Oregon Water Resources Department to hold public meeting on Dec. 11

The Oregon Department of Justice, on behalf of the Oregon Water Resources Department (WRD), has filed a motion with the Harney County Circuit Court. The motion is a settlement in a 2005 Harney County Circuit Court lawsuit.

If approved by the court, the motion would enforce the 1926 Silvies River Decree, authorizing WRD to assess and collect fees for the purpose of constructing and maintaining water control and measuring devices. This would enable the watermaster to adequately regulate and distribute water between decreed water right holders on the Silvies River and the Foley Slough. The assessments will be based on the number of acres with decreed water rights for each landowner.

WRD is sending copies of the Motion to Enforce the Decree and the Harney County Circuit Court Scheduling Order to Silvies River and Foley Slough water users. The Scheduling Order describes the timelines for responding to the motion. Written responses can be mailed to the court within 30 days of the date of this publication.

WRD will also be hosting a public meeting in Burns, where Department staff will be available to answer questions. The meeting will be on Dec. 11 at 5:30 p.m. at the Burns High School cafeteria/multipurpose room.

WRD is also preparing to send some landowners a separate letter to clarify the “dual-source” water rights for some parcels addressed in the 1926 Silvies River Decree.

For further information, or to obtain a copy of the Motion to Enforce the Decree and Scheduling Order, please contact Ivan Gall, East Region Manager, WRD, ivan.k.gall@wrd.state.or.us or call 541-523-8224, ext. 24.