Oregon Water Rights Laws

Owrd water rights map tool.

Oregon water rights laws. See generally oregon water law at 10 17. Once established a water right must be used as provided in the right at least once every five years. Oregon doesn t claim to own the rain just running bodies of water creeks rivers etc and certain wetlands. In addition not just any use of water qualifies.

Water rights are issued by the oregon water resources department owrd. All oregon water rights must be put to beneficial use the water laws of the state clarify that beneficial use shall be the basis the measure and the limit of all rights to the use of water in the state oregon rev. Prior to enactment of its water code in 1909 oregon recognized both riparian and appropriative rights. Under oregon law all water belongs to the public.

Water and water rights in oregon 2011 oregon water law. All surface water and groundwater in oregon is publicly owned and its use is administered by the oregon water rights department owrd. Water rights therefore are rights to use water allocated by the state to users. Tax lot information provided here is for general query purposes.

It s illegal in oregon to divert running bodies of water without a permit. The water rights information system wris is a warehouse of information pertaining to water right applications permits certificates transfers leases and related information. With some exceptions established in law after five consecutive years of non use the right is considered forfeited and is subject to cancellation. Generally speaking landowners with water flowing past through or under their property do not automatically have the right to use that water without authorization from the department.

Under oregon law all water is publicly owned. Since 1909 state law has required issuance of a water right before using surface water. Ground water has been subject to the permit requirements statewide since 1955. A water right is authorization from the state to make use of water either surface water or ground water.

So you can t dam up that seasonal creek and cause it to flow into a storage pond etc without a permit. With some exceptions cities farmers factory owners and other water users must obtain a permit or water right from the water resources department to use water from any source whether it is underground or from lakes or streams. It may not be up to date or may not be an official record. With some exceptions cities irrigators businesses and other water users must obtain a permit or license from the water resources department to use water from any source whether it is underground or from lakes or streams.

In practice any consumptive use. The information reflected on these pages is derived by interpretations of paper records. Hutchins the common law riparian doctrine in oregon.