Assistant watermasters; compensation and expenses; termination. (1) With the approval of the Water Resources Director, a watermaster may employ assistants to aid in the discharge of the watermaster’s duties. The assistants shall take the same oath as the watermaster and shall obey the watermaster’s instructions. Compensation and actual and necessary traveling expenses of an assistant shall be paid by the county court or board of county commissioners upon certificates of the watermaster by an order made at a regular term when sitting for the transaction of county business. If no provision for such payment is made, the assistant’s compensation and expenses shall be paid by the water users concerned, as provided in ORS 540.100 to 540.130

ORS 540.080 — under Chapter 540.