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

The clerk of the circuit court, upon the entry of any decree by the circuit court or judge thereof, as provided by ORS 539.150, shall transmit a certified copy of the decree to the Water Resources Department where a record of the decree shall be maintained. The Water Resources Di…

While the hearing of the order of the Water Resources Director is pending in the circuit court, and until a certified copy of the judgment, order or decree of the court is transmitted to the director, the division of water from the stream involved in the appeal shall be made in a…

At any time after the determination of the Water Resources Director has been entered of record, the operation thereof may be stayed in whole or in part by any party by filing a bond or an irrevocable letter of credit issued by an insured institution as defined in ORS 706.008 in t…

Within six months from the date of the decree of the circuit court determining the rights upon any stream, or if appealed, within six months from the date of the decree of the circuit court on the decision of the Supreme Court, the Water Resources Director or any party interested…

The determinations of the Water Resources Director, as confirmed or modified as provided by this chapter in proceedings, shall be conclusive as to all prior rights and the rights of all existing claimants upon the stream or other body of water lawfully embraced in the determinati…

Whenever proceedings are instituted for determination of rights to the use of any water, it shall be the duty of all claimants interested therein to appear and submit proof of their respective claims, at the time and in the manner required by law. Any claimant who fails to appear…

Whenever the rights to the waters of any stream have been determined as provided in this chapter and it appears by the records of such determination that it had not been at one and the same proceeding, then the Water Resources Director may open to public inspection all proofs or …

(1) In order to preserve information relating to claims to undetermined vested rights as described in ORS 539.010 and federal reserved rights, the Water Resources Director shall prepare a general notice stating the need for any person, corporation or governmental agency claiming …

(1) Any person, corporation or governmental agency claiming an undetermined vested right, federal reserved right or right derived from such rights to appropriate surface water under ORS 539.010 shall file in the office of the Water Resources Department, on or before December 31, …

The Legislative Assembly of the State of Oregon finds it is desirable to provide a procedure for conducting negotiations to determine the water rights of any federally recognized Indian tribe that may have a federal reserved water right claim in Oregon. [1987 c.81 §2; 1993 c.67 §…

(1) The Water Resources Director may negotiate with representatives of any federally recognized Indian tribe that may have a federal reserved water right claim in Oregon and representatives of the federal government as trustee for the federally recognized Indian tribe to define t…

When the Water Resources Director and the representatives of any federally recognized Indian tribe that may have a federal reserved water right claim in Oregon and the federal government have completed an agreement, the Water Resources Director shall submit an original copy of th…

(1) Upon filing of the agreement with the appropriate court under ORS 539.320, the Water Resources Director shall notify owners of water right certificates or permits that may be affected by the agreement: (a) That the agreement has been filed with the court; and (b) Of the time …

(1) An agreement negotiated under ORS 539.310 to 539.330 shall not be effective unless and until incorporated in a final court decree, after the court has provided an opportunity for an owner of a water right certificate or permit that may be affected by the agreement or for a cl…

Within 180 days after the court remands the agreement under ORS 539.340, the Water Resources Director shall file with the court: (1) An amended agreement complying with ORS 539.320, which shall be subject to the procedure specified by ORS 539.330; (2) A motion to dismiss the proc…

(1) As used in this section: (a) “Joint management entity” means the entity that is: (A) Composed of the landowner entity, the Klamath Tribes, the United States and the State of Oregon; and (B) Responsible for overseeing the implementation of the settlement agreement. (b) “Landow…

The Water Resources Commission shall divide the state into water districts, which shall be so constituted as to secure the best protection to the claimants for water and the most economical supervision on the part of the state. Water districts shall not be created until necessary…

(1) The Water Resources Director shall appoint one watermaster for each water district. The watermaster shall hold office until removed by the director, and shall be subject to any applicable provision of the State Personnel Relations Law. The director shall fill all vacancies wh…

The Water Resources Director shall: (1) Have general control over the watermasters. (2) Execute the laws relative to the distribution of water and perform other functions as may be assigned to the director. [Amended by 1953 c.395 §3; 1985 c.673 §82a]

(1) Each watermaster shall: (a) Regulate the distribution of water among the various users of water from any natural surface or ground water supply in accordance with the users’ existing water rights of record in the Water Resources Department. (b) Upon the request of the users, …

The district attorney shall appear on behalf of the Water Resources Director or any watermaster in any case which may arise in the pursuance of the official duties of the director or watermaster within the jurisdiction of the district attorney. [Amended by 1985 c.421 §6]

The watermaster or an assistant appointed by the watermaster shall have power to arrest any person violating a provision of the Water Rights Act (as defined in ORS 537.010), ORS 537.120 to 537.360 or 537.505 to 537.795 and 537.992 and turn the person over to the sheriff or other …

(1) The county court or board of county commissioners of each county in which the water district of the watermaster is located shall furnish the watermaster a suitable office and office equipment. (2) If a water district includes all or parts of two or more counties, the office o…

