Storage capacity is obviously an important aspect of any municipal or domestic water supplier’s system. Increased storage capacity does any number of things for a water provider, including reducing the strain on equipment during summer peak demand times, increasing a water provider’s day-to-day flexibility, and providing for water during times of emergency. We recently attended […]
Guest post by James Carver I’ve worked for over thirty years in the field of water law in the office of the State Engineer and the Water Resources Department. During those years I served as head of the Water Rights Division and later as Deputy State Engineer under Chris Wheeler. I also presided over administrative
Recollections of A Native Oregonian Read More »
While irrigation districts formed under ORS 545 have no specific authority to accept municipal storm water or to convey that water, many irrigation districts have allowed near by cities to use their irrigation ditches and agricultural drains for storm water runoff. As urbanization continues to increase, the demand on the districts’ canals has reached new
Urban Storm Water in District Canals Read More »
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
OWRD Legislative Concepts: Part 5 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 »
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 »
