The Oregon Water Resources Department assists water right holders in finding voluntary solutions that meet the water right holder’s objectives and provide instream benefits. Oregonians have pioneered the use of various tools for restoring and protecting streamflows. Consequently, Oregon is known as a national and international leader in streamflow restoration and protection. WRD’s primary programs for streamflow restoration include instream leasing, instream transfers, and allocations of conserved water
Other Flow Restoration Tools
A variety of other tools may also be used for flow restoration. A few of these tools are described below:
These tools involve the use of multiple water rights. In a Water Right Substitution, a water right holder substitutes a supplemental ground water right for a primary surface water right, changing the primary/supplemental status of each. This may result in less impact on the stream, and a more secure water right for the water right holder. In a Water Right Exchange the “place of use” of two water rights is swapped. In some circumstances this can result in increased flows in streams.
Before Substitution:
Primary right is from stream, and supplemental right is from ground water.
After Substitution:
Primary right is from ground water, and supplemental right is from stream
A change in the point of diversion can also be a flow restoration tool. For example, if a water right holder moves their point of diversion downstream, water remains instream for a longer reach. In some circumstances a water right holder can move their point of diversion from a tributary stream to the main river, thereby resulting in the tributary stream receiving more water for its entire length. A point of diversion change can also be used to consolidate points of diversion which may result in fewer in-channel disturbances, and can provide more water to the driest stretches of a stream.
New point of diversion
In the following examples, the water right holder has changed the point of diversion and has also changed from flood irrigation to a piped sprinkler system.
Example 1:
Downstream change in point of diversion on tributary stream
Note: The above example may also be a candidate for OWRD’s Allocation of Conserved Water Program given the change to a more efficient delivery system.
Example 2:
Change in point of diversion from tributary stream to main river
Old point of diversion
A Flow Augmentation Transfer or is another way of improving streamflows. Typically, flow augmentation rights continue to require active management, such as storing water in a reservoir, and then releasing it for instream benefits, or diverting water from one source, and then re-diverting it to another stream for instream benefits similar to an instream transfer. Unlike permanent instream transfers, flow augmentation rights may be held by an individual or an organization, instead of the Oregon Water Resources Department. Flow augmentation instream transfers work by converting an existing water right, such as the release of stored water from a reservoir (referred to as a secondary right), to a flow augmentation right.
- Transfer Application Form
Flow Augmentation may also be achieved through the permit application process. For example, water may be released from an existing reservoir (provided that the reservoir is authorized to stored water for instream purposes) or from groundwater (although instream quality issues may be encountered and consultation with ODFW is recommended) into a river or stream system within a designated reach. These are new uses of water proposed to the Oregon Water Resources Department through its permit application process.