Title 45, Water Resources: Irrigation, Drainage, Flood Control, Reclamation

The person responsible for the drilling of a geotechnical hole for which a report is required under ORS 537.880 must have: (1) A current monitoring well constructor’s license as specified in rules adopted by the Water Resources Commission; (2) A current water supply well construc…

(1) The Water Resources Commission may prescribe by rule the form, contents, filing deadline and other requirements for the report required under ORS 537.880. (2)(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this subsection, each report required to be submitted under ORS 537.880 mus…

(1) The Water Resources Department Geotechnical Fund is established in the State Treasury, separate and distinct from the General Fund. (2) The Water Resources Department Geotechnical Fund shall consist of: (a) Recording fees paid under ORS 537.890; and (b) All moneys from gifts,…

(1) A water supplier that sells water to the public at a distribution location authorized for hauled water by the water supplier shall: (a) Maintain records of the water sales that include: (A) The name and contact information of the person that purchased the water. (B) The date …

(1) A person that purchases water from a water supplier at a distribution location to be hauled for irrigation or nursery purposes shall: (a) Keep records of: (A) The date and location of the purchase. (B) The date on which the water is delivered. (C) If hauling water for another…

(1) A person may not haul water to, or arrange for the hauling of water to, a grow site for plants in the plant Cannabis family Cannabaceae if: (a) The grow site is not registered or licensed under ORS 475C.065, 475C.792 or 571.281; and (b) The crop of plants is in an amount that…

(1) Violation of ORS 537.130 (2) is a Class B misdemeanor. (2) Any person who willfully diverts or uses water to the detriment of others without compliance with law shall be punished as provided in subsection (1) of this section. The possession or use of water, except when a righ…

(1) In addition to any other remedy provided by law, the Water Resources Commission may impose a civil penalty against any person who, in the construction of a well, violates any provision of ORS 537.747 to 537.795 and 537.992, or any rule promulgated pursuant thereto. A civil pe…

(1) The waters of Ditch Creek which were diverted to and became a part of the waters of Willow Creek, under the provisions of chapter 324, Oregon Laws 1939, are subject to the same rights of use and appropriation as the original waters of Willow Creek. (2) The right of the county…

The county court of Morrow County may, for the purposes set forth in chapter 324, Oregon Laws 1939, acquire, in the name of the county and for the use of the public, by purchase, eminent domain proceedings, lease, grant, gift, bequest, devise or any other legal means, real and pe…

For the purpose of maintaining and perpetuating the recreational and scenic resources of Oregon, the waters of that portion of Tumalo Creek, in Deschutes County, situated above a point one-half mile above the intake of the Columbia Southern Canal in section 2, township 18 south, …

The waters of the north and south forks of Silver Creek and of all tributaries thereof above the confluence of the north and south forks of Silver Creek, all in Marion County, also Brushes Creek and all its tributaries in township 33 south, range 14 west, Willamette Meridian, in …

All appropriations made under the provisions of section 2, chapter 480, Oregon Laws 1965, shall become vested when completed as provided by ORS 537.250. Any person having obtained a vested water right prior to April 19, 1967, under the provisions of section 2, chapter 480, Oregon…

ORS 538.120 shall not prevent the condemnation for public park purposes of any lands through which any of the streams flow, nor affect vested rights or the rights of riparian proprietors of such lands in or to the water of the creeks or streams.

In order to maintain, increase and perpetuate game fish and game fish propagation within Oregon, the waters or use of the waters of Diamond Lake and its tributaries situated in Douglas County shall not be diverted, interrupted or appropriated for any purpose whatsoever, except fo…

The waters of Hackett Creek, a tributary of the Sandy River located in Clackamas County, and of the tributaries of Hackett Creek, are withdrawn from appropriation or condemnation and shall not be diverted or interrupted for any purpose whatsoever, except for protecting fish life …

ORS 538.150 shall not affect vested water rights or prevent condemnation for public park purposes of lands through which Hackett Creek or its tributaries flow.

(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, the waters of Johnson Creek, a tributary of the Willamette River and located in Multnomah and Clackamas Counties and all tributaries thereof, except flows of Crystal Springs Creek and its tributaries in excess of 10 cubic …

ORS 538.170 shall not affect rights to the use of Johnson Creek recognized or acquired pursuant to section 2, chapter 273, Oregon Laws 1935; nor shall anything contained in ORS 538.170 prevent condemnation for public park purposes of lands through which Johnson Creek flows.

In order to maintain, increase and perpetuate game fish and game fish propagation within Oregon, the waters or use of the waters of Lake of the Woods and its tributaries, situated in Klamath County, not already appropriated, shall not be diverted, interrupted or appropriated for …

The following streams and waters thereof forming waterfalls or cascades in view of, or near, the Columbia River Highway, from Sandy River to Hood River, the first 17 of which are in Multnomah County and the remainder of which are in Hood River County, are withdrawn from appropria…

ORS 538.200 shall not prevent the condemnation for public park purposes of any lands through which any of the streams flow; nor affect vested rights or the rights of riparian proprietors of such lands in or to the waters of the creeks or streams; nor prevent the condemnation of a…

(1) The waters described as follows are withdrawn from appropriation or condemnation, and shall not be diverted or interrupted for any purpose whatsoever, except for domestic purposes and protecting fish life therein by the State Fish and Wildlife Commission: (a) The waters of Mi…

ORS 538.220 shall not affect vested water rights or prevent condemnation for public park purposes of lands through which Mill and Barr Creeks or their tributaries flow.

