Legislation

The 2009 Legislative Session passed House Bill 3369. Among other things, this Bill tasked Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) with developing Oregon’s Integrated Water Resources Strategy (IWRS). The IWRS goals are to build resources and tools to assist Oregon in looking at its future water needs in terms of water quantity, water quality, ecological needs, […]

The 2009 Legislative Session was full of excitement for Oregon’s water users. Specifically, new laws face those looking to drill a new ground water well for an exempt use. Oregon’s exempt ground water uses are outlined in ORS 537.545. These exempt uses include drilling a well for single or group domestic purposes not exceeding 15,000

As evidenced in the recent amendments to proposed HB 3369 concerning revisions to loan and grant funding for Oregon water projects, climate change issues are finding their way into Oregon statutes. One might ask if this is proper given the lack of science surrounding climate change issues. The Environmental Protection Agency realizes that the science

In Senate Bill 424, Oregon considers changes to the water right forfeiture law. Currently a water right in Oregon is subject to forfeiture if the water has not been applied to beneficial use under the certificate once in every five year period. As proposed, this bill sponsored by Senator Girod and Representative Gilliam would allow

The Oregon Water Resources Department recently announced that the Department has $1.6 million available for funding under the Water Conservation, Reuse and Storage Grant Program.  Under the Program, OWRD will match up to $500,000 in funding from another source for each project.  The intent of the Program is to encourage feasibility studies and environmental analysis

The final topic of discussion on the OWRC conference call addressed changing start card fees for constructing wells. Start card fees, fees paid along with the notification of new well construction, partially fund the OWRD staff payroll. The fee is currently $125.00. OWRD is concerned that the fee is no longer sufficient to sustain the

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

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

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

The Oregon Water Resources Commission (“OWRC”) 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 (“OWRD”) Director, Phil Ward, and a handful of his staff members were in attendance. Those attending