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Practice Of Real EstateState_specificHARD

Sandra, a buyer's agent in Oklahoma, is representing a client purchasing a 500-acre ranch. The listing agent states that the property has 'senior water rights' to a local river that predate most other appropriations in the county, making the property extremely valuable for agricultural use. Sandra's client asks what would happen to these senior water rights during a drought when water in the river is insufficient to satisfy all permit holders. Which of the following best describes the outcome under Oklahoma's prior appropriation system?

Correct Answer

C) Junior permit holders would be required to cease diverting water before senior permit holders are curtailed.

Under Oklahoma's prior appropriation system, the foundational rule is 'first in time, first in right.' During a drought or water shortage, junior permit holders (those with later appropriation dates) must curtail or cease their diversions before senior permit holders are affected. This means the ranch's senior water rights provide a significant advantage — the client would continue to receive water while junior appropriators are cut off. This is one of the primary reasons senior water rights are so valuable in prior appropriation states.

Answer Options
A
All permit holders would share the available water proportionally based on the size of their permitted acreage.
B
The state would declare a water emergency and temporarily suspend all water rights until the drought ends.
C
Junior permit holders would be required to cease diverting water before senior permit holders are curtailed.
D
Senior and junior permit holders would each receive fifty percent of the available water to ensure equitable distribution.

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Related Topics & Key Terms

Key Terms:

prior_appropriationsenior_water_rightsdroughtwater_priorityagricultural_propertyfirst_in_time

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