Oregon Water Resources Department
Encyclopedia
The Oregon Water Resources Department (WRD) is the chief regulatory agency of the government
of the U.S. state
of Oregon
responsible for management of all surface and ground water in the state, which by statute belongs to the public. The department’s primary activities include protection of existing water rights, facilitation of voluntary streamflow restoration, public education about the state’s water resources, collection and dissemination of water resource data, and facilitation of water supply solutions.
Following unsuccessful attempts at water rights management as early as 1897, and inability to adequately implement the 1894 federal Carey act
, the Oregon Legislative Assembly
established the office of State Engineer in 1905, and as the Water Act of 1909 which dedicated all ground and surface waters to the public. Also in 1909, a comprehensive code of water laws were adopted. recommendations of several task forces and study groups over several years. Over the years, a number of boards, agencies and bureaus were established, specifically or as part of a broader mandate, to address particular water supply related issues ranging from the Desert Lands Board to the Willamette Basin Commission. In 1987, the present-day Water Resources Department was created to enable a more comprehensive and coordinated approach to water policy.
State government
A state government is the government of a subnational entity in a federal form of government, which shares political power with the federal or national government. A state government may have some level of political autonomy, or be subject to the direct control of the federal government...
of the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
responsible for management of all surface and ground water in the state, which by statute belongs to the public. The department’s primary activities include protection of existing water rights, facilitation of voluntary streamflow restoration, public education about the state’s water resources, collection and dissemination of water resource data, and facilitation of water supply solutions.
Following unsuccessful attempts at water rights management as early as 1897, and inability to adequately implement the 1894 federal Carey act
Carey act
The Carey Act of 1894 allowed private companies in the U.S. to erect irrigation systems in the western semi-arid states, and profit from the sales of water. The Carey Act was enacted into law by Congress by the Act of August 18, 1894 , as amended...
, the Oregon Legislative Assembly
Oregon Legislative Assembly
The Oregon Legislative Assembly is the state legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. The Legislative Assembly is bicameral, consisting of an upper and lower house: the Senate, whose 30 members are elected to serve four-year terms; and the House of Representatives, with 60 members elected to...
established the office of State Engineer in 1905, and as the Water Act of 1909 which dedicated all ground and surface waters to the public. Also in 1909, a comprehensive code of water laws were adopted. recommendations of several task forces and study groups over several years. Over the years, a number of boards, agencies and bureaus were established, specifically or as part of a broader mandate, to address particular water supply related issues ranging from the Desert Lands Board to the Willamette Basin Commission. In 1987, the present-day Water Resources Department was created to enable a more comprehensive and coordinated approach to water policy.