Skip to main content

Oregon State Flag An official website of the State of Oregon »

Groundwater Administrative Areas / Critical Groundwater Areas

There are 22 designated groundwater administrative areas around the state with differing levels of restriction.  These include critical groundwater areas (CGWAs), groundwater limited/classified areas, and areas withdrawn from further appropriation.  Some areas have time-limited permit restrictions for uses requiring water rights.  Other areas are closed to new appropriations or have well construction requirements to protect senior water rights.  Staff monitor these areas to ensure that the restrictions adequately protect the groundwater resource and existing users.

Department hydrogeologists also provide technical input for mitigation opportunities in the Deschutes, Grande Ronde, and Klamath Basins to protect scenic waterways and instream flows.  The mitigation program in the Deschutes Basin is designed to allow development of groundwater using mitigation credits to maintain or improve streamflow.

Critical Groundwater Area Reports for the Butter Creek and Stage Gulch Critical Areas

The following reports provide informational summaries of water level change and water use in the Butter Creek and Stage Gulch Critical Areas.

Critical Groundwater Allocation Table for the Butter Creek and Stage Gulch Critical Areas

The following tables are an informational summary of allocations in the Butter Creek and Stage Gulch Critical Area for 2020; the orders received by each water right holder in August of the previous year are the legal allocations for each water right holder.

Forms for the Butter Creek and Stage Gulch Critical Areas

Below are water use allocation request forms and pumpage reporting forms for the Butter Creek and Stage Gulch Critical Areas. Hard copies are mailed to water right holders on June 1st each year.

Allocation Request Forms

Pumpage Reporting Forms

Table of Oregon's Groundwater Administrative Areas, with links to OARs

Restricted Area & Effective DateAffected Aquifer/FormationAllowable UsesOther LimitationsAffected AreaAffected CountySource
Restrictively Classified Areas Within the Willamette Valley (Groundwater Limited Areas)
Sandy-Boring
March 13, 1992
Shallow Troutdale, Deep Troutdale FormationExempt uses only22 sq. mi. (map)Clackamas OAR 690-502-0170, Exhibit
Damascus
March 13, 1992
Columbia River Basalt, Troutdale FormationExempt uses only20 sq. mi (map)Clackamas OAR 690-502-0180, Exhibit
Gladtidings
March 13, 1992
Columbia River BasaltExempt uses only25 sq. mi (map)Clackamas OAR 690-502-0180, Exhibit
Kingston
March 13, 1992
Columbia River BasaltExempt uses only5 sq. mi.
(map)
Linn OAR 690-502-0180, Exhibit
Mt. Angel
March 13, 1992
Columbia River BasaltExempt uses only16 sq. mi. (map)Marion OAR 690-502-0180, Exhibit
Sherwood-Dammasch-Wilsonville
March 13, 1992
Columbia River BasaltExempt uses only63 sq. mi. (map)Clackamas, Washington OAR 690-502-0190, Exhibit
Stayton-Sublimity
March 13, 1992
Columbia River BasaltExempt uses only72 sq. mi. (map)Marion OAR 690-502-0180, Exhibit
Chehalem Mountain
March 13, 1992
Columbia River BasaltExempt uses, 5-year permits on irrigation, fire protectionOne ac-ft/ac on irr. Drip efficiency104 sq. mi. (map)Washington, Yamhill OAR 690-502-0200, Exhibit
Parrett Mountain
March 13, 1992
Columbia River BasaltExempt uses only11 sq. mi. (map)Washington,Yamhill OAR 690-502-0180, Exhibit
Eola Hills
March 13, 1992
Columbia River BasaltExempt uses, 5-year permits on irrigation, fire protectionOne ac-ft/ac on irr. Drip efficiency81 sq. mi. (map)Polk, Yamhill OAR 690-502-0200, , Exhibit
South Salem Hills
March 13, 1992
Columbia River BasaltExempt uses, 5-year permits on irrigation, fire protectionOne ac-ft/ac on irr. Drip efficiency88 sq. mi. (map)Marion OAR 690-502-0200, Exhibit
Amity/Walnut Hills
December 4, 2003
Columbia River BasaltExempt uses, Irrigation by LLIrr. to estab. crop Efficiency stds50 sq. mi. (map)Yamhill OAR 690-502-0210, Exhibit
Other Restrictively Classified Areas
South Coast
April, 1980
Sand Dune and Bedrock AquifersMost exempt uses18.4 sq. mi. (map)Coos OAR 690-517-0000 (1), Exhibit
Ella Butte
Jan 25, 1990
Columbia River BasaltExempt uses only151 sq. mi. (map)Morrow, Gilliam OAR 690-507-0070 (3), Exhibit
Fort Rock
Feb 23, 1990
Basin fill / volcanicsMost exempt uses, QM, others (see rule)2,161 sq. mi. (map)Lake, Klamath, Deschutes OAR 690-513-0060 (2)(n), Exhibit
Harney Valley
April 15, 2016
Basin fill / volcanicsExempt uses only2,416 sq. mi. (map)Harney OAR 690-512-0020, Exhibit
Walla Walla
May 11, 2017
Basin Fill / Columbia River BasaltExempt uses only480.3 sq. mi. (map)Umatilla OAR 690-507-0030, Exhibit
Smith River
Dec 7, 2017
Alluvial and Bedrock AquifersExempt uses onlyLL possible for Smith R classified uses.90.4 sq. mi. (map)Curry OAR 690-517-0000 (11)
Critical Groundwater Areas
Cow Valley
Nov 12, 1959
Alluvial aquiferExempt uses only33 sq. mi. (map)Malheur Special Order Vol.10 Pg 216
The Dalles
Dec 11, 1959
Columbia River BasaltExempt uses21 sq. mi. (map)Wasco Special Order Vol.10 Pg 247
Cooper-Bull Mtn
May 17, 1974
Columbia River BasaltDomestic and stock water exempt uses onlyDomestic and stock exemption on 10 ac tracts and greater41 sq. mi.Washington Special Order Vol.24 Pg 370
Ordnance Basalt
April 2, 1976
Columbia River BasaltExempt uses only175 sq. mi. (map)Morrow, Umatilla Special Order Vol.27 Pg 40
Ordnance Gravel
April 2, 1976
Alluvial aquiferExempt uses only82 sq. mi. (map)Morrow, Umatilla Special Order Vol.27 Pg 40
Butter Creek
Jan 27, 1986
Columbia River BasaltExempt uses only274 sq. mi. (map)Morrow, Umatilla Special Order Vol.40 Pg 1
Stage Gulch
May 15, 1991
Columbia River BasaltExempt uses only183 sq. mi. (map)Umatilla Special Order Vol.45 Pg 278
Groundwater Withdrawal Areas
Mosier
May 13, 1988
Pomona & Priest Rapids aquifers of Columbia River Basalt GroupExempt uses onlyNo school exemption6 sq. mi.
(map)
Wasco Special Order Vol.76 Pg 489 and Vol 76 Pg 492
Victor Point
Sept 28, 2001
Columbia River BasaltNo new uses1 sq. mi.
(map)
Marion Special Order Vol.55 Pg 1088
Groundwater Mitigation Program Area
Upper Deschutes Basin
September 13, 2002
AllNo restrictionMitigation required for impacts to Deschutes Scenic Waterway4,500 sq. mi. (map)Deschutes OAR Chapter 690, Divisions 505, 521, and 522, Exhibit