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<br />a <br />c' <br />... <br />~ <br />C'O <br />Q:). <br /> <br />individual, a state agency, or a Federal agency. He gave a brief overview of <br />fundamental Oklahoma stream water law, stating that the cornerstone of it was <br />"beneficial use," based upon the coexisting Riparian and Appropriation doctrines <br />of water use rights. He pointed out that instream flow opportunities were limi- <br />ted as: (I) there is no express instream flow legislation under current Okla- <br />homa law; (2) Oklahoma generally recognizes the various elements deemed neces- <br />sary by law to effect a valid appropriation of water; and (3) instream flow <br />maintenance is not compatible with the current statutory framework governing the <br />beneficial use of Oklahoma stream water. Nevertheless, opportunities do exist <br />and are matters of special legislation in areas not expressly dealing with <br />instream flows and in general administrative policy followed by the Oklahoma <br />Water Resources Board. Mr. Lay concluded that under the current state of plan- <br />ning, the existing opportunities for instream flow maintenance were adequate' and <br />that new legislation cannot be justified at this time. <br /> <br />12 <br />