and with or without possession of any thereof, shall be entitled as of right to the appointment of a receiver who may enter and take possession of all or any part of the properties of the district and operate and maintain the same, and fix, collect and receive rates and charges sufficient to provide revenues adequate to pay the items set forth in subparagraphs (a), (b), (c) and (d) of Section 868 of Title 82 of the Oklahoma Statutes and the costs and disbursements of such suit, action or proceeding, and to apply such revenues in conformity with the provisions of this act and the resolution or resolutions authorizing such bonds.  In any suit, action or proceeding by any such trustee, the reasonable fees, counsel fees and expense of such trustee and of the receiver or receivers, if any, shall constitute taxable disbursements and all costs and disbursements, and all costs and disbursements allowed by the court shall be a first charge upon any revenues pledged to secure the payment of such bonds.  Subject to the provisions of the Constitution of the State of Oklahoma, the courts of the County of Craig, or other county wherein the domicile may be situated, shall have jurisdiction of any such suit, action or proceeding by any such trustee on behalf of the bondholders and of all property involved therein.  In addition to the powers hereinabove specifically provided for, each such trustee shall have and possess all powers necessary or appropriate for the exercise of any thereof, or incident to the general representation of the bondholders in the enforcement of their right.

Before any bonds shall be sold by the district, a certified copy of the proceedings for the issuance thereof, including the form of such bonds, together with any other information which the Attorney General of the State of Oklahoma may require, shall be submitted to the Attorney General and if he shall find that such bonds have been issued in accordance with law he shall approve such bonds and execute a certificate to that effect which shall be filed in the Office of the State Auditor and Inspector of the State of Oklahoma and be recorded in a record kept for that purpose.  No bonds shall be issued until the same shall have been registered by the State Auditor and Inspector, who shall so register the same if the Attorney General shall have filed with the State Auditor and Inspector his certificate approving the bonds and the proceedings for the issuance thereof as hereinabove provided.  All bonds approved by the Attorney General as aforesaid, and registered by the State Auditor and Inspector as aforesaid, and issued in accordance with the proceedings so approved shall be valid and binding obligations of the district and shall be incontestable for any cause from and after the time of such registration.

The Board shall advise the Attorney General of all meetings and conferences which concern the issuance of bonds by the Grand River Dam Authority for the CoalFired Plant No. 2.  The Attorney General or his designee shall attend all such meetings and provide to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate a report on the progress of the bond issuance and any recommendations for legislative action necessary for the proper issuance of such bonds.

Amended by Laws 1982, c. 185, § 1, emerg. eff. April 20, 1982.  

§82870.1.  Bond anticipation notes.

Whenever the board shall have adopted a resolution authorizing a specific project and the issuance of any series of bonds thereunder but prior to the time the bonds can be delivered the board finds it necessary to borrow money for the purpose for which the bonds were authorized, the board may, by appropriate resolutions and subject to all other provisions of Sections 861 through 889 of this title, authorize the borrowing of money in anticipation of the issuance of the bonds, and the issuance of notes of the board to evidence such borrowing.  The amount so borrowed shall not exceed the principal amount of the bonds and shall not bear interest at a rate exceeding the allowable interest rate of the bonds.  Such notes shall be signed in the manner prescribed by the board and shall be made payable at such times as the board may prescribe not later than five (5) years from their respective dates and may be renewed from time to time by the issuance of new notes hereunder.  The proceeds of any loan made under this section shall be devoted exclusively to the purposes for which the bonds shall have been authorized and the notes and the interest thereon shall be paid with the proceeds of the bonds simultaneously with the delivery of the bonds.  If for any reason the bonds shall not be issued, the holder or holders of the notes shall be entitled to all rights which would have been enjoyed by the holders of the bonds had they been issued, and the notes shall be paid from the revenues provided for the payment of the bonds and shall be entitled to the benefit of all covenants, agreements and rights appearing in the resolution authorizing the bonds for the benefit of the bonds.

Laws 1977, c. 24, § 2, emerg. eff. April 25, 1977.  

§82-870.2.  Repealed by Laws 2004, c. 524, § 6.

§82871.  Bonds negotiable.

All bonds issued by the district pursuant to the provisions of this act shall constitute negotiable instruments within the meaning of The Negotiable Instruments Law.

Laws 1935, p. 357, § 11.  

§82872.  District to establish rules and regulations concerning labor and materials  Authority to request aid of United States engineers.

The district may, but without intending by this provision to limit any powers of the district as granted to it by this act, enter into and carry out such contract, or establish or comply with such rules and regulations concerning labor and materials and other related matters in connection with any project or projects as the District may deem desirable or as may be requested by the United States of America, or any corporation or agency created, designated or established thereby, which may assist in the financing of any such project or projects.  The district shall have the authority to request engineering aid of the Corps of Engineers of the United States Army, the Federal Power Commission, or any other federal agency, in the designing and construction of any project authorized under the terms of this act and to use such aid, if and when offered, and to pay any reasonable cost therefor.

Laws 1935, p. 357, § 12.  

§82873.  District authorized to purchase, fund or refund bonds, etc.

The Grand River Dam Authority is hereby authorized to fund and refund any and all lawful obligations and any and all revenue bonds issued, or contracted to be sold, by it by the issuance of new revenue bonds, or from the proceeds of sale of new revenue bonds, or by the exchange of new revenue bonds and to renegotiate any agreement of indenture whereunder said obligations or revenue bonds authorized to be funded and refunded hereby may be outstanding, or contracted, but any new revenue bonds issued, exchanged or sold to fund or refund said outstanding obligations and revenue bonds and all agreements and indentures providing for the payment and securing thereof shall conform to the provisions of the Grand River Dam Authority Act, as amended; provided, that no outstanding obligations or revenue bonds shall be funded or refunded or exchanged on the basis of a price in excess of principal, accrued interest, redemption premium, or charges in excess of those provided by said obligations or revenue bonds or the indenture or agreement whereunder issued or incurred, plus the necessary and reasonable costs of funding, refunding or exchange thereof; provided, further that said Authority shall have the power to purchase any revenue bonds issued, or contracted to be issued, by it at a price not exceeding the redemption price applicable at the time of purchase thereof, or, if no redemption price is fixed, then at principal plus accrued interest, from any funds available and provided for the payment of said revenue bonds and when purchased said bonds shall be canceled.

Laws 1935, p. 357, § 13; Laws 1945, p. 409, § 1; Laws 1949, p. 640, § 5.  

§82-874.  Mortgage, sale, lease or other disposition of property - Pledge of revenues - Exemption from forced sale - Section not applicable to certain agreements.

