Oregon Revised Statutes Water Resources: Irrigation, Drainage, Flood Control, Reclamation § 537.346

(1) All minimum perennial streamflows established on any waters of this state before June 25, 1988, shall be converted to in-stream water rights after the Water Resources Commission reviews the streamflows and the Water Resources Department issues a certificate for an in-stream water right in accordance with ORS 537.343 with the same priority date as the minimum perennial streamflow.

(2) The priority date for that portion of an in-stream water right that uses the stored water component of a minimum perennial streamflow in the Willamette Basin shall be the date the commission or its predecessor adopted the minimum perennial streamflow containing the stored water component.

(3) Notwithstanding the priority date established under subsection (2) of this section, until the state enters into a contract that meets the criteria set forth in subsection (4) of this section with the owner of the storage facility to release the stored water for the purpose of satisfying the in-stream water right, for that portion of an in-stream water right in the Willamette Basin converted from the stored water component of a minimum perennial streamflow, the department:

(4) A contract for the release of stored water to satisfy an in-stream water right shall:

(5) If the federal government does not release water to satisfy a stored water component of an in-stream water right pursuant to a contract that satisfies the criteria set forth in subsection (4) of this section, the department may not regulate the use of water by other water right holders to satisfy the stored water component of an in-stream water right or take any other action that impairs the rights of any person under a valid contract for the use of the stored water.