Laserfiche WebLink
<br />003112 <br />originates,"27 a subsequent paragraph adds: "Only excess and surplus <br />water should be utilized outside the areas of origin and citizens within <br />the areas of origin have a prior right to water originating therein to the <br />extent that it may be required for beneficial use therein."2. The <br />Oklahoma Water Resources Board has defined excess and surplus <br />water as "that amount of water which is greater than the present or <br />reasonable forseeable [sic] future water requirements needed to satisfy <br />all beneficial uses within an area of origin."29 <br />In the interstate context, waters have been formally allocated by <br />two general means-interstate compacts and court-decreed equitable <br />apportionment. The Colorado River Compact of 192230 is the classic <br />example of an interstate compact designed (in part) to insure the fu- <br />ture availability of water for the areas of origin of the Colorado River. <br />Colorado and other upper basin states were concerned that rapid <br />growth in southern California would result in full appropriation of the <br />Colorado River, leaving nothing for their own later development. The <br />permanent division of water incorporated in the compact arrangement <br />was intended to protect development interests in these upstream <br />states.31 <br />Since the 1907 case of Kansas v. Colorado,'2 the U.S. Supreme <br />Court has taken original jurisdiction in litigation between states re- <br />garding interstate waters. In general, the Court has applied the law of <br />prior appropriation in cases involving states recognizing this doc- <br />trine.33 Not surprisingly, the emphasis is generally on protection of <br />existing uses and provision for apparent new uses. Area-of-origin pro- <br />tection has not played a significant role in court decisions under this <br />doctrine. <br /> <br />17. OK!.'\'. STA."I. ANN. tit. B2. ~ lOB6.\(A} (West Supp. 1985). <br />28. ld. S 1086.1(.)(4). <br />29. Oklahoma Water Resources Board Rules, Regulations and Modes of Procedure ~ 125.1 (1919 <br />Revision). In a case that has been before the Oklahoma Supreme Courf since 1983, one of the issues is <br />whether out-of-basin diven,ion!'. remain subject 10 possible "recall" by subsequent appropriators in the <br />basin of origin. Oklahoma Waler Resources Bd ... Franco-American Charolaise. Ltd.. No. 59-310 <br />(Okla. filed in 1983). The Board's position is thai prolc=ction is provided only 10 those in the area of <br />origin holding water rights or app]icali(lns for waler rights at the time of application for an out-of-basin <br />di...ersion Appellant's Brief at 37, Okbhoma Water Resources Bd.. No. 59.3\0. The Oklahoma Dis- <br />trict Court had decided lhat the rights bemg sought in this case must be made "subject to recall" by <br />subsequent users within the stream syslem of Origin. <br />30. Act of Aug. 19. 1921. ch. 72. 42 Stat. 171 (192]) (the compact was signed in SanlD Fe, N~w <br />Mexico (Nov. 24, 1922), ,~e(! 43 USe. ~ 617(I)(a) (1982)). The Act was approved by Congress in Ihe <br />Boulder Canyon Projecl Act, ch. 42. 913.45 Stal. 1064 (1928) (codified as 43 USe. 9 617(1) (1982)). <br />31. Indeed the lower baSIl! .qates have long since diverted their full cntillemenl of 7.5 mil]ion <br />acre.feet per year while lhe upper basin Slales have yet to apply their full share 10 benefiCial use. <br />32. 206 U.S. 46 (1907). <br />33. See the excellent discus..ioll by Tar]ock. The Low of Equiwb/r! Apportivllme/1! R(!vi.~il(!d. Up. <br />dOled orrd Re.~I(1led. 56 U. COLO. L Rr:v 38] (1985). <br />