Nothing in Sections 861 through 890 of this title shall be construed as authorizing the district and it shall not be authorized to mortgage or otherwise encumber any of its property of any kind, real, personal or mixed, or any interest therein, or to acquire any such property or interest subject to a mortgage or conditional sale, provided that this section shall not be construed as preventing the pledging of the revenues of the district as herein authorized.  Nothing in Sections 861 through 890 of this title shall be construed as authorizing the sale, lease or other disposition of any such property or interest of the district by the district or any receiver of any of its properties or through any court proceeding or otherwise.  The district may sell for cash, and subject to competitive bidding as provided by the Board, any such property or interest in an aggregate value not exceeding the sum of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) in any one (1) year, except that the district may sell any or all surplus property that the district may have acquired without regard to the limitations herein, if the Board, by the affirmative vote of five of the members thereof, shall have determined that the same is not necessary to the business of the district and shall have approved the terms of any such sale.  The district may lease any of its lands if the Board, by the affirmative vote of five of the members thereof, shall have determined that the same can be leased without injury to or without interference with the operations of the project, and shall have approved the terms of any such lease.  No shorelands (lands lying between the low and high water marks) shall be leased for a term longer than two (2) years and not more than onefourth (1/4) mile of the lake front shall be leased to any one person, firm or corporation.  The district may lease shorelands to political subdivisions, agencies of the State of Oklahoma, or taxexempt public trusts, for any public purpose, on such terms as are mutually satisfactory to the parties, notwithstanding the limitations expressed above.  No lease shall deprive the owner of any land adjacent to the shorelands or lake front, or abutting thereon, of ingress or egress to and from the water of the lakes and shall not deprive said owner of any wharf, dock or boat anchorage privileges that would belong to said owner if said shorelands or lake front were not leased, it being the intention of Sections 861 through 890 of this title that, except by sale, lease or agreement as in Sections 861 through 890 of this title expressly authorized, no such property or interest shall ever come into the ownership or control, directly or indirectly, of any person, firm or corporation other than a public authority created under the laws of the State of Oklahoma.  Nothing in this section shall be construed as preventing the district from contracting with the United States or any agency thereof for the temporary possession, control and use of such properties by the United States or any agency thereof for the safety and defense of the United States in time of a national emergency or in anticipation thereof.  All property of the district shall be at all times exempted from forced sale, and nothing in Sections 861 through 890 of this title contained shall authorize the sale of any of the property of the district under any judgment rendered in any suit, and such sales are hereby prohibited and forbidden.  The provisions of this section shall not apply to any sale agreement, lease agreement or other agreement entered into by the district pursuant to paragraphs (f) or (g) of Section 862 of this title, provided that such agreement is in compliance with any applicable provision restricting the sale or leasing of property by the district contained in any resolution of the district providing for the issuance of revenue bonds.

Laws 1935, p. 357, § 14; Laws 1941, p. 474, § 3; Laws 1947, p. 625, § 3; Laws 1949, p. 640, § 6, eff. April 21, 1949; Laws 1955, p. 475, § 3, eff. Feb. 14, 1955; Laws 1957, p. 570, § 1; Laws 1981, c. 204, § 17, eff. May 26, 1981; Laws 1982, c. 185, § 2, emerg. eff. April 20, 1982; Laws 2005, c. 234, § 5, emerg. eff. May 26, 2005.

§82874.1.  Watercraft landing on leased land.

A lease entered into by the Authority shall contain a clause prohibiting the collection of a fee from the public for the use of watercraft landing on said leased land.  Laws 1957, p. 570, Sec. 2.

Laws 1957, p. 570, § 2.  

§82-874.2.  Licenses for real property encroachment.

The Grand River Dam Authority is hereby authorized in its discretion to issue licenses to encroach upon real property owned by the Authority to adjacent property owners for structures built upon the real property prior to June 1, 2005.  The Authority shall receive from the licensee for any license issued pursuant to this section the fair market value of the unimproved land and any administrative costs, including appraisals or surveys, required by the Authority.  

Added by Laws 2005, c. 234, § 6, emerg. eff. May 26, 2005.

§82875.  Rights of public  Fees  Rules and regulations  Permits  Attorney General to enforce compliance  Acquisition for land for park or road purposes.

A.  The district 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 Directors, such use would be dangerous or would interfere with the proper conduct of its business, but may in the interest of public health and safety make reasonable regulations governing such use.

B.  All existing public rightsofway 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 said 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, boatdock, houseboat and landing privileges free of charge when used for private boating, but such anchorage, wharf, dock, boatdock, houseboat and landing privileges shall only be allowed after a permit therefor has been issued. Provided that no permit for any anchorage, wharf, dock, boatdock, 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, boatdock, houseboat and landing privileges.  The district may designate areas closed to such use, where in its opinion such use would interfere with the health or safety of the public, or with the proper conduct of the business of the district. The district 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. The rules and regulations and the rules of travel of boats used on or plying the waters of the lakes shall be in keeping with the rules and regulations of the United States Bureau of Navigation for inland waters.

C.  The district 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, seaskis 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, seaskis 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 district. Applications for such permits are to be in writing, upon a form prescribed and furnished by the district, and containing such information as is required by the district.  For the issuance of such a permit the district shall charge a fee in an amount as specified by the district, 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 district shall charge a fee in an amount as specified by the district.  The district 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 district 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 district 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 said district, or its successor, to comply with the provisions of this section.

D.  The district may acquire, by purchase, condemnation, or otherwise, lands suitable for park purposes or roadways along the shores of said lakes.  After acquiring such lands the Grand River Dam Authority may, but shall not be required to, assign or lease the same to the State of Oklahoma for park or road purposes and if such assignment is made the same shall be under the supervision and control of the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Commission or the Oklahoma Wildlife Commission, which shall keep said lands so assigned open to the public without charge so that the public in general may have access to the lakes.

Laws 1935, p. 357, § 15; Laws 1941, p. 471, § 1; Laws 1970, c. 263, § 4, emerg. eff. April 23, 1970; Laws 1981, c. 204, § 18, emerg. eff. May 26, 1981.  

§82876.  Bonds exempted from taxation except inheritance taxes  Bonds and securities.

All bonds and the interest thereon issued pursuant to the provisions of this act shall be exempt from taxation, except inheritance taxes, by the State of Oklahoma or by any municipal corporation, county or other political subdivision or taxing district of the state.

Bonds issued under the provisions of this act are hereby made securities in which all public officers and public bodies, agencies and instrumentalities of the state and its political subdivisions, all banks, trust companies, trust and loan associations, investment companies, and others carrying on a banking business, and all insurance companies and insurance associations, and others carrying on an insurance business, may legally and properly invest funds including capital in their control or belonging to them.  Such bonds are also approved as collateral security for the deposit of any public funds and for the investment of trust funds.

Laws 1935, p. 358, § 16; Laws 1981, c. 204, § 19, emerg. eff. May 26, 1981.  

§82877.  Act to constitute only authority for bond issues  Other acts inapplicable.

This act without reference to other statutes of the State of Oklahoma shall constitute full authority for the authorization and issuance of bonds, hereunder, and no other act or law with regard to the authorization or issuance of obligations or the deposit of the proceeds thereof, or in any way impeding or restricting the carrying out of the acts herein authorized to be done shall be construed as applying to any proceedings taken hereunder or acts done pursuant hereto.

Laws 1935, p. 358, § 17.  

§82878.  Construction of act.

This act and all of the terms and provisions hereof shall be liberally construed to effectuate the purposes set forth herein.

Laws 1935, p. 358, § 18.  

§82879.  Partial invalidity.

If any provision of this act or the application thereof to any person or circumstance shall be held to be invalid, the remainder of the act, and the application of such provision to other persons or circumstances, shall not be affected thereby.

Laws 1935, p. 358, § 19.  

§82880.  Short title.

This act may be cited as the Grand River Dam Authority Act.

Laws 1935, p. 358, § 20.  

§82882.  Judicial determination by Supreme Court of validity of bonds, contracts and other acts  Notice.

