(1) The Arkansas Natural Resources Commission shall:(1) Inventory the surface water resources and underground water resources within this state;(2) Determine the surface water requirements for fish and wildlife;(3) Determine the surface water requirements for navigation;(4) Establish minimum stream flows;(5) Determine the water needs of public water supplies;(6) Determine the water needs for industry;(7) Determine the water needs for agriculture, taking into account the decreasing groundwater tables and the resulting future needs for surface water to augment groundwater supplies;(8) Determine the water needs of all other users;(9) Propose a definition of critical water areas and delineate areas which are now critical or which will be critical within the next thirty (30) years;(10) Define the term “excess surface water” and determine the quantity of the excess surface water within the state and where it is located;(11) Define the term “safe yield” of a stream, river, or river basin, and a groundwater aquifer;(12) Report periodically to the House Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, and Economic Development and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, and Economic Development;(13) Declare and delineate surplus or excess surface water areas within the state based on a determination that surface water in a defined geographic area is in excess of the amount required for the foreseeable economic development needs of the defined geographic area;(14) Develop guidelines for evaluation of any proposed interbasin transfers in order that the areas of origin would be protected from serious adverse effects during periods of low streamflow; and(15) Develop guidelines for determining the amount of compensation, if any, to interested parties within the area of origin who incur damages as a result of a proposed transfer, including claims of individual water rights holders, adverse effects upon the political subdivisions involved, and adverse environmental effects.
(1) Inventory the surface water resources and underground water resources within this state;
(2) Determine the surface water requirements for fish and wildlife;
(3) Determine the surface water requirements for navigation;
(4) Establish minimum stream flows;
(5) Determine the water needs of public water supplies;
(6) Determine the water needs for industry;
(7) Determine the water needs for agriculture, taking into account the decreasing groundwater tables and the resulting future needs for surface water to augment groundwater supplies;
(8) Determine the water needs of all other users;
(9) Propose a definition of critical water areas and delineate areas which are now critical or which will be critical within the next thirty (30) years;
(10) Define the term “excess surface water” and determine the quantity of the excess surface water within the state and where it is located;
(11) Define the term “safe yield” of a stream, river, or river basin, and a groundwater aquifer;
(12) Report periodically to the House Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, and Economic Development and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, and Economic Development;
(13) Declare and delineate surplus or excess surface water areas within the state based on a determination that surface water in a defined geographic area is in excess of the amount required for the foreseeable economic development needs of the defined geographic area;
(14) Develop guidelines for evaluation of any proposed interbasin transfers in order that the areas of origin would be protected from serious adverse effects during periods of low streamflow; and
(15) Develop guidelines for determining the amount of compensation, if any, to interested parties within the area of origin who incur damages as a result of a proposed transfer, including claims of individual water rights holders, adverse effects upon the political subdivisions involved, and adverse environmental effects.