OAR 690-018-0012
Allocation Formula and Process
(1)
Pursuant to ORS 537.470 (Allocation of conserved water by commission)(3), after determining the quantity of conserved water, if any, required to mitigate the effects on other water rights, the Commission shall allocate 25 percent of the remaining conserved water to the state and 75 percent to the applicant, unless the applicant proposes a higher allocation to the state or more than 25 percent of the funds used to finance the conservation measures comes from federal or state public sources. If more than 25 percent of the funds used to finance the conservation measures comes from federal or state public sources and is not subject to repayment, the Commission shall allocate to the state a percentage equal to the percentage of public funds used to finance the conservation measures and allocate to the applicant a percentage equal to the percentage of other funds used to finance the conservation measures. In no event, however, shall the applicant receive less than 25 percent of the remaining conserved water unless the applicant proposes a higher allocation to the state.(2)
A water right affected by an allocation of conserved water under this program shall retain its original priority date. The priority date of the conserved water rights shall be either the same as or one minute after that of the original right.(3)
Many water users have expressed concern about the effects of an allocation of conserved water on the continued use of water under the original water right. These rules allow for a period of up to five years after implementation of a conservation project to confirm that the project is performing as expected. This will allow water right holders to better determine the adequacy of the quantity of water allocated to the original right. However, no out-of-stream uses may be made of the conserved water until after final completion of the project and issuance of the new certificates.
Source:
Rule 690-018-0012 — Allocation Formula and Process, https://secure.sos.state.or.us/oard/view.action?ruleNumber=690-018-0012.