Oregon Revised Statutes

Or. Rev. Stat. § 545.025 (2026)

Purposes of irrigation district; process for formation

✓ current as of May 2026

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545.025 Purposes of irrigation district; process for formation. (1) When owners of land that is irrigated or susceptible to irrigation desire to provide for the construction of works for irrigation of their land, to provide for the reconstruction, betterment, extension, purchase, operation or maintenance of works already constructed, or to provide for the assumption of indebtedness to the United States incurred under the federal reclamation laws on account of their lands, they may propose the organization of an irrigation district under the Irrigation District Law by signing a petition and filing it with the county court of the principal county, as defined in ORS 198.705. The petition must be signed by a majority of the owners of land or 50 owners of land within the exterior boundaries of the proposed district.

(2) The petition shall set forth:

(a) A statement that the petition is filed for the formation of an irrigation district under the Irrigation District Law;

(b) The name of the proposed district;

(c) A description of the exterior boundaries of the proposed district. The description may be by metes and bounds, quarter quarter section lines or assessor’s map and tax lot numbers;

(d) A statement declaring whether the district board of directors shall consist of three or five members and, if three members, whether the district shall be subdivided for the election of directors or whether directors shall be elected at large; and

(e) A request that proceedings be taken for the formation of the district.

(3) ORS 198.760, 198.765, 198.770 and 198.775 apply to petitions for the formation of an irrigation district, except that an economic feasibility statement is not required.

(4) The circulator shall certify on each signature sheet that the circulator witnessed the signing of the signature sheet by each individual whose signature appears on the signature sheet.

(5) A description and map of all of the lands that are included within the proposed district and that will be subject to the charges and assessments of the district, together with the names and mailing addresses of all of the owners of the lands, shall be included in the petition or attached to the petition as an exhibit. Reference to the assessor’s map and tax lot number is sufficient for the description of lands required under this subsection.

(6) When the petition for formation is filed with the county court of the principal county, the county court shall set a date for a hearing on the petition. The date set for the hearing shall be not less than 30 days nor more than 50 days after the date on which the petition is filed. The county court shall cause notice of the hearing to be posted in at least three public places in the county and published by two insertions in a newspaper. The notice shall state:

(a) The purpose for which the district is to be formed.

(b) The name and boundaries of the proposed district.

(d) That all interested persons may appear and be heard.

(7) If the petition is signed by all of the owners of all of the lands that are included within the proposed district and that will be subject to the charges and assessments of the proposed district, publication of the notice of the hearing on the petition is not required. A petition signed by all of the owners of all of the lands that are included within the proposed district and that will be subject to the charges and assessments of the proposed district may also contain the names of persons desired as the members of the first board of directors of the proposed district, the initial term of office of each director and a written statement from each of those persons in which the person agrees to serve as a director of the proposed district.

(8) If an elector is not a resident of the district or this state, a legal representative of the owner of land, including an individual acting pursuant to a power of attorney, may sign a formation petition for and on behalf of the owner. [Formerly 545.004; 1999 c.318 §32; 1999 c.452 §5; 2007 c.848 §27]

545.026 [Amended by 1993 c.771 §10; 1995 c.42 §31; 1995 c.754 §5; renumbered 545.137 in 1995]

545.028 [Amended by 1967 c.609 §5; 1979 c.190 §427; 1995 c.42 §32; renumbered 545.139 in 1995]

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 6 cases (4 in the last 5 years), 1996–2025 · leading case: Fort Vannoy Irrigation Dist. v. Water Resources Comm'n, 188 P.3d 277 (Or. 2008).

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Fort Vannoy Irrigation Dist. v. Water Resources Comm'n, 188 P.3d 277 (Or. 2008). · cites it 2× “See ORS 545.025(1) (‘When owners of land that is irrigated or susceptible to irrigation desire to provide for the construction of works for irrigation of their land [or] to provide for the reconstruction, betterment, extension, purchase, operation or maintenance of works already…”

Miller v. Water Wonderland Improvement Dist., 918 P.2d 849 (Or. Ct. App. 1996). · cites it 2× “Because Water Wonderland is a public corporation that provides selected governmental services within a specific geographic area, it satisfies all of the relevant criteria for a special district under Oregon law.”

East Valley Water v. Water Resources Comm'n, 539 P.3d 789 (Or. Ct. App. 2023). “In 2000, a group of Willamette Valley farmers, who were looking for additional water sources to irrigate their crops, organized themselves into an irrigation district under ORS 545.025. The district’s boundaries are in Marion County and its purpose is to develop a secure source…”

East Valley Water v. Water Resources Comm'n, 374 Or. 148 (Or. 2025). “Brief Overview of the Dispute East Valley is an irrigation district established in 2000 by a collective of Willamette Valley farmers under ORS 545.025 (setting out process for formation of irriga- tion districts).”

East Valley Water v. Water Resources Comm'n (Or. Ct. App. 2023). “In 2000, a group of Willamette Valley farmers, who were looking for additional water sources to irrigate their crops, organized themselves into an irrigation district under ORS 545.025. The district’s boundaries are in Marion County and its purpose is to develop a secure source…”

— Or. Rev. Stat. § 545.025(1) — 1 case

Fort Vannoy Irrigation Dist. v. Water Resources Comm'n, 188 P.3d 277 (Or. 2008). “See ORS 545.025(1) (‘When owners of land that is irrigated or susceptible to irrigation desire to provide for the construction of works for irrigation of their land [or] to provide for the reconstruction, betterment, extension, purchase, operation or maintenance of works already…”

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