(1) Any person may purchase or lease all or a portion of an existing water right or accept a gift of all or a portion of an existing water right for conversion to an in-stream water right. Any water right converted to an in-stream water right under this section shall retain the priority date of the water right purchased, leased or received as a gift. At the request of the person the Water Resources Commission shall issue a new certificate for the in-stream water right showing the original priority date of the purchased, gifted or leased water right. A person who transfers a water right by purchase, lease or gift under this subsection shall comply with the requirements for the transfer of a water right under ORS 540.505 to 540.585.
(2) Any person who has an existing water right may lease all or a portion of the existing water right for use as an in-stream water right for a specified period without the loss of the original priority date. During the term of such lease, the use of the water right as an in-stream water right shall be considered a beneficial use.
(3) A lease of all or a portion of an existing water right for use as an in-stream water right under subsection (2) of this section may allow the split use of the water between the existing water right and the in-stream right during the same water or calendar year provided:
(a) The uses are not concurrent; and
(b) The holders of the water rights measure and report to the Water Resources Department the use of the existing water right and the in-stream water right. [1987 c.859 §9; 2001 c.205 §1]
Note: The amendments to 537.348 by section 2, chapter 205, Oregon Laws 2001, become operative January 2, 2014. See section 3, chapter 205, Oregon Laws 2001, as amended by section 1, chapter 355, Oregon Laws 2007. The text that is operative on and after January 2, 2014, is set forth for the user’s convenience.
537.348. (1) Any person may purchase or lease all or a portion of an existing water right or accept a gift of all or a portion of an existing water right for conversion to an in-stream water right. Any water right converted to an in-stream water right under this section shall retain the priority date of the water right purchased, leased or received as a gift. At the request of the person the Water Resources Commission shall issue a new certificate for the in-stream water right showing the original priority date of the purchased, gifted or leased water right. A person who transfers a water right by purchase, lease or gift under this subsection shall comply with the requirements for the transfer of a water right under ORS 540.505 to 540.585.
(2) Any person who has an existing water right may lease all or a portion of the existing water right for use as an in-stream water right for a specified period without the loss of the original priority date. During the term of such lease, the use of the water right as an in-stream water right shall be considered a beneficial use.
Section: Previous 537.336 537.338 537.340 537.341 537.343 537.345 537.346 537.348 537.349 537.350 537.352 537.354 537.356 537.358 537.360 NextLast modified: August 7, 2008