Notice of proposed order approving Burnt River Irrigation District water rights re-mapping petition

BAKER CITY, Ore. - On August 19, 2026, the Director of the Oregon Water Resources Department (Department) issued a draft order approving the petition and maps submitted to the Department by the Burnt River Irrigation District (BRID) showing the location and use of water rights served by the District. A 60-day protest period commences upon BRID publishing notice of the proposed order in a newspaper of general circulation in the area.

The petition and maps, prepared by BRID seek to confirm the present use of water rights for:

• Irrigation of 17,905.81 acres;

• Supplemental Irrigation of 19,951.82 acres;

• Wildlife Use of 51.20 acres;

• 24.60 equivalent right acres for Pond Maintenance; and

• Mining, Industrial, and Manufacturing uses.

The numerous sources of water to serve these petitioned uses are located in the Burnt River Valley.

A copy of BRID's petition, the supporting documentation, and the Department's findings are available for review at the East Region Office of the Oregon Water Resources Department, 39155 Pocahontas Rd, Baker City, OR 97814, or the office of Burnt River Irrigation District, 19498 Hwy 245, Hereford, OR 97837.

Upon review of the petition, the Director found BRID met the statutory requirements of ORS 541.325 to 541.333 (House Bill 3111) and issued the draft order approving the petition. If the Department receives no timely protests to the petition, it will proceed to issue a final order approving the petition and issue new water right certificates.

By no later than September 18, 2026, BRID shall publish notice of the proposed water right for each parcel contained in the petition. The notice must appear at least once a week, for a period of at least two weeks, in a newspaper with general circulation in the area of the District.

Any water user and owner of land with an appurtenant water right subject to assessment by BRID, and that would be altered by the petition, may officially protest the proposed order. The scope of protests the Department may consider is limited by statute to determining whether:

1) BRID has met the requirements of a petition according to ORS 541.325 to 541.333, and

2) the petitioned changes to water rights described in the proposed order would result in injury to existing water rights.

Such protests must be filed with the Department within 60 days of the date of the first publication of newspaper notice and be accompanied by the statutory filing fee. Any person may file comments on the proposed order within 120 days of the date of first newspaper publication (OAR 690-013-0310(4)). The Department will schedule a contested case hearing under ORS Chapter 183 if it cannot resolve timely protests.

A contested case hearing would determine whether the petitioner satisfied all the information requirements necessary for the Department to approve the petition and whether the petition would result in injury to the exercise of existing water rights. Following such hearing, if the Department finds the petitioner fulfilled all the necessary requirements and no injury to other water rights would occur, the Department shall issue both a final order approving the petition and new water right certificates.