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The Eagle Point Irrigation District is an Oregon special district formed under Oregon Revised Statutes, Chapter 545 ("District"). Over the history of the District, irrigation patterns and rotations have evolved to form a balanced and equitable system ("District System"). The District System is reliant upon a varying live flow to serve an irrigation pattern over predominantly flood irrigated lands. Because the District does not have any storage capacity, the District System is balanced in a way to ensure that no patron is harmed by the unapproved activities of other patrons. This balance is sensitive to changes of irrigation practice by individual patrons.
For example, when a patron proposes to change from the historical practice of flood irrigation to a different irrigation practice, the proposed change must incorporate an engineered solution to maintain the rotation pattern and the historical overflow rate available to down gradient patrons. Because the District has a duty to prevent harm to patrons, the Board of Directors has directed the District Manager to enforce delivery rates and rotation patterns by closely monitoring any changes in rotation patterns and changes in overflow. Therefore ,any patron-proposed change in delivery rate, rotation pattern ,or overflow must be engineered to prevent harm to other patrons . |
CONDITIONS THAT MUST BE MET IF WATER STORAGE IS APPROVED: 1) Apply for the change of irrigation practice 2 ) No extra water will be delivered to maintain pond or tank levels. 3 ) EPID assumes no liability for the storage facility. 4 ) The pond/tank must be used as a storage facility for existing irrigated lands. 5 ) You must have the capability to irrigate from the pond. 6 ) The pond may not be used for aesthetics as its' primary purpose. 7 ) Storage size must not exceed the current allotted amount of water per acre. 8 ) EPID does not have the authority to allow storage of water over the winter. 9 ) Any alternate uses of the pond area must be consistent with the Oregon Water Resources Department rules. |
Change of Irrigation PracticePatrons may not operate a Change of Irrigation Practice unless approved by the Board of Directors.
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$2000.00 - Yearly Fee
DUE APRIL 1ST
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Oregon Water Resources Department - definition of a pond with in an irrigation district
The Oregon Water Resources Department definition of a pond within an irrigation district is that it must serve as a "Bulge in a System (BIS; Temporary Storage Facilities}".Temporary facilities, often referred to as bulges in a system (BIS), may be allowed without requiring a water right permit. The following provides relevant definitions as supplied by the State of Oregon for determining whether a storage facility meets the limitations to qualify as a Bulge in the System.
Water Right - A water right gives a person permission to irrigate a specific piece of land with a specific amount of water during a specific period of time. Oregon keeps detailed records of which lands can be irrigated and how much water is allowed.
A water right is typically attached to the land ,the water right stays with the land and the new owner. Water users are legally obligated to use water beneficially, which means they cannot waste it or use it for a purpose that is inconsistent with Oregon law and the best interest of the public. For example, tailwater (excess water that drains off irrigated land) could be considered wasteful and, thus, unlawful. To keep a water right, a water right holder has to beneficially use the water at least once every five years. If not, the holder might lose the water right. Water right holders should document their usage by taking photos and dating them in the event their water right is contested. |
Bulge in the system -A facility that temporarily holds legally diverted water as part of an irrigation system or other water delivery system.
The size of the bulge in the system will be dependent upon various factors such as the use, the number of acres involved in the irrigation that benefit from the system, the amount of water needed for agriculture sprinkler application, and the time period between irrigation cycles. The above definition provides guidance on the size. Most bulges in the system are relatively small. If a bulge in the system impounds more than 9.2 acre-feet and has a dam in excess of 10 foot in height, the water user will need to submit dam plans and specifications and have them approved by the ORWD for a BIS. |
Temporary -As used in the definition of a "bulge in system," the period of time between irrigation cycles. The temporary storage facility must be drained to a minimum level or emptied at the end of the legal season of use. In the EPID system, the irrigation season typically runs from mid-April to mid-October of each year.
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Can a well be used to water a commercial marijuana grow site?
Water for cultivation/growth of marijuana, whether in a greenhouse or not, does not require a water right permit provided that the irrigation is no more than one-half acre in area and the cultivation is non-commercial. Use of groundwater to grow marijuana plants where there is intent to profit requires a water right issued by the Oregon Water Resources Department. Please contact the District 13 Watermaster at (541)774-6880 if you have questions or visit our web page at https://jacksoncountyor.org/Departments/Watermaster/Home.
Water for cultivation/growth of marijuana, whether in a greenhouse or not, does not require a water right permit provided that the irrigation is no more than one-half acre in area and the cultivation is non-commercial. Use of groundwater to grow marijuana plants where there is intent to profit requires a water right issued by the Oregon Water Resources Department. Please contact the District 13 Watermaster at (541)774-6880 if you have questions or visit our web page at https://jacksoncountyor.org/Departments/Watermaster/Home.
Oregon Water Resources Dept. (541) 774-6880