Current through 2024 Regular Session legislation effective June 6, 2024
Section 543.175 - Hydroelectric facility on Deschutes River within City of Bend prohibited; exception(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, no person, state agency, local government, district or municipal corporation shall construct or maintain, and no officer or agency of the state shall issue any permit for the construction or maintenance of any hydroelectric facility or structure on that portion of the Upper Deschutes River situated within the city limits of the City of Bend except for a facility that meets all of the following criteria: (a) The facility is located on an existing irrigation diversion facility or structure constructed by persons.(b) The operation of the facility would not require any water in addition to water appropriated for irrigation purposes.(c) Operation of the facility would be limited to the period of time during which water is diverted for irrigation purposes and the diversion would not be extended for the purpose of hydroelectric power generation.(2) Subsection (1) of this section shall not apply to the construction and maintenance of or the issuance of a permit for a hydroelectric facility or structure for which the hearing record is closed on or before the July 12, 1985, whether or not the record is later reopened by or at the direction of the Water Resources Commission for any reason.(3) As used in this section, "Upper Deschutes River" means that portion of the mainstem Deschutes River between the North Canal Dam at approximately river mile 165 and the head waters of the Deschutes River.543.175 was enacted into law by the Legislative Assembly but was not added to or made a part of ORS chapter 543 or any series therein by legislative action. See Preface to Oregon Revised Statutes for further explanation.