Oregon Administrative Rules Chapter 690 - WATER RESOURCES DEPARTMEN
Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR) Chapter 690 governs the Water Resources Department in Oregon. This chapter outlines the regulations and policies related to the management, allocation, and protection of Oregon's water resources.
Here's a breakdown of some key areas covered by OAR Chapter 690:
General Administration and Procedures:
Rulemaking and Procedural Rules: How the department makes rules, handles contested cases, and manages public records.
Compliance and Coordination: How the department coordinates with statewide planning goals and local land use plans.
Water Rights and Allocation:
Appropriation and Use of Water: Rules for obtaining permits and certificates for using surface and groundwater.
Water Right Transfers and Cancellation: Regulations for changing or terminating water rights.
Allocation of Conserved Water: Provisions for using water that has been conserved.
Drought Mitigation: Rules for managing water resources during drought conditions.
Instream Water Rights: Regulations for maintaining water flows for environmental and recreational purposes.
Water Allocation Policy: Principles guiding the allocation of water to ensure beneficial use and prevent over-appropriation.
Groundwater and Wells:
Groundwater Terms and Interference: Definitions and rules regarding how groundwater use interacts with surface water.
Water Supply Well Construction Standards: Detailed regulations for the construction, maintenance, repair, deepening, and abandonment of water supply wells. This includes licensing requirements for well constructors and standards for materials and procedures.
Restrictions in Critical Groundwater Areas: Rules for well construction and use in areas designated as having critical groundwater issues.
Monitoring Wells: Standards for constructing and managing monitoring wells.
Dam Safety:
Regulations related to the safety of dams within Oregon.
Basin Programs:
Specific rules and policies for water management within various river basins across Oregon (e.g., Willamette Basin, Deschutes Basin, Malheur Basin).
Other Key Areas:
Hydroelectric Power: Regulations for the appropriation and use of water for hydroelectric projects, including decommissioning rules.
Water Development Loan Programs: Information on financial assistance programs for water development.
Civil Penalties: Provisions for enforcing compliance with water resources regulations.
The Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) is the agency responsible for administering these rules. You can find the full text of these rules on official Oregon state government websites or legal databases like Justia and Cornell Law School's Legal Information Institute.
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