Oregon Law
Law as of Jan 1, 2026
Chapter contents
539.005Purpose of chapter; rules 539.010Protection of water rights vested or initiated prior to February 24, 1909 539.015Certification of statements of claimants; oaths 539.020[Repealed by 1987 c.541 §1 (539.021 enacted in lieu of 539.020)] 539.021Determination by Water Resources Director of rights of claimants; transfer of action to director 539.030Notice of investigation of stream 539.040Notice of hearing by director 539.050[Amended by 1955 c.669 §3; repealed by 1987 c.541 §10] 539.060[Repealed by 1987 c.541 §10] 539.070Hearing by director; adjournments 539.080[Amended by 1971 c.621 §37; 1975 c.607 §40; 1979 c.67 §3; 1981 c.627 §2; 1983 c.256 §2; repealed by 1987 c.541 §6 (539.081 enacted in lieu of 539.080)] 539.081Fees for registration statement or statement and proof of claim; exemption; disposition 539.090Notice of right to inspect evidence, and of place of court hearing 539.100Contest of claims submitted to director; notice by contestant; service on contestee 539.110Hearing of contest; notice of; procedure 539.120Examination by director of stream and diversions in contest; record; map 539.130Findings of fact and determination of director; certification of proceedings; filing in court; fixing time for hearing by court; notice; force of director’s determination 539.140Water right certificates 539.150Court proceedings to review determination of director 539.160Transmittal of copy of decree to department; instructions to watermasters 539.170Division of water pending hearing 539.180Bond or irrevocable letter of credit to stay operation of director’s determination; notice to watermaster 539.190Rehearing by circuit court 539.200Conclusiveness of determinations as to water rights 539.210Duty of claimants to appear and submit proof; nonappearance as forfeiture; intervention in proceedings 539.220Procedure when rights to same stream have been determined in different proceedings 539.230Notice of need to file registration statement; publication requirements; additional methods of providing notice 539.240Claim to undetermined right to appropriate surface water; registration statement; contents; effect of failure to file; recognizing changes to right; rules 539.300Legislative findings 539.310Negotiation for water rights 539.320Agreement; submission to court 539.330Notice to persons affected by agreement 539.340Court decree; effective date of agreement; remand 539.350Procedures after remand of agreement 539.360Participation in management of Upper Klamath Basin Comprehensive Agreement

Chapter 539 — Before February 24, 1909; Determination of Water Rights of Federally Re

ORS 539.021 Determination by Water Resources Director of rights of claimants; transfer of action to director

(1)

The Water Resources Director upon the motion of the director or, in the discretion of the director, upon receipt of a petition from one or more appropriators of surface water from any natural watercourse in this state shall make a determination of the relative rights of the various claimants to the waters of that watercourse.

(2)

If an action is brought in the circuit court for determination of rights to the use of water, the case may, in the discretion of the court, be transferred to the director for determination as provided in this chapter.

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