OREGON WATER LAWS Volume I of II Oregon Water Laws Reprinted from the 2017 Edition of Oregon Revised Statutes Oregon Water Laws, a compilation of statutes relating exclusively to water law, has been published since 1911. This two-volume set contains all of Oregon water law compiled under Title 45 of the 2017 Edition of Oregon Revised Statutes. The set is not a complete collection of all Oregon statutes that might deal, however remotely, with water. At the back of Volume I, we have included portions of the 2017 ORS General Index that cite many references to water that appear in statute. Volume I, Oregon Water Laws, contains the bulk of Oregon law that is administered by the Water Resources Department. This volume includes statutes relating to water management, such as appropriation and distribution of water. Volume II, Oregon Laws Relating to Water Users’ Organizations, contains the Oregon Revised Statutes Title 45 laws relating to organizations, such as irrigation and water control districts. Oregon Water Resources Department North Mall Office Building 725 Summer Street NE, Suite A Salem, OR 97301-1271 503-986-0900 www.oregon.gov/owrd CONTENTS Constitution of Oregon .........................................................................................................1 Article XI-D, State Power Development ............................................................................ 1 Article XI-I(1), Water Development Projects ..................................................................... 1 Chapter 390 (partial), Scenic Waterways ..........................................................................3 Scenic Waterways...............................................................................................................3 Penalties ...........................................................................................................................14 Chapter 536, Water Resources Administration .............................................................15 General Provisions ........................................................................................................... 17 Water Resources Commission .......................................................................................... 18 Water Resources Department .......................................................................................... 20 Water Resources Policies and Programs ......................................................................... 25 Cooperation with Other Entities ..................................................................................... 32 Miscellaneous Provisions ................................................................................................. 34 Emergency Water Shortage Powers ................................................................................ 34 Penalties ...........................................................................................................................36 Chapter 537, Appropriation of Water Generally ...........................................................39 General Provisions ........................................................................................................... 43 Public Agency Water Use Registration ............................................................................ 43 Geothermal Wells ............................................................................................................. 43 Water Use Reporting ........................................................................................................ 44 Appropriation Under 1909 Act; Limited Licenses ........................................................... 44 In-Stream Water Rights ................................................................................................... 65 Miscellaneous ...................................................................................................................69 Ponds and Reservoirs ....................................................................................................... 70 Cancellation of Permit for Appropriation ........................................................................ 73 Conservation and Use of Conserved Water ..................................................................... 74 Ground Water ...................................................................................................................76 Water Right Examiners; Surveys .................................................................................. 101 Waste, Spring and Seepage Waters ............................................................................... 102 Diversion of Waters from Basin of Origin ..................................................................... 102 Geotechnical Holes ......................................................................................................... 104 Penalties ......................................................................................................................... 105 iii Chapter 538, Withdrawal of Certain Waters From Appropriation; Special Municipal and County Water Rights ...........................................................107 Diversion by Morrow County ......................................................................................... 109 Withdrawals from Appropriation ................................................................................... 109 Municipal Water Supply ................................................................................................ 112 Chapter 539, Determination of Water Rights Initiated Before February 24, 1909; Determination of Water Rights of Federally Recognized Indian Tribes ...........115 Water Rights Before 1909 .............................................................................................. 117 Water Rights of Federally Recognized Indian Tribes .................................................... 125 Chapter 540, Distribution of Water; Watermasters; Change in Use; Transfer or Forfeiture of Water Rights ...........................................................................................127 Distribution of Water Generally; Water Districts; Watermasters ................................ 129 Distribution of Water from Irrigation Ditches and Reservoirs ..................................... 131 Hydraulic Works and Structures; Measuring Devices; Ditch Right of Way ................. 133 Changes in Use of Water; Transfer of Water Rights; Exchange ................................... 137 Forfeiture of Water Rights ............................................................................................. 152 Prohibited Acts; Injunctions .......................................................................................... 155 Penalties ......................................................................................................................... 155 Chapter 541, Water Distributors; Water Releases; Conservation and Storage; Water Development Projects; Watershed Management and Enhancement ......157 Water Companies Organized Under 1891 Act .............................................................. 161 Appropriation of Water for Mining and Electric Power Under 1899 Act ..................... 162 Appropriation of Water by the United States ................................................................ 163 Suits for Determination of Water Rights Under 1905 Act ............................................ 163 District Water Rights Mapping ..................................................................................... 163 North Umpqua River Dams ........................................................................................... 166 Use of Water to Operate Water-Raising Machinery ..................................................... 167 Splash Dams ................................................................................................................... 167 Release of Water from Impoundment or Diversion Structure ...................................... 168 Water Conservation, Reuse and Storage Grants ........................................................... 169 Water Supply Development Projects ............................................................................. 171 Water Development Projects .......................................................................................... 178 Watershed Management and Enhancement ................................................................. 186 Habitat Stewardship Agreements ................................................................................. 199 Working Lands Conservation ........................................................................................ 200 Penalties ......................................................................................................................... 205 iv Chapter 542, Water Resource Surveys and Projects; Compacts...............................207 Survey of Water Resources ............................................................................................ 209 Willamette River Basin Project ..................................................................................... 210 Rogue River Watershed Project ..................................................................................... 210 Oregon-California Goose Lake Interstate Compact ...................................................... 211 Columbia River Natural Resources Management Compact ........................................