Except as otherwise provided in this section, the following waters, all being tributaries of the Columbia River, are withdrawn from appropriation and shall not be diverted or interrupted for any purpose, except for protecting fish life therein by the State Fish and Wildlife Commi…

ORS 538.251 shall not affect any existing rights to appropriate or use water, or any renewals or extensions thereof, or prevent appropriation and use of such water for domestic, stock, municipal, fish culture, aesthetic, recreational, or public park purposes. [Amended by 1971 c.1…

Subject to water rights existing on May 26, 1967, the waters flowing in the main channel of the Rogue River from its intersection with the south line of section 27, township 33 south, range 1 east of the Willamette Meridian in Jackson County, to its confluence with the Pacific Oc…

The waters of McNulty Creek, a tributary of Scappoose Bay, in Columbia County, are withdrawn from appropriation except for storage during the period beginning November 1 and ending on March 31 of each year in reservoirs not constructed in the channel of McNulty Creek below a line…

ORS 538.280 shall not affect any existing rights to the waters of McNulty Creek that have been acquired or are in the process of being acquired under the water laws of this state. [Amended by 1955 c.82 §2]

The unappropriated waters of Milton Creek and its tributaries, in Columbia County, are withdrawn from appropriation except for domestic use through the year and storage during the period beginning November 1 and ending April 30 of each year. Nothing contained in this section shal…

All rights to the waters of the lakes, rivers and streams of this state acquired before February 24, 1909, for the purposes of municipal water supply are confirmed, and no rights acquired under the Water Rights Act (as defined in ORS 537.010) shall impair the rights of any munici…

(1) Exclusive right to the use of waters of Bull Run and Little Sandy Rivers is granted to the City of Portland. However, the Water Rights Act (as defined in ORS 537.010) shall not impair the rights of any person who, on February 24, 1909, had any vested right to or valid appropr…

(1) Subject to water rights existing on May 29, 1925, the City of Medford, in Jackson County, is granted the exclusive right to use for municipal purposes all the waters of Big Butte Creek, a tributary of Rogue River situated in Jackson County, and of the springs at the head whic…

Whenever the City of Bend, Deschutes County, shall have acquired the right to appropriate or use from the Deschutes River at least 11 cubic feet per second of water for delivery into the feed canal belonging to Deschutes County Municipal Improvement District, which feed canal is …

(1) Subject to water rights existing on March 8, 1941, there is granted to the City of Pendleton, Umatilla County, and its water commission, the exclusive right to use for public or municipal purposes or use, or for the general use and benefit of people within or without the city…

(1) The Legislative Assembly declares that it is the purpose of this chapter to set forth the procedures for carrying out a general stream adjudication in Oregon. (2) In accordance with the applicable provisions of ORS chapter 183, the Water Resources Director shall adopt rules n…

(1) Actual application of water to beneficial use prior to February 24, 1909, by or under authority of any riparian proprietor or the predecessors in interest of the riparian proprietor, shall be deemed to create in the riparian proprietor a vested right to the extent of the actu…

Each claimant or owner who files a statement and proof of claim form or a registration statement shall be required to certify to the statements of the claimant or owner under oath. The Water Resources Director or the authorized assistant of the director may administer such oaths,…

(1) The Water Resources Director upon the motion of the director or, in the discretion of the director, upon receipt of a petition from one or more appropriators of surface water from any natural watercourse in this state shall make a determination of the relative rights of the v…

The Water Resources Director shall prepare a notice, setting forth the date when the director or the assistant of the director will begin such investigation as may be necessary for a proper determination of the relative rights of the various claimants to the use of the waters of …

(1) As soon as practicable after the examination and measurements are completed, as described in ORS 539.120, the Water Resources Director shall prepare a notice setting forth a place and time certain when the director or the authorized assistant of the director shall begin takin…

Upon the date named in the notice for taking testimony, the Water Resources Director or the authorized assistant of the director shall begin taking testimony and shall continue until completed. But the director may adjourn the taking of testimony from time to time and from place …

(1) At the time the owner or registrant submits a registration statement under ORS 539.240 or, if a registration statement is not filed, when a statement and proof of claim is filed pursuant to notice by the Water Resources Director under ORS 539.030, the owner or registrant shal…

Upon the completion of the taking of testimony by the Water Resources Director, the director shall at once give notice by registered mail or by certified mail with return receipt to the various claimants and to any party who has notified the director that the party wishes to cont…

Any person owning any irrigation works, or claiming any interest in the stream involved in the determination shall be a party to, and bound by, the adjudication. Any party who desires to contest any of the rights of the persons who have submitted their evidence to the Water Resou…

The Water Resources Director shall fix the time and a convenient place for hearing the contest, and shall notify the contestant and the person whose rights are contested to appear before the director or the authorized assistant of the director at the designated time and place. Th…