Oregon Code § 541.705·Enacted ·Last updated March 01, 2026
Statute Text
Project applications; contents.
(1) Any water developer may file with the Water Resources Commission an
application to enable the construction of a water development project as
provided in ORS 541.700 to 541.855. The application shall be filed in the
manner, be in the form and contain or be accompanied by any information
prescribed by the commission. The commission, in considering applications,
shall encourage the largest number of users of the Water Development Fund and
shall consider the impact on the family farm units of the state.
(2) In addition
to other requirements prescribed by the commission, an application filed under
subsection (1) of this section shall:
(a) Describe the
nature and purposes of the proposed water development project, including the
need for the project and reason why the project would be in the public
interest.
(b) State whether
any purposes other than improvement of a drinking water system, irrigation,
drainage, fish protection, watershed enhancement or municipal use, but
consistent therewith, will be served by the proposed water development project,
and the nature of the other purposes, if any.
(c) Set forth or
be accompanied by a feasibility study for the construction, operation and
maintenance of the proposed water development project, an estimate of the costs
of construction and if the project includes as a primary purpose irrigation or
drainage, an evaluation of the agricultural potential of the land from any
competent public agency.
(d) State whether
any moneys other than those in the Water Development Fund are proposed to be
used for the construction of the proposed water development project, and
whether any other moneys are available or have been sought for the
construction.
(e) Show that the
applicant holds or can acquire all lands, other than public lands, and
interests therein and water rights necessary for the construction, operation
and maintenance of the proposed water development project.
(3) If the
application is for a safe drinking water project, the applicant also shall
demonstrate that:
(a) The applicant
is a city, county, district, water authority or other political subdivision of
the state or an organization operated on a not-for-profit basis that makes
drinking water available to members of the general public;
(b) The primary
use of the loan will be to improve a drinking water system for the purpose of
complying with applicable state or federal drinking water quality regulations;
and
(c) The applicant
has:
(A) Developed a
water system master plan; and
(B) Either has a
coordination agreement in place as defined in ORS 195.020, 195.025 and 197.712
or can demonstrate that options to find a coordinated solution to the systems
drinking water problems have been fully explored. [1977 c.246 §2; 1981 c.592 §2;
1985 c.673 §113; 1987 c.636 §2; 1991 c.944 §6; 1993 c.577 §38; 2009 c.907 §§4,35]