Oklahoma Water Resources Board
Water Resources Board logo
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| Agency overview | |
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| Formed | 1957 |
| Headquarters | 3800 Classen Boulevard Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
| Employees | 76 classified 29 unclassified |
| Annual budget | $53 million |
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| Agency executive |
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| Website | www.owrb.ok.gov |
The Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) is an agency in the government of Oklahoma under the Governor of Oklahoma. OWRB is responsible for managing and protection the water resources of Oklahoma as well as for planning for the state's long-range water needs. The Board is composed of nine members appointed by the Governor with the consent of the Oklahoma Senate. The Board, in turn, appoints an Executive Director to administer the agency.
The Water Resources Board is overseen by the Secretary of Energy and Environment. Under Governor Mary Fallin, Michael Teague is serving as the Secretary.
Oklahoma has a unique set of water rights statues based on groundwater and streamwater. The owner of land owns the groundwater underlying such land and surface water standing on the land, however the Oklahoma Water Resources Board regulates non-domestic use. Stream water is considered to be publicly owned and subject to appropriation by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board.
In Oklahoma, streamwater is defined to include “water in ponds, lakes, reservoirs, and playa lakes” (or dry lakes). Streamwater is considered to be publicly owned; the Oklahoma Water Resources board is responsible for appropriation for all areas of the State of Oklahoma except the Grand River basin, where the Grand River Dam Authority (GRDA) has responsibility for allocation on a use-it or lose-it basis.
Groundwater is considered a property right in Oklahoma, and defined as “fresh water (less than 5,000 parts per million total dissolved solids) under the surface of the earth regardless of geologic structure in which it is standing or moving outside the cut bank of any definite stream” Oklahoma Water Resources Board permits the withdrawal of groundwater on a use-it or lose-it basis.
The Oklahoma Corporation Commission has jurisdiction over 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.
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