The district is authorized in its discretion to file an application with the Supreme Court of Oklahoma for approval by said court of any bonds to be issued under this act, or to file a petition for a judgment determining the validity of any proposed contract or action arising from the exercise of any of the powers, rights, privileges and functions conferred upon the district under this act; and exclusive original jurisdiction is hereby conferred upon the Supreme Court to hear and determine each such application or petition.  It shall be the duty of the Court to give such applications and petitions precedence over the other civil business of the Court except habeas corpus proceedings, and to consider and pass upon the applications and petitions and any protests which may be filed thereto as speedily as possible.  Notice of the hearing on each application and petition shall be given by a notice published in a newspaper of general circulation in the state that on a day named the district will ask the Court to hear its application and approve the bonds, or hear its petition and enter a declaratory judgment.  Such notice shall inform property owners, taxpayers, ratepayers, citizens, and all persons having or claiming any right, title, or interest in such matter or properties or funds to be affected by the issuance of such bonds, or proposed contract or action, or affected in any way thereby, that they may file protests against the issuance of the bonds, or declaratory judgment, and be present at the hearings and contest the legality thereof.  Such notice shall be published one time not less than ten (10) days prior to the date named for the hearing and the hearing may be adjourned from time to time in the discretion of the Court.  If the Court shall be satisfied that the bonds have been properly authorized in accordance with this act and that, when issued, they will constitute valid obligations in accordance with their terms, the Court shall render its written opinion approving the bonds, and shall, upon application of the district, also issue an order permanently enjoining all persons described in the aforesaid notice from thereafter instituting any action or proceeding contesting the validity of such bonds, or of the rates, fees or charges authorized to be charged for the payment thereof, or the pledge of revenues to secure such payment, and shall fix the time within which a petition for rehearing may be filed.  If the Court shall be satisfied that the proposed contract or action is in accordance with this act, the Court shall enter a judgment approving and declaring such contract or action to be valid, and shall, upon application of the district, also issue an order permanently enjoining all persons described in the aforesaid notice from thereafter instituting any action or proceeding contesting the validity of such contract or action, and shall fix the time within which the petition for rehearing may be filed.  The decision of the Court shall be a judicial determination of the validity of the bonds, shall be conclusive as to the district, its officers and agents, and thereafter the bonds so approved and the revenues pledged to their payment shall be incontestable in any court in the State of Oklahoma, and any declaratory judgment on any contract or action of the district entered pursuant to this section shall have the force and effect of a final judgment or decree.

Laws 1957, p. 568, § 4.  

§82887.  Waters of Grand River and reservoirs thereon as nonnavigable and waters of State of Oklahoma.

That the waters of Grand River in Oklahoma and the Pensacola and Markham Ferry Reservoirs, located thereon, be and are hereby determined and declared to be nonnavigable and waters of the State of Oklahoma.

Laws 1963, p. 759, H.J.R.No.548, § 1.  

§82888.  Distribution of copies of resolution.

That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, the Secretary of the United States Senate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives of the United States, and to each member of Congress, from the State of Oklahoma and to the Commandant of the United States Coast Guard, Washington, D.C.

Laws 1963, p. 759, H.J.R.No.548, § 2.  

§82-889.  Permits for maintaining docks, wharves, vessels, etc. - Limitation - Rules.

The Grand River Dam Authority shall issue no permit for any dock, wharf, landing, boathouse or for any houseboat, vessel or other floating structure of a stationary or semistationary nature and no permit heretofore issued shall be valid unless said dock, wharf, landing, boathouse or such stationary or semistationary houseboat, vessel or other floating structure of any nature shall be securely attached to the shorelands adjacent to the water's edge by means of suitable cables or metal stiffarms as approved by the Authority.  Said cables or stiffarms and any walkway extending to the shorelands shall conform to the rules promulgated by the Authority.

Laws 1971, p. 1040, H.J.R. No. 1029, § 1, emerg.eff. June 17, 1971; Laws 2005, c. 234, § 7, emerg. eff. May 26, 2005.

§82890.  Control of segment of Grand River downstream from Fort Gibson Dam.

The Grand River Dam Authority shall have no control over that portion of the Grand River downstream from Fort Gibson Dam to the point of confluence of the waters of the Grand River with those of the Arkansas River.  Laws 1975, c. 108, Sec. 1.  Emerg. eff. May 6, 1975.

Laws 1975, c. 108, § 1, emerg. eff. May 6, 1975.  

§82-895.  Certain municipal annexations prohibited.

Municipalities are prohibited from annexing property which is covered by any body of water subject to the control of the Grand River Dam Authority or from annexing any property located within one thousand (1,000) feet of the high water mark of such body of water, without prior approval of the Grand River Dam Authority Board of Directors.  Provided, however, municipalities may annex property by crossing a body of water if the property has been improved with a bridge or similar permanent structure.

Added by Laws 1997, c. 240, § 5, emerg. eff. May 23, 1997.  Amended by Laws 2003, c. 459, § 7, eff. July 1, 2003.

§82-926.1.  Renumbered as § 1084.2 of this title by Laws 1993, c. 145, § 361, eff. July 1, 1993.

§82-926.2.  Renumbered as § 2-6-102 of Title 27A by Laws 1993, c. 145, § 359, eff. July 1, 1993.

§82-926.3.  Renumbered as § 2-6-103 of Title 27A by Laws 1993, c. 145, § 359, eff. July 1, 1993.

§82-926.4.  Renumbered as § 2-6-501 of Title 27A by Laws 1993, c. 145, § 359, eff. July 1, 1993.

§82-926.5.  Repealed by Laws 1993, c. 145, § 362, eff. July 1, 1993.

§82-926.6.  Renumbered as § 1085.30 of this title by Laws 1993, c. 145, § 361, eff. July 1, 1993.

§82-926.7.  Repealed by Laws 1993, c. 145, § 362, eff. July 1, 1993.

§82-926.8.  Repealed by Laws 1993, c. 145, § 362, eff. July 1, 1993.

§82-926.9.  Renumbered as § 2-3-501 of Title 27A by Laws 1993, c. 145, § 359, eff. July 1, 1993.

§82-926.10.  Repealed by Laws 1993, c. 145, § 362, eff. July 1, 1993.

§82-926.11.  Repealed by Laws 1993, c. 145, § 362, eff. July 1, 1993.

§82-926.12.  Repealed by Laws 1993, c. 145, § 362, eff. July 1, 1993.

§82-926.13.  Renumbered as § 2-6-104 of Title 27A by Laws 1993, c. 145, § 359, eff. July 1, 1993.

§82-931.  Repealed by Laws 1992, c. 398, § 24, eff. Jan. 1, 1993.

§82-932.  Repealed by Laws 1992, c. 398, § 24, eff. Jan. 1, 1993.

§82-932.1.  Repealed by Laws 1992, c. 398, § 24, eff. Jan. 1, 1993.

§82-932.2.  Repealed by Laws 1992, c. 398, § 24, eff. Jan. 1, 1993.

§82-932.3.  Repealed by Laws 1992, c. 398, § 24, eff. Jan. 1, 1993.

§82-933.  Repealed by Laws 1992, c. 398, § 24, eff. Jan. 1, 1993.

§82-934.  Repealed by Laws 1992, c. 398, § 24, eff. Jan. 1, 1993.

