This bill amends Section 105.13 of the Oklahoma Water Resources Board regulations regarding water permitting. It introduces new provisions allowing the Board to issue seasonal, temporary, term, or provisional temporary permits, even when no unappropriated water is available for a regular permit, provided that such issuance does not interfere with domestic uses or existing rights of prior appropriators. Additionally, the bill mandates that surface water withdrawal permits issued after the effective date must include conditions for measuring subsurface soil moisture content. Permit holders are required to conduct soil moisture assessments at intervals set by the Board and report their findings, with the Board establishing moisture thresholds based on regional conditions.

The bill also outlines the process for provisional temporary permits, which can be granted for up to 90 days, and allows the Executive Director of the Board to issue permits for limited quantities of stream water under specific conditions. The effective date for this act is set for November 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 82-105.13