§ 15-0105. Declaration of policy.\n In recognition of its sovereign duty to conserve and control its water\nresources for the benefit of all inhabitants of the state, it is hereby\ndeclared to be the public policy of the state of New York that:\n 1. The regulation and control of the water resources of the state of\nNew York be exercised only pursuant to the laws of this state;\n 2. The waters of the state be conserved and developed for all public\nbeneficial uses;\n 3. Comprehensive planning be undertaken for the protection,\nconservation, equitable and wise use and development of the water\nresources of the state to the end that such water resources be not\nwasted and shall be adequate to meet the present and future needs for\ndomestic, municipal, agricultural, commercial, industrial, power,\nrecreational and other public, beneficial purposes;\n 4. With respect to the use of the waters of the state and the water\ncourses thereof, due consideration shall be given to the relative\nimportance of different uses;\n 5. The acquisition, storage, diversion and use of water for domestic\nand municipal purposes shall have priority over all other purposes;\n 6. Alterations in the conditions of waters and water courses be\nplanned and carried out in such manner that the important uses will be\nimpaired as little as possible;\n 7. Reasonable standards of purity and quality of the waters of the\nstate be maintained consistent with public health, safety and welfare\nand the public enjoyment thereof, the propagation and protection of fish\nand wildlife, including birds, mammals and other terrestrial and aquatic\nlife, and the industrial development of the state, and to that end, to\nrequire the use of all known available and reasonable methods to prevent\nand control pollution, wastage and unreasonable disturbance and\ndefilement of the waters of the state;\n 8. In addition to other recognized public beneficial uses and control\nof water as provided by this article 15 or by any other statute, the\nregulated acquisition, storage, diversion and use of water for the\nsupplemental irrigation of agricultural lands within the state is a\npublic purpose and use, in the interests of the health, safety and\nwelfare of the people of the state and for their interest.\n
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