Hale v. Water Resources Department

Petitioners seek review of a final order of the Water Resources Department (department) denying their application to include their lands within the boundaries of a certificate for the use of irrigation water from the Umatilla River. We affirm.

We take the following facts from the department’s findings. In 1965, the Stanfield Irrigation District (district) applied to the department for a permit to divert water from the Umatilla River to irrigate approximately 13,000 acres. In response to the application, the department issued Permit 30789. That permit established a deadline of December 31,…