Or. Rev. Stat. § 537.797 (2026)

      537.797 Criteria for certification to determine work completion; rules. (1) As used in this section:

      (a) “District” means:

      (A) An irrigation district formed under ORS chapter 545;

      (B) A drainage district formed under ORS chapter 547;

      (C) A water improvement district formed under ORS chapter 552; or

      (D) A water control district formed under ORS chapter 553.

      (b) “Registered geologist” has the meaning given that term in ORS 672.505.

      (c) “Registered professional engineer” and “registered professional land surveyor” have the meanings given those terms in ORS 672.002.

      (2) The Water Resources Commission by rule shall establish criteria for certification under ORS 537.798 to conduct surveys to determine whether a permittee has completed all work necessary to perfect an appropriation of water under ORS 537.230, 537.630 and 540.530.

      (3) An individual may apply for certification under ORS 537.798 if the individual meets the criteria established by rule by the commission and is a:

      (a) Registered professional engineer;

      (b) Registered professional land surveyor;

      (c) Registered geologist; or

      (d) District employee who:

      (A) Is, at the time of applying, employed full-time by a district;

      (B) Has been employed by a district for seven or more years; and

      (C) Has seven or more years of relevant technical experience conducting similar work. [1987 c.542 §1; 1989 c.171 §70; 1995 c.7 §1; 2009 c.259 §29; 2023 c.532 §1; 2023 c.606 §17]

      Note: The amendments to 537.797 by section 3, chapter 532, Oregon Laws 2023, and section 19, chapter 606, Oregon Laws 2023, become operative July 1, 2027. See section 5, chapter 532, Oregon Laws 2023, and section 21, chapter 606, Oregon Laws 2023. The text that is operative on and after July 1, 2027, is set forth for the user’s convenience.

      537.797. The Water Resources Commission by rule shall establish criteria for the certification of geologists, as defined in ORS 672.505, and persons engaged in the practice of engineering and the practice of land surveying, as those terms are defined in ORS 672.005, to conduct surveys to determine whether a permittee has completed all work necessary to perfect an appropriation of water under ORS 537.230, 537.630 and 540.530.

      Note: 537.797, 537.798 and 537.799 were enacted into law by the Legislative Assembly but were not added to or made a part of ORS chapter 537 or any series therein by legislative action. See Preface to Oregon Revised Statutes for further explanation.