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<:::> c', ..1::0 C', --.::i -.J S-Minute Activity Report 127th Meeting or AWRBlAC Page 4 The rehearing was granted and the opinion was withdrawn, but a second opinion was issued in its place. The OWRB asked for a rehearing of the second opinion in the case, which was issued in April 1990. The second opinion recognized statutory changes made in 1988 to address the issues. The Court agreed those changes resolved issues (1) and (2) above, but basically kept its position that riparian landowners have a constitutional right to a reasonable use of the water flowing in a stream, and that the Board must protect such uses in considering applications to appropriate the water. The opinion could put appropriative water rights in jeopardy, regardless of their priority date. To date, no action on the rehearing request has taken place. Hvdrolo~c Studies Hydrologic studies of certain Oklahoma stream systems are being conducted by the Corps of Engineers under the Planning Assistance to the States Program. The Corps is currently working on hydrologic studies of the Main Stem of the Arkansas River and the Cimarron River. The Bureau of Reclamation was also assisting the OWRB with hydrologic studies and has recently completed a study of the Blue River Basin in southeastern Oklahoma. The main purposes of these studies are to determine the total amount of water available, amount appropriated and the amount available for appropriation. Another study recently initiated by the Bureau is a yield analysis of Lake Altus (Lugert) in southwestern Oklahoma. Ground Water Studies During 1991, the OWRB is expected to award contracts to begin drilling of test holes to determine the most appropriate sites for locating recharge wells for the Blaine Gypsum Groundwater Recharge Demonstration Protect. This project will install five recharge wells and a recharge dam in the area around the Town of Hollis in Harmon County, Oklahoma. Surface water will be injected into the subsurface of the cavernous Blaine Gypsum Formation. The draft final report of the Phase I feasibility study of the Woodward Recharge Demonstration Project is completed and is under review by the Bureau of Reclamation. This project is investigating the use of a subsurface dam in the North Canadian River Alluvium and Terrace Aquifer near Woodward to increase the amount of water a municipal well could withdraw. Computer simulations for the design of the subsurface dam and its affect on the groundwater flow characteristics of the area are completed. Results of the subsurface dam simulations indicate the subsurface dams should successfully increase water levels behind the dam.