Dinsdale v. Young

The Ground Water Act of 1955, ORS 537.505 to 537.795, requires a permit from the Water Resources Director before one may appropriate underground water for large-scale uses such as irrigation. The statute contains provisions under which the director may close an area to further appropriations of ground water or take other protective steps if, after conducting a proceeding for the determination of a “critical ground water area,” the director makes certain findings concerning the quantity or quality of the ground water supply or interference among competing users. ORS 537.730 to 537.735.

Petitione…