Each application for modification of a certificate of registration shall be prepared in ink or typewritten on a form provided by the Department. Applications shall contain the following minimum information concerning the certificate of registration and any appurtenant water right or permit, if applicable:

1. (1) Applicant's name, mailing address, email address, if available, and telephone number.
2. (2) Type of change proposed.
3. (3) Name appearing on the certificate of registration.
4. (4) Certificate of registration number for the registration to be modified.
5. (5) Water right certificate, permit, or certificate of registration numbers, as applicable, for any layered water uses subject to transfer, permits, or certificates of registration, pursuant to OAR 690-382-0200 and OAR 690-382-0300(2).
6. (6) Source of water as described on the certificate of registration.
7. (7) Tentative date of priority.
8. (8) The existing registered and, if applicable, previously recognized point(s) of appropriation and the proposed point(s) of appropriation located accurately in reference to a public land survey corner, if applicable.
9. (9) The existing registered and, if applicable, previously recognized use of water and the proposed use of water, if applicable.
10. (10) The existing registered and, if applicable, previously recognized place of use and the proposed place of use identified by its location within the public land survey and tax lot number, if applicable.

11. (11) A map, which need not be prepared by a certified water right examiner, meeting the standards in OAR chapter 690, division 305, as well as the following criteria:

    1. (a) Horizontal field accuracy shall be consistent with standard surveying practices for the purpose of locating and quantifying water rights.
    2. (b) If the proposed modification involves changes in place of use or character of use for more than three layered, as defined in OAR 690-382-0100(4), certificates of registration, a separate map shall be provided for each certificate of registration.
    3. (c) The location of each existing registered and, if applicable, previously recognized point(s) of appropriation and proposed point(s) of appropriation.
    4. (d) For a change in point of appropriation that does not also include a change in place of use, identification of the lands to be served by the proposed point of appropriation. If the proposed point of appropriation is not intended to serve the entire certificate of registration, the specific lands to be served shall be identified and the number of registered acres to be served by the new point of appropriation shall be listed.
    5. (e) For a change in place of use or character of use, the location of the existing registered and, if applicable, previously recognized place of use and proposed place of use of the water. If the application is for irrigation, nursery use, cranberry use, or other similar uses, the place of use indicated on the map shall be shaded or hachured and shall show the number of acres in each quarter-quarter section, government lot, or quarter-quarter section as projected within government lots, donation land claims, or other recognized public land survey subdivisions. If the certificate of registration involved in the proposed modification has multiple tentative priority dates or uses, the lands to be served by each tentative priority date and on which each use is proposed must be separately identified.
    6. (f) The location of any part of the certificate of registration not involved in the proposed modification. For modifications involving less than 67 percent of the entire place of use of the certificate of registration, the map shall include at least the location of the portions of the registration not involved in the proposed modification which are included in the same quarter-quarter sections as the proposed modification. The applicant shall have the burden of proving the proposed modification involves less than 67 percent of the entire place of use of the certificate of registration. However, the Department may require a greater portion of the certificate of registration or the entire certificate of registration to be mapped, if necessary to make a determination of potential injury.
    7. (g) The location of property lines for the property involved in the modification, in the vicinity of the modification. For modification of municipal, quasi-municipal, and other similar certificates of registration, the property lines need not be shown; however, the service area boundaries shall be indicated.

12. (12) Land use information as outlined in the Department's Land Use Planning Procedures Guide, except for those modifications that meet the following four requirements:

    1. (a) Where existing registered and, if applicable, previously recognized water uses and proposed water uses would be located entirely within lands zoned for exclusive farm use as provided in ORS 215.203 or within irrigation districts;
    2. (b) That involve changes in place of use only;
    3. (c) That do not involve the placement or modification of structures including but not limited to water diversion, impoundment, or distribution facilities, water wells, and well houses; and
    4. (d) That involve irrigation water uses only.
13. (13) For a change in point of appropriation, copies of water well reports for the existing registered and, if applicable, previously recognized point(s) of appropriation and proposed point(s) of appropriation. If water well reports are not available, a description of the construction of each well, including but not limited to, well depth, static water level, casing size, and any other necessary information to establish the groundwater body developed or proposed to be developed.

14. (14) A listing of the names and mailing addresses of:

    1. (a) All affected local governments, including but not limited to, county, city, municipal corporations, and tribal governments; and
    2. (b) Any district in which the affected registration is located or that serves the registration and any district in which the affected registration would be located or that would serve the registration after the proposed modification.
15. (15) An oath that the information contained in the application is true and accurate.

16. (16) The following information related to the authority of the applicant to pursue the proposed modification:

    1. (a) A signed statement that the applicant understands that, upon receipt of the initial review described in OAR 690-382-0550 and prior to Department recognition of the modification, the applicant will be required to provide the landownership information and evidence identified in 690-382-0550(6) to demonstrate that the applicant is authorized to pursue the modification;
    2. (b) A statement affirming that the applicant is a municipality as defined in ORS 540.510(3)(b) and that the certificate of registration is in the name of the municipality or a predecessor; or
    3. (c) Documentation that the applicant is an entity with the authority to condemn property and is acquiring by condemnation the property to which the certificate of registration proposed for modification is appurtenant. Such an entity may only apply for recognition of a modification under this subsection if it has filed a condemnation action to acquire the property and deposited the funds with the court as required by ORS 35.265. Such an entity need not obtain the consent or authorization for the change from any other person or entity.
17. (17) The signature of the applicant, and if an entity, the title of the person signing the form.

18. (18) The appropriate fee required under ORS 537.610 as follows:

    1. (a) For examination of an application to only change the place of use under a certificate of registration, 70 percent of the amount allowed in ORS 537.610.
    2. (b) For examination of all other applications to modify a certificate of registration, the maximum amount allowed in ORS 537.610.

Statutory/Other Authority

ORS 536.025, ORS 536.027, ORS 537.610 & Or Laws 2025, ch 570

Statutes/Other Implemented

ORS 537.610, ORS 540.505-540.532, Or Laws 2025, ch 570, Or Laws 2025, ch 282 & Or Laws 2025, ch 575

History

WRD 3-2026, amend filed 03/20/2026, effective 04/01/2026
WRD 6-2014, f. 11-25-14, cert. ef. 1-1-15
WRD 8-2009, f. 12-8-09, cert. ef. 12-15-09
WRD 5-2006, f. & cert. ef. 10-6-06