OAR 690-506-0020: Policies

The waters of the John Day River Basin provide the public with important economic, social, and environmental benefits: (1) In managing the surface and ground waters of the basin the Water Resources Commission shall encourage: (a) Increases in crop production lands through: (A) Better seasonal distribution of streamflows; (B) Protection of ground water quality and quantity; and (C) Water conservation. (b) Enhancement of wild anadromous fish production and resident fish production through: (A) Better seasonal distribution of streamflows; (B) Water conservation; (C) Protection and improvement of riparian areas; and (D) Maintenance of instream flows. (c) Provision of adequate water supplies for livestock and wildlife through: (A) Better seasonal distribution of streamflows; (B) Protection of ground water quality and quantity; and (C) Water conservation. (d) Enhancement of water-related tourism and recreation opportunities, especially on lakes and reservoirs, the scenic waterway, and major streams through: (A) Better seasonal distribution of streamflows; (B) Water conservation; (C) Protection and improvement of riparian areas; and (D) Maintenance of instream flows. (e) Maintenance of adequate water quality and quantity for projected domestic, industrial, and municipal growth through: (A) Better seasonal distribution of streamflows; (B) Protection of ground water quality and quantity; (C) Water conservation; and (D) Protection and improvement of riparian areas. (f) Development of storage reservoirs that are beneficial to anadromous fish and other uses. (2) The Commission shall: (a) Allow water use for mining purposes employing practices which do not interfere significantly with other uses; (b) Prohibit power development where proposed hydroelectric projects damage wild anadromous fish or resident game fish, or harm other resource values beyond mitigation.