§82-934.1.  Renumbered as § 365 of Title 17 by Laws 1991, c. 181, § 12, eff. July 1, 1991.

§82-934.2.  Repealed by Laws 1992, c. 398, § 24, eff. Jan. 1, 1993.

§82-934.3.  Repealed by Laws 1992, c. 398, § 24, eff. Jan. 1, 1993.

§82-935.  Repealed by Laws 1992, c. 398, § 24, eff. Jan. 1, 1993.

§82-936.  Repealed by Laws 1992, c. 398, § 24, eff. Jan. 1, 1993.

§82-936.1.  Repealed by Laws 1992, c. 398, § 24, eff. Jan. 1, 1993.

§82-937.  Repealed by Laws 1992, c. 398, § 24, eff. Jan. 1, 1993.

§82-937.1.  Repealed by Laws 1992, c. 398, § 24, eff. Jan. 1, 1993.

§82-937.2.  Repealed by Laws 1992, c. 398, § 24, eff. Jan. 1, 1993.

§82-937.4.  Repealed by Laws 1992, c. 398, § 24, eff. Jan. 1, 1993.

§82-937.5.  Repealed by Laws 1992, c. 398, § 24, eff. Jan. 1, 1993.

§82-938.  Repealed by Laws 1992, c. 398, § 24, eff. Jan. 1, 1993.

§82-940.  Repealed by Laws 1992, c. 398, § 24, eff. Jan. 1, 1993.

§82-941.  Repealed by Laws 1992, c. 398, § 24, eff. Jan. 1, 1993.

§82-942.  Repealed by Laws 1992, c. 398, § 24, eff. Jan. 1, 1993.

§82-943.  Repealed by Laws 1992, c. 398, § 24, eff. Jan. 1, 1993.

§82-944.  Repealed by Laws 1992, c. 398, § 24, eff. Jan. 1, 1993.

§82-1020.1.  Definitions.

As used in this act:

1.  "Groundwater" means fresh water under the surface of the earth regardless of the geologic structure in which it is standing or moving outside the cut bank of any definite stream;

2.  "Domestic use" means the use of water by a natural individual or by a family or household for household purposes, for farm and domestic animals up to the normal grazing capacity of the land and for the irrigation of land not exceeding a total of three (3) acres in area for the growing of gardens, orchards and lawns, and for such other purposes, specified by Board rules, for which de minimis amounts are used;

3.  "Major groundwater basin" shall mean a distinct underground body of water overlain by contiguous land and having substantially the same geological and hydrological characteristics and from which groundwater wells yield at least fifty (50) gallons per minute on the average basinwide if from a bedrock aquifer and at least one hundred fifty (150) gallons per minute on the average basinwide if from an alluvium or alluvium and terrace aquifer, or as otherwise designated by the Board;

4.  "Subbasin" means a subdivision of a major or minor groundwater basin overlain by contiguous land and having substantially the same geological and hydrological characteristics and yield capabilities;

5.  "Board" means the Oklahoma Water Resources Board;

6.  "Person" means any individual, firm, partnership, association, corporation, business trust, federal agency, state agency, the state or any political subdivision thereof, municipalities, and any other legal entities;

7.  "Fresh water" means water which has less than five thousand (5,000) parts per million total dissolved solids.  For the purpose of this act all other water is salt water;

8.  "Commercial drilling", "commercial plugging" and "commercial installation" mean drilling or plugging and installation as a business, trade or occupation for compensation; and

9.  "Minor groundwater basin" means a distinct underground body of water overlain by contiguous land and having substantially the same geological and hydrological characteristics and which is not a major groundwater basin.

Added by Laws 1972, c. 248, § 1, eff. July 1, 1973.  Amended by Laws 1990, c. 325, § 1, emerg. eff. May 30, 1990; Laws 1993, c. 164, § 8, emerg. eff. May 10, 1993; Laws 1995, c. 112, § 5, eff. Nov. 1, 1995.

§821020.2.  Declaration of policy.

Section 1020.2 It is hereby declared to be the public policy of this state, in the interest of the agricultural stability, domestic, municipal, industrial and other beneficial uses, general economy, health and welfare of the state and its citizens, to utilize the ground water resources of the state, and for that purpose to provide reasonable regulations for the allocation for reasonable use based on hydrologic surveys of fresh ground water basins or subbasins to determine a restriction on the production, based upon the acres overlying the ground water basin or subbasin.  The provisions of this act shall not apply to the taking, using or disposal of salt water associated with the exploration, production or recovery of oil and gas or to the taking, using or disposal of water trapped in producing mines.

§821020.3.  Domestic use  Spacing of wells and waste.

Any landowner has a right to take ground water from land owned by him for domestic use without a permit.  Wells for domestic use shall not be subject to well spacing orders, but are subject to sanctions against waste.  Laws 1972, c.  248, Section 3.  Eff.  July 1, 1973.

Laws 1972, c. 248, § 3, eff. July 1, 1973.  

§821020.4.  Hydrologic surveys and investigations.

A.  Prior to making orders establishing the tentative maximum annual yield for major groundwater basins or subbasins therein, the Oklahoma Water Resources Board shall make hydrologic surveys and investigations.

B.  Prior to making orders establishing the tentative maximum annual yield for minor groundwater basins or subbasins therein, the Board shall prepare reports using information from hydrologic surveys and investigations of groundwater basins or subbasins having substantially the same geological and hydrological characteristics and data from wells in such basin or subbasins and other relevant information.

C.  The Board is authorized to cooperate with state and federal agencies engaged in similar surveys and investigations and may accept and use the findings of such agencies.  At least every twenty (20) years after issuance of the final order determining the maximum annual yield, the Board shall review and update if necessary the hydrologic surveys.

Laws 1972, c. 248, § 4, eff. July 1, 1973; Laws 1993, c. 164, § 9, emerg. eff. May 10, 1993.

§821020.5.  Determination of maximum annual yield.

A.  After completing the hydrologic survey, the Board shall make a tentative determination of the maximum annual yield of groundwater to be produced from each ground water basin or subbasin therein.  Such determination must be based upon the following:

1.  The total land area overlying the basin or subbasin;

2.  The amount of water in storage in the basin or subbasin;

3.  The rate of recharge to the basin or subbasin and total discharge from the basin or subbasin;

4.  Transmissibility of the basin or subbasin; and

5.  The possibility of pollution of the basin or subbasin from natural sources.

B.  The maximum annual yield of each major ground water basin or subbasin shall be based upon a minimum basin or subbasin life of twenty (20) years from the effective date of the order establishing the final determination of the maximum annual yield.

C.  For minor groundwater basins or subbasins therein, the tentative determination of the maximum annual yield shall be based upon present and reasonably foreseeable future use of groundwater from such basin or subbasin, recharge and total discharge, the geographical region in which the basin or subbasin is located and other relevant factors.

Laws 1972, c. 248, § 5, eff. July 1, 1973; Laws 1993, c. 164, § 10, emerg. eff. May 10, 1993.

§821020.6.  Hearings on annual yield.

