Oregon Law
Law as of Jan 1, 2026
Chapter contents
549.010Definitions for ORS 549.020 and 549.030 549.020Contracts between counties and federal agencies 549.030Agreement by two or more counties with federal agency 549.110Application to county court for authority to build drainage ditch or levee, or to widen or straighten a stream 549.120Procedure; appointment of commissioners; order to commissioners 549.130Commissioner’s oath 549.140Duties of commissioners 549.150Considering benefits in assessing damages 549.160Report of commissioners to county court; payment to landowner; recording report; construction of improvement 549.170Appeal to circuit court from assessment of damages 549.180Bringing additional water into ditch without payment of compensation prohibited; civil liability 549.190Other rights protected 549.310Application of ORS 549.320 to 549.400 549.320Petition by landowners to drain lands or improve drains 549.330Survey of work; plats, plans; estimates of cost; assessment of damages; hearing and determination by county court 549.340Construction; functions of county surveyor or county engineer; performance by landowner 549.350Report as to work done; assessment of costs; unpaid assessments 549.360Extension of work across or under highway or railroad; duty as to construction and maintenance; cost 549.370Maintenance of work; inspection; notice to landowners; when work ordered; assessment of cost 549.380Acquisition of property necessary to improvement; condemnation; prior payment of compensation unnecessary 549.390Appeal from order authorizing work or assessing damages 549.400Obstruction, befoulment or pollution of ditch prohibited 549.510Repair of dikes protecting contiguous tracts of different owners; refusal of one owner to repair; reconstruction by other; recovery of expense 549.520Complaint to county judge of neglect to repair; notice; examination; findings; direction to delinquent owner to repair dike 549.530Entry on land by complainant to repair dike; recovery of cost of repair 549.540Dikes constructed under agreement excepted 549.605Definitions for ORS 549.605 to 549.645 549.610Water Resources Commission to participate on behalf of state in federal flood control projects; powers and duties of commission 549.615Entering upon land 549.620Acquisition of property 549.625Powers of commission with respect to acquired property 549.630Operation and maintenance of projects 549.635Agreements for joint participation or aid 549.640Disposition of moneys received by commission 549.645Waiver of state’s immunity to suit or action 549.710Powers of counties with populations in excess of 50,000 549.720Procedure for removing or destroying drifts and drifting materials 549.730Budgeting and appropriating money for water conservation and flood control 549.990Penalties

Chapter 549 — Drainage and Flood Control Generally

ORS 549.180 Bringing additional water into ditch without payment of compensation prohibited; civil liability

No person shall tap or bring additional water into any drainage district or drainage district ditch already dug without paying a reasonable compensation therefor and securing the written permission of district officials. The criminal penalty for violation of this section shall not relieve the defendant from civil liability for damages.

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Provenance

Version history

2026-01-01

2025 Oregon Revised Statutes — official online source