Or. Admin. R. 690-077-0033 – Application Processing: Public Interest Presumption

(1) The Department shall presume that a proposed water use will not impair or be detrimental to the public interest if:
1. (a) The proposed use is allowed in the applicable basin program established pursuant to ORS 536.300 and 536.340 or given a preference under 536.310(12);
2. (b) Water is available;
3. (c) The proposed use will not injure other water rights; and
4. (d) The proposed use complies with the rules of the Commission.
(2) The public interest presumption described in Section (1) of this rule is a rebuttable presumption and may be overcome by a preponderance of the evidence that either:
1. (a) One or more of the criteria for establishing the public interest presumption are not satisfied; or
2. (b) The proposed use will impair or be detrimental to the public interest as demonstrated in comments, protests or a finding of the Department that shows:
  1. (A) The specific public interest under ORS 537.170(7) that would be impaired or detrimentally affected; and
  2. (B) Specifically how the identified public interest would be impaired or detrimentally affected.

ORS 536.025, ORS 536.027, ORS 537.153 & ORS 537.338

ORS 537.332 - 537.360, ORS 536, ORS 537, ORS 537.170 & Or Laws 2025 ch 575