ORS Chapter 537

Chapter 537 — Appropriationof Water Generally

 

2009 EDITION

 

 

APPROPRIATIONOF WATER GENERALLY

 

WATERLAWS

 

GENERALPROVISIONS

 

537.010     Definitionof “Water Rights Act”

 

PUBLICAGENCY WATER USE REGISTRATION

 

537.040     Registrationof water for road construction, maintenance or reconstruction; fee; annualrenewal statement; limitations; rules

 

GEOTHERMALWELLS

 

537.090     Lawsapplicable to geothermal wells

 

537.095     Interferencebetween geothermal well and other water appropriation

 

WATERUSE REPORTING

 

537.097     Verificationof land ownership; time limits; exception

 

537.099     Wateruse report from governmental entity

 

APPROPRIATIONUNDER 1909 ACT; LIMITED LICENSES

 

537.110     Publicownership of waters

 

537.120     Rightof appropriation; vested rights protected

 

537.130     Permitto appropriate water required; notification to owner of certain land

 

537.131     Reclaimedwater

 

537.132     Exemptionfrom permit requirement for use of reclaimed water; rules

 

537.133     Permittee’sright to enter on forestland; notice

 

537.135     Permitrequired to appropriate water for recharging ground water sources; minimumperennial streamflow required for permit; exception

 

537.139     Failureto obtain authorization for access to certain land

 

537.140     Applicationfor permit; contents; maps and drawings

 

537.141     Usesof water not requiring water right application, permit or certificate; rules

 

537.142     Waterright permit or certificate not required for egg incubation project undersalmon and trout enhancement program

 

537.143     Limitedlicense to use or store surface or ground water or to use stored water; rules

 

537.144     Requestfor right to use water under limited license; fee

 

537.145     Noticeof filing of application to appropriate water for hydroelectric purposes

 

537.147     Permitto use stored water; fee

 

537.150     Filingof application; determination of completeness; initial review; preliminarydetermination; notice; public comments; fees

 

537.153     Reviewof application; proposed final order; presumption that use will not impair orbe detrimental to public interest; standing; protest; final order; contestedcase hearing

 

537.160     Approvalfor beneficial use; agreement authorizing use of ditch for waste or seepagewater

 

537.170     Contestedcase hearing on application; final order; appeal

 

537.173     Exceptionsto final order; modified order

 

537.175     Timelimit for issuing final order or scheduling contested case hearing; applicantrequest for extension

 

537.190     Termsand conditions of approval; municipal water supplies; release of stored water

 

537.211     Issuanceof permit if application approved; contents of permit; effect; rejection ofapplication; change in use allowed under permit

 

537.220     Assignmentof application, permit or license

 

537.230     Timeallowed for construction of irrigation or other work; extension; survey; map;requirements for supplemental water right

 

537.240     Federalpermit; time for obtaining; cancellation; time for beginning and completingwork

 

537.248     Requirementto include in reservoir permit date for beginning and completing constructionand for perfecting water right; extension

 

537.249     Electionto have proposed reservation considered as application for permit or rulemakingproceeding

 

537.250     Waterright certificate; issuance; inclusion of land not described in permit;recordation; duration of rights

 

537.252     Certificateissued for land not described in permit; notice

 

537.260     Cancellationof permit for failure of proof of completion of appropriation; issuance oflimited certificate; contest of issuance of certificate; exception formunicipalities

 

537.270     Conclusivenessof certificate

 

537.282     Definitionof “municipal applicant”

 

537.283     Procedurefor applications to appropriate water for hydroelectric power; rules

 

537.285     Municipalapplicant may develop hydroelectric project jointly with private person;restrictions

 

537.287     Rulesfor joint project of municipal applicant and private person

 

537.289     Conditionsto be imposed on permit of municipal corporation or district

 

537.292     Conditionsto be imposed on certificate of municipal corporation or district

 

537.295     Cancellationof permit when holder fails to continue to qualify as municipal applicant

 

537.297     Cancellationof water right certificate when holder fails to continue to qualify asmunicipal applicant

 

537.299     Consequencesof cancellation of permit or certificate if holder no longer municipalapplicant; conditions to protect public health and welfare

 

537.310     Acquisitionof water rights for railway purposes; certificates

 

537.320     Entryon land for survey purposes, preliminary to appropriation and diversion ofwaters

 

537.330     Disclosurerequired in real estate transaction involving water right; exception; deliveryof available permit, order or certificate; effect of failure to comply

 

IN-STREAMWATER RIGHTS

 

537.332     Definitionsfor ORS 537.332 to 537.360

 

537.334     Findings

 

537.336     Stateagencies authorized to request in-stream water rights; agreement required whensupply is stored water

 

537.338     Rulesfor state agency request for in-stream water right

 

537.341     Certificatefor in-stream water right

 

537.343     Proposedfinal order; conditions

 

537.346     Conversionof minimum perennial streamflows to in-stream water rights; special provisionsfor Willamette Basin

 

537.348     Purchase,lease or gift of water right for conversion to in-stream water right; prioritydates

 

537.349     Processingrequest for in-stream water right

 

537.350     Legalstatus of in-stream water right

 

537.352     Precedenceof uses

 

537.354     In-streamwater right subject to emergency water shortage provisions

 

537.356     Requestfor reservation of unappropriated water for future economic development;priority date of reservation

 

537.358     Rulesfor reservation for future economic development; application for use ofreserved water

 

537.360     Relationshipbetween application for in-stream water right and application for certainhydroelectric permits

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

537.385     Extensionof irrigation season; rules; limitations

 

537.390     Valuationof water rights

 

537.395     Publicrecapture of water power rights and properties; no recapture of other rights

 

PONDSAND RESERVOIRS

 

537.400     Reservoirpermits

 

537.405     Exemptreservoirs; written notification to department; injury to other users

 

537.407     Waterright certificate for reservoirs existing before January 1, 1993; injury toother users; conversion of prior application to notice of exemption

 

537.409     Alternatepermit application process for qualifying reservoirs; injury to existing usersor fishery resources; public interest review; rules

 

CANCELLATIONOF PERMIT FOR APPROPRIATION

 

537.410     Failureto commence or complete work, or to properly apply water, as grounds forcancellation of permit; irrigation districts, municipalities and publicutilities excepted

 

537.420     Noticeof hearing

 

537.440     Cancellationof permit; priorities of other permits

 

537.445     Hearingupon proposal to cancel permit or appropriation;

cancellationsuspended pending review

 

537.450     Rulesfor proof as to work and use of water under permits; noncompliance as evidencein cancellation proceedings

 

CONSERVATIONAND USE OF CONSERVED WATER

 

537.455     Definitionsfor ORS 537.455 to 537.500 and 540.510

 

537.460     Legislativefindings; policy

 

537.463     Applicabilityof ORS 537.455 to 537.500

 

537.465     Applicationfor allocation of conserved water; submission; required contents

 

537.470     Allocationof conserved water by commission; criteria; percentage to state; certificatesshowing change in original water right

 

537.480     Rules;criteria for evaluating allocation and determining mitigation required

 

537.485     Priorityof right to use conserved water; choice of priority

 

537.490     Useof conserved water; notice of dispensation