The Agricultural Law Section of the Oregon State Bar recently released its 2009 Legislative Report. The report covers a wide range of legislative developments impacting agricultural interests such as an increase in Oregon state gas tax and title fees, a field burning ban for most of the Willamette Valley, and a bill allowing for utility […]
2009 Agricultural Law Section Legislative Report Read More »
As attorneys for the Oregon Ground Water Association (OGWA), Schroeder Law Offices was pleased to do the legal research that successfully overturned the Oregon Water Resources Department’s determination of fees. As a result of advocacy for OGWA, refunds of over $100,000 were paid back to Oregon citizens after the Oregon Water Resources Department was found to have erroneously
Research Gives Fee Refund to Oregonians Read More »
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,
Get Involved in the Integrated Water Resources Strategy! Read More »
This comes from Terry Witt at Oregonians for Food and Shelter: This is a new National Corn Growers Association video on the subject of increased sustainability in agriculture. It debuted October 3 on the program This Week in Agribusiness. The short video features family farmers telling the story of how better management and modern technology
Short Video on Farm Sustainability Read More »
Do you keep your deeds in the safe? A secure file? If so, you surely know what water uses you are entitled to and have these records kept safe and secure reviewing them annually? If not, you’re lucky that the state has records on the water uses related to your property. However, it’s unlikely these records
Start 2010 Out Right: Organize Your Title Records! Read More »
Federal Judge Robert C. Jones called Schroeder Law Offices attorney Laura Schroeder and others to court today to end 29 years of litigation related to over 200 transfer applications filed by various farmers in the Newlands Project, Nevada. These transfers were tied up for years by the Pyramid Lake Indian Tribe appeals to Nevada State
Nevada Water Right Transfer Litigation Finally Ends Read More »
Today- September 30, 2009, the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals issued a major decision in favor of Stockton East Water District and the Central San Joaquin Water Conservation District determining that the US Bureau of Reclamation and the Districts have binding contracts for specified quantities of water to which Reclamation is obligated to provide. The underlying trial court, the Court of
Water Districts Successfully Appeal Takings Case Against BOR Read More »
Completing a teaching tour through Central Nevada, it will come as no surprise that the number one issue in the minds of participants are the duties of the Southern Nevada Water Authority to counties from which it intends to export water. Emphasis was placed on the need for affected counties to be involved in the transfer
Water Export: Southern Nevada Water Authority Read More »
At Schroeder Law Offices, P.C., we routinely work with our clients to develop efficient water use and management systems. Upon reviewing the competition offered below, we thought of you! Thus, if you are an innovative and efficient water user, or perhaps want to share your ideas with others then you might check out this competition!
Water Efficiency: A Competition to Test Your Cutting Edge Ideas. Read More »
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
Oregon’s New Exempt Well Mapping and Fee Requirements Read More »
By Therese Ure and Lincoln Herman Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) is a device for the storage of excess surface water which has been appropriated under a valid water right. Originally, this device was used primarily for drinking water, however agricultural and other water users are considering ASR as a device to off set seasonal
Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) vs. Artificial Recharge (AR) Read More »
Irrigation districts have many benefits. But just how much land is required to form one?It is surprising, but Oregon law contains no minimum acreage requirement for irrigation district formation! In the early 1900s when irrigation districts sprang up all over western United States, some in connection with projects constructed by the United States Bureau of
Irrigation District Formation Read More »
TCID announced that water allocations in the District are being increased from 80% to 90%. The District made this decision after Lahontan Reservoir levels continued to rise. Water users can expect to see the adjustment reflected on their next water card. TCID also announced that due to amendments in A.B. 226, the District now has
TCID Water Allocations Increase, as do District Assessments! Read More »
By Law Clerk Lincoln Herman “Rainwater Harvesting” These are systems designed to capture water that runs off the roof of a structure. Under Oregon Law you may only capture the water that runs off of your roof in one of these systems. The purpose is to create a store of water that can be reused
Rainwater Harvesting: Oregon Smart Guides from the Building Code Division Part III Read More »
By Law Clerk Lincoln Herman “Water Conservation Systems” These are systems designed to capture gray water from your house. Examples of gray water are the water that flows out of your bathtub. The premise is that the water can be captured, filtered and reused for toilet flushing. The result is a measurable reduction in the
Water Conservation Systems: Oregon Smart Guides from the Building Code Division Part II Read More »
By Law Clerk Lincoln Herman Rainwater Harvesting and Water Conservation Systems: a Guide to Smart Water Capture and Reuse. The Oregon Building Codes Division recently published Smart Guides for Rainwater Harvesting and Water Conservation Systems. These guides are filled with valuable information relating to collecting water from sources such as roof runoff as well as
By Law Clerk Nicole Widdis The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, in an order filed today, was the first court to interpret a recent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulation, the Water Transfers Rule (40 C.F.R. § 122.3(i)), which affects the Clean Water Act National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). The case before the Court involved
Clean Water Act Regulates One Pot of Soup: The Unitary Waters Theory Adopted Read More »
By Law Clerk Nicole Widdis The Truckee-Carson Canal breached in early 2008, however the litigation continues. See Water Law Blog entries from April 24 and 30, 2008 for background on the matter. The latest attempt by the homeowners in this case to limit the amount of water going down the canal was heard in Nevada
Update on TCID Flood Issues Read More »
By Law Clerk Nicole Widdis On May 6, 2009, Governor Gibbons signed into law Assembly Bill 226, changing the financial requirements of irrigation districts in Nevada. This law will go into effect July 1, 2009. The existing law had limited the amount of money spent on a single purchase by a district on machinery or
New Nevada Financial Laws for Irrigation Districts Read More »
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
Should Climate Change be making its way into the Oregon Water Law Statutes? Read More »
