The Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) is updating its rules for evaluating and issuing groundwater rights in a manner that preserves existing water rights while also manages Oregon's finite water resource sustainably.
During September and October 2022, OWRD held five facilitated outreach meetings to provide information and collect public input on our efforts to update the groundwater allocation process. Each meeting provided the public with a review of Oregon's current framework for groundwater allocation and presented some potential approaches for revising the groundwater allocation process. More than 400 people attended our meetings, held virtually and in person, and provided input via online surveys as well as oral and written comments.
Public Outreach Meeting Materials
Agenda
Background
Slideshow Presentation
Video Recordings
Outreach Meetings Summary Report (2022) (large file size - may take a minute to download)
Next Steps
This Spring 2023, OWRD will convene several Rules Advisory Committee (RAC) meetings in support of rulemaking to update the groundwater allocation process.
If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Annette Liebe at annette.i.liebe@water.oregon.gov.