(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 ne…

(1) When water users are unable to agree to the distribution or division of water, a majority of them may request the watermaster of the district in which the distribution or division is in dispute to make a just division or distribution of water among the parties entitled to the…

(1) If one or more of the water users concerned in a distribution or division under ORS 540.100 pay the wages and expenses for another user who fails to contribute a just share or proportion of the wages and expenses, the user paying the wages and expenses shall be entitled to a …

If no provision has been made for payment of the assistant watermaster or expenses as provided in ORS 540.080, before proceeding to make any distribution or division the Water Resources Director may require the water users requesting the distribution or division to pay in advance…

Any moneys collected under ORS 540.100 to 540.130 and 540.220 shall be paid to the Water Resources Director and deposited by the director in a revolving fund to be disbursed for the purpose for which it was collected. [1961 c.636 §9; 1985 c.421 §12; 1993 c.18 §128]

When the waters of any natural stream are not sufficient for the service of all those desiring the use of the same, those using the water for domestic purposes shall, subject to such limitations as may be prescribed by law, have the preference over those claiming such water for a…

The Water Resources Commission may adopt rules to secure the equal and fair distribution of water in accordance with the rights of the various users. The rules shall apply to all water rights that have been established: (1) By court decree; (2) Under an order of the commission or…

To bring about a more economical use of the available water supply, water users owning lands to which are attached water rights may rotate in the use of the supply to which they may be collectively entitled. Whenever two or more water users notify the watermaster that they desire…

(1) As used in this section, “Deschutes Basin ground water study area” has the meaning given that term in ORS 540.531. (2) The Water Resources Department shall periodically review the department program for the Deschutes Basin ground water study area. The review shall include, bu…

(1) Whenever any water users from any ditch or reservoir, either among themselves or with the owner thereof, are unable to agree relative to the distribution or division of water through or from the ditch or reservoir, either the owner or any such water user may apply to the wate…

(1) A watermaster may appoint an assistant to take charge of the ditch, pipeline or reservoir involved in a distribution or division of water under ORS 540.210. The assistant watermaster shall be paid by the water users from the ditch, pipeline or reservoir for the cost of the di…

Whenever a watermaster is called upon, in accordance with the provisions of ORS 540.210, to distribute the waters of any ditch containing or carrying waste or seepage water, the holder of the right to the use of such waste or seepage water shall pay the total cost of the installa…

In the case of a partnership ditch, pipeline or reservoir, or a ditch, pipeline or reservoir owned in common or by a mutual irrigation company incorporated under the laws of this state, the wages of the assistant watermaster and expenses incurred by the assistant in making the di…

(1) If not paid, the lien under ORS 540.240 may be made effective by the assistant filing a notice in writing of intention to claim a lien for the assistant’s wages and expense with the county clerk of the county in which the ditch, pipeline or reservoir and lands are situated. (…

(1) One or more of the water users from any partnership or mutual irrigation company ditch or pipeline may pay the wages and expense of the assistant watermaster and, as against any other user failing to contribute the user’s share or proportion of the wages and expense, shall be…

Nothing contained in ORS 540.210 to 540.260 shall be applicable to the distribution of water from the irrigation systems or works of irrigation districts or district improvement companies unless requested by the district. Distribution of water from such irrigation systems or work…

(1) The owner of any ditch or canal shall maintain to the satisfaction of the Water Resources Commission a substantial headgate at the point where the water is diverted. It shall be of such construction that it can be locked and kept closed by the watermaster. (2) The owner shall…

If any owner of irrigation works refuses or neglects to construct and put in headgates, flumes or measuring devices, as required under ORS 540.310, after 10 days’ notice, the watermaster may close the ditch, and it shall not be opened or any water diverted from the source of supp…

(1) Any owner or manager of a reservoir, located across or upon the bed of a natural stream, shall construct and maintain, when required by the Water Resources Commission, a measuring device below, and one above, the reservoir on each stream or source of supply discharging into t…

(1) Whenever it may be necessary for the protection of other water users, the Water Resources Commission shall require every owner or manager of a reservoir or diversion dam, located across or upon the bed of a natural stream, to construct and maintain a suitable outlet in the re…

(1) The Water Resources Department may inspect, evaluate and assess the condition of a levee, dike, ditch or other hydraulic structure with the permission of the owner. (2) In performing the actions under subsection (1) of this section, the department may: (a) Provide recommendat…

Whenever the owner, manager or lessee of a reservoir constructed under the provisions of the Water Rights Act, as defined in ORS 537.010, desires to use the bed of a stream, or other watercourse, to carry stored or impounded water from the reservoir to the consumer of the water, …

In all cases where ditches are owned by two or more persons and one or more of such persons fails or neglects to do a proportionate share of the work necessary for the proper maintenance and operation of the ditch, or to construct suitable headgates or measuring devices at the po…