A.  Once the Board has set a tentative maximum annual yield for the groundwater basin or subbasin, the Board shall call and hold hearings at centrally located places within the area of the major groundwater basin or subbasin or in the county for minor groundwater basins or subbasins.  Prior to such hearings being held, the Board shall make copies of such hydrologic survey available for inspection and examination by all interested persons and, at such hearings, shall present evidence of the geological findings and determinations upon which the tentative maximum annual yield has been based.  Any interested party shall have the right to present evidence in support or opposition thereto.  The hearings shall be conducted pursuant to Article II of the Administrative Procedures Act.

B.  Notice of such hearings shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in each county having lands that overlie the basin or subbasin.  The notice shall be published at least once per week for two (2) consecutive weeks and the last publication shall be at least thirty (30) days prior to the date of the hearing.  Notice and hearing on the tentative determination of the maximum annual yield for minor groundwater basins or subbasins may be consolidated.

C.  After such hearings are completed, the Board shall then proceed to make its final determination as to the maximum annual yield of groundwater which shall be allocated to each acre of land overlying such basin or subbasin by issuing a final order containing findings of fact and conclusions of law, which order shall be subject to judicial review pursuant to Article II of the Administrative Procedures Act.

D.  The Board may, in subsequent basin or subbasin hearings, and after additional hydrologic surveys, increase the amount of water allocated but shall not decrease the amount of water allocated.

Laws 1972, c. 248, § 6, eff. July 1, 1973; Laws 1988, c. 203, § 7, emerg. eff. June 10, 1988; Laws 1993, c. 164, § 11, emerg. eff. May 10, 1993.

§821020.7.  Application for permit to take and use groundwater.

Any person intending to use groundwater shall make application to the Board for an appropriate permit as provided in Section 1020.11 of this title before commencing any drilling for such purposes and before taking water from any completed well heretofore drilled.  Such application to take and use groundwater shall be on a form provided by the Board and pursuant to the rules and regulations established by the Board.  The application heretofore filed with the Board shall be used in granting permits for existing wells and the Board shall publish the notice of the hearing thereon.

Laws 1972, c. 248, § 7, eff. July 1, 1973; Laws 1993, c. 164, § 12, emerg. eff. May 10, 1993.

§821020.8.  Decree  Contents  Copies to be filed.

Except as otherwise provided by Section 4 of this act for limited quantity groundwater permits, upon the filing of an application which complies with the provisions of Chapter 11 of this title, and the rules promulgated by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board pursuant thereto, the Board shall instruct the applicant to provide notice thereof, at the applicant's expense, and as required by the Board's rules.  Such notice shall give all the essential facts as to the proposed taking, among them, the places of taking and of use, amount of water, the purpose for which it is to be used, name and address of applicant, the hearing date, time and place if a hearing is scheduled by the Board before instructions to provide notice are given, and the manner in which a protest to the application may be made.  No hearing shall be had upon the application until proper notice shall have been given.  Any interested party shall have the right to protest said application and present evidence and testimony in support of such protest.  If the Board does not schedule a hearing on the application before instructing the applicant to provide notice, a hearing on the application shall be scheduled by the Board upon receipt of a protest which meets the requirements of the Board's rules and the Board shall notify the applicant and protestant of such hearing.

Added by Laws 1972, c. 248, § 8, eff. July 1, 1973.  Amended by Laws 1993, c. 164, § 13, emerg. eff. May 10, 1993; Laws 1995, c. 112, § 6, eff. Nov. 1, 1995; Laws 1996, c. 329, § 3, emerg. eff. June 12, 1996.

§82-1020.9.  Approval of application.

A.  1.  Before the Oklahoma Water Resources Board takes final action on an application, the Board shall determine from the evidence presented, from the hydrologic surveys or reports and from other relevant data available to the Board and applicant, whether:

a. the lands owned or leased by the applicant overlie a fresh groundwater basin or subbasin,

b. the use to which the applicant intends to put the water is a beneficial use,

c. waste as specified by Section 1020.15 of this title will occur, and

d. the proposed use is likely to degrade or interfere with springs or streams emanating in whole or in part from water originating from a sensitive sole source groundwater basin or subbasin as defined in Section 1 of this act.

2.  The Board shall approve the application by issuing a regular permit, if the Board finds that:

a. the lands owned or leased by the applicant overlie the fresh groundwater basin or subbasin,

b. the use to which the applicant intends to put the water is a beneficial use,

c. waste specified by Section 1020.15 of this title will not occur.  When determining whether waste will occur pursuant to this subparagraph, if the activity for which the applicant intends to use the water is required to comply with rules and requirements of or is within the jurisdictional areas of environmental responsibility of the Department of Environmental Quality or the State Department of Agriculture, the Board shall be precluded from making a determination whether waste by pollution pursuant to paragraph 7 of subsection A of Section 1020.15 of this title will occur as a result of such activity.  Each groundwater protection agency, as such term is defined by Section 1-1-201 of Title 27A of the Oklahoma Statutes, shall be responsible for developing and enforcing groundwater protection practices to prevent groundwater contamination from activities within their respective jurisdictional areas of environmental responsibility, and

d. the proposed use is not likely to degrade or interfere with springs or streams emanating in whole or in part from water originating from a sensitive sole source groundwater basin as defined in Section 1 of this act.

B.  Except as otherwise provided in subsection C of this section, a regular permit shall allocate to the applicant the proportionate part of the maximum annual yield of the basin or subbasin.  The proportionate part shall be that percentage of the total annual yield of the basin or subbasin, previously determined to be the maximum annual yield as provided in Section 1020.5 of this title, which is equal to the percentage of the land overlying the fresh groundwater basin or subbasin which the applicant owns or leases and which is dedicated to the application.

C.  If the lands dedicated to the application overlie two or more groundwater basins and both basins have had maximum annual yields determined, the amount to be authorized by the regular permit shall be calculated on the basin having the greatest maximum annual yield.  If the lands dedicated to the application overlie two or more groundwater basins or subbasins and the maximum annual yield has been determined for at least one but not all the basins or subbasins, a temporary permit may be issued to the applicant if the applicant demonstrates by substantial competent evidence that the water to be withdrawn by the temporary permit will not be taken from a basin or subbasin for which the maximum annual yield has been determined.  If the land overlies two or more groundwater basins or subbasins and the maximum annual yield has not been determined for any of the basins or subbasins, more than one temporary permit may be issued for the land if the applicant demonstrates by substantial competent evidence from which basin the water will be withdrawn for each of the permits.

D.  The permit shall specify the location of the permitted well or wells and other terms and conditions as specified by the Board, including, but not limited to, the rate of withdrawal, the level of perforating and the level of sealing the well.  A regular permit shall not be granted for less than the remaining life of the basin or subbasin as previously determined by the Board.

Added by Laws 1972, c. 248, § 9, eff. July 1, 1973.  Amended by Laws 1993, c. 164, § 14, emerg. eff. May 10, 1993; Laws 2001, c. 330, § 1, emerg. eff. June 1, 2001; Laws 2003, c. 365, § 3.

§82-1020.9A.  Sensitive sole source groundwater basins or subbasins - Moratorium on issuance of certain temporary permits.

A.  The Legislature finds that a moratorium is necessary on the issuance of certain temporary permits on certain sensitive sole source groundwater basins or subbasins to protect the health, safety and welfare of the people of Oklahoma.

