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Exempt Uses, Water Distribution and Enforcement Rulemakings

Divisions 250 and 260 were last amended in 1988 and 1990, respectively. Since then, legislators have added new statutes and clarified expectations for lawful water use, including Senate Bills SB 85 (2023), and SB 326 (2023), and House Bills HB 2010 (2023), HB 2929 (2023), HB 3372 (2025), and HB 4061 (2022). While these rules are open to revision, OWRD is also interested in making other improvements. 

The new or amended rules would seek to:  
  • Align rules with current statutory authority  
  • Modernize watermaster regulation process  
  • Build regulatory consistency   
  • Add and clarify definitions  
Update: Informed by public input received through 10 public open house events in May and June 2026, OWRD will complete two separate rulemakings for OAR, 690 Divisions Division 340 and 300 Exempt Use and 250 and 260 Water Distribution and Enforcement. Dividing up the rulemaking into two distinct rulemakings will allow for additional time and engagement on the important topics. 

During public open house events, OWRD heard that additional engagement was needed on topics included within the OAR 690, Divisions 250 and 260, prior to the beginning of the legal rulemaking process. A summary of the public feedback received during the open houses held in May and June 2026 are available under the background tab below. 

OWRD will initiate a rulemaking on exempt uses to update Division 340 and corresponding definitions in Division 300 beginning in the fall of 2026. OWRD will then initiate a separate rulemaking to update Divisions 250 and 260 which would be expected to begin in late summer or fall 2027 after additional research and engagement. 



For more information about the open houses we held about these rulemakings, please see the information below.

The Department is planning to host the open houses across the state:

New – Virtual Open House
June 22, 2026, 2–4 p.m.

Tillamook 
May 19, 2026, 6–8 p.m.  
Tillamook Bay Community College
Rooms 214 and 215
4301 Third St.
Tillamook, OR 97141 

Monmouth 
May 21, 2026, 6–8 p.m. 
Monmouth City Hall
Council Room Chambers
151 Main St W.
Monmouth, OR 97361 
 
Roseburg 
May 27, 2026, 6–8 p.m. 
Roseburg Public Library 
Ford Room 
1409 NE Diamond Lake Blvd.  
Roseburg, OR 97470 

Klamath Falls
May 28, 2026, 6–8 p.m. 
Klamath Community College 
Conference Center Building 7 
7390 S 6th St. 
Klamath Falls, OR 97603

Hood River 
June 2, 2026, 6–8 p.m. 
Hood River Armory 
1590 12th St.
Hood River, OR 97301

​Hermiston 
June 3, 2026, 6–8 p.m.  
Hermiston Armory 
900 SE Columbia Dr. 
Hermiston, OR 97801 

Baker City 
June 15, 2026, 6–8 p.m.  
Baker City High School
Main Common Area 
2500 E St. 
Baker City, OR 97814 

Ontario 
June 16, 2026, 6–8 p.m.  (MST) 
Four Rivers Cultural Center 
676 SW 5th Ave.
Ontario, OR 97914 

Redmond 
June 17, 2026, 6–8 p.m.  
(Location Updated 6/3/26)
Pleasant Ridge Community Hall
7067 SW Canal Blvd.
Redmond, OR 97756
​

The following materials were distributed and used at the open houses to share information and gather feedback on these potential rulemaking topics. 

Each topic has materials listed that provide a brief description of the issue, explains why rulemaking may be needed, invites feedback on the topic, and shares how you can stay engaged in this rulemaking.

Overview of Rulemaking  
Overview of Rulemaking Handout 
​
Waste of Water 

Bulges In the System 
Bulges in the System Handout​ (updated 5/20/26)

Exempt Uses 

Violations and Penalties 

Rotation Agreements