Water Resources Commission
Address: 725 Summer St. NE, Suite A, Salem 97301
Phone: 503-986-0876
Contact: Nirvana Cook, Commission Assistant
Statutory Authority: ORS 536.022
The seven-member commission oversees department activities and sets policy consistent with state law.
Director's Office
Address: 725 Summer St. NE, Suite A, Salem 97301
Phone: 503-986-0876
Contact: Doug Woodcock, Acting Director
The office develops and supervises policies and programs to ensure that water management practices follow Oregon Water Law. They oversee implementation of the State’s Integrated Water Resources Strategy and serve as the principal contact with the Legislature, tribes, stakeholder groups and the Western States Water Council. The Planning, Collaboration and Investments Section administers grant and loan programs and provides funding and technical assistance to help individuals and communities meet their water needs.
Field Services Division
Address: 725 Summer St. NE, Suite A, Salem 97301
Phone: 971-283-6010
Contact: Ivan Gall, Administrator
The division enforces the state’s water laws and implements the Water Resources Commission’s policies in the field. They have sole responsibility for regulating water use based upon the water rights of record. Staff inspect wells for groundwater resource protection and dams for public safety. The division collects streamflow and groundwater data for use by staff and the public.
Water Right Services Division
Address: 725 Summer St. NE, Suite A, Salem 97301
Phone: 503-871-7292
Contact: Dwight French, Administrator
The division is responsible for processing water right permits to meet a variety of needs, including agriculture, drinking water, fish, wildlife, recreation and industry. Additionally, the division processes transactions that allow water right holders to change how their existing water rights are used, including changes involving the transfer or lease of water instream. The division also adjudicates water right claims that predate the 1909 water code as well as federal and tribal rights.
Technical Services Division
Phone: 971-375-7322
Contact: Annette Liebe, Administrator
The division includes groundwater and surface water scientists responsible for understanding the surface and groundwater resources of the state. The division also ensures the safety of dams, develops databases to share water resources information, licenses well drillers, enforces well construction standards and conducts enforcement proceedings for the department.
Groundwater Advisory Committee
Address: 725 Summer St. NE, Suite A, Salem 97301
Phone: 503-302-9728
Contact: Justin Iverson, Department Liaison
Statutory Authority: ORS 536.090
The committee’s nine members, appointed by the Water Resources Commission, advise the commission and OWRD on rules, legislation, groundwater public policy and the licensing of well constructors. The committee also reviews proposed expenditures of revenues generated from start card fees associated with constructing wells.
Klamath River Basin Compact Commission
Address: 6600 Washburn Way, Klamath Falls 97603
Phone: 541-973-4431
Contact: Vacant, federal government representative; Tom Byler, Oregon representative; Curtis Anderson, California representative
Statutory Authority: 542.610
Members of the commission facilitate inter-governmental cooperation in the development and proper use of the water resources of the Klamath River Basin.