Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 537 § 537.615 — Application for permit to acquire new right or enlarge existing right to
Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 537 ·
Oregon Code § 537.615·Enacted ·Last updated March 01, 2026
Statute Text
Application for permit to acquire new right or enlarge existing right to
appropriate ground water; plans and drawings.
(1) Any person or public agency intending to acquire
a wholly new right to appropriate ground water or to enlarge upon any existing
right to appropriate ground water, except for any purpose exempt under ORS
537.545, shall apply to the Water Resources Department for and be issued a
permit before withdrawing or using the ground water.
(2) The
application for a permit shall be in a form prescribed by the department and
shall contain:
(a) The name and
post-office address of the applicant.
(b) The nature of
the use by the applicant of the ground water for which the application is made.
(c) The dates of
the beginning and completion of the construction of any well or other means of
developing and securing the ground water.
(d) The date when
the ground water will be completely applied to the proposed beneficial use.
(e) The amount of
ground water claimed.
(f) If the ground
water is to be used for irrigation purposes, a description of the lands to be
irrigated, giving the number of acres to be irrigated in each 40-acre legal
subdivision.
(g) The depth to
the water table, if known.
(h) The location
of each well with reference to government survey corners or monuments or
corners of recorded plats.
(i) The proposed
depth, diameter and type of each well, and the kind and amount of the casing.
(j) The estimated
capacity of each well and each well pump in gallons per minute, and the
horsepower of each well pump motor.
(k) If the ground
water is artesian or other ground water not requiring pumping, the rate of flow
in gallons in such manner as the Water Resources Commission may prescribe.
(L) If the ground
water supply is supplemental to an existing water supply, identification of any
application for a permit, permit, certificate or adjudicated right to
appropriate water made or held by the applicant.
(m) Any other
information as the department considers necessary to evaluate the application.
(3) Each
application for a permit shall be accompanied by any maps and drawings the
department considers necessary.
(4) The map or
drawing required to accompany the application shall be of sufficient quality
and scale to establish the location of the proposed point of diversion and the
proposed place of use identified by tax lot, township, range, section and
nearest quarter-quarter section along with a notation of the acreage of the
proposed place of use, if appropriate. In addition, the department shall accept
locational coordinate information, including latitude and longitude as
established by a global positioning system. If the application is for a water
right for a municipal use, the map need not identify the proposed place of use
by tax lot.
(5) Each
application for a permit to appropriate water shall be accompanied by the
examination fee set forth in ORS 536.050 (1).
(6) If the
proposed use of the water is for a mining operation as defined in ORS 517.952,
the applicant shall provide the information required under this section as part
of the consolidated application under ORS 517.952 to 517.989.
(7)
Notwithstanding any contrary provision of law, an application under this
section may request the issuance of a permit to appropriate ground water for
expanded group domestic use for a public water system in an amount of water
equivalent to the amount of water provided by abandoned water wells as provided
in ORS 537.617.
(8)
Notwithstanding any provision of ORS chapter 183, an application for a permit
to appropriate ground water shall be processed in the manner set forth in ORS
Plain English Explanation
This Oregon statute addresses Application for permit to acquire new right or enlarge existing right to
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Key Points
01Part of Oregon statutory law
02Referenced as Oregon Code § 537.615
03Subject to legislative amendments
04Consult a licensed attorney for application to specific cases
Frequently Asked Questions
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