This study develops a framework of search with frictions in the context of tradeable permit markets to explain the trading behavior and search effort of the participants. The study area is the groundwater market of the Twin Platte Natural Resources District, in Nebraska. The results show that overall the market is moving towards Pareto efficiency as irrigation rights are moving from lower value users to higher value users. The results also suggest that quantity of the rights traded affects the search effort of the participants positively.