Oregon Water Rights

In order to irrigate young grapevines however a water right must be obtained.

Oregon water rights. Passive water use for example will not qualify as the beneficial use necessary to create and maintain a water right. Ground water has been subject to the permit requirements statewide since 1955. Please contact the respective county tax assessor s office. A water right is authorization from the state to make use of water either surface water or ground water.

Identify tax lots tax lot information is only available for selected counties. Oregon water resources department water rights information query main. In water short times the water right holder with the oldest date of priority can demand the water specified in his or her water right without regard for the needs of junior users. Water rights in oregon 7 junior user 1970 water right this water right is regulated back to meet the downstream need of the senior water right.

Since 1909 state law has required issuance of a water right before using surface water. Our offices are closed to the public but we continue to work and many of our staff can be reached by email or phone. A summary of the department s current operations in support of these efforts is included below. For example if a water right holder establishes the right to irrigate a particular 20 acre tract of land the water cannot be diverted from a different point or source nor can it be used to irrigate other land.

The information reflected on these pages is derived by interpretations of paper records. The water rights information system wris is a warehouse of information pertaining to water right applications permits certificates transfers leases and related information. Please refer to the actual water rights records for the details on any water right. In oregon the access to and use of almost all water for irrigation is regulated by the water resources department wrd.

Oregon s water laws are based on the principle of prior appropriation. Senior user 1910 water right this water right gets water first during times of low streamflow. Tax lot information provided here is for general query purposes. 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. This means the first person to obtain a water right on a stream is the last to be shut off in times of low streamflows. If there is a surplus beyond what is necessary to fulfill the senior right the water right holder with the next oldest. It may not be up to date or may not be an official record.

In addition not just any use of water qualifies. Only the artificial application of water constitutes irrigation and. Place of use point of diversion and type of use. The use of water under a water right is restricted to the terms and conditions described in the water right certificate.

Awareness of the water rights system can help a winery or vineyard owner both to secure and protect a. An example of prior appropriation at work.