KIamath River Basin Adjudication
This adjudication is the process of determining claims to the use of surface water in the Klamath River Basin. The first phase was the review and determination of these claims by the Oregon Water Resources Department, including the hearing of contests to claims and the issuance of proposed orders by administrative law judges from the State’s Office of Administrative Hearings. This phase of the process was completed with the Department’s issuance of the Adjudicator’s Findings of Fact and Final Order of Determination on March 7, 2013.
The process is now in the second phase. This is the review of the Final Order of Determination by the courts. Adjudication claimants or contestants who dispute the Department’s determination of their claims or contests will have an opportunity to file exceptions with the Klamath County Circuit Court (Court). The Court will then review these exceptions, and will ultimately issue a water rights decree affirming or modifying the Final Order of Determination. The Department can issue water right certificates in accordance with the decree once it is issued by the Court.
Instructions for purchasing a digital copy of the Klamath Basin Adjudication Record are available from the Klamath County Circuit Court’s web site by using the quick link to the Klamath Basin Adjudication.
WRD has annotated the index that is included in this digital record. A copy of that
annotated index is provided here for use in conjunction with the digital copy of the Klamath Basin Adjudication Record that can be obtained from the circuit court.
This report provides a general look at the history, geology, and hydrology of the Klamath Basin (Basin). This general report also examines the water uses and water issues in the Basin as told through some of the Basin’s water officials and citizens. View the Klamath Summary Report.