Water Right: Application to Certificate
Applicants obtain water rights through Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) in a process dictated by statute and rule. There are three general phases to obtaining water rights:
- Water Right Application
- Water Right Permit
- Water Right Certificate
The administrative process undertaken by OWRD from the application stage to the certificate stage is detailed and specifically governed by the applicable rules. Because the process can be extremely time consuming – taking at least 6 – 8 months to obtain a permit after submission of an application and 10 -15 years to obtain a certificate after perfection of a permit - it is important for an applicant to understand the rules and time-lines involved. Understanding the process can help “speed” the process along. For a complete discussion of the administrative process and applicable time-lines please go to: http://www.water-law.com/resources/OregonProcessing.html