Like most former soviet countries, Armenia continues to confront law and regulation of its natural resources from the top down. USAID through PA Consulting requested my consulting assistance approximately 16 months ago to assist it in redrafting and de-centralizing the approach to water management. I am currently on my fourth “mission.” Many important laws and […]
Current Armenian Water Issues Read More »
The next topic in the OWRD legislative concepts discussion is the creation of a water development fund. OWRD discussed updating statutory language found in ORS 541.700-541.855 addressing financial aid to communities constructing water supply projects. OWRC members expressed some concern with this item because it involved project funding. Director Ward suggested that discussion of monitory
OWRD Legislative Concepts: Part 4 Read More »
Good morning! The third part in my series of posts addresses some proposed changes to irrigation district transfer rules. Currently, when an individual transfers the place of use of a water right any supplemental rights must be transferred with it or canceled. However, the statutes controlling irrigation districts do not explicitly allow for transfer of
OWRD Legislative Concepts: Part 3 Read More »
The second topic addressed during the OWRC teleconference was modifying language pertaining to statewide mitigation banks. OWRD wants to modify statutory language to give itself explicit authority to create statewide mitigation banks. These mitigation banks can be used to offset effects of new water supply projects. This proposed statutory change drew a few comments from
OWRD Legislative Concepts: Part 2 Read More »
The Oregon Water Resources Commission (“OWRCâ€) had its monthly conference call on Monday. In attendance were a majority of the OWRC members including: Ray Williams, Jay Rasmussen, Susie L. Smith, Dan Thorndike and Charles Barlow. Oregon Water Resources Department (“OWRDâ€) Director, Phil Ward, and a handful of his staff members were in attendance. Those attending
OWRD Legislative Concepts Read More »
Our work in Armenia involves reviewing contracts between the State and a couple of the largest water purveying companies in the world, Veolia and Suez, which are headquartered in France. Interestingly, we have found that these French companies, through their subsidiaries Veolia Water North America and United Water, also have contracts in Oregon, Washington, and
Northwest Connection to International Water Read More »
In the world of water law, we often receive calls from clients and potential clients that live many miles away from our Portland office, and sometimes hundreds of miles from the nearest major airport. In many cases, a site visit to the client’s land is necessary to get a lay of the land, or a
The many uses of Google Earth Read More »
Yesterday, I had the privilege of teaching a Water Law Bootcamp for Water for Life. Over forty people attended at the Baker County Fairgrounds in Baker City Oregon. Unlike previous presentations, attendees focused their questions primarily on due diligence water rights review in real estate transactions and valuations of water rights when lending on water
Water Rights Bootcamp in Baker City, Oregon Read More »
The Oregon Supreme Court will hear oral arguments and review the Oregon Court of Appeals decision in the case Fort Vannoy Irrigation District v. Water Resources Commission. The review arises from a 2002 dispute between the irrigation district and a district landowner. The landowner submitted an application to the Oregon Water Resources Department (“OWRD”) seeking
Fort Vannoy Irrigation District v. Water Resources Commission Read More »
Armenia’s Presidential election unrest may delay our next mission to assist the government in a review and updating of contracts between the State and the French contractors now purveying water to Yerevan and a few other cities in Armenia. In preparing for this work, Katherine Thomas has found many cities in the West that also
Political Unrest Complicates Armenian Water Delivery Read More »
