Oregon Water Resources Department

Oregon water regulators have once again rejected a proposal for a large irrigation reservoir in the Willamette Valley.

Over the past couple of years, demand for water in the Harney Basin has increased while groundwater levels in the region have decreased.  Now the Oregon Water Resources Department is slated to begin rulemaking which intends to address those declining groundwater levels in the basin.   ...

If drought returns to Klamath County this year, farmers and growers shouldn’t expect assistance from the state.  The Oregon Water Resources Department recently announced if a drought emergency is declared, it is unlikely that Emergency Use Permits for groundwater will be issued.  Better known ...

In Oregon, a new state law took effect Friday June 3rd, in an effort to crack down on illegal marijuana and hemp grows using water intended for legitimate agricultural operations. Alyssa Rash, with Oregon’s Water Resources Department, said there are now requirements for water haulers and suppliers to track to whom the water is going. “ ...

The Oregon Water Resources Department announced it will reopen public lobbies and offices to visitors and customers of the Department on Monday, May 2nd. Because of the pandemic, the physical offices have been closed to visitors since March 2020 ...

The Oregon Water Resources Department will host a well constructor licensing examination on October 11th, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Oregon Department of Water Resources offices in Salem. The exam is available for those wishing to secure a new well constructor license for monitoring and water wells or those needing to renew their license more than 12 months after their license has expired ... R

Oregon farmers and ranchers dealing with dry or low producing wells are encouraged to report those problems to the state Water Resources Department. OWRD’s Bryn Hudson, says the department is trying to understand not only changes in aquifers across the state but also how the drought is impacting ground water supplies. "Additi ...

Saturday is the first day of fall, but Oregon will continue to deal with summer like drought for the foreseeable future.  The Beaver state is very dry, and that’s impacting area reservoirs.  Wickiup Reservoir which serves Central Oregon is reporting water levels not seen in a generation.  Kyle Gorman, ...