Current through Register Vol. 63, No. 9, September 1, 2024
(1) The maximum
economic development of this state, the attainment of the highest and best use
of the waters of the Owyhee Basin, and the attainment of an integrated and
coordinated program for the benefit of the state as a whole will be furthered
through utilization of the aforementioned waters only for domestic, livestock,
municipal, irrigation, flow augmentation, commercial, agriculture, power
development, industrial, mining, recreation, wildlife, and fish life uses, and
the waters of the Owyhee Basin are hereby so classified with the following
exceptions:
(a) The maximum economic
development of this state, and the attainment of the highest and best use of
the waters of the mainstem of the South Fork Owyhee River from the Oregon -
Idaho border to Three Forks (the confluence of the North, Middle and South
Forks Owyhee River), and the main stem Owyhee River from Crooked Creek (river
mile 118) to the mouth of Birch Creek (river mile 76), and the attainment of an
integrated and coordinated program for the benefit of the state as a whole will
be furthered through utilization of the aforementioned waters only for
domestic, livestock, municipal, irrigation, industrial, mining, recreation,
wildlife, and fish life uses and the aforementioned waters are hereby so
classified.
(b) The maximum
economic development of this state, the attainment of the highest and best use
of the waters of the natural lakes of the Owyhee Basin, and the attainment of
an integrated and coordinated program for the benefit of the state as a whole
will be furthered through utilization of the aforementioned waters only for
domestic, livestock, irrigation of lawn or noncommercial garden not to exceed
one-half acre in area, power development not to exceed 7 1/2 theoretical
horsepower, recreation, wildlife, and fish life uses, and the waters of the
natural lakes of the Owyhee Basin are hereby so classified.
(2) Surface water classification:
(a) Owyhee River and its tributaries above
the Owyhee Reservoir are withdrawn from further appropriation for irrigation
purposes by order of the State Engineer dated May 27, 1929.
(3) Stored water may be used for
any beneficial purpose.
(4)
Storage, of up to 1,000 acre-feet of water in the Owyhee Basin, for domestic or
livestock purposes authorized under water rights with priority dates after
November 6, 1992, shall be exempt from regulation for storage of water reserved
under OAR 690-511-0110.
Stat. Auth.: ORS 536
Stats. Implemented: ORS
536.220 &
536.310
