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The Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) will amend OAR-690-512 (Malheur Lake Basin Program Rules). These rules govern surface water and groundwater use and allocation within the Malheur Lake Administrative Basin. The amendment to the rules will designate portions of the Malheur Lake Basin Administrative Boundaries as a Critical Ground Water Area (CGWA) due to groundwater declines within the basin. The Division 512 update will follow the framework outlined in OAR-690-010 to designate a CGWA. A basin designated as a CGWA allows OWRD to implement corrective control provisions through a contested case process to reduce existing groundwater use in the basin. Additionally, the Division 512 rules will be amended to include designating the basin a Serious Water Management Problem Area (SWMPA). A SWMPA designation requires the installation of water use measuring devices and reporting water use data to the OWRD.
UpdateOWRD will be accepting public comment on the Groundwater Report until the end of the Division 512 public comment period. This date will likely be in 2025, and will be shared once it has been finalized. The report, as well as the memo from OWRD's director Ivan Gall, are viewable below.Groundwater Report for the Harney Basin Critical Groundwater Area (CGWA) Rulemaking Memo from Director GallIf you wish to submit a public comment, please email:wrd_dl_harneyreportcomments@water.oregon.gov
Rule Information and Background
OAR 690-512 RulesHarney Basin Groundwater Study OWRD FactsheetUSGS Harney Basin Groundwater Study Summary
Discussion Groups
September 23, 2024AgendaSeptember 16 Scenario OptionsSeptember 23 Model Revision Slides
October 7, 2024
AgendaOctober 7 Meeting Summary and SlidesOctober 7 Recording
October 21, 2024
AgendaOctober 21 Meeting Summary
Monitoring and Measuring Success (Word Doc)
October 28, 2024
AgendaDiscussion GuideOctober 28 Meeting Summary
November 4, 2024
Agenda
Harney Basin Voluntary Agreements
Guidance for Prospective Voluntary Agreements 7/24/2024 – Draft 1Guidance for Prospective Voluntary Agreements 9/27/2024 – Draft 2Guidance for Prospective Voluntary Agreements 10/1/2024 – Draft 3
Response to Representatives Owens 8/6/2024 EmailOctober 1 Focus Group Voluntary Agreement Meeting Summary
Rules Advisory Committee Meeting #1 - April 25, 2023
Division 512 RAC 1 AgendaRAC Meeting 1 SummaryRecording of Div 512 RAC Meeting 1
Key InformationRAC Operating PrinciplesDivision 512 March 2023 Community Conversations Recap
Rules Advisory Committee Meeting #2 - August 29, 2023
Division 512 RAC 2 AgendaDivision 512 RAC 2 PowerPointRecording of Div 512 RAC Meeting 2
Key InformationChapter 690, Division 512 - Clean VersionChapter 690, Division 512 - with Track Changes
Division 512 Rulemaking Terms and Definitions
Previous Groundwater Tools Explainer (8/2023 version)(11/2024 - updated Groundwater Tools Explainer coming soon)
Harney Basin Map
Rules Advisory Committee Meeting #3 - October 25, 2023
Div 512 RAC 3 AgendaDiv 512 RAC 3 PowerPointRAC Meeting 3 SummaryRecording of Div 512 RAC Meeting 3
Key InformationCritical Groundwater Area Boundary Presentation
512 Draft Subareas page512 Draft Subareas poster
Example Rule LanguageExplanation of Subareas Map
Harney Basin GW Rights List 09-28-23 for RAC 3Harney Geographic Overview Poster
Rules Advisory Committee Meeting #4 - November 29, 2023
Div 512 RAC 4 AgendaDiv 512 RAC 4 PowerPointRAC Meeting 4 SummaryRecording of Div 512 RAC Meeting 4
Key InformationDiv 512 Rulemaking GIS MapDiv 512 Rulemaking Map Explainer
Groundwater Rights listed by SubareaGroundwater Level Trends in the Proposed Harney Basin Critical Groundwater AreaSummary Tables of Authorized (2023) and Actual (2018) Groundwater Use
Rules Advisory Committee Meeting #5 - January 24, 2024
Div 512 RAC 5 AgendaDiv 512 RAC 5 PowerPointRAC Meeting 5 SummaryRecording of Div 512 RAC Meeting 5
Rules Advisory Committee Meeting #6 - March 6, 2024
Rules Advisory Committee Meeting #7 - May 30, 2024
Div 512 RAC 7 AgendaDiv 512 RAC 7 PowerPointRAC 7 Meeting SummaryRecording of Div 512 RAC Meeting 7
Key InformationTopics for RAC InputResponses to RAC Questions
Rules Advisory Committee Meeting #8 - June 27, 2024
Recording of Div 512 RAC Meeting 8
Key InformationDraft Important MilestonesMap PacketTopics for RAC Input - Updated
Rules Advisory Committee Meeting #9 - August 13, 2024
Rules Advisory Committee Meeting #10 – October 2, 2024
Div 512 RAC 10 AgendaDiv 512 RAC 10 PowerPointRecording of Div 512 RAC Meeting 10
Key InformationThe Harney Basin Groundwater Model SummaryDeveloping Management ScenariosGroundwater Level Trends in the Proposed Harney Basin Critical Groundwater AreaSubarea GW Rights by Owner MemoSubarea GW Rights by Owner (Excel Spreadsheet) Division 512 Map PacketInitial Results from OWRD Management Scenario
Division 512 RAC Virtual Check-In – October 29, 2024
Div 512 RAC Virtual Check-In PowerPointDiv 512 RAC Virtual Check-In Meeting Summary
Div 512 RAC Virtual Check-In Recording
Rules Advisory Committee Meeting #11 – November 13, 2024
This meeting is a hybrid meeting with a virtual option.
Key InformationDiv 512 RAC 11 AgendaSWMPA One Pager
Rules Advisory Committee Meeting #12 – December 18, 2024
Rules Advisory Committee Meeting #13 – January 22, 2025
USGS Information Session
USGS Information Session RecordingUSGS Information Session Presentation
2023 Informational Sessions
Informational Session 2 - Classification - August 3, 2023Informational Session 2 Video Classification PowerPointInformational Session 3 - Serious Water Management Problem Areas - August 10, 2023Informational Session 3 Video Serious Water Management Problem Areas PowerPointInformational Session 4 - Voluntary Agreement - August 17, 2023Informational Session 4 VideoVoluntary Agreements PowerPoint
Informational Session 5 - Critical Groundwater Area - August 24, 2023Informational Session 5 VideoCritical Groundwater Area Presentation VideoCritical Groundwater Area PowerPoint
Public Engagement, Hearings and Comments
If you have comments on this rulemaking, please contact Kelly Meinz.Email: WRD_DL_rule-coordinator@water.oregon.govPhone Number: 971-718-7087
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