Tribal Government Relations

The Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) works with Oregon's nine federally recognized Indian Tribes on issues related to water supply, watershed management, and water distribution, including water rights held or claimed by the Tribes and/or Tribal members. 

In 1997, OWRD adopted a Government-to-Government policy statement that focused on two main points: we must honor and protect existing Tribal rights to use water, and we must continue to forge partnerships to share responsibility for water management. Those partnerships are improved through regular communication and participation in the Natural Resources Working Group and the Cultural Resources Cluster Group. 

OWRD and the Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) are working to improve Tribal coordination and communication around state issued drought declarations. OWRD manages a “OWRD-Tribal Drought Coordination Listserv” to provide Tribal leaders, staff, administrators, and emergency mangers with regular updates regarding ORS 536 drought requests and declarations.  More information regarding drought status and declarations is available on OWRD’s Drought Watch page.  

To date, one Tribe (Burns Paiute Tribe) has requested and received an ORS 536 drought declaration: 

Burns Paiute Tribe ORS 536 Drought Request 

Executive Order 26-09 Declaring ORS 536 Drought 

OWRD is engaged in ongoing discussions with some of the Tribes on issues related to water rights and administration of water resources. Activities are generally conducted under Executive Order 96-30, or specific provisions of federal and state law. In 2001, the Oregon Legislature turned the executive order into law with Senate Bill 770, codified as ORS 182.162 to 182.168. 

OWRD works with Tribes to plan and implement strategies for streamflow restoration and riparian protection on both reservation lands and other regions of interest to Tribal communities. These strategies may include streamflow measurement and monitoring, enforcement on illegal water uses, and the transfer or lease of out-of-stream water rights to instream water rights for the benefit of fish, wildlife, and water quality. 

Tribal Water Task Force and Tribal-State Water Policy Forum 

In September of 2021, the nine Sovereign Tribes of Oregon wrote Governor Brown addressing the state of Oregon’s 100-year Water Vision. In response, Governor Brown directed the Oregon Water Resources Department along with members of her team to help organize and convene a Tribal Water Task Force. The Task Force met during several times in 2022 and in 2023 released a summary report of their findings and recommendations.  

In early 2026, Tribal and state agency leaders and staff established the Tribal-State Water Policy Forum to focus on water-related issues of interest to the Tribes, exploring opportunities to strengthen engagement, collaboration and information sharing. The Forum’s intent is to help implement Task Force recommendations as well as action items within the Integrated Water Resources Strategy. 

Annually, OWRD submits a Government-to-Government Report to Oregon's Legislative Commission on Indian Services, summarizing OWRD work with Oregon's nine Tribal Governments.