An act relating to waters and water rights, the official text

1                            STATE OF OKLAHOMA

2              1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025)

3 HOUSE BILL 1323            By: Humphrey

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5

6                            AS INTRODUCED

7   An Act relating to waters and water rights; directing

    the Oklahoma Water Resources Board to conduct certain

8   study; providing details on study contents; requiring

    report of finding be submitted by certain date;

9   providing for codification; and providing an

    effective date.

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13 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:

14  SECTION 1.      NEW LAW  A new section of law to be codified

15 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 105.34 of Title 82, unless there

16 is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:

17  A. The Oklahoma Water Resources Board is hereby directed to

18 conduct a comprehensive study on the water flow of the Kiamichi

19 River. The study shall include, but shall not be limited to, the

20 following:

21  1. Assessment of the river's flow rates throughout the year

22 under varying conditions, including periods of drought and flood;

23  2. Evaluation of the minimum flow required to maintain the

24 river's ecological health and integrity;

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1   3. Determination of the flow capacity necessary to allow for

2 permitting the removal of water from the river without causing

3 adverse impacts to the environment, existing water rights, and

4 downstream users; and

5   4. Analysis of the potential effects of constructing and

6 operating a low-water dam on the river, including:

7         a. hydrological impacts on water flow and sediment

8         transport,

9         b. ecological effects on fish, wildlife, and riparian

10        habitats, and

11        c. implications for recreational activities and local

12        communities.

13  B. The Board shall submit a final report detailing the findings

14 of the study and any recommendations for legislative or regulatory

15 actions to the Governor, the President Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma

16 State Senate, and the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of

17 Representatives. The report shall be due no later than December 31,

18 2026.

19  SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2025.

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21  60-1-10124      JBH  12/29/24

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