B.  1.  A moratorium is hereby established on the issuance of any temporary permit that would lead to any municipal or public water supply use of groundwater from a sensitive sole source groundwater basin or subbasin outside of any county that overlays in whole or in part said basin or subbasin.  "Sensitive sole source groundwater basin" means a major groundwater basin or subbasin all or a portion of which has been designated as a "Sole Source Aquifer" by the United States Environmental Protection Agency pursuant to the Safe Drinking Water Act as of the effective date of this act, including any portion of any contiguous aquifer located within five (5) miles of the known areal extent of the surface out-crop of the sensitive sole source groundwater basin.

2.  Said moratorium shall be in effect until such time as the Oklahoma Water Resources Board conducts and completes a hydrological study and approves a maximum annual yield that will ensure that any permit for the removal of water from a sensitive sole source groundwater basin or subbasin will not reduce the natural flow of water from springs or streams emanating from said basin or subbasin.

3.  The provisions of this act shall be applicable to groundwater permit applications for which no final adjudication has been made by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board before the effective date of this act.

4.  Any revalidation of a temporary permit, in effect upon the effective date of this act, that allows for any municipal or public water supply use of groundwater from a sensitive sole source groundwater basin outside of any county that overlays in whole or in part said basin shall be considered a new permit application and subject to the provisions of this act.

Added by Laws 2003, c. 365, § 1.

§82-1020.9B.  Moratorium on municipalities and other political subdivisions - Prohibition of contract or agreement for use of groundwater from sensitive sole source groundwater basin.

A.  A moratorium is hereby established on any municipality or other political subdivision of this state prohibiting any such entity from entering into a contract or other agreement which would lead to municipal or public water supply use of groundwater from a sensitive sole source groundwater basin as defined in Section 1 of this act.  Said moratorium shall apply only to municipalities or political subdivisions which are located outside of any county that overlays in whole or in part said basin or subbasin.

B.  Said moratorium shall be in effect until such time as the Oklahoma Water Resources Board conducts and completes a hydrological study and approves a maximum annual yield that will ensure that any permit for the removal of water from a sensitive sole source groundwater basin will not reduce the natural flow of water from springs or streams emanating from said basin or subbasin.

Added by Laws 2003, c. 365, § 2.

§82-1020.10.  Temporary or special permits - Limited quantity groundwater permits.

A.  The procedures provided for in this chapter for the granting of regular permits shall be applicable to the granting of temporary or special permits except that the determination of the maximum annual yield shall not be a condition precedent.  Provided a provisional temporary permit for water may immediately be granted upon administrative approval by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board.  This permit will not be effective for a period of more than ninety (90) days.

B.  The Executive Director of the Board may administratively issue permits to use limited quantities of groundwater.  Notice, procedures and the maximum groundwater quantity authorized for limited quantity groundwater permits shall be in compliance with rules promulgated by the Board.  In no event shall the maximum quantity of water authorized in a limited quantity groundwater permit exceed the amount that would otherwise be allocated by this chapter.

Added by Laws 1972, c. 248, § 10, eff. July 1, 1973.  Amended by Laws 1977, c. 23, § 1, emerg. eff. April 22, 1977; Laws 1993, c. 164, § 15, emerg. eff. May 10, 1993; Laws 1996, c. 329, § 4, emerg. eff. June 12, 1996.

§821020.11.  Types of permits  Fees.

A.  Regular Permit.  A regular permit is an authorization to put groundwater to beneficial use for other than domestic purposes.  The regular permit shall be granted only after completion of the hydrologic survey and determination of the maximum annual yield for the appropriate basin or subbasin.  It can be revoked or canceled only as provided in Sections 1020.12 and 1020.15 of this title.

B.  Temporary Permit.

1.  A temporary permit is an authorization for the same purposes as a regular permit but granted by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board prior to completion of the hydrologic survey and the determination of the maximum annual yield of the basin or subbasin.

2.  Except as otherwise provided by this subsection, unless requested by a majority of the surface owners of the land or by the applicant, the water allocated by a temporary permit shall not be less than two (2) acrefeet annually for each acre of land owned or leased by the applicant in the basin or subbasin.  If the applicant presents clear and convincing evidence that allocations in excess of two (2) acrefeet annually for each acre of land overlying the basin or subbasin will not exhaust the water thereunder in less than twenty (20) years, then the Board may issue temporary permits in such basin or subbasin in such amounts in excess of said limitation as will assure a minimum twentyyear life for such basin or subbasin.

3.  A temporary permit must be revalidated annually during its term.  The permit shall lapse at expiration of its term or upon the issuance of a regular permit, whichever shall occur first.  It is subject to revocation or cancellation as provided in Sections 1020.12 and 1020.15 of this title.  For temporary permit revalidation purposes, water use report forms shall be mailed by the Board to each temporary permit holder.  Timely return of the completed, signed, and dated water use report form to the Board shall automatically revalidate a temporary groundwater permit if the revalidation is not protested and if the water use report form does not show or reflect any permitwater use violations.

4.  If the revalidation of a permit is protested, the Board shall immediately set a date for hearing and notify the applicant and each protestant of the time and place of the hearing.  At the hearing, any interested person may appear and present evidence and argument in support of or in opposition to the protest and revalidation.  At the hearing on the revalidation protest, matters previously presented or considered and adjudicated shall not be subject to reconsideration or readjudication.  The protest issues which may be entertained shall be limited to matters not previously determined, including but not limited to: a material or substantial change in conditions since issuance of the permit; evidence of the applicant's noncompliance with any of the terms, provisions, or conditions of the permit; or subsequent violations of the Oklahoma Groundwater Law, or Board rules and regulations.

5.  Subject to compliance with all other and applicable provisions of this chapter and rules and regulations of the Board, all temporary permits "revalidated" by the Board prior to the effective date of this act are hereby validated.

C.  Special Permit.  A special permit is an authorization by the Board in lieu of or in addition to a regular or temporary permit.  The special permit is granted to put groundwater to a beneficial use which shall require quantities of water in excess of that allocated under a regular or temporary permit.  The water so authorized may be used only for the purpose designated in the permit.  The permit shall be granted for a period not to exceed six (6) months and may be renewed three (3) times.  Successive special permits shall not be granted for the same purpose.  It is subject to revocation or cancellation upon failure to use the water for the purpose granted or as provided in Sections 1020.12 and 1020.15 of this title.

D.  Except as provided in Section 1020.21 of this title, no permits shall be issued to an applicant who is not the surface owner of the land on which the well is to be located, or does not hold a valid lease from such owner permitting withdrawal of water from such basin or subbasin.

Laws 1972, c. 248, § 11, eff. July 1, 1973; Laws 1973, c. 47, § 1, emerg. eff. April 27, 1973; Laws 1978, c. 157, § 2; Laws 1985, c. 104, § 1, emerg. eff. May 28, 1985; Laws 1993, c. 164, § 16, emerg. eff. May 10, 1993.

§82-1020.11a.  Permits for swine feeding operations.

A.  1.  Except for renewals, the Oklahoma Water Resources Board shall not issue any permit or amendment thereto or other authorization for the use of water for any swine animal feeding operation wholly or partially located within three (3) miles of the outside boundary of any area or facility owned or operated as a camp or recreational site by a nonprofit organization.  In determining whether any such area or facility is a camp or recreational site, the Board shall consider:

a. whether a reasonable person, after considering the totality of the circumstances, would determine that the area or facility is predominately used for camping or recreational purposes,

b. the type of permanent structures or fixtures of a recreational nature located on the land,

c. the frequency with which the site is used for recreational purposes,

d. the types of activities which are conducted or engaged in on the site, and

e. any other factors the decision-making body deems directly relevant to the question of whether a site is recreational in nature.

