OAR 690-051-0380: Water Rights

The right to the use of the waters of the State of Oregon in connection with the development of any water power project for the generation of electricity under a License issued by the Director shall be vested in the Licensee while the License or any lawful extension is in force. Each License shall be conditioned so the right to use water is expressly made inferior in right and subsequent in time to any future appropriation of water upstream for beneficial consumptive use. On termination of the License, the right to use water may be converted as provided in ORS 543A.305. In case a project is taken over by the state or a municipality under the provisions of ORS 543.610, the right to use the waters previously used by the project shall continue in the state or the municipality until lawfully terminated, transferred, or converted as provided in ORS 543A.305.