ORS 536.050: Fees; rules; refunds; waiver and reduction of certain fees.

(1) The Water Resources Department may collect the following fees in advance: (a) For examining an application for a permit: (A) To appropriate water, except as provided under ORS 543.280 for an application for a hydroelectric project: (i) A base fee of $1,635 for an appropriation of water through a single use, point of diversion or point of appropriation; (ii) $615 for the first second-foot or fraction thereof appropriated under the permit; (iii) $615 for each additional second-foot or fraction thereof appropriated under the permit; (iv) $615 for each additional use, point of diversion or point of appropriation included in the application; (v) If appropriating stored water, $62 for the first acre-foot or fraction thereof up to 20 acre-feet, plus $2.10 for each additional acre-foot or fraction thereof; and (vi) If appropriating ground water, in addition to any other fees, $720 for each application filed. (B) To store water under ORS 537.400 or 537.534 (4): (i) A base fee of $1,635; (ii) $62 for the first acre-foot or fraction thereof up to 20 acre-feet, plus $2.10 for each additional acre-foot or fraction thereof; and (iii) $240 for each additional storage location. (C) To exclusively appropriate stored water: (i) A base fee of $915; and (ii) $62 for the first acre-foot or fraction thereof up to 20 acre-feet, plus $2.10 for each additional acre-foot or fraction thereof up to 600 acre-feet plus $1.00 for each additional acre-foot or fraction thereof after 600 acre-feet. (b) For a permit issued under ORS 537.147, 537.211, 537.409 or 537.625 to appropriate or store water: (A) A base fee of $915 for recording the permit; and (B) An additional fee of $1,185 if the permit is issued pursuant to a final order that contains provisions requested by the applicant for mitigating impacts to the proposed water source. (c) For filing and recording the assignment or partial assignment of a water right application, permit or license under ORS 537.220 or 537.635, $180. (d) For copying records in the department, $4.10 for the first page and $1.10 for each additional page. (e) For certifying copies, documents, records or maps, $21 for each certificate. (f) For a blueprint copy of any map or drawing, the actual cost of the work. (g) For a computer-generated map, the actual cost of the work. (h) For examining an application for approval of a change to an existing water right or permit: (A) A base fee of $2,040 for a change to a single water right or permit; (B) $1,635 for each additional type of change requested; (C) For a request for a change in place of use or type of use or for a water exchange under ORS 540.533, $615 for each second-foot or fraction thereof requested beyond the first second-foot; (D) $915 for each additional water right or permit included in the application; (E) An additional fee of $720 per application, if the application is for an additional point of appropriation, a change in a point of appropriation or a change from surface water to ground water or for substitution as described in ORS 540.524; and (F) $615 for each additional point of appropriation included in the application. (i) For examining an application for a temporary change in place of use under ORS 540.523, for a temporary transfer under ORS 540.585 or for a temporary change in place of use, a change in the point of diversion to allow for the appropriation of ground water or a change of a primary right to a supplemental right under ORS 540.570, a base fee of $1,425 for the first water right or permit, plus $465 for each additional water right or permit included in the application and: (A) For nonirrigation uses, $345 for each second-foot or fraction thereof requested beyond the first second-foot; or (B) For irrigation uses, $4.10 per acre of land irrigated or, if the application and required map are submitted to the department in a department-approved digital format, $1.10 per acre of land irrigated. (j) For submitting a protest to the department: (A) $1,425 if the protest is by a nonapplicant; and (B) $720 if the protest is by an applicant. (k) For filing an application for extension of time within which irrigation or other works shall be completed or a water right perfected, $1,170. (L) For a limited license under ORS 537.143 or 537.534 (2), the fee established by rule by the Water Resources Commission. (m) For filing, examining and certifying a petition under ORS 541.329, $720 plus 20 cents per acre of water involved in the application. For purposes of computing this fee, when any acreage within a quarter quarter of a section is involved, the 20 cents per acre shall apply to all acres in that quarter quarter of a section. Notwithstanding the fee amount established in this paragraph, a district notifying the department under ORS 541.327 (4) shall pay the actual cost of filing, examining and certifying the petition. (n) For requesting standing under ORS 536.077 or 543A.120, $405. (o) For participating in a contested case proceeding under ORS 536.077 or 543A.130, $1,020. (p) Except for an applicant, for obtaining a copy of both a proposed final order and a final order for a water right application under ORS 537.140 to 537.252, 537.505 to 537.795 or 543A.005 to 543A.300 or an extension issued under ORS 537.230, 537.248 or 537.630, $53. (q) For examining an application to store water under ORS 537.409: (A) A base fee of $720; and (B) $62 for each acre-foot or fraction thereof. (r) For submitting a notice of intent under ORS 543A.030 or 543A.075, the amount established by the Water Resources Director under ORS 543A.410. (s) For examining an application for a substitution made under ORS 540.524: (A) A base fee of $1,485 for the first well substitution; and (B) A fee of $720 for each additional well substitution. (t) For examining an application for an allocation of conserved water under ORS 537.455 to 537.500: (A) A base fee of $2,040 for the first water right that is part of the allocation; and (B) An additional fee of $720 for each water right that is part of the allocation beyond the first water right. (u) For submitting a water management and conservation plan pursuant to rules of the commission: (A) $1,020, if the plan is submitted by an agricultural water supplier; (B) $1,830, if the plan is submitted by a municipal water supplier serving a population of 1,000 or fewer persons; or (C) $3,675, if the plan is submitted by a municipal water supplier serving a population of more than 1,000 persons. (v) For examining a new application for an in-stream water right lease under ORS 537.348: (A) $915 for an application for a lease with four or more landowners or four or more water rights; or (B) $615 for all other applications. (w) For examining an application for an in-stream water right lease renewal, $225. (x) For submitting a claim of beneficial use under a permit having a priority date of July 9, 1987, or later, or a transfer submitted on July 9, 1987, or later, $345. (y) For submitting a request no later than 60 days after cancellation of a permit under ORS 537.260 to reinstate the permit, $915. (z) For submitting a request for a basin program exception under ORS 536.295, $1,170. (aa) For processing an application under ORS 537.225 for an assignment of water right to one or more landowners and issuance of replacement water right permits, the actual cost of the work. (2)(a) The department may charge a dam owner an annual fee based upon the dam’s hazard rating as determined by the department. The fees the department may charge the dam owner are: (A) $190 for a dam with a low hazard rating. (B) $360 for a dam with a significant hazard rating. (C) $1,235 for a dam with a high hazard rating. (D) If the dam owner fails to pay an annual fee on or before six months after the billing date, a late fee of $220. (b) If a dam owner fails to pay an annual fee or a late fee charged by the department, the department may, after giving the dam owner notice by certified mail, place a lien on the real property where the dam is located for the fees owed by the dam owner. (3) Notwithstanding the fees established under subsection (1) of this section, the commission may establish lower examination and permit fees by rule for: (a) The right to appropriate water for a storage project of five acre-feet or less; or (b) The right to appropriate water for the purpose of allowing the applicant to water livestock outside of a riparian area, as that term is defined in ORS 541.890. (4)(a) The director may refund all or part of a fee paid to the department under this section if the director determines that a refund of the fee is appropriate in the interests of fairness to the public or necessary to correct an error of the department. (b) The director may refund all or part of the protest fee described in subsection (1)(j) of this section to the legal owner or occupant who filed a protest under ORS 540.641 if an order of the Water Resources Commission establishes that all or part of a water right has not been canceled or modified under ORS 540.610 to 540.650. (5) The director may waive all or part of a fee for a change to a water right permit under ORS 537.211 (4), a change to a water right subject to transfer under ORS 540.520 or 540.523 or an allocation of conserved water under ORS 537.470, if the change or allocation of conserved water is: (a) Made pursuant to ORS 537.348; (b) Necessary to complete a project funded under ORS 541.932; or (c) Approved by the State Department of Fish and Wildlife as a change or allocation of conserved water that will result in a net benefit to fish and wildlife habitat. (6) Notwithstanding the fees established pursuant to this section, the commission may adopt by rule reduced fees for persons submitting materials to the department in a digital format approved by the department. (7) All moneys received under this section, less any amounts refunded under subsection (4) of this section, shall be deposited in the Water Resources Department Water Right Operating Fund. (8) Notwithstanding subsection (7) of this section, all fees received by the department for power purposes under ORS 543.280 shall be deposited in the Water Resources Department Hydroelectric Fund established by ORS 536.015. [Amended by 1961 c.187 §3; 1967 c.36 §1; 1973 c.163 §4; 1975 c.581 §21; 1981 c.627 §1; 1983 c.256 §1; 1985 c.673 §12; 1987 c.815 §8; 1989 c.587 §1; 1989 c.758 §1; 1989 c.933 §4; 1989 c.1000 §6; 1991 c.734 §49a; 1991 c.869 §4; 1995 c.416 §1; 1995 c.752 §6; 1997 c.449 §35; 1997 c.587 §1; 1999 c.555 §3; 1999 c.664 §1; 1999 c.665 §1; 1999 c.873 §19; 2003 c.594 §1; 2003 c.691 §4; 2003 c.705 §7; 2005 c.156 §1; 2007 c.188 §1; 2007 c.267 §1; 2009 c.819 §§5,12; 2013 c.166 §§4,5; 2013 c.644 §§1,2; 2017 c.571 §§1,2; 2021 c.515 §1; 2025 c.570 §1; 2025 c.575 §25]