Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 541 § 541.055 — District liability for seepage and leakage from water or flood control works;
Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 541 ·
Oregon Code § 541.055·Enacted ·Last updated March 01, 2026
Statute Text
District liability for seepage and leakage from water or flood control works;
limitation on commencement of action.
(1) Any person or irrigation, drainage, water improvement or water control
district organized pursuant to ORS chapter 545, 547, 552, 553 or 554 that owns,
operates or maintains any irrigation, drainage, water supply, water control or
flood control works shall be liable for damage caused by seepage and leakage
from such works only to the extent that such damage is directly and proximately
caused by the negligence of the person or irrigation, drainage, water
improvement or water control district organized pursuant to ORS chapter 545,
547, 552, 553 or 554 and not otherwise. Damage resulting from extraordinary and
unforeseen action of the elements, or attributable in whole or in part to the
wrongful interference of another person or irrigation, drainage, water
improvement or water control district organized pursuant to ORS chapter 545,
547, 552, 553 or 554 with the irrigation, drainage, water supply, water control
or flood control works, which may not be known to the person or irrigation,
drainage, water improvement or water control district organized pursuant to ORS
chapter 545, 547, 552, 553 or 554 for such length of time as would enable the
person or irrigation, drainage, water improvement or water control district
organized pursuant to ORS chapter 545, 547, 552, 553 or 554 by the exercise of
reasonable efforts to remedy the same, shall not be recovered against the
person or irrigation, drainage, water improvement or water control district
organized pursuant to ORS chapter 545, 547, 552, 553 or 554.
(2) An action or
suit under subsection (1) of this section must be commenced within two years
from the date when the damage is first discovered or in the exercise of
reasonable care should have been discovered. However, in no event shall any
such action or suit be commenced more than four years from the date the damage
actually occurred. [1979 c.882 §1]
Plain English Explanation
This Oregon statute addresses District liability for seepage and leakage from water or flood control works;
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Key Points
01Part of Oregon statutory law
02Referenced as Oregon Code § 541.055
03Subject to legislative amendments
04Consult a licensed attorney for application to specific cases
Frequently Asked Questions
This section of Oregon law addresses District liability for seepage and leakage from water or flood control works;
. Read the full statute text above for details.
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