Water law

Most Western states allow an exemption from water right permitting for domestic wells.  In New Mexico this exemption was recently challenged as being inconsistent with the prior appropriation doctrine.  Other western states seek to legislatively limit the scope of such exemptions. Oregon which has perhaps the broadest statutory groundwater exemption is seeking in this legislative

Though much of the news out of Salem involves discussion of the budget and shortfalls, the 2009 Legislature is considering some important water bills with an immediate impact on water use in Oregon. The summary below includes three water bills that are of interest. We encourage you to contact your Senator or Representative regarding your

The Oregon Department of State Lands is holding a series of workshops covering the administrative rules pertaining to Removal and Fill permitting. These workshops will be very useful for anyone requiring a Removal-Fill permit within wetlands and waters of Oregon. To see a schedule of the time and place of the workshops please visit http://www.oregon.gov/DSL/docs/removal_fill_rule_hearings_nov2008.pdf

Throughout the fall of 2007, facilitators from Oregon State University, private business and Representative Jackie Dingfelder, Chair of the House Energy and Environmental Committee,  conducted a series of roundtable meetings throughout the State of Oregon to discuss Oregon’s current water needs and priorities with water users and citizens of this state. The stated purpose of these meetings was to

This fall, facilitators from Oregon State University, private business and Representative Jackie Dingfelder, Chair of the House Energy and Environmental Committee, have conducted a series of roundtable meetings throughout the State of Oregon to discuss Oregon’s current water situation with water users and citizens of this state. The stated purpose of these meetings has been to idenitify Oregon’s water