2.  The provisions of this subsection shall apply only if the real property was owned or leased by such organization prior to the construction or establishment of the swine animal feeding operation.

B.  The setback requirement contained in subsection A of this section shall not apply to any property owner who executes a written waiver with the owner or operator of the swine feeding operation, under such terms and conditions as are agreed to by the parties.  The written waiver shall be effective upon recording of the waiver in the office of the county clerk in the county in which such property is located.  The filed waiver shall preclude enforcement of the setback requirements of subsection A of this section with regard to property described in the waiver and owned by the person executing such waiver.  A change in ownership of the applicable property or change in ownership of the property on which the swine feeding operation is located shall not affect the validity of the waiver.

C.  Requests for transfer of water permits authorizing the use of groundwater for swine feeding operations shall be approved if the Executive Director of the Oklahoma Water Resources Board determines all of the following conditions are met:

1.  The transfer is needed due to a change in ownership of the swine feeding operation;

2.  The person or entity to whom the permit is to be transferred is not, at the time of the transfer, seeking to increase the number of animals or animal unit capacity; and

3.  The person or entity to whom the permit is to be transferred is not, at the time of the transfer, seeking to increase the amount of water authorized for use.

Added by Laws 1998, c. 404, § 21, emerg. eff. June 10, 1998.  Amended by Laws 2002, c. 275, § 1, emerg. eff. May 20, 2002; Laws 2003, c. 3, § 105, emerg. eff. March 19, 2003.

NOTE:  Laws 2002, c. 57, § 1 repealed by Laws 2003, c. 3, § 106, emerg. eff. March 19, 2003.

§82-1020.12.  Report of water used.

A.  Holders of permits shall be required to report to the Oklahoma Water Resources Board annually their use of water pursuant to their permits.  Willful failure to report annual usage may result in cancellation of the permit by the Board upon proper notice and hearing as provided in the Administrative Procedures Act.

B.  Holders of permits which use groundwater in connection with an animal feeding operation which houses swine and primarily uses a liquid waste management system where animals are primarily housed in a roof-covered structure shall be required to indicate such use in their annual water use report.  Such holders shall also indicate whether or not the animal feeding operation is licensed pursuant to the Oklahoma Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations Act.

C.  The Board shall notify the State Department of Agriculture of the names and addresses of all permit holders who report usage of groundwater in connection with an animal feeding operation which houses swine and which primarily uses a liquid waste management system where animals are primarily housed in a roof-covered structure and who are not licensed pursuant to the Oklahoma Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations Act.

Added by Laws 1972, c. 248, § 12, eff. July 1, 1973.  Amended by Laws 1998, c. 404, § 20, eff. Aug. 1, 1998.

§821020.13.  Surrender of permits.

The Board may accept the surrender of ground water permits by the holder thereof pursuant to rules and regulations adopted by the Board.  Laws 1972, c.  248, Section 13.  Eff.  July 1, 1973.

Laws 1972, c. 248, § 13, eff. July 1, 1973.  

§821020.14.  Prior use of groundwater.

Nothing in this act shall be construed to deprive any person of any right to the use of ground water in such quantities and amounts as were used or were entitled to be used prior to the enactment hereof.  Any person having the right to place ground water to beneficial use prior to the effective date of this act shall have the right to bring his use under the provisions of this act. Determinations of prior rights to the use of groundwater made by the Board pursuant to Board rules and regulations are hereby validated.

Laws 1972, c. 248, § 14, eff. July 1, 1973.  

§82-1020.15.  Waste - Prosecutions.

A.  The Oklahoma Water Resources Board shall not permit any fresh groundwater user to commit waste by:

1.  Drilling a well, taking, or using fresh groundwater without a permit, except for domestic use;

2.  Taking more fresh groundwater than is authorized by the permit;

3.  Taking or using fresh groundwater in any manner so that the water is lost for beneficial use;

4.  Transporting fresh groundwater from a well to the place of use in such a manner that there is an excessive loss in transit;

5.  Using fresh groundwater in such an inefficient manner that excessive losses occur;

6.  Allowing any fresh groundwater to reach a pervious stratum and be lost into cavernous or otherwise pervious materials encountered in a well;

7.  Permitting or causing the pollution of a fresh water strata or basin through any act which will permit fresh groundwater polluted by minerals or other waste to filter or otherwise intrude into such a basin or subbasin.  The Board shall be precluded from determining whether waste by pollution will occur pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph if the activity for which the applicant or water user intends to or has used the water as specified under Section 1020.9 of this title is required to comply with rules and requirements of or is within the jurisdictional areas of environmental responsibility of the Department of Environmental Quality or the State Department of Agriculture;

8.  Drilling wells and producing fresh groundwater therefrom except in accordance with the well spacing previously determined by the Board;

9.  Using fresh groundwater for air conditioning or cooling purposes without providing facilities to aerate and reuse such water; or

10.  Failure to properly plug abandoned fresh water wells in accordance with rules of the Board and file reports thereof.

B.  1.  Any employee of the Board having evidence that an act of waste is being committed in his or her presence, or on the filing of a complaint by another individual, shall immediately proceed to cite such violator and shall thereupon file a complaint in the district court of the county wherein such violation has occurred, and it shall be the duty of the district attorney of said county to prosecute such complaint.

2.  Except as otherwise provided by paragraph 7 of subsection A of this section, if any person commits waste as specified by subsection A of this section, the Board shall immediately institute action to enjoin in a court of competent jurisdiction and may suspend any permit to take water as long as such waste continues.

C.  In cases of waste by pollution pursuant to paragraph 7 of subsection A of this section, any complaint or investigation, or any enforcement matter other than an individual proceeding involving the suspension of an Oklahoma Water Resources Board permit shall be referred to and subject to the jurisdiction of the Department of Environmental Quality or other appropriate state environmental agency or state agency with limited environmental responsibility.

Added by Laws 1972, c. 248, § 15, eff. July 1, 1973.  Amended by Laws 1993, c. 145, § 322, eff. July 1, 1993; Laws 2001, c. 330, § 2, emerg. eff. June 1, 2001.

§82-1020.16.  Commercial drilling or plugging license - Deposit of fees - Penalties.

A.  All persons engaged in the commercial drilling or commercial plugging of groundwater wells, monitoring wells, observation wells, wells utilized for heat exchange purposes, including but not limited to heat pump wells and geothermal wells, and in the commercial drilling or plugging of geotechnical borings and all persons engaged in the commercial installation of water well pumps in this state shall make application for and become licensed with the Board.  After July 1, 1990, persons required to be licensed pursuant to this section shall pay an annual fee as required by the Board.  Such fees shall be deposited and expended as provided in subsection B of this section:

B.  1.  There is hereby created within the Oklahoma Water Resources Board the Well Drillers and Pump Installers Remedial Action Indemnity Fund.  The Indemnity Fund shall be administered by the Board.

2.  The Indemnity Fund shall be excluded from budget and expenditure limitations.  Except as otherwise provided by subsection C of this section, the monies deposited in the Indemnity Fund shall at no time become part of the general budget of the Oklahoma Water Resources Board or any other state agency.  Except as otherwise provided by subsection C of this section, no monies from the Indemnity Fund shall be transferred for any purpose to any other state agency or any account of the Board or be used for the purpose of contracting with any other state agency or reimbursing any other state agency for any expenses.  Monies in the Indemnity Fund shall only be expended for remedial actions necessary, without notice and hearing, to protect groundwater from pollution or potential pollution from wells, or boreholes under the jurisdiction of the Board that do not meet minimum standards for construction or that have been abandoned or as may be recommended by the Well Drillers and Pump Installers Advisory Council.

3.  The fees collected pursuant to subsection A of this section shall be first credited to the "Well Drillers and Pump Installers Remedial Action Indemnity Fund".  The Indemnity Fund shall be maintained at Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00).

4.  Expenditures from the Indemnity Fund required pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be made pursuant to the provisions of the Oklahoma Central Purchasing Act upon terms and conditions established by the Department of Central Services and shall not exceed Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) for each well, borehole or pump for which action is taken.

5.  Except in situations where the Governor has declared an emergency and a claim by the owner of the well or borehole for costs of remedial action is not paid by private insurance or other relief, the Board shall seek reimbursement as recommended by the Well Drillers and Pump Installers Advisory Council for any remedial action taken or required by the Board.  Any monies received as reimbursement shall be deposited in the Well Drillers and Pump Installers Remedial Action Indemnity Fund except as otherwise provided in subsection C of this section.

C.  When the Well Drillers and Pump Installers Remedial Action Indemnity Fund reaches Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00), the fees, monies received as reimbursement, and administrative penalties recovered under subsection E of this section shall be deposited in a separate account in the Water Resources Board Revolving Fund designated as the Well Drillers and Pump Installers Regulation Account, which shall be a continuing account not subject to fiscal year limitations.  Monies in said account shall be used by the Board for inspections, licensing, enforcement and education, reimbursing per diem and travel costs for members of the Well Drillers and Pump Installers Advisory Council pursuant to the State Travel Reimbursement Act, and as otherwise determined to be necessary to implement the provisions of this section.

D.  Before any person or firm licensed pursuant to this section shall commence the commercial drilling or plugging of any well or borehole or commence installation of any pump, such person or firm shall file with the Board such data or information as the Board may by rule require.  After completion, the driller or installer shall file a completion report showing such data as the Board may require together with a log of the well and pumping test data if applicable.

E.  The Board may, after notice and hearing, impose administrative penalties of up to Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) and may revoke, suspend or deny renewal of the license or operator certification for each violation of the Board's rules and regulations regarding license or certification requirements or minimum construction or installation standards.  Each day a violation continues shall constitute a separate violation.  Such administrative penalties shall be deposited in the Well Drillers and Pump Installers Remedial Action Indemnity Fund except as otherwise provided in subsection C of this section.

F.  The Board is authorized to create a Well Drillers and Pump Installers Advisory Council.  The Board shall establish rules stating the qualifications for membership and organization of the Council.  Meetings of the Council shall be held at the call of the Executive Director of the Board.  The Council shall have the following duties:

1.  To recommend rules to the Board, provided such written recommendations have been concurred upon by a majority of the membership of the Council; and

2.  To review and recommend approval or denial of use of monies in the Well Drillers and Pump Installers Remedial Action Indemnity Fund for:

a. remedial actions to protect groundwater from pollution or potential pollution from wells, or boreholes under the jurisdiction of the Board which do not meet minimum standards for construction or that have been abandoned, and

b. inspections, licensing, enforcement and education by the Board.

Added by Laws 1972, c. 248, § 16, eff. July 1, 1973.  Amended by Laws 1982, c. 128, § 1, operative Oct. 1, 1982; Laws 1988, c. 203, § 8, emerg. eff. June 10, 1988; Laws 1990, c. 325, § 2, emerg. eff. May 30, 1990; Laws 1993, c. 164, § 17, emerg. eff. May 10, 1993; Laws 1999, c. 413, § 7, eff. Nov. 1, 1999; Laws 2000, c. 190, § 1, emerg. eff. May 8, 2000.

§82-1020.17.  Spacing rules.

The Board may promulgate rules under Article I of the Administrative Procedures Act which establish a proper spacing of wells which, in its judgment, is necessary to an orderly withdrawal of water in relation to the allocation of water to the land overlying the basin or subbasin.  The Board shall conduct at least one public hearing at a location within or in close proximity to each major basin or subbasin before adopting rules establishing well spacing for such basin or subbasin.

Added by Laws 1972, c. 248, § 17, eff. July 1, 1973.  Amended by Laws 1995, c. 112, § 3, eff. Nov. 1, 1995.

§82-1020.18.  Location exceptions.

When it is shown in an individual proceeding that to require the drilling of a well at the prescribed location should be inequitable or unreasonable and that criteria and conditions established by the Board in rules are met, the Board shall authorize a well location exception and permit the well to be drilled and completed at a location which varies from that previously established.  Rules promulgated by the Board shall establish the criteria and conditions under which location exceptions may be authorized.

Added by Laws 1972, c. 248, § 18, eff. July 1, 1973.  Amended by Laws 1995, c. 112, § 4, eff. Nov. 1, 1995.

§821020.19.  Metering of wells.

Upon request of a majority of the landowners residing within a basin or subbasin, the Board is authorized to require that water wells be metered and that such meters as the Board shall approve be utilized by the applicant and placed under seal, subject to reading by the agents of the Board at any time.  The Board may also require that the applicant report the reading of such meters at reasonable intervals.  Laws 1972, c.  248, Section 19.  Eff.  July 1, 1973.

Laws 1972, c. 248, § 19, eff. July 1, 1973.  

§821020.20.  Unitizing and communitizing of land for water production purposes.

The owners of land and the Commissioners of the Land Office are authorized to unitize and communitize lands for the purpose of production of water therefrom; provided, the production therefrom does not exceed the maximum annual yield.  Laws 1972, c.  248, Section 20.  Eff.  July 1, 1973.

Laws 1972, c. 248, § 20, eff. July 1, 1973.  

§821020.21.  Wells within municipalities.

A municipality has the authority to regulate or permit the drilling of domestic and industrial water wells within its corporate limits.  A municipality may use the water allocated to the platted land within its corporate limits provided the municipality can make water available to the platted land, a permit therefor is obtained from the Board, and the wells are located not less than six hundred (600) feet within its limits, and such wells are drilled on the platted land.  Laws 1972, c. 248, Section 21.  Eff. July 1, 1973.

Laws 1972, c. 248, § 21, eff. July 1, 1973.  

§82-1020.22.  Violations.

A.  Except as otherwise provided by subsection B of this section, any person who, after notice from the Board, violates or refuses or neglects to comply with any provision of Sections 1020.1 through 1020.21 of this title or of any rule or regulation promulgated by the Board pursuant thereto, or who commits waste as defined in Section 1020.15 of this title shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction shall be fined not less than Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00) nor more than Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00) for each offense.  Any person who, after notice that he is in violation thereof continues to violate any provision of Sections 1020.1 through 1020.21 of this title, and fails to comply therewith within a reasonable length of time, is guilty of a separate offense for each day the violation continues.

B.  Any person causing pollution of the groundwater or placing or causing to be placed waste in a location where they are likely to cause pollution of the groundwater shall be subject