ORS 568.952: Implementation of agricultural water management technical assistance program.

(1) To carry out the technical assistance program described in ORS 568.950, the Oregon State University Extension Service and the Oregon State University Agricultural Experiment Station may: (a) Support the acquisition and maintenance of equipment necessary for the collection of weather data, climate data and data related to agricultural water use and management, including equipment that measures or monitors water supply, water diversions, water use and evapotranspiration. Equipment may include, but need not be limited to: (A) AgriMet weather stations; (B) Other weather stations; (C) Eddy covariance stations; (D) Lysimeters; (E) Stream gauges; (F) Soil moisture meters; and (G) Water use measuring devices. (b) Form partnerships with agricultural producers to site data collection equipment and use the data collected in on-farm management practices, with preference given to producers that agree to develop on-farm demonstration projects, as described in ORS 568.950 (3). (c) Form partnerships and enter into cost-sharing agreements with institutions capable of maintaining data collection equipment and processing data, including, but not limited to, the United States Geological Survey, the United States Bureau of Reclamation, the Natural Resources Conservation Service of the United States Department of Agriculture, the National Weather Service of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the State Department of Agriculture, the Water Resources Department, the State Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Department of Environmental Quality, the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, the Oregon Climate Service and soil and water conservation districts. (d) Convene statewide or region-specific advisory groups or working groups to advise on any aspect of the program. (2) All data collected under subsection (1) of this section using public funds must be made publicly available. (3) In establishing and maintaining the voluntary demonstration network described in ORS 568.950 (3), the Oregon State University Extension Service and the Oregon State University Agricultural Experiment Station: (a) May receive and expend funds from any source to: (A) Design and implement demonstration projects under ORS 568.950 (3); or (B) Provide stipends to agricultural producers participating in the voluntary demonstration network described in ORS 568.950 (3) for time, equipment and related expenses. (b) Shall prioritize projects that have the potential to increase drought resiliency and provide quantifiable water quantity and quality benefits to other in-stream and out-of-stream water users or uses. [2023 c.606 §13]