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<br />: r <br /> <br />. " Ih' .. <br />, ii:I I <br /> <br />: 000735 <br /> <br />Transferring Conserved Water: the Oregon Experience <br /> <br />/ <br /> <br />I. Introduction <br /> <br />A. Summary <br /> <br />In 1987, the Oregon Legislature passed Senate Bill 24 which created <br /> <br /> <br />a process for allocating conserved water to other uses. The legislation <br /> <br /> <br />attempted to provide an incentive to construct conservation measures. A <br /> <br /> <br />broad range of interests including agricultural and environmental <br /> <br /> <br />organizations were involved in drafting and securing passage of the bill. <br /> <br /> <br />Since passage, the Department has received only one application for <br /> <br /> <br />allocation of conserved water. The major deterrent to use of the new law <br /> <br /> <br />is the requirement that only "irretrievably lost" water that is conserved, <br /> <br />qualifies for transfer to additional use. The purpose in using the strict <br /> <br /> <br />"irretrievably lost" standard was to avoid potential harm to other users. <br /> <br /> <br />The value of the water to be conserved may not be high enough to <br /> <br /> <br />compensate for the costs of many conservation measures. <br /> <br />B. General References <br /> <br />Chapter 264, Oregon Laws 1987 (Senate Bill 24). Codifed as <br />ORS 537.455 to 537.500 and 540.510. <br /> <br />Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR) 690-18-010 to 090. <br /> <br />2 <br />