The use of water under a water right is restricted to the terms and conditions described in the water right certificate: place of use, point of diversion, and type of use. For example, if a water right holder establishes the right to irrigate a particular 20-acre tract of land, the water cannot be diverted from a different point or source, nor can it be used to irrigate other land. It cannot be used for any other purpose than the type of use indicated in the water right.
The water right holder must file a transfer application with the Department to change a point of diversion, point of appropriation, type of use, place of use, or any combination of these.
The Department has been revising our transfer application forms to be consistent with Oregon Administrative Rules with an effective date of April 1, 2026. Unfortunately, the forms are not yet available on our website. Please contact Dave.JONES@water.oregon.gov for current forms for permanent and temporary transfers, drought transfers, instream transfers, permit amendments, groundwater registration modifications, historic POD changes, exchanges, allocation of conserved water, evidence of use, consent by deeded landowner, voluntary cancellation or abandonment, and any supplemental forms related to transfers.