Bill > HB3806

This bill establishes a Deschutes River water bank pilot program that allows water rights holders in central Oregon to participate in a collaborative water management system. The Water Resources Commission may approve a water bank charter after public comment and verification that the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs support the plan. Eligible participants include irrigation districts, the Warm Springs Tribes, central Oregon cities, specific public utilities, and the Deschutes River Conservancy. The water bank must operate under strict guidelines, including dedicating a portion of loaned water to legally protected in-stream flows, ensuring no injury to existing water rights, and maintaining the same total number of irrigated acres. The Deschutes River Conservancy will manage the water bank's operations, and participants must submit annual operating plans to the Water Resources Department for approval. The program requires detailed tracking of water usage, with provisions for measuring and reporting water transactions. Importantly, the water bank cannot increase water use, water diversion, or irrigated acreage, and it includes mechanisms to address potential water right injuries. The pilot program will sunset on January 2, 2034, giving stakeholders approximately a decade to test and evaluate this innovative water management approach in the Deschutes River basin.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance

https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Measures/